Elston Turner facts for kids
| Minnesota Timberwolves | |
|---|---|
| Assistant coach | |
| Personal information | |
| Born | June 10, 1959 Knoxville, Tennessee, U. S. |
| High school | Austin-East (Knoxville, Tennessee) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) |
| Listed weight | 190 lb (86 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Ole Miss (1977–1981) |
| NBA Draft | 1981 / Round: 2 / Pick: 43rd overall |
| Selected by the Dallas Mavericks | |
| Pro career | 1981–1995 |
| Coaching career | 1994–present |
| League | NBA |
| Career history | |
| As player: | |
| 1981–1984 | Dallas Mavericks |
| 1984–1986 | Denver Nuggets |
| 1986–1988 | Chicago Bulls |
| 1988–1989 | Denver Nuggets |
| 1989–1990 | Rockford Lightning |
| 1990 | Granollers |
| 1990 | Scavolini Pesaro |
| 1990–1991 | Apollon Patras |
| 1992–1995 | Wichita Falls Texans / Chicago Rockers |
| As coach: | |
| 1994–1995 | Chicago Rockers |
| 1995–1996 | Quad City Thunder (assistant) |
| 1996–2000 | Portland Trail Blazers (assistant) |
| 2000–2006 | Sacramento Kings (assistant) |
| 2007–2011 | Houston Rockets (assistant) |
| 2011–2013 | Phoenix Suns (assistant) |
| 2013–2016 | Memphis Grizzlies (assistant) |
| 2016–2019 | Sacramento Kings (assistant) |
| 2019–2020 | Houston Rockets (assistant) |
| 2021–present | Minnesota Timberwolves (assistant) |
| Career highlights and awards | |
|
|
| Career NBA statistics | |
| Points | 2,397 (4.7 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 1,375 (2.7 rpg) |
| Assists | 914 (1.7 apg) |
Elston Howard Turner Sr. was born on June 10, 1959. He is an American former professional basketball player. Today, he works as an assistant coach for the Minnesota Timberwolves in the National Basketball Association (NBA).
Contents
Playing Basketball
Elston Turner was a 6-foot-5-inch (1.96 m) player. He played as a shooting guard and small forward. He went to the University of Mississippi, where he played for the Ole Miss team. In his final year, he helped Ole Miss reach the NCAA Tournament for the very first time.
NBA Career as a Player
In the 1981 NBA draft, the Dallas Mavericks chose Elston Turner. He was the 43rd player picked overall. He played in the NBA for eight seasons. From 1981 to 1989, he played for the Dallas Mavericks, the Denver Nuggets, and the Chicago Bulls.
Playing and Coaching in Other Leagues
Besides the NBA, Elston Turner also played and coached in other basketball leagues. He was an assistant coach for the Quad City Thunder. He also played and coached for the Chicago Rockers at the same time. He even played basketball professionally in Europe. In 1990, he won the Italian League championship.
Coaching Basketball
After his playing career, Elston Turner became a full-time coach. He has worked for many different teams in the NBA.
Early Coaching Roles
Turner started his NBA coaching career with the Sacramento Kings, where he worked for six years. He also spent four years as an assistant coach for the Portland Trail Blazers. In 2007, he joined Rick Adelman's coaching team at the Houston Rockets.
Seeking Head Coach Positions
Elston Turner was considered for several head coach jobs.
- In 2008, he had two interviews for the Phoenix Suns' head coach position.
- In 2009, he was one of the top three choices for the Minnesota Timberwolves head coach job.
- In 2010, he was interviewed by the Philadelphia 76ers and the Chicago Bulls for their head coaching roles. He also talked to the L.A. Clippers about their open head coach position.
Assistant Coaching Roles
In 2011, Turner became an assistant coach for the Phoenix Suns. He signed a two-year contract with them. In 2012, he was interviewed for the Portland Trail Blazers' head coach position again. He left the Phoenix Suns in January 2013.
Later in 2013, the Memphis Grizzlies hired him as an assistant coach. In 2016, he went back to the Sacramento Kings as an assistant coach. In 2019, he returned to the Houston Rockets. There, he was the lead assistant coach, focusing on defense.
Current Coaching Role
On August 31, 2021, Elston Turner joined the Minnesota Timberwolves as an assistant coach. He is still with the team today.
Personal Life
Elston Turner is a member of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity. His son, Elston Turner Jr., also played basketball. Elston Jr. played guard for the University of Washington Huskies men's basketball team from 2008 to 2010. He then moved to Texas A&M University for his last two college seasons.
See also
In Spanish: Elston Turner para niños
