Richard Allen Jefferson (born June 21, 1980 in Los Angeles), is a 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) American professional basketball player and a member of the San Antonio Spurs of the NBA. Jefferson was born in Los Angeles and was raised in Phoenix, Arizona. His parents were both Christian missionaries and he moved around frequently growing up.

Jefferson attended Moon Valley High School in west Phoenix, Arizona, where he was an integral part of the varsity basketball team that won the 4A State Championship in 1998.

He played college basketball at the University of Arizona, under Hall of Fame coach Lute Olson.