John Amaechi facts for kids
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| Personal information | ||||||||||||||
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| Born | 26 November 1970 Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
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| Nationality | British / Nigerian | |||||||||||||
| High school |
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| Listed height | 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) | |||||||||||||
| Listed weight | 270 lb (122 kg) | |||||||||||||
| Career information | ||||||||||||||
| College |
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| NBA Draft | 1995 / Undrafted | |||||||||||||
| Pro career | 1995–2003 | |||||||||||||
| Career history | ||||||||||||||
| 1987–1988 | Manchester United Basketball | |||||||||||||
| 1995–1996 | Cleveland Cavaliers | |||||||||||||
| 1996 | Cholet | |||||||||||||
| 1996–1997 | Panathinaikos | |||||||||||||
| 1997 | Virtus Bologna | |||||||||||||
| 1997–1998 | Sheffield Sharks | |||||||||||||
| 1998–1999 | CSP Limoges | |||||||||||||
| 1999–2001 | Orlando Magic | |||||||||||||
| 2001–2003 | Utah Jazz | |||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | ||||||||||||||
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| Career NBA statistics | ||||||||||||||
| Points | 1,837 (6.2 ppg) | |||||||||||||
| Rebounds | 772 (2.6 rpg) | |||||||||||||
| Assists | 228 (0.8 apg) | |||||||||||||
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John Amaechi is a British psychologist, consultant, and former professional basketball player. He was born on November 26, 1970. John played college basketball in the United States before joining the National Basketball Association (NBA). He also played basketball in France, Greece, Italy, and the United Kingdom. After retiring from basketball, Amaechi started his own company, Amaechi Performance Systems, where he works as a psychologist and consultant.
Contents
Early Life and School
John Amaechi was born in Boston, USA. His mother was English, and his father was Nigerian. He grew up in Stockport, England, with his mother and two younger sisters. He went to Tithe Barn Primary School and then Stockport Grammar School.
John started playing basketball when he was 17 years old. His coach, Joe Forber, was a very important person in his life. Amaechi first played for Manchester United Basketball. His skills led him to move to the United States. There, he played high school basketball at St. John's Jesuit High School in Ohio.
He began his college basketball career at Vanderbilt University. Later, he transferred to Penn State. While at Penn State, he was recognized twice as a First Team Academic All-American. This means he was excellent in both sports and academics. During his time at Penn State, John also became a public speaker. He mentored young people in the area.
Basketball Career Highlights
John Amaechi is 6 feet 10 inches tall and weighed 270 pounds during his playing days. He played as a center. He was not chosen in the NBA draft but signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 1995. He made history by being the first undrafted player to start his first NBA game. This happened because the Cavaliers' main center was injured.
John played 28 games for the Cavaliers in the 1995–96 NBA season. After that, he spent two years playing in Europe. He played for teams in France, Italy, Greece, and the United Kingdom. In 1996, he won the 1996 FIBA Intercontinental Cup with Panathinaikos. He was one of the top scorers for his team in that tournament.
He returned to the NBA in 1999, joining the Orlando Magic. In the 1999–2000 NBA season, he averaged 10.5 points per game. Amaechi famously turned down a large contract offer from the Los Angeles Lakers in 2000. He chose to stay with the Orlando Magic for less money. He later played for the Utah Jazz from 2001 to 2003.
In 2003, he was traded to the Houston Rockets. Although he was an active player, he did not play any games for them. He was then traded to the New York Knicks. The Knicks later ended his contract, and he retired from basketball.
Career After Basketball
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After retiring from the NBA, John Amaechi returned to play for England. He represented his country at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne. He helped the England team win a bronze medal. In total, Amaechi played 18 games for England.
John has also worked in the media. He has been a basketball commentator for British TV shows covering the NBA. He also worked for the BBC during the Olympic games. In 2009, Amaechi was a judge on the BBC show The Speaker. He has also been a guest host on BBC Radio Manchester.
Amaechi owns a company called Amaechi Performance Systems. This company helps other businesses improve their leadership and communication skills. It also works on making organizations more diverse.
John Amaechi is a member of important psychology groups. These include the American Psychological Association and the British Psychological Society. He is also a senior fellow at the Centre for Emotional Literacy and Personal Development at the University of Central Lancashire in the UK.
He is involved with the ABC Foundation in Manchester. This foundation helps children get involved in sports and their communities. They build youth sports centers across the United Kingdom. The first center, the Amaechi Basketball Centre, is in Manchester. It is also home to the English Basketball League teams, the Manchester Magic (men) and Manchester Mystics (women), which Amaechi owns.
John Amaechi has also pursued further education. He has stated that he is working towards a PhD in psychology. He wants to do more meaningful work in his life. He once explained why he chose to play for Orlando for less money. He said it was because Orlando signed him when no other team would. He believes his word is worth a lot.
Awards and Recognition
John Amaechi has received several honors for his achievements. On July 19, 2007, Manchester Metropolitan University gave him an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Science. This was to recognize his success as an athlete and broadcaster. It also honored his charity work with the National Literacy Trust and the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC). His work with the ABC Foundation was also recognized.
In 2011, Amaechi was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE). This award was for his services to sport and his volunteer work. He also received an Honorary Doctorate of Arts from the University of East London.
Images for kids
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John Amaechi
See also
In Spanish: John Amaechi para niños
