Ed O'Bannon facts for kids
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O'Bannon in 2008
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| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | August 14, 1972 Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
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| High school | Artesia (Lakewood, California) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Listed weight | 222 lb (101 kg) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Career information | ||||||||||||||||||||
| College | UCLA (1991–1995) | |||||||||||||||||||
| NBA Draft | 1995 / Round: 1 / Pick: 9th overall | |||||||||||||||||||
| Selected by the New Jersey Nets | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Pro career | 1995–2004 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Career history | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 1995–1997 | New Jersey Nets | |||||||||||||||||||
| 1997 | Dallas Mavericks | |||||||||||||||||||
| 1998 | La Crosse Bobcats | |||||||||||||||||||
| 1998 | Acegas A.P.S. Trieste | |||||||||||||||||||
| 1998–1999 | CB Valladolid | |||||||||||||||||||
| 1999–2000 | Rethymno Aegean | |||||||||||||||||||
| 1999–2000 | Boca Juniors | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2000–2001 | Los Angeles Stars | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2001–2002 | Anwil Włocławek | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2002–2003 | Polonia Warszawa | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2003–2004 | Ostromecko Astoria Bydgoszcz | |||||||||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| Career NBA statistics | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Points | 634 (5.0 ppg) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Rebounds | 316 (2.5 rpg) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Assists | 102 (0.8 apg) | |||||||||||||||||||
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Medals
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Edward Charles O'Bannon Jr. (born August 14, 1972) is a former professional basketball player from the United States. He played as a power forward for the UCLA Bruins. He helped them win the NCAA championship in 1995.
After college, the New Jersey Nets picked him ninth overall in the 1995 NBA draft. He played two seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Later, he spent eight more years playing professional basketball, mostly in Europe. O'Bannon was also the main person in a big lawsuit against the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). This lawsuit led to changes in how college athletes could be paid for their image.
Contents
Early Life and High School Basketball
Ed O'Bannon grew up in South Los Angeles, California. He went to Artesia High School. In his final year, he was an amazing player. He averaged 24.6 points and 9.7 rebounds per game.
He led his high school team to a 29–2 record. They also won the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Division II state championship. Ed was named a McDonald's High School All-American. He was also chosen as the national high school player of the year by Basketball Times.
College Career at UCLA
Ed first planned to go to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). But he changed his mind when UNLV's basketball program faced problems. He decided to attend UCLA instead.
Just before starting practice at UCLA, Ed had a serious injury. He tore a ligament in his knee during a pickup game. Doctors thought he might not walk properly again. But after 18 months and surgery, he returned to play basketball.
Becoming a College Star
In his first year, Ed played in 23 games but did not start. By his second season in 1993, he was a top player. He was named to the first team All-Pacific-10 (Pac-10) Conference team. In his junior year, he was named the team's Most Valuable Player (MVP). He was again first team All-Pac-10.
His senior year in 1994–95 was his best. Ed was key to UCLA winning the 1995 NCAA Basketball Championship. In the championship game, he scored 30 points and grabbed 17 rebounds. He was named the NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player.
For that season, he averaged 20.4 points and 8.3 rebounds. He won several major awards, including the John R. Wooden Award. He was also a consensus first team All-American. UCLA later retired his number 31 jersey in 1996. He was also added to the UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame in 2005.
NBA Career Journey
Ed O'Bannon hoped to play for a team on the west coast. But the New Jersey Nets drafted him ninth overall in the 1995 NBA draft. He signed a three-year contract. However, he felt homesick and struggled to find his place in the NBA.
His knee also started to cause problems. He played for the Nets and then was traded to the Dallas Mavericks. He played two seasons in the NBA before his career there ended. Ed later said his struggles were more about confidence than injury.
Playing Overseas and Beyond
After his NBA career, Ed played professional basketball for seven years. He played in countries like Italy, Spain, Greece, Argentina, and Poland. He also played one year in the ABA for the Los Angeles Stars.
He decided to retire from playing basketball at age 32. This was after he had knee surgery. Ed played for many different teams and coaches during his professional career.
Life After Basketball
After retiring from basketball, Ed O'Bannon worked in different fields. In 2009, he was a marketing director for a car dealership in Las Vegas. He once told the Los Angeles Times that he was proud to tell people he sold cars.
By 2020, he became a probation officer in Las Vegas. He also coached basketball at Green Valley High School. Later, he became the head coach for the boys' basketball team at Henderson International School.
The Lawsuit Against the NCAA
Ed O'Bannon became the main person in a big lawsuit called O'Bannon v. NCAA. This lawsuit was against the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). It was about how the NCAA used the images of former college athletes for money.
The lawsuit argued that once athletes finished college, they should be paid if their image was used for things like video games. In 2011, famous basketball player Oscar Robertson joined the lawsuit. On August 8, 2014, a judge ruled that the NCAA's rules about not paying athletes were against the law.
In 2015, Ed O'Bannon appeared in a funny commercial on Last Week Tonight with John Oliver. The commercial made fun of how college athletes were not paid. In 2018, he wrote a book about his fight with the NCAA. It was called Court Justice: The Inside Story of My Battle Against the NCAA.
Ed supported the Fair Pay to Play Act in California. This law allowed college athletes to get money from endorsement deals. Later, the Supreme Court made a ruling that allowed college athletes to be paid for their name, image and likeness. This was a big change for college sports.
Personal Life and Family
Ed O'Bannon went back to college to finish his degree. In 2011, he graduated from UCLA with a degree in history.
Ed has a younger brother named Charles O'Bannon. Charles also played basketball at UCLA and won the championship with Ed. He later played for the Detroit Pistons. Ed's half-brother, Turhon O'Bannon, played college football and professionally in Canada.
Ed O'Bannon lives in Henderson, Nevada, with his wife, Rosa. They have three children. His daughter Jazmin played college basketball at UNLV.
NBA Career Stats Summary
Ed O'Bannon played 128 games in the NBA. He started 34 of those games.
- Points per game: 5.0
- Rebounds per game: 2.5
- Assists per game: 0.8
See also
In Spanish: Ed O'Bannon para niños
