Robert Whaley facts for kids
Whaley with the Jazz in December 2005
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | April 16, 1982 Benton Harbor, Michigan, U.S. |
| High school | Benton Harbor (Benton Harbor, Michigan) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) |
| Listed weight | 260 lb (118 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College |
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| NBA Draft | 2005 / Round: 2 / Pick: 51st overall |
| Selected by the Utah Jazz | |
| Pro career | 2005–2008 |
| Career history | |
| 2005–2006 | Utah Jazz |
| 2006 | Metros de Santiago |
| 2006–2007 | Twin City Ballers |
| 2007 | Petrochimi Imam |
| 2007–2008 | Los Angeles D-Fenders |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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Robert Antawon Whaley (born April 16, 1982) is an American former professional basketball player. He played as a center and was known for his strong presence on the court. Whaley played for the Utah Jazz in the NBA. He also played for other teams in different leagues around the world.
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Early Life and College Basketball
Robert Whaley grew up in Benton Harbor, Michigan. He played basketball at Benton Harbor High School and graduated in 2001. He was considered one of the best high school players in Michigan.
College Success
After high school, Whaley attended Barton Community College for two years. He then transferred to the University of Cincinnati in 2003. In 2004, he moved to Walsh University. At Walsh, he became a star player.
In the 2004–05 season, Whaley was named the NAIA Division II Player of the Year. The NAIA is a sports organization for smaller colleges. He led Walsh University to win its first NAIA National Championship. During his senior year, he averaged 19.9 points and 7.5 rebounds per game.
Professional Basketball Career
Robert Whaley began his professional career in 2005. He was drafted by an NBA team.
Playing for the Utah Jazz (2005–2006)
The Utah Jazz picked Robert Whaley in the 2005 NBA draft. He was the 51st player chosen overall. This made him the most recent player drafted from an NAIA school at that time.
As a new player in the 2005–06 season, Whaley played in 23 games. He averaged 2.1 points and 1.9 rebounds per game. His best game was on December 23, 2005, when he scored 11 points against the New York Knicks. In January 2006, he had a knee injury that kept him from playing for a while. He returned to play in March 2006.
In June 2006, Whaley was traded to the Toronto Raptors. However, the Raptors released him shortly after.
Playing After the NBA (2006–2008)
After leaving the NBA, Whaley played for teams in other countries. He played briefly for Metros de Santiago in the Dominican Republic. For the 2006–07 season, he joined the Twin City Ballers in the ABA. In March 2007, he played for Petrochimi Imam in Iran.
In November 2007, Whaley was chosen by the Los Angeles D-Fenders. This team was part of the NBA Development League (now called the G-League). He played 22 games for the D-Fenders in the 2007–08 season. He averaged 4.0 points and 2.7 rebounds per game.
Life After Basketball
After his playing career, Robert Whaley became involved in coaching. In 2014, he became an assistant coach for Utah Elite. This is a youth basketball program for young players.
