Anthony Peeler

Last updated

Anthony Peeler
Personal information
Born (1969-11-25) November 25, 1969 (age 55)
Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Listed weight208 lb (94 kg)
Career information
High school Paseo Academy
(Kansas City, Missouri)
College Missouri (1988–1992)
NBA draft 1992: 1st round, 15th overall pick
Selected by the Los Angeles Lakers
Playing career1992–2005
Position Shooting guard
Number1, 7, 44, 8
Career history
1992–1996 Los Angeles Lakers
1996–1998 Vancouver Grizzlies
1998–2003 Minnesota Timberwolves
2003–2004 Sacramento Kings
2004–2005 Washington Wizards
Career highlights and awards
Career NBA statistics
Points 8,017 (9.7 ppg)
Rebounds 2,136 (2.6 rpg)
Assists 1,955 (2.4 apg)
Stats at NBA.com  OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Stats at Basketball Reference   OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg

Anthony Eugene Peeler (born November 25, 1969) is an American former professional basketball player, having played for a number of National Basketball Association (NBA) teams from 1992 to 2005. He was most commonly known for his defense and athleticism. He later became an assistant coach at NCAA Division II Virginia Union University. [1]

Contents

High school and college

Peeler was a standout high school player at Paseo High School in Kansas City, Missouri where he earned the title of Mr. Show-Me Basketball (the name for the state's Mr. Basketball, as Missouri is called the "Show Me State") and was named to the McDonald's All-American team his senior year, joining a class that included such names as Alonzo Mourning, Billy Owens, Shawn Kemp, and Malik Sealy to name a few. [2] He took part in the 1988 McDonald's All-American Game. Peeler also participated in the 1988 Dapper Dan Classic and was named MVP of the West team. [3] He reportedly planned on attending the national champion Kansas Jayhawk's men's basketball team, but changed his mind because he wasn't sure if Kansas coach Larry Brown would be leaving to coach elsewhere [4] (Brown indeed left Kansas to coach the NBA's San Antonio Spurs), and because he, in his words, "didn't want to be a one-man team." [5] Peeler chose the University of Missouri and went on to be one of the school's all-time greats.

Anthony Peeler averaged 16.8 points per game for his Tiger career and left as Missouri's all-time third-leading scorer with 1,970 points, and the all-time leader in assists (497) and steals (196). During his career, he was named first-team All-Big Eight, and in 1992 (his senior year) he was named the conference AP Player of the Year and Male Athlete of the Year and a consensus second-team All-American after averaging 23.4 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game, and scored a career-high 43 points in a losing cause against arch-rival Kansas. Missouri finished 21–9 that season and reached the second round of the NCAA tournament, where they lost to Seton Hall.

In 2006, Peeler was named to the Missouri's 30-member All-Century team, in honor of the school's 100th year of competition.

Professional career

After his college eligibility was up, Peeler was drafted 15th overall by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1992 NBA draft. Peeler was one of the top shooting guards available and was considered a possible NBA lottery pick by some analysts, [6] but his stock began to plummet due to off-the-court legal issues. Peeler was placed on five years of probation stemming from an altercation with a woman he once dated at Missouri; [7] and was accused, mere days before the draft, of being involved in another altercation, this time with an ex-girlfriend he knew from high school. [8] But the Lakers felt that drafting Peeler would be worth the risk if he could help revitalize their backcourt, which was still reeling from Magic Johnson's abrupt retirement and only had unproven 2nd year player Tony Smith & aging veterans Sedale Threatt and Byron Scott as the legitimate remaining threats at the guard spots.

In his rookie year, Peeler appeared in 77 games, starting 11 of them, and became the first Lakers rookie to average double figures (10.4 ppg) since Byron Scott in 1983–84. He scored a season-high 25 points against the Indiana Pacers on January 28, 1993. Peeler also broke Scott's Lakers rookie record for 3-point shooting.

Peeler also played for the Vancouver Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves, Sacramento Kings and the Washington Wizards averaging 9.7 points per game throughout his NBA career.

While with Sacramento during the 2003–04 NBA season, he led the league in three-point field goal accuracy with 48.2 percent. [9] During that season's playoffs, during game 6 matchup between Sacramento and Minnesota, Peeler threw an elbow at former Timberwolves teammate Kevin Garnett, followed by a left hook; [10] Peeler was suspended for 2 games, [10] which included a game 7 loss, which ended the Kings' season, and the season-opener of the Washington Wizards' 2004–05 campaign, with whom Peeler spent his final year.

After the NBA

Following retirement from playing, Peeler returned to college and finished his degree at Virginia Union University in Richmond, Virginia. He entered the coaching profession in China by serving as an assistant coach. He had expressed interest in joining the coaching staff of Frank Haith at Missouri in 2011, but no job offer was forthcoming. [11] He is currently awaiting other opportunities.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sacramento Kings</span> National Basketball Association team in Sacramento, California

The Sacramento Kings are an American professional basketball team based in Sacramento, California. The Kings compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference. The Kings are the oldest team in the NBA, and the first team in the major professional North American sports leagues located in Sacramento. The team plays its home games at Golden 1 Center. Their best seasons to date in the city were in the early 2000s, including a very successful 2001–02 season when they had the best record in the NBA at 61–21.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kevin Garnett</span> American basketball player (born 1976)

Kevin Maurice Garnett is an American former professional basketball player who played 21 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Nicknamed "the Big Ticket," Garnett is considered one of the greatest power forwards of all time, known for his intensity, versatility, and defensive ability. As of 2024, he is one of five NBA players to have won both the NBA Most Valuable Player Award and the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike Bibby</span> American basketball player (born 1978)

Michael Bibby is an American former professional basketball player. He played professionally for 14 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He last served as the head coach for Hillcrest Prep Academy in Phoenix, Arizona. Bibby played college basketball for the Arizona Wildcats, with whom he won the 1997 NCAA Championship. He was drafted second overall by the Vancouver Grizzlies in the 1998 NBA draft. He was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team in his first season with the Grizzlies. He also played for the Sacramento Kings, Atlanta Hawks, Washington Wizards, Miami Heat, and New York Knicks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chuck Person</span> American former basketball player (born 1964)

Chuck Connors Person is an American former basketball player and coach. Person played 14 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and was the 1987 NBA Rookie of the Year. Person played college basketball at Auburn University and was selected fourth overall in the 1986 NBA draft by the Indiana Pacers, for whom he played six seasons. He also played for the Minnesota Timberwolves, San Antonio Spurs, Charlotte Hornets and Seattle SuperSonics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joe Smith (basketball)</span> American basketball player (born 1975)

Joseph Leynard Smith is an American former professional basketball player. A power forward, he played for 12 teams in the National Basketball Association (NBA) during his 16-year career.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reggie Theus</span> American basketball player and coach (born 1957)

Reginald Wayne Theus is an American basketball coach and former player. He played 13 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA), where he was a two-time NBA All-Star. He is currently the men's basketball head coach and athletic director at Bethune–Cookman. He was the head coach for the NBA's Sacramento Kings and in college with the New Mexico State Aggies and the Cal State Northridge Matadors men's teams. He was also an assistant coach for the Louisville Cardinals under Rick Pitino.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shelden Williams</span> American former professional basketball player

Shelden DeMar Williams is an American former professional basketball player. Nicknamed "The Landlord", he played college basketball for the Duke Blue Devils, and later played in the NBA for parts of seven seasons.

Jeffery Douglas West is an American former professional basketball player who is an assistant coach for the Philadelphia 76ers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). A 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) swingman from Villanova University, West was selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second round of the 1989 NBA draft. An athletic, well-rounded player who could score as well as defend, West was an "original" Timberwolf, being drafted by the team in its first year of existence. He was the last of the original roster to remain on the team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mario Chalmers</span> American basketball player (born 1986)

Almario Vernard "Mario" Chalmers is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Zamboanga Valientes of the Asian Tournament (TAT). He was selected as the 34th overall pick in the 2008 NBA draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves after playing three seasons of college basketball for the University of Kansas. Chalmers was named the 2006–07 Co-Defensive Player of the Year and the Most Outstanding Player of the 2008 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament after winning the 2008 NCAA championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wesley Johnson (basketball)</span> American basketball player (born 1987)

Wesley JaMarr Johnson is an American professional basketball coach and former player who is a player development assistant for the Los Angeles Clippers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for Syracuse University and Iowa State University. He was selected with the fourth overall pick in the 2010 NBA draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jordan Hill (basketball)</span> American basketball player (born 1987)

Jordan Craig Hill is an American former professional basketball player.

The 1996–97 NBA season was the Grizzlies' second season in the National Basketball Association. Coming off of an NBA worst record of 15–67 in their first season, the Grizzlies had the third overall pick in the 1996 NBA draft, and selected Shareef Abdur-Rahim from the University of California. The team acquired Anthony Peeler and George Lynch from the Los Angeles Lakers, and signed free agent Lee Mayberry during the off-season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thomas Robinson (basketball)</span> American Lebanese basketball player

Thomas Earl Robinson is an American-born naturalised Lebanese professional basketball player for the Taipei Taishin Mars of the Taiwan Professional Basketball League (TPBL). A consensus All-American at the University of Kansas, Robinson was drafted fifth overall in the 2012 NBA draft by the Sacramento Kings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dion Waiters</span> American basketball player (born 1991)

Dion Waiters Jr. is an American former professional basketball player who played 8 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 2012 to 2020. He played college basketball for the Syracuse Orange and was selected with the fourth overall pick in the 2012 NBA draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers. Waiters also played for the Oklahoma City Thunder, Miami Heat, and the Los Angeles Lakers, where his team won an NBA championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andrew Wiggins</span> Canadian basketball player (born 1995)

Andrew Christian Wiggins is a Canadian professional basketball player for the Golden State Warriors of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was selected with the first overall pick in the 2014 NBA draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers after one year of college basketball with the Kansas Jayhawks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Karl-Anthony Towns</span> Dominican-American basketball player (born 1995)

Karl-Anthony Towns Jr., nicknamed “KAT” and “The Big Bodega”, is a Dominican-American professional basketball player for the New York Knicks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Kentucky Wildcats. Towns was named to the Dominican Republic national team as a 16-year-old. He was selected with the first overall pick in the 2015 NBA draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buddy Hield</span> Bahamian basketball player (born 1992)

Chavano Rainer "Buddy" Hield is a Bahamian professional basketball player for the Golden State Warriors of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Oklahoma Sooners and was named the Big 12 Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year in 2015 and 2016. In 2016, he received four major national player of the year awards: the John R. Wooden Award, the Naismith Award, Sporting News Player of the Year, and the Oscar Robertson Trophy. Hield was selected with the sixth overall pick in the 2016 NBA draft by the New Orleans Pelicans and was traded to the Sacramento Kings for DeMarcus Cousins in 2017. He was dealt to the Indiana Pacers in a package for Domantas Sabonis in 2022. In February 2024, he was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers. In July 2024, Hield was involved in a 6-team trade that involved him getting traded to the Golden State Warriors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frank Mason III</span> American basketball player (born 1994)

Frank Leo Mason III is an American professional basketball player who last played for Fujian Sturgeons of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA). He played college basketball for the University of Kansas, where he was the starting point guard for the Jayhawks. For the 2016–17 season, he was the consensus National Player of the Year He was also a consensus All-American selection for his senior season at Kansas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eric Paschall</span> American basketball player (born 1996)

Eric Luther Paschall is an American professional basketball player for Pistoia Basket 2000 of the Lega Basket Serie A (LBA). He played college basketball for the Fordham Rams and the Villanova Wildcats. He was selected with the 41st overall pick in the 2019 NBA draft by the Golden State Warriors and named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Walker Kessler</span> American basketball player (born 2001)

Walker Ross Kessler is an American professional basketball player for the Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the North Carolina Tar Heels and Auburn Tigers.

References

  1. ↑ "Former NBA player credited with an assist | Richmond Times-Dispatch". timesdispatch.com. January 31, 2009. Archived from the original on February 4, 2013. Retrieved December 15, 2011.
  2. ↑ Alumni Boys Archived December 29, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  3. ↑ Dapper Dan Basketball 1988
  4. ↑ https://vault.si.com/vault/1990/01/29/bold-those-tigers-fourth-ranked-missouri-knocked-off-no-1-kansas-in-a-renewal-of-their-border-war Bold, Those Tigers
  5. ↑ THE CLASS OF '92 This could be the finest crop of freshmen the game has ever seen
  6. ↑ PEELER WAITS TO SEE WHERE HE FITS IN
  7. ↑ Peeler charged with assaulting woman
  8. ↑ Peeler Faces Assault Charges Again
  9. ↑ "2003-04 Regular Season NBA Player Stats and League Leaders - 3-Points - National Basketball Association - ESPN". espn.com. February 1, 2020. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
  10. 1 2 "Ex-Wolf suspended 2 games; Garnett fined - NBA - ESPN". espn.com. May 18, 2004. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
  11. ↑ "Former Mizzou great Peeler coaching at Virginia school". KSHB-TV via website. February 11, 2012. Archived from the original on February 1, 2014. Retrieved February 12, 2012.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.