Eric Snow facts for kids
Snow with the Cavaliers in 2007
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | April 24, 1973 Canton, Ohio, U.S. |
| High school | Canton McKinley (Canton, Ohio) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
| Listed weight | 208 lb (94 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Michigan State (1991–1995) |
| NBA Draft | 1995 / Round: 2 / Pick: 43rd overall |
| Selected by the Milwaukee Bucks | |
| Pro career | 1995–2009 |
| Coaching career | 2014–present |
| Career history | |
| As player: | |
| 1995–1998 | Seattle SuperSonics |
| 1998–2004 | Philadelphia 76ers |
| 2004–2009 | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| As coach: | |
| 2012–2014 | SMU (dir. of player development) |
| 2014–2016 | Florida Atlantic (assistant) |
| 2017–2021 | Texas Legends (assistant) |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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| Career NBA statistics | |
| Points | 5,791 (6.8 ppg) |
| Assists | 4,245 (5.0 apg) |
| Steals | 975 (1.2 spg) |
Eric Snow, born on April 24, 1973, is an American basketball coach and former player. He played as a point guard in the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1995 to 2008. Eric was known for his strong defense. He was even named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team in 2003. After playing, he became a coach, working at different universities and in the NBA G League.
Contents
Early Life
Eric Snow was born on April 24, 1973, in Canton, Ohio.
High School Career
Eric started his basketball journey at Canton McKinley High School in Canton. He was the most valuable player (MVP) for his high school team for three years in a row. He was also chosen as a first-team All-Ohio player during his junior and senior years. In his junior year, Eric helped his team reach the state championship tournament's final four.
College Career
Eric Snow went to Michigan State University (MSU) for college. He played basketball for Michigan State under coach Jud Heathcote, who is now in the College Basketball Hall of Fame. Eric led his team in assists and steals for three seasons, from 1992 to 1995. His teams made it to the NCAA Tournament in 1992, 1994, and 1995. They reached the second round in 1992 and 1994.
In his senior year (1994-1995), Eric was a co-captain of the team. He was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. He also made the All-Big Ten Second Team and was the team's MVP. That year, MSU finished second in the Big Ten. They were a high seed in the 1995 NCAA Tournament but lost in the first round.
Professional Career
Seattle SuperSonics (1995–1998)
The Milwaukee Bucks picked Eric Snow as the 43rd player in the 1995 NBA draft. They immediately traded him to the Seattle SuperSonics. In his first two seasons, Eric played very little. He was the third-string point guard behind star players Gary Payton and Nate McMillan. In his first year, Seattle made it to the 1996 NBA Finals, but they lost to the Chicago Bulls.
In 1997, Eric re-signed with the SuperSonics. He was told he would be the main backup point guard. However, coach George Karl preferred older players. The team signed another veteran, pushing Eric back to third on the depth chart.
Philadelphia 76ers (1998–2004)
Because he wasn't getting much playing time, Eric was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers in January 1998. At the time, he was playing only about 4 minutes per game. The Sixers' coach, Larry Brown, gave him a much bigger role. Eric became a key player for the 76ers. He was known for his strong defense and good passing. He was a perfect fit with star player Allen Iverson, who was a great scorer but a smaller shooting guard. Eric's teammates really respected him for his defense and ball-handling skills.
In his first full season with the Sixers (1998-99), Eric started every game. He helped the team make the playoffs for the first time in eight years. They surprised the Orlando Magic in the first round of the 1999 NBA Playoffs. In the 1999-2000 season, he started 80 games and had a career-high 7.6 assists per game.
In the 2000–01 season, Eric missed some games due to an ankle injury. However, he played a very important part in helping the 76ers reach the 2001 NBA Finals. They lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in five games. Even with a fractured ankle, Eric played in all the important playoff games. Lakers star Kobe Bryant later said that Eric Snow was the best defender he ever faced.
In the 2002–03 season, Eric was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team. He started all 82 games that year. He also had his best season for scoring, rebounds, and minutes played. He greatly improved his free throw shooting, which was amazing because he had struggled with it earlier in his career. The team did well in the first round of the playoffs but lost in the second round. In his last season with the Sixers (2003-04), Eric again started all 82 games.
Cleveland Cavaliers (2004–2009)
In July 2004, Eric was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers. He quickly became an important player for the team. He played in and started all 82 games for the Cavaliers in the 2005–06 season. This helped the Cavaliers return to the playoffs for the first time since 1998. He was also a team captain that season.
In his 12th NBA season (2006-2007), Eric was named co-captain with LeBron James. LeBron James often spoke about how much he respected Eric's experience and leadership. Eric played in all 82 games for the fifth and final time in his career. He also helped mentor younger players like Daniel Gibson and LeBron James. The Cavaliers made it to the 2007 NBA Finals but lost to the San Antonio Spurs.
In his final season (2007-2008), Eric played only 22 games due to a serious knee injury. He later realized that this injury would end his playing career. Even though he couldn't play, Eric stayed with the Cavaliers. He worked as an unofficial assistant coach for the 2008–09 season. After that, he worked as a basketball analyst for NBA TV and later as a broadcaster for Sixers games.
Career Overview
During his 13 years playing in the NBA, Eric Snow reached the NBA Finals three times. He made it to the Finals with each of the three teams he played for: the SuperSonics in 1996, the 76ers in 2001, and the Cavaliers in 2007. All three times, his team lost. In Philadelphia and Cleveland, Eric was a team co-captain alongside stars like Allen Iverson and LeBron James.
He played in 846 games during his career. He averaged about 6.8 points and 5 assists per game. However, Eric's true value to his teams came from his leadership, intelligence, willingness to sacrifice for the team, and tough defense. His former coach, Larry Brown, once said that Eric's defense, unselfishness, and toughness were key to the Sixers' success.
Coaching Career
After his playing career, Eric Snow became a coach. From 2012 to 2014, he was the director of player development for Southern Methodist University (SMU). He worked under his former NBA coach, Larry Brown. Then, he spent two years (2014–2016) as an assistant coach for Florida Atlantic University. In 2017, he joined the Texas Legends in the NBA G League as an assistant coach. By the 2020-2021 season, he was the Legends' associate head coach.
Honors and Awards
Eric Snow has received many awards that show how much people respect his character. In 2005, the Professional Basketball Writers Association gave him the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award. This award is for players who show great service to their community. He also received the NBA Sportsmanship Award in 2000. This award is given to players who show fair play and ethical behavior.
Personal Life
Eric Snow is the younger brother of Percy Snow, who was a professional football player in the NFL. Percy also played at Michigan State University.
Eric married his college girlfriend, Deshawn, in 1998. They later divorced in 2010. They have three sons: Jarren, Darius, and Eric Jr. With his second wife, Carrie, he has three more sons: Noah, Graceson, and Brayden.
In 2010, Eric wrote a book called "Leading High Performers: The Ultimate Guide to Being a Fast, Fluid and Flexible Leader." In 2012, he donated $1 million to build a YMCA in downtown Canton, his hometown. The YMCA now has his name. His son Darius started playing football for Michigan State University in 2020.
