Keith Closs facts for kids
| Santiago Basket Titanes | |
|---|---|
| Head coach | |
| Personal information | |
| Born | April 3, 1976 Hartford, Connecticut, U.S. |
| High school | Sierra Vista (Baldwin Park, California) |
| Listed height | 7 ft 3 in (2.21 m) |
| Listed weight | 212 lb (96 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Central Connecticut (1994–1996) |
| NBA Draft | 1997 / Undrafted |
| Pro career | 1996–2012 |
| Coaching career | 2023–present |
| League | LDC |
| Career history | |
| As player: | |
| 1996–1997 | Norwich Neptunes |
| 1997–2000 | Los Angeles Clippers |
| 2001, 2003 | Pennsylvania Valley Dawgs |
| 2004–2005 | Rockford Lightning |
| 2005 | Gary Steelheads |
| 2006–2007 | Butte Daredevils |
| 2007 | Buffalo Silverbacks |
| 2007–2008 | Tulsa 66ers |
| 2008 | Yunnan Bulls |
| 2012 | Santa Barbara Breakers |
| As coach: | |
| 2023–present | Santiago Basket Titanes |
| Career highlights and awards | |
|
|
Keith Mitchell Closs Jr. (born April 3, 1976) is an American basketball coach and former player. He currently works as the head coach for the Santiago Basket Titanes team. This team plays in the Laliga de Campeones (LDC). Keith Closs played as a center during his time as a professional player.
Contents
College Basketball Star
Keith Closs is very tall, standing at 7 feet 3 inches (2.21 meters) and weighing 212 pounds (96 kg). He played college basketball at Central Connecticut State University. During his two years there, he was the best in the country at blocking shots. He still holds an amazing record for NCAA Division I players. He blocked an average of 5.87 shots per game throughout his college career.
Playing in the NBA
Time with the Los Angeles Clippers
After playing for the Norwich Neptunes, Keith Closs joined the Los Angeles Clippers in 1997. He played three seasons as a backup center for this National Basketball Association (NBA) team. This was from 1997 to 2000.
During his time with the Clippers, he averaged about 3.9 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game. In the 1999–2000 season, he achieved his highest numbers for points, rebounds, assists, and steals. He also set a club record for the most blocked shots per 48 minutes, with 4.7 blocks.
Playing for Other Teams
After his time in the NBA, Keith Closs continued his professional career. He played for the Pennsylvania Valley Dawgs in the USBL in 2001 and 2003.
In 2004, he joined the Rockford Lightning in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA). He was a top blocker in this league, averaging 4.4 blocks per game. He also scored 7.2 points and grabbed 7.0 rebounds per game. He later played for the Gary Steelheads in the same league during the 2004–05 season.
Closs also played for the Butte Daredevils in the CBA during the 2006–07 season. After that, he joined the Buffalo Silverbacks in the American Basketball Association. In 2007, he was picked by the Tulsa 66ers in the NBA Development League draft.
In December 2008, Keith Closs played for the Yunnan Bulls in the Chinese league. There, he averaged 16.1 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 5.9 blocked shots per game. His last known playing team was the Santa Barbara Breakers in 2012.
Becoming a Coach
On July 21, 2023, Keith Closs began a new chapter in his basketball career. He was announced as the head coach for the Santiago Basket Titanes team. This team plays in the Dominican Laliga de Campeones. In August 2022, he also worked as an assistant coach in the Turkish basketball league.
Career Statistics
| Legend | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
NBA
Source
Regular Season
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997–98 | L.A. Clippers | 58 | 1 | 12.8 | .449 | – | .597 | 2.9 | .3 | .2 | 1.4 | 4.0 |
| 1998–99 | L.A. Clippers | 15 | 0 | 5.8 | .522 | .000 | .800 | 1.7 | .0 | .2 | .6 | 2.1 |
| 1999–2000 | L.A. Clippers | 57 | 6 | 14.4 | .487 | .000 | .590 | 3.1 | .4 | .2 | 1.3 | 4.2 |
| Career | 130 | 7 | 12.7 | .471 | .000 | .606 | 2.9 | .3 | .2 | 1.3 | 3.9 |
Fun Facts About Keith
Keith Closs is the oldest of six children in his family. His favorite book is called Giant Steps, written by the famous basketball player Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Keith Closs has a son named Keith M. Closs III, who was born on January 21, 2000. His father, Keith Mitchell Closs Sr., passed away on December 1, 2017.
Interestingly, Keith Closs has one of the lowest Body Mass Index (BMI) values among all players in NBA history.
See also
In Spanish: Keith Closs para niños
- List of tallest players in National Basketball Association history
- List of NCAA Division I men's basketball players with 13 or more blocks in a game
- List of NCAA Division I men's basketball season blocks leaders
