LeRoy Ellis facts for kids
Ellis in 1972
|
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| No. 25, 44, 23, 14, | |
|---|---|
| Center / Power forward | |
| Personal information | |
| Born | March 10, 1940 Far Rockaway, New York |
| Nationality | American |
| Died | June 2, 2012 (aged 72) Scappoose, Oregon |
| High school | Thomas Jefferson (Brooklyn, New York) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) |
| Listed weight | 210 lb (95 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | St. John's (1959–1962) |
| NBA Draft | 1962 / Round: 1 / Pick: 6th overall |
| Selected by the Los Angeles Lakers | |
| Pro career | 1962–1976 |
| Career history | |
| 1962–1966 | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 1966–1970 | Baltimore Bullets |
| 1970–1971 | Portland Trail Blazers |
| 1971–1972 | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 1972–1976 | Philadelphia 76ers |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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| Career statistics | |
| Points | 10,176 (9.7 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 8,709 (8.3 rpg) |
| Assists | 1,405 (1.3 apg) |
| Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |
LeRoy Ellis (March 10, 1940 – June 2, 2012) was a talented American basketball player. He was known for his skills as a center and power forward. Ellis played for 14 seasons in the NBA. He was part of a championship team and set several records during his career.
Contents
LeRoy Ellis's Basketball Journey
College Achievements
LeRoy Ellis was a tall player, standing 6 feet 11 inches. He played college basketball at St. John's University. While there, he set impressive records. He had the highest rebounding average in a season, with 16.5 rebounds per game. He also grabbed 30 rebounds in a single game, which was a record.
In his final year, 1962, Ellis received the Haggerty Award. This award recognized him as the best college basketball player in the New York metropolitan area.
NBA Career Highlights
In 1962, the Los Angeles Lakers picked LeRoy Ellis in the first round of the 1962 NBA draft. He was the 8th player chosen overall. Ellis played in 1,048 games during his 14-year NBA career (1962–1976).
He played for several teams, including the Lakers, Baltimore Bullets, Portland Trail Blazers, and Philadelphia 76ers. A major highlight was being a member of the 1971–72 Los Angeles Lakers championship team. This team won the 1972 NBA Finals and set a record with 69 wins in the regular season. They also had an amazing 33-game winning streak, the longest in NBA history.
The next season, Ellis moved to the Philadelphia 76ers. At the end of his NBA career in 1976, he had scored 10,176 points. He also collected 8,709 rebounds.
Playing for the Portland Trail Blazers
LeRoy Ellis was part of the very first Portland Trail Blazers team in 1970–71. He was chosen by them in the 1970 expansion draft. He even started in their first-ever game.
He was the team's third-highest scorer, averaging 15.9 points per game. He was also their top rebounder, with 12.3 rebounds per game. This was the third-best rebounding average in the Blazers' first 30 years.
Life After Professional Basketball
Ellis and his family made their home in Portland, Oregon, during his time as a professional player. After retiring from basketball, he worked in the tire industry. He moved to Southern California to run a tire store in Orange County. Later, LeRoy Ellis and his wife returned to live in Portland.
LeRoy Ellis had several children who also played college basketball. His daughter Lisa played for California State University, Long Beach and the University of Kentucky. His oldest son, LeRoy Jr., played for the University of the Pacific and Kentucky Wesleyan College. Another son, LeRon, played at the University of Kentucky and Syracuse University. LeRon even played a few seasons in the NBA.
LeRoy Ellis passed away on June 2, 2012, at the age of 72.
See also
In Spanish: LeRoy Ellis para niños
