Dave Simmons (basketball, born 1963) facts for kids
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | April 13, 1963 |
| Nationality | American |
| High school | South Bronx (Bronx, New York) |
| Listed weight | 112 kg (247 lb) |
| Career information | |
| College |
|
| NBA Draft | 1987 / Undrafted |
| Pro career | 1989–2001 |
| Coaching career | 2003–2005 |
| Career history | |
| As player: | |
| 1989–1996 | Melbourne Tigers |
| 1994 | Westchester Stallions |
| 1997 | Newcastle Falcons |
| 1998 | Sydney Kings |
| 1998–1999 | Newcastle Falcons |
| 1999–2001 | Canberra Cannons |
| As coach: | |
| 2003 | Hunter Pirates (assistant) |
| 2003–2004 | Hunter Pirates (interim) |
| 2004–2005 | Hunter Pirates (assistant) |
| Career highlights and awards | |
|
|
David Simmons (born on April 13, 1963) is an American who used to play professional basketball. He played for 13 seasons in Australia's top league, the NBL. He was chosen as an NBL All-Star and helped the Melbourne Tigers win an NBL championship. The Tigers even retired his jersey number, 25, to honor him. After playing, he also spent two years coaching for the Hunter Pirates. David Simmons is also the father of NBA player Ben Simmons.
Contents
Early Life and College Basketball
David Simmons grew up in New York City. He went to South Bronx High School in The Bronx. After high school, he played college basketball in Oklahoma.
Playing for Oklahoma Colleges
He first joined Oklahoma Baptist University in 1981. He left after one season because he had trouble with his schoolwork. The next season, he played at El Reno Junior College (now called Redlands). There, he scored about 20 points in each game. He then went back to Oklahoma Baptist for the 1984–85 season.
In 1985, Simmons moved to Oklahoma City University. He did not play that season. In the 1986–87 season, he played and scored about 12 points per game.
Professional Basketball Career
After finishing college, David Simmons traveled around Central and South America for a short time. In 1989, he signed with the Melbourne Tigers in Australia's NBL.
Success with the Melbourne Tigers
Simmons and another American player, Dave Colbert, quickly became popular with fans in Melbourne. They helped the Tigers become a very successful team. In his first NBL game, Simmons scored 28 points. The next night, he scored 25 points and grabbed 15 rebounds. In his first season, he scored 30 or more points seven times. He even scored 40 points in one game against the Brisbane Bullets. Simmons, Colbert, and Australian basketball star Andrew Gaze helped the Tigers reach the NBL playoffs for the first time ever that season.
Simmons continued to play for the Tigers in the early 1990s. He was named an All-Star in his second season. In 1993, he helped the Tigers win the NBL championship, which was a huge achievement for the team.
Moving to Other Teams
In 1994, Simmons played briefly for the Westchester Stallions in the United States Basketball League. He then returned to the Melbourne Tigers for the 1994 NBL season. David Simmons was known as a great teammate. He always changed his playing style to fit what the team needed each season.
After the 1996 season, the Tigers decided to make a change. They wanted a player who could score more points, so Simmons left the team. He then joined the Newcastle Falcons in 1997, but only played one season there. In 1998, he joined the Sydney Kings for a short time, playing in only six games.
In December 1998, Simmons went back to the Newcastle Falcons for the rest of the 1998–99 NBL season. He filled in for another player who had left the team. After the NBL season, he played for the Rockhampton Rockets in the 1999 QBL season.
In September 1999, Simmons signed with the Canberra Cannons. He was able to play as a naturalized Australian citizen. He played two seasons for the Cannons. His playing career ended when he was released by the club near the end of the 2000–01 season.
Coaching Career
After his playing career, David Simmons became an assistant coach for the Hunter Pirates in the 2003–04 NBL season. In December 2003, he became the interim head coach after the previous coach, Bruce Palmer, left. When Adrian Hurley became the main coach for the 2004–05 season, Simmons stayed on as an assistant coach.
Personal Life
David Simmons is an African American who became an Australian citizen. He and his wife, Julie, have two children: a daughter named Olivia and a son named Ben. He also has four step-children: Melissa, Emily, Liam, and Sean. Emily is married to NFL player Michael Bush. David Patrick, a long-time friend of David Simmons, is the godfather of his son Ben. Patrick was an assistant coach at Louisiana State University (LSU) when Ben played there. Ben Simmons was chosen as the first overall pick by the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2016 NBA draft.
