Marreese Speights facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Marreese Speights

Speights with the Warriors in 2015
Georgia Southern Eagles
Assistant coach
Personal information
Born	(1987-08-04) August 4, 1987 (age 37) St. Petersburg, Florida, U.S.
High school	Gibbs (St. Petersburg, Florida) Admiral Farragut Academy (St. Petersburg, Florida) Hargrave Military (Chatham, Virginia)
Listed height	6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
Listed weight	255 lb (116 kg)
Career information
College	Florida (2006–2008)
NBA Draft	2008 / Round: 1 / Pick: 16th overall
Selected by the Philadelphia 76ers
Pro career	2008–2021
Coaching career	2023–present
League	Sun Belt Conference
Career history
As player:
2008–2012	Philadelphia 76ers
2012–2013	Memphis Grizzlies
2013	Cleveland Cavaliers
2013–2016	Golden State Warriors
2016–2017	Los Angeles Clippers
2017–2018	Orlando Magic
2018–2021	Guangzhou Long-Lions
As coach:
2023–present	Georgia Southern (assistant)
Career highlights and awards
NBA champion (2015) NCAA champion (2007)

Marreese Akeem "Mo" Speights (born August 4, 1987) is an American former professional basketball player. He played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for many years. Before that, he played college basketball for the Florida Gators. He was part of their team that won the national championship in 2007. The Philadelphia 76ers picked him in the first round of the 2008 NBA draft.

Early Life and High School Basketball

Marreese Speights was born in St. Petersburg, Florida. He played basketball at several high schools. These included Admiral Farragut Academy, Hargrave Military Academy, and Gibbs High School. At Admiral Farragut Academy, his jersey number was even retired after just one year. Experts thought he was a top player in the nation in 2006.

College Basketball Career

Speights started playing for the University of Florida in the 2006–07 season. As a freshman, he helped the Gators win the national championship. He didn't play many minutes then because other strong players were ahead of him.

In his second year (2007–08), Speights played much more. He averaged about 14.5 points and 8.1 rebounds per game. After this great season, he decided to enter the 2008 NBA draft. This meant he would not return to play for the Gators.

Playing in the NBA

Philadelphia 76ers (2008–2012)

The Philadelphia 76ers chose Speights as the 16th pick in the 2008 NBA draft. He joined the team in July 2008. In his first year, he played in 79 games. He shot well from the field and the free-throw line.

Speights (right) playing against JaVale McGee in 2010

His second season started well, with more playing time. However, he injured his left knee in November. He missed 14 games because of this. When he came back, his playing time was less. This was partly because another player, Elton Brand, was playing very well.

For the 2010–11 season, the 76ers got a new coach, Doug Collins. The coach focused a lot on defense. Speights was known more for his offense, so his playing time went down. He averaged 5.4 points and 3.3 rebounds, which were career lows for him.

Memphis Grizzlies (2012–2013)

In January 2012, Speights moved to the Memphis Grizzlies in a trade. He re-signed with the Grizzlies in July 2012 for two years.

Cleveland Cavaliers (2013)

Speights trying to block a shot from Tony Allen

Speights was traded again in January 2013, this time to the Cleveland Cavaliers. He played 39 games for the Cavaliers. During this time, he averaged 10.2 points and 5.1 rebounds.

Golden State Warriors (2013–2016)

In July 2013, Speights signed with the Golden State Warriors. On February 10, 2014, he scored a career-high 32 points against his old team, the Philadelphia 76ers.

Speights won his first NBA championship with the Warriors in 2015. They beat the Cleveland Cavaliers in six games. He was a key player coming off the bench for the team. Fans even gave him the nickname "Mo Buckets."

In the 2015–16 season, Speights helped the Warriors start with a record of 24 wins and 0 losses. They also finished the season with the best record in NBA history, 73 wins and 9 losses. In the playoffs, he started shooting three-pointers, which he hadn't done much before. The Warriors made it to the NBA Finals again. They faced the Cleveland Cavaliers once more. Even though the Warriors were leading 3–1 in the series, they lost in seven games.

Los Angeles Clippers (2016–2017)

Speights signed with the Los Angeles Clippers in July 2016. He scored a season-high 23 points in a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder in January 2017. He decided to leave the Clippers in May 2017.

Orlando Magic (2017–2018)

In July 2017, Speights joined the Orlando Magic. In October 2017, he scored 18 points and made a career-high six 3-pointers in one game.

Guangzhou Loong Lions (2018–2021)

In July 2018, Speights signed with the Guangzhou Loong Lions in China. He played for them until 2021.

NBA Career Stats

Here are some of Marreese Speights' statistics from his time in the NBA.

Regular Season Stats

Playoff Stats

CBA Career Stats

See also

In Spanish: Marreese Speights para niños

• List of Florida Gators in the NBA