Melvin Ely facts for kids
Melvin Anderson Ely, born on May 2, 1978, is a former professional basketball player from the United States. He also worked as an assistant coach for the Canton Charge in the NBA G League. Standing 6 feet 10 inches tall and weighing 261 pounds, Ely played as a power forward and center. He was chosen by the Los Angeles Clippers in the first round of the 2002 NBA draft.
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||
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| Born | May 2, 1978 Harvey, Illinois, U.S. |
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| High school | Thornton Township (Harvey, Illinois) |
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| Listed height | 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) | |||||||||||||
| Listed weight | 261 lb (118 kg) | |||||||||||||
| Career information | ||||||||||||||
| College | Fresno State (1998–2002) | |||||||||||||
| NBA Draft | 2002 / Round: 1 / Pick: 12th overall | |||||||||||||
| Selected by the Los Angeles Clippers | ||||||||||||||
| Pro career | 2002–2016 | |||||||||||||
| Coaching career | 2016–2019 | |||||||||||||
| Career history | ||||||||||||||
| As player: | ||||||||||||||
| 2002–2004 | Los Angeles Clippers | |||||||||||||
| 2004–2007 | Charlotte Bobcats | |||||||||||||
| 2007 | San Antonio Spurs | |||||||||||||
| 2007–2009 | New Orleans Hornets | |||||||||||||
| 2010–2011 | Denver Nuggets | |||||||||||||
| 2012 | Brujos de Guayama | |||||||||||||
| 2012–2014 | Texas Legends | |||||||||||||
| 2014 | New Orleans Pelicans | |||||||||||||
| 2014–2015 | Gunma Crane Thunders | |||||||||||||
| As coach: | ||||||||||||||
| 2016–2019 | Canton Charge (assistant) | |||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | ||||||||||||||
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Contents
Early Basketball Career
High School Achievements
Melvin Ely went to Harvey Thornton High School. There, he became an All-American player. This means he was recognized as one of the best high school players in the country. In his senior year, 1997, he averaged 15.5 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 5.2 blocked shots per game. He was named the Chicago Sun-Times player of the year.
His high school team, the Wildcats, had amazing success. They finished second in the state championship in 1995 and 1996. In 1997, they placed third. During Ely's three years as a starter, the team won 93 games and lost only 4. This included impressive records of 32-1 in 1997 and 31-1 in 1996.
College Success at Fresno State
Melvin Ely played college basketball at Fresno State. He played under coach Jerry Tarkanian. Ely helped his team reach the NCAA tournament twice, in 2000 and 2001. He was also named the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Player of the Year two years in a row, in 2001 and 2002. This award goes to the best player in the conference.
Professional Basketball Journey
Starting in the NBA
After college, Melvin Ely was drafted by the Los Angeles Clippers in 2002. He played with them for two seasons. In 2004, he was traded to the Charlotte Bobcats. There, he started to play a more important role as a reserve player. He stayed with the Bobcats for two seasons, from 2004 to 2006.
Winning an NBA Championship
In 2007, Ely was traded to the San Antonio Spurs. Even though he played only a few games for them, the Spurs went on to win the NBA championship that year. This meant Melvin Ely earned an NBA championship ring, a special award for being part of the winning team.
Playing for Different Teams
After the Spurs, Ely signed with the New Orleans Hornets in 2007. He played there for two seasons. Later in his career, he played for several other teams. These included the Brujos de Guayama in Puerto Rico in 2012. He also played for the Texas Legends in the NBA D-League (now called the NBA G League). In 2014, he was named an NBA D-League All-Star, showing he was one of the best players in that league.
Ely also had short stints with the New Orleans Pelicans and the Denver Nuggets. His last NBA game was on April 16, 2014, with the New Orleans Pelicans. He then played for the Gunma Crane Thunders in Japan in 2014-2015.
Hall of Fame Recognition
In 2017, Melvin Ely was honored by being inducted into the Fresno Athletic Hall of Fame. This recognized his great achievements during his time playing for Fresno State.
Life After Playing: Coaching
After his playing career, Melvin Ely became a coach. In 2016, he was hired as an assistant coach for the Canton Charge. This team is part of the NBA G League, which is like a development league for the NBA. He coached there until 2019.
See also
In Spanish: Melvin Ely (baloncestista) para niños
