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 team in the National Basketball Association (NBA).
Contents
Elston Turner's Playing Career
Elston Turner is 6 feet 5 inches (1.96 meters) tall. 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 last year, he helped Ole Miss reach the NCAA Tournament for the very first time!
Joining the NBA
In 1981, Elston was chosen by the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA draft. He was the 43rd player picked overall. He played in the NBA for eight seasons, from 1981 to 1989. During this time, he played for the Dallas Mavericks, the Denver Nuggets, and the Chicago Bulls.
Playing and Coaching Outside the NBA
Besides the NBA, Elston also played and coached in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA). He was an assistant coach for the Quad City Thunder. He also played and coached at the same time for the Chicago Rockers. Elston even played basketball professionally in Europe.
Elston Turner's Coaching Career
After his playing days, Elston Turner became a full-time coach in the NBA. He worked for the Sacramento Kings for six years and the Portland Trail Blazers for four years. In 2007, he joined Rick Adelman's coaching team with the Houston Rockets.
Seeking Head Coach Positions
Elston was considered for head coach jobs several times.
- In 2008, he was interviewed twice by the Phoenix Suns.
- In 2009, he was one of three finalists for the Minnesota Timberwolves head coach position.
- In 2010, he was interviewed by the Philadelphia 76ers and the Chicago Bulls. He also talked to the L.A. Clippers about their head coach job.
Assistant Coaching Roles
In 2011, Elston joined the Phoenix Suns as an assistant coach. He signed a two-year contract with them. In 2012, he was interviewed for the Portland Trail Blazers' head coach job, but he wasn't hired. He left the 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 again. This time, he was the lead assistant coach, focusing on defense.
On August 31, 2021, Elston Turner joined the Minnesota Timberwolves as an assistant coach.
About Elston Turner
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 junior and senior years.
See also
In Spanish: Elston Turner para niños
