Ed Nealy

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Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Script error: No such module "Infobox".Template:Template otherScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Eddie Carl Nealy (born February 19, 1960) is an American retired basketball player. At 6'7" and 238 pounds, he played as a power forward. After a standout college career, during which he won the Big Eight tournament title in 1980, he went on to play professionally for 11 years. During his professional career, he won the Continental Basketball Association championship in 1986 as a member of the Tampa Bay Thrillers and the NBA championship in 1993 as a member of the Chicago Bulls.

College career

Born in Pittsburg, Kansas, Nealy attended Kansas State University. Although he was not expected to be a factor for the Wildcats as a freshman, he started 30 of the team's 31 games, averaging 10.2 points and team leading 8.2 rebounds per game en route to Big Eight Newcomer of the Year honors. During his sophomore season, he was a vital part in helping the team win the 1980 Big Eight tournament championship and reach the Elite Eight of the 1980 NCAA Tournament after averaging 9.8 points and 8.8 rebounds per game. As a junior, he averaged 11.0 points and 9.1 rebounds, helping the Wildcats reach the West Regional Finals. During his senior season, he averaged 11.3 points and 8.7 rebounds per game, and led the Wildcats to Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament and earned first team All-Big Eight and honorable mention All-America honors.[1]

Professional career

After his college career ended, Nealy was selected by the Kansas City Kings in the eighth round of the 1982 NBA draft.[2] In 10 NBA seasons with the Kings, San Antonio Spurs, Chicago Bulls, Phoenix Suns and Golden State Warriors, Nealy averaged 2.7 points and 3.3 rebounds.

Nealy played two seasons in the Continental Basketball Association, averaging 9.8 points and 10.0 rebounds in 68 games. During the 1986 playoffs, he averaged 12.9 points and 15.5 rebounds for the Tampa Bay Thrillers, helping them to the CBA championship.

During his multiple stints in Chicago, Nealy became a fan-favorite (and a favorite of coach Phil Jackson)[2] for his hustle and hard work ethic, especially during the 1990 NBA playoffs during stints where Scottie Pippen and Bill Cartwright were injured or struggling during the game.[2] During his last season, Nealy was a late addition to the Chicago Bulls team which won the 1993 NBA Championship,[3] although he did not play during the playoffs. He retired following the finals.[4]

Player profile

Due to his hustle, aggressiveness and court smarts, Nealy received positive feedback for his unselfish play and willingness to be physical throughout his career.

During Nealy's college playing career, Dean Smith, head coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels at the time, said about Nealy in anticipation of the Elite Eight game his team would play against Nealy's Kansas State Wildcats, "With some players, a rebound hits their hand and bounces off. Nealy catches it. He has hands like Bobby Jones and Adrian Dantley. He is going to be a great pro some day. I truly mean that."[5]

Phil Jackson, who coached Nealy while he played for the Bulls in the 1989-90 and 1992-93 seasons, remarked, "It's guys like Ed who make coaching a pleasure. If you give me a reason to put him into a game, he's going to find a way to contribute."[2] The book The Jordan Rules features Phil Jackson labelling Nealy as his "favorite player, smartest player on the team."Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

Personal life

Nealy's son, Spencer, played football at Texas A&M University.[6]

Career statistics

Legend
  GP Games 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
 †  Won an NBA championship

NBA

Source[7]

Regular season

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Template:Nbay Kansas City 82 61 20.0 .595 – .614 5.9 .8 .8 .1 4.4
Template:Nbay Kansas City 71 1 13.5 .500 – .800 3.1 .7 .6 .1 2.5
Template:Nbay Kansas City 22 0 10.1 .591 – .526 2.0 .8 .1 .0 2.8
Template:Nbay San Antonio 60 7 16.3 .438 .129 .739 4.7 1.4 .7 .2 3.7
Template:Nbay San Antonio 68 1 12.3 .459 .500 .651 3.3 .7 .4 .1 2.1
Template:Nbay Chicago 13 0 7.2 .714 – .500 1.8 .5 .2 .1 .8
Template:Nbay Phoenix 30 0 5.6 .276 .000 .429 1.8 .3 .1 .0 .6
Template:Nbay Chicago 46 0 10.9 .529 .000 .732 3.0 .6 .3 .1 2.3
Template:Nbay Phoenix 55 0 10.4 .464 .313 .737 2.7 .7 .4 .1 2.2
Template:Nbay Phoenix 52 4 9.7 .512 .400 .667 2.1 .7 .3 .0 3.1
Template:Nbay Golden State 30 4 7.6 .348 .318 .700 1.6 .4 .3 .0 1.5
Template:Nbay† Chicago 11 0 7.2 .435 .200 1.000 1.5 .2 .3 .1 2.1
Career 540 78 12.6 .498 .292 .684 3.3 .7 .5 .1 2.7

Playoffs

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
1984 Kansas City 2 – 9.5 1.000 – 1.000 3.0 1.0 .0 .0 3.0
1988 San Antonio 2 0 18.0 .500 – – 3.5 2.0 .5 .0 2.0
1989 Phoenix 4 0 1.5 .333 – – .8 .0 .0 .0 .5
1990 Chicago 15 0 15.2 .472 .000 .619 3.5 .3 .7 .1 3.1
1991 Phoenix 2 0 10.0 .200 .000 – 2.5 .0 .0 .0 1.0
1992 Phoenix 8 0 8.4 .389 .385 1.000 2.3 .5 .4 .0 2.9
Career 33 0 11.4 .441 .333 .704 2.8 .5 .4 .0 2.5

References

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External links

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