Gary Orlando Forbes
2025-26 Basketball, Boys Head Coach
Gary Orlando Forbes (born February 25, 1985, in Panama) is a former professional basketball player known for his perseverance and scoring ability. Forbes played collegiately at Virginia before transferring to the University of Massachusetts (UMass), where he became one of the top players in the Atlantic 10 Conference.
At UMass, he earned A-10 Player of the Year honors and averaged over 20 points per game in his senior season.
Undrafted in the 2008 NBA Draft, Forbes began his pro career in the NBA Development League, starring for the Sioux Falls Skyforce and Tulsa 66ers, where he averaged 17.4 points per game.
He went on to play in the NBA for the Denver Nuggets, Toronto Raptors, and Brooklyn Nets. Over his NBA career, he averaged about 5.8 points and 2.0 rebounds per game.
In addition to his time in the NBA, Forbes had an extensive international career, playing professionally in Italy, Israel, China, Puerto Rico, and other countries.
His story is especially inspiring because he managed his type 1 diabetes throughout his career—becoming one of the few professional basketball players to do so.
After retiring from playing, Forbes has remained involved in basketball and community work, including visits with Camp Boggy Creek, sharing his journey, and helping youth facing serious health challenges.
