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Eric Maynor
Eric Maynor Wizards.jpg
Maynor with the Wizards
Oklahoma City Thunder
Assistant coach
Personal information
Born (1987-06-11) June 11, 1987 (age 38)
Raeford, North Carolina, U.S.
High school
Listed height 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Listed weight 175 lb (79 kg)
Career information
College VCU (2005–2009)
NBA Draft 2009 / Round: 1 / Pick: 20th overall
Selected by the Utah Jazz
Pro career 2009–2018
Coaching career 2019–present
League NBA
Career history
As player:
2009 Utah Jazz
2009–2013 Oklahoma City Thunder
2013 Portland Trail Blazers
2013–2014 Washington Wizards
2014 Philadelphia 76ers
2015 Varese
2015–2016 Nizhny Novgorod
2016–2017 Varese
2017–2018 Orlandina
As coach:
2019–2021 Oklahoma City Blue (assistant)
2021–present Oklahoma City Thunder (player development)
Career highlights and awards
  • 2× CAA Player of the Year (2008, 2009)
  • 3× First-team All-CAA (2007–2009)
  • No. 3 jersey retired by VCU Rams

Eric Demarqua Maynor (born June 11, 1987) is an American former professional basketball player. He is currently an assistant coach for the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA.

Eric played college basketball for Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). During his senior year, he was a top player. He averaged 22.4 points, 6.2 assists, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.7 steals per game.

He was drafted by the Utah Jazz in 2009. He also played for other NBA teams. These included the Oklahoma City Thunder, Portland Trail Blazers, Washington Wizards, and Philadelphia 76ers.

Early Life and Family

Eric Demarqua Maynor was born on June 11, 1987. He grew up in Raeford, North Carolina. He was the third of four children. His parents were George Maynor and Barbara Robinson.

Eric's father, George, also played college basketball. He was even picked by the Chicago Bulls in the 1979 NBA draft.

High School Basketball

Eric Maynor started playing basketball at Hoke County High School. Later, he moved to Westover High School for his senior year. He wanted to play with his friend and teammate, De'shaune Griffin.

Eric led his team to the North Carolina state championship game. He scored 25 points in the final game on March 14, 2005. Even though they lost, Eric had an amazing season. He was named to the 2004-05 North Carolina All-State Basketball team.

College Basketball Career

Eric Maynor played basketball for four years at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). He studied Sports Management and earned his degree there.

Freshman Year (2005–06)

As a freshman, Eric played in 29 games for VCU. By the end of the season, he became a starter. He averaged 4.7 points and 2.2 assists per game.

Sophomore Year (2006–07)

On March 15, 2007, Eric Maynor had a memorable game. He scored 22 points against Duke. He made the game-winning shot, helping VCU win in the first round of the 2007 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament. He also made a last-minute shot to help VCU win the 2007 Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) championship game.

In the summer of 2007, Eric was chosen to play for the United States. He joined the team for the Pan American Games. However, a hip injury stopped him from playing more than two games. He was also considered one of the top 50 players for the John R. Wooden Award. This is a very important award in college basketball.

Junior Year (2007–08)

Eric helped VCU win the CAA regular-season title. He was named the CAA Player of the Year. He was also chosen for the All-CAA first team.

Senior Year (2008–09)

During his senior year, Eric Maynor set new records at VCU. He became the school's all-time leader in assists. He also made the most free throws in VCU history. On February 28, 2009, he became VCU's all-time leading scorer. By March 10, 2009, he had scored a record 1,929 points.

Eric led VCU to another CAA title. He scored 25 points in the championship game against George Mason. VCU went to the NCAA Tournament that year. They lost to UCLA when Eric's last-second shot missed.

Professional Basketball Career

Playing in the NBA

Utah Jazz (2009)

The Utah Jazz picked Eric Maynor 20th overall in the 2009 NBA draft. He was the first VCU player ever chosen in the first round of the NBA draft. Eric was excited to learn from experienced players like Deron Williams.

Oklahoma City Thunder (2009–2013)

In December 2009, Eric was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder. He became the backup point guard for the Thunder. He played behind the rising star Russell Westbrook.

In January 2012, Eric tore a ligament in his right knee. This injury meant he missed the rest of the season. Without him, the Thunder made it to the 2012 NBA Finals. However, they lost to the Miami Heat.

Portland Trail Blazers (2013)

In February 2013, Eric was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers. The Blazers' general manager, Neil Olshey, was happy to have him. He said Eric was good at making smart decisions with the ball. He hoped Eric would be a great long-term addition to the team.

Washington Wizards (2013–2014)

Eric Maynor signed with the Washington Wizards in July 2013.

Philadelphia 76ers (2014)

In February 2014, Eric was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers. He played a few games before being released by the team in March 2014.

Playing in Europe

After his time in the NBA, Eric Maynor played basketball in Europe.

  • In January 2015, he signed with Pallacanestro Varese in Italy.
  • In July 2015, he joined the Russian team Nizhny Novgorod.
  • In July 2016, he returned to Pallacanestro Varese for another season.
  • In November 2017, Eric signed with Orlandina Basket, another Italian club.

The Basketball Tournament

In 2017, Eric Maynor played in The Basketball Tournament. This is an annual competition where teams compete for a $2 million prize. He played for Ram Nation, a team made up of VCU alumni. Eric helped his team reach the Elite 8. They lost a close game to the eventual champions, Overseas Elite.

Coaching Career

After his playing career, Eric Maynor became a basketball coach.

  • In September 2019, he became an assistant coach for the Oklahoma City Blue. This team is part of the NBA G League.
  • In August 2021, Eric moved to the Oklahoma City Thunder. He now works as a player development coach for the main NBA team. He helps players improve their skills.

Images for kids

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Eric Maynor para niños

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