Wesley Person

Last updated

Wesley Person
Personal information
Born (1971-03-28) March 28, 1971 (age 53)
Brantley, Alabama, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Listed weight195 lb (88 kg)
Career information
High schoolBrantley (Brantley, Alabama)
College Auburn (1990–1994)
NBA draft 1994: 1st round, 23rd overall pick
Selected by the Phoenix Suns
Playing career1994–2005
Position Shooting guard
Number11, 1, 7, 10
Career history
19941997 Phoenix Suns
19972002 Cleveland Cavaliers
20022003 Memphis Grizzlies
2003–2004 Portland Trail Blazers
2004 Atlanta Hawks
2004–2005 Miami Heat
2005 Denver Nuggets
Career highlights and awards
Career NBA statistics
Points 8,192 (11.2 ppg)
Rebounds 2,402 (3.3 rpg)
Assists 1,234 (1.7 apg)
Stats   OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg at NBA.com
Stats   OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg at Basketball-Reference.com
Medals
Men's Basketball
Representing Flag of the United States.svg United States
FIBA U21 World Championship
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 1993 Valladolid National team
FIBA U19 World Championship
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 1991 Edmonton National team

Wesley Lavon Person (born March 28, 1971) is an American former professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association (NBA). After his playing career, Person became a women's basketball assistant coach and then the head men's basketball coach at Enterprise-Ozark Community College. [1] He was fired from the latter position in 2010. [2]

Contents

Selected by the Phoenix Suns 23rd overall in the 1994 NBA draft out of Auburn University, Person played for seven teams throughout his career. He played three seasons for the Suns, five for the Cleveland Cavaliers, 82 games over two seasons for the Memphis Grizzlies, 33 games for the Portland Trail Blazers, nine games for the Atlanta Hawks, sixteen games for the Miami Heat and 25 for the Denver Nuggets. Person retired with career averages of 11.2 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game. According to Complex Sports, Person is the 13th greatest three-point shooter of all time. Person was also the only person to set a net on fire, as made popular by the arcade game NBA Jam. [3]

NBA career

Phoenix Suns (1994–1997)

On June 29, 1994, the Phoenix Suns drafted Person with the 23rd overall pick in the 1994 NBA draft. Person played his first three seasons in Phoenix, where he averaged 12.2 points per game, 3.4 rebounds per game, and 1.5 assists per game in 240 games. He also had a 45.8% field goal percentage and a 40.7% 3-point percentage. Furthermore, he was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team in his rookie season. [4]

Cleveland Cavaliers (1997–2002)

On October 1, 1997, Person was involved in a three-team trade in which he was traded with Tony Dumas to the Cleveland Cavaliers, Antonio McDyess was traded to the Suns, and three first-round draft picks were traded to the Denver Nuggets. where he would spend the majority of his career. In his first season with Cleveland, he led the NBA in three-pointers made. In five seasons with the franchise, he averaged 12.0 points per game, 3.6 rebounds per game, and 2.0 assists per game. He had a 46.1% field goal percentage and a 42.2 3-point percentage. [4]

Memphis Grizzlies (2002–2003)

On June 26, 2002, Person was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies for Nick Anderson and Matt Barnes. He would average 11.0 points per game, 2.9 rebounds per game, and 1.7 assists per game in his first season with Memphis. During his second season with the franchise, he averaged 5.2 points per game, 1.1 rebounds per game, and 1.4 assists per game. [4]

Portland Trail Blazers (2003–2004)

On December 3, 2003, Person was traded, along with a 2004 1st round draft pick (Sergei Monia), to the Portland Trail Blazers for Bonzi Wells. In 33 games for Portland, he would average 6.5 points per game, 2.2 rebounds per game, and 1.2 assists per game. [4]

Atlanta Hawks (2004)

On February 9, 2004, Person was traded with Rasheed Wallace to the Atlanta Hawks for Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Dan Dickau, and Theo Ratliff. His tenure with Atlanta was the shortest stint of his career, as he played only 9 games for the franchise. He averaged 4.4 points per game, 2.8 rebounds per game, and 0.6 assists per game while he was with the team.

Miami Heat (2004–2005)

On August 11, 2004, Person signed with the Miami Heat as a free agent. In Miami, he would have the lowest points per game average of his career: 3.9. Person also averaged 1.4 rebounds per game and 0.7 assists per game. On March 1, 2005, he was waived by the team. [4]

Denver Nuggets (2005)

Two days after being waived, Person signed with the Denver Nuggets. His stint with the Nuggets would be his final NBA tenure. During his 25 games with Denver, he averaged 8.1 points per game, 2.4 rebounds per game, and 1.1 assists per game. During those 25 games, Person did not miss a single three pointer, and hit nothing but net 96.5% of those attempts. [4] Person retired at the end of the season. [5]

NBA career statistics

Legend
  GPGames played  GS Games started MPG Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage 3P%  3-point field goal percentage FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game APG  Assists per game SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game PPG Points per game Bold Career high
 * Led the league

Regular season

YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
1994–95 Phoenix 785623.1.484.436.7922.61.3.6.310.4
1995–96 Phoenix 824731.8.445.374.7713.91.7.7.312.7
1996–97 Phoenix 804229.1.453.413.7983.71.51.1.313.5
1997–98 Cleveland 82*82*39.0.460.430.7764.42.31.6.614.7
1998–99 Cleveland 454229.8.453.375.6043.21.8.8.411.2
1999–00 Cleveland 793826.0.428.424.7923.41.8.5.29.2
2000–01 Cleveland 442221.8.438.405.8003.01.5.6.37.1
2001–02 Cleveland 787835.8.495.444.7983.82.21.0.515.1
2002–03 Memphis 664429.4.456.433.8142.91.7.6.311.0
2003–04 Memphis 16017.8.308.256.7501.11.4.3.15.2
2003–04 Portland 33018.8.476.474.7602.21.2.3.26.5
2003–04 Atlanta 9014.7.333.4211.0002.8.6.3.14.4
2004–05 Miami 16312.9.439.3811.0001.4.7.4.03.9
2004–05 Denver 25018.4.485.485.5562.41.1.5.28.1
Career73345428.3.457.418.7783.31.7.8.311.2

Playoffs

YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
1995 Phoenix 101024.7.410.378.9172.11.1.3.29.6
1996 Phoenix 4445.8.393.310.8005.8.8.8.314.3
1997 Phoenix 5132.6.472.424.7786.61.2.8.615.6
1998 Cleveland 4434.0.379.368.7502.32.5.8.08.0
2005 Denver 4013.5.429.375.000.3.3.3.03.8
Career271929.0.417.373.8213.21.1.5.210.3

Personal life

Born in Brantley, Alabama, Person is the younger brother of former NBA player Chuck Person, [1] and his son Wesley, Jr. played college basketball at Troy University [6] and was selected by the Maine Red Claws in the 2019 NBA G League Draft. [7] Wesley's nephew, Adrian Person, is a former nationally ranked JUCO basketball player who averaged a national best 31 points per game at Southern Union State Community College in Wadley, Alabama in 1997. [8]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marcus Camby</span> American former basketball player (born 1974)

Marcus Dion Camby is an American former professional basketball player who played 17 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was named Defensive Player of the Year during the 2006–07 NBA season, leading the league in blocked shots per game. Camby is also a four-time member of the NBA All-Defensive Team and is 12th on the NBA's all-time career blocks list.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nenê</span> Brazilian basketball player (born 1982)

Nenê is a Brazilian former professional basketball player. Known previously as Nenê Hilario, he legally changed his name to simply Nenê in 2003.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chauncey Billups</span> American basketball player and coach (born 1976)

Chauncey Ray Billups is an American professional basketball coach and former player who is the head coach for the Portland Trail Blazers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). After playing college basketball with the Colorado Buffaloes, he was selected third overall in the 1997 NBA draft by the Boston Celtics. Billups spent the majority of his 17-year basketball career playing for the Detroit Pistons of the National Basketball Association (NBA), where he won the NBA Finals MVP in 2004 after helping the Pistons beat the Los Angeles Lakers in the Finals. He was given the nickname "Mr. Big Shot" for making late-game shots with Detroit. A five-time NBA All-Star, a three-time All-NBA selection and two-time NBA All-Defensive selection, Billups also played for the Celtics, Toronto Raptors, Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, New York Knicks, and Los Angeles Clippers during his NBA career.

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

Andre Lloyd Miller is an American former professional basketball player and the current head coach for the Grand Rapids Gold. Miller has played professional basketball for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Clippers, Philadelphia 76ers, Portland Trail Blazers, Denver Nuggets, Washington Wizards, Sacramento Kings, Minnesota Timberwolves and San Antonio Spurs. Currently, he ranks eleventh all-time in NBA career assists and only missed three games to injury in his 17-year career. He is the only player in NBA history to have at least 16,000 career points, 8,000 assists and 1,500 steals without making an NBA All-Star Game.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Raymond Felton</span> American basketball player (born 1984)

Raymond Bernard Felton Jr. is an American former professional basketball player who played 14 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Felton played college basketball for the University of North Carolina under head coach Roy Williams.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fat Lever</span> American basketball player (born 1960)

Lafayette "Fat" Lever is an American former professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association. He later served as the director of player development for the Sacramento Kings of the NBA as well as an analyst for Kings radio broadcasts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Todd Lichti</span> American former professional basketball player (born 1967)

Todd Samuel Lichti is an American former professional basketball player. At 6'4" and 205 lb (93 kg) he played at guard. He was selected with 15th pick in the 1989 NBA draft by the Denver Nuggets where he stayed for 4 years. He also had short stints with Orlando Magic, Golden State Warriors, and Boston Celtics before moving to Australia to play for the Perth Wildcats.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tyrus Thomas</span> American basketball player

Tyrus Wayne Thomas is an American former professional basketball player. He played college basketball for Louisiana State University (LSU) before being drafted fourth overall by the Portland Trail Blazers in the 2006 NBA draft. He was then traded to the Chicago Bulls where he went on to play three and a half seasons when in February 2010, he was traded to the Charlotte Bobcats.

Artis Wayne Cooper was an American professional basketball player who played fourteen seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Nicknamed "Coop", he played for the Golden State Warriors, Utah Jazz, Dallas Mavericks, Portland Trail Blazers, and Denver Nuggets from 1978 to 1992. He was the Denver Nuggets’ all-time leader in blocks when he left the franchise in 1989. After his playing career ended, he worked as an executive with the Trail Blazers and Sacramento Kings.

Loren Henry Meyer is a retired American professional basketball player who played three seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was selected by the Dallas Mavericks in the first round of the 1995 NBA draft.

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

Tywon Ronell Lawson is an American professional basketball who is currently a free agent. He played college basketball for the North Carolina Tar Heels where he won the 2009 national championship his junior year.

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

Wilson Jamall Chandler is an American former professional basketball player who played in the NBA for 13 seasons, mainly with the New York Knicks and the Denver Nuggets. He has also played for Zhejiang Guangsha of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) during the 2011 NBA lockout. He played college basketball for the DePaul Blue Demons for two years before declaring for the 2007 NBA draft, where he was a first-round selection of the Knicks. Chandler is listed at 6 ft 8 in. and 225 lbs. He can play both forward positions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DeAndre Jordan</span> American basketball player (born 1988)

Hyland DeAndre Jordan Jr. is an American professional basketball player for the Denver Nuggets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played one season of college basketball for the Texas A&M Aggies.

The 2002–03 NBA season was the Rockets' 36th season in the National Basketball Association, and 32nd season in the city of Houston. This was their final season playing at the Compaq Center. The Rockets won the Draft Lottery, where they selected 7'6" Chinese sensation Yao Ming with the first overall pick in the 2002 NBA draft. In December, the Rockets acquired James Posey from the Denver Nuggets in a three-team trade, which sent Kenny Thomas to the Philadelphia 76ers.

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

William Denard Barton III is an American professional basketball player for Covirán Granada of the Spanish Liga Endesa (ACB). He played college basketball for Memphis, where he was named the Conference USA Men's Basketball Player of the Year in 2012. He was selected 40th overall in the 2012 NBA draft by the Portland Trail Blazers and played for the Idaho Stampede of the NBA G League before being traded to the Denver Nuggets in 2015, where he eventually became their franchise leader in three-pointers made.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joffrey Lauvergne</span> French basketball player (born 1991)

Joffrey Lauvergne is a French professional basketball player for LDLC ASVEL of the French LNB Pro A and the EuroLeague. He was drafted 55th overall by the Memphis Grizzlies in the 2013 NBA draft, who then traded his rights to the Denver Nuggets.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monté Morris</span> American basketball player (born 1995)

Monté Robert Morris is an American professional basketball player for the Minnesota Timberwolves of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Iowa State Cyclones.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jamal Murray</span> Canadian basketball player (born 1997)

Jamal Murray is a Canadian professional basketball player for the Denver Nuggets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He also represents the Canadian national team. He played one season of college basketball for the Kentucky Wildcats before being drafted by the Nuggets as the seventh overall pick in the 2016 NBA draft. Nicknamed "Blue Arrow", he was integral in leading the Nuggets to their first NBA championship in 2023.

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

Malik JonMikal Beasley is an American professional basketball player for the Milwaukee Bucks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He attended Saint Francis School in Alpharetta, Georgia, where he was a four-star recruit. He played one season of college basketball for the Florida State Seminoles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jarred Vanderbilt</span> American basketball player (born 1999)

Jarred Jakobi Vanderbilt is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was selected as a McDonald's All-American in high school. Vanderbilt played college basketball for the Kentucky Wildcats. He was selected by the Denver Nuggets in the second round of the 2018 NBA draft.

References

  1. 1 2 "McMenamin: Person more than just a mentor". ESPN.com. June 12, 2010. Retrieved December 6, 2021.
  2. "Enterprise State fires former Auburn star Wesley Person as basketball coach". Al.com. July 29, 2010. Retrieved December 6, 2021.
  3. "The 25 Greatest Three-Point Shooters in NBA History". Complex.com. Retrieved December 6, 2021.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Wesley Person Stats". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved December 6, 2021.
  5. "Wesley Person Player Profile, Denver Nuggets, NBA Stats, NCAA Stats, Game Logs, Bests, Awards". Basketball.realgm.com. Retrieved December 6, 2021.
  6. "Wesley Person - Basketball (M)". Troy University Athletics. Retrieved December 6, 2021.
  7. Boston, Evans (October 26, 2019). "2019 NBA G League Draft RED CLAWS DRAFT FOUR, ANNOUNCE TRAINING CAMP ROSTER". NBA.com. Retrieved October 26, 2019.
  8. Loren Tate. "Tate: Juco guard real deal, coach says". The News-Gazette. Retrieved December 6, 2021.