Isaiah Rider Jr., nicknamed J.R. (born March 12, 1971), is an American former professional basketball player who played nine seasons in the NBA.

The 6'5" (1.96 m) Rider was a prep star at Encinal High School in Alameda, California[1] (just outside Oakland) and was one of the top rated players in the state.

During the 1991–1992 season, Rider led the Runnin' Rebels to a 26–2 record (18–0 in conference) and a number 7 ranking in the final Associated Press regular season poll while averaging over 21 points per game, but wasn't seen on national television because UNLV was serving an NCAA-imposed punishment that stemmed from previous infractions.

(In a "plea bargain" of sorts, UNLV was allowed to defend its NCAA title the previous year – they lost to Duke in the Final Four.

The Rebels did earn a spot in the National Invitation Tournament, but Rider was suspended for the NIT due to academic issues surrounding allegations that he had someone cheating for him on some of his college classwork.

[6] By 1996, Minnesota finally lost patience with Rider and dealt him to Portland in return for Bill Curley, James Robinson and a conditional first round draft pick in 1997 or 1998.

[7] In the 1997–98 season, Rider led the Blazers in scoring (19.7 points per game, 15th in the NBA) and three-pointers made (135, 8th) and attempted (420).

The Hawks had finished fourth in the Eastern Conference in the lockout-shortened season, and thought Rider was the final piece in the puzzle.

After reports that he had smoked marijuana in an Orlando hotel room, the league demanded that he attend drug counseling.

He showed up late for a March game in Detroit, and rather than serve a three-game suspension, he demanded his outright release.

[9] Though left off the playoff roster in favor of Tyronn Lue,[10] Rider was awarded a championship ring by the franchise.

During his NBA career and in subsequent years, Rider was dogged by a variety of personal problems, including accusations of drug use and assault.

In 2007, he was sentenced to seven months in jail after pleading guilty to cocaine possession, evading the police,[13] and battery,[14] though he only served about half of that time.