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Howard Eisley

Eisley in 2013
Personal information
Born	(1972-12-04) December 4, 1972 (age 52) Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Listed height	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Listed weight	185 lb (84 kg)
Career information
High school	Southwestern (Detroit, Michigan)
College	Boston College (1990–1994)
NBA draft	1994: 2nd round, 30th overall pick
Selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves
Playing career	1994–2006
Position	Point guard
Number	10, 1, 9, 4, 12, 6
Coaching career	2010–present
Career history
As player:
1994–1995	Minnesota Timberwolves
1995	San Antonio Spurs
1995	Rockford Lightning
1995–2000	Utah Jazz
2000–2001	Dallas Mavericks
2001–2004	New York Knicks
2004	Phoenix Suns
2004–2005	Utah Jazz
2005–2006	Los Angeles Clippers
2006	Denver Nuggets
As coach:
2010–2014	Los Angeles Clippers (assistant)
2014–2016	Washington Wizards (assistant)
2016–2019	New York Knicks (assistant)
2019–2024	Michigan (assistant)
Career highlights and awards
Second-team All-Big East (1993)
Career NBA statistics
Points	5,116 (6.5 ppg)
Rebounds	1,324 (1.7 rpg)
Assists	2,748 (3.5 apg)
Stats at NBA.com
Stats at Basketball Reference

Howard Jonathan Eisley (born December 4, 1972) is an American former professional basketball player and current coach. Born in Detroit, Eisley played college basketball at Boston College and was drafted in 1994 by the Minnesota Timberwolves. Eisley spent twelve seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA): six with the Utah Jazz (1995–2000, 2004–2005) and the other six with seven other teams.

Early life and college

Eisley graduated from Southwestern High School in Detroit, where he was teammates with future NBA players Jalen Rose and Voshon Lenard, and played for the Boston College Eagles basketball team for four years before being drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second round (30th overall) in 1994. He graduated from Boston College with a degree in communications. In his senior season, Eisley led the Eagles to the eastern regional finals or "Elite Eight" round of the 1994 NCAA tournament and earned regional All-Tournament honors.

NBA career

Minnesota Timberwolves (1994-1995)

Eisley was selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves with the 30th overall pick in the 1994 NBA draft. As a rookie in 1994–95, Eisley started in four games for the Timberwolves out of 34. With an average playing time of 14.6 minutes per game, Eisley averaged 3.3 points and 2.3 assists. On February 13, 1995, Eisley was waived by the Timberwolves.

San Antonio Spurs (1995)

On February 26, 1995, Eisley signed the first of two 10-day contracts with the San Antonio Spurs. He signed for the rest of the season on March 18, and was released on April 14. In 15 games and 56 minutes with the Spurs, Eisley recorded 7 points and 18 assists.

Utah Jazz (1995-2000)

Eisley began the next season with the Rockford Lightning of the Continental Basketball Association (CBA) before signing with the Utah Jazz, who sought a point guard to back up John Stockton and to replace the injured Jamie Watson. Previously, Eisley was the final player cut from Jazz training camp. By December 1995, Eisley had the top free throw percentage (17 for 17) in the CBA. In seven games with the Lightning, Eisley improved his performance: in 24 minutes per game, he averaged 12.4 points and 3.3 assists. Jazz coach Jerry Sloan commented that Eisley was "a focused young man" and: "So many people play with their athletic ability alone and forget to play with the other people on the court. He's adjusted as quickly to what we're doing as anybody we've had." Eisley was known for his quiet manner.

In the first half of Game 6 of the 1998 NBA Finals, Eisley made a 3-point shot that replays clearly showed was released before the shot clock expired. Referee Dick Bavetta mistakenly disallowed the shot. (This game took place four years before the NBA instituted instant replay to review calls.) The Chicago Bulls would beat the Utah Jazz in that game 87–86 and win the championship series four games to two.

Dallas Mavericks (2000-2001)

Eisley was traded to the Dallas Mavericks during the 2000 season. He would play 82 games for the Mavericks during the 2000–01 season, averaging 9.0 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game. That season he would also appear in nine games for the Mavericks in the 2001 NBA playoffs where Dallas defeated the Utah Jazz in the first round 3-2 and lost to the San Antonio Spurs in the western conference semifinals 4–1.

New York Knicks (2001-2004)

Eisley was traded to the New York Knicks in 2001 in a three-team trade involving the Houston Rockets, sending Muggsy Bogues to Dallas. He spent three seasons with the Knicks from 2001 until 2003, including the 2002–03 season when he averaged a career-high 9.1 points per game.

Phoenix Suns (2004)

Eisley was traded to the Phoenix Suns in 2004, alongside Maciej Lampe, Antonio McDyess, Charlie Ward, the rights to Miloš Vujanić, and draft considerations, in exchange for Stephon Marbury, Penny Hardaway and Cezary Trybański. He would only play 34 games for the Suns in the 2003–04 season before being waived by the Suns on October 29, 2004.

Utah Jazz (2004-2005)

On November 3, 2004, the first day of the regular season for the Utah Jazz, Eisley signed a $1.1 million, one-year contract with the team, for which he played five seasons from 1995 to 2000. He scored four points and made three assists, and the Jazz beat the Los Angeles Lakers 104–78. In 74 games, Eisley averaged 19.3 minutes, 5.6 points, 1.2 rebounds, and 3.4 assists. Among his milestones in his comeback season with the Jazz included his 700th career game (December 12, 2004 against the Portland Trail Blazers), 5,000th career point (April 15, 2005 against the Minnesota Timberwolves), and a career-high eight defensive rebounds (February 1, 2005 against the Charlotte Bobcats). In 19 games, Eisley led the Jazz in assists.

Los Angeles Clippers (2005-2006)

On November 17, 2005, Eisley signed as a free agent with the Clippers. In 13 games with the Clippers, Eisley averaged 0.7 points, 1.1 rebounds, and 1.9 assists. The Clippers, having experimented with a three-guard lineup as Corey Maggette was out due to injury, released Eisley on January 3, 2006.

Denver Nuggets (2006)

Following two 10-day contracts, the Nuggets kept Eisley for the rest of the season from March 23, 2006. With the Nuggets, Eisley played in 19 games and averaged 4.8 points, 1.0 rebounds, and 2.3 assists. On July 20, 2006, the Nuggets traded Eisley to the Chicago Bulls, but the Bulls later waived him.

Coaching career

In 2010, Eisley became a player development assistant for the Los Angeles Clippers.

He was hired as an assistant coach for the Washington Wizards on September 4, 2014. Following a three-year stint as an assistant with the New York Knicks, Eisley joined Juwan Howard's staff at the University of Michigan as an assistant coach.

NBA career statistics

Regular season

Playoffs

References

1. ^ "Howard Eisley bio". NBA. 2006. Archived from the original on April 16, 2007.
2. ^ Evans, Richard (January 31, 1996). "Eisley working hard to stick around". Deseret News. Archived from the original on October 23, 2012. Retrieved July 25, 2011.
3. ^ Hamilton, Linda (December 6, 1995). "Watson out indefinitely; Jazz beckon Eisley". Deseret News. Archived from the original on October 23, 2012. Retrieved July 25, 2011.
4. ^ Rock, Brad (March 7, 1996). "Eisley very quietly puts in minutes". Deseret News. Archived from the original on October 23, 2012. Retrieved July 25, 2011.
5. Evans, Richard (January 31, 1996). "Eisley working hard to stick around". Deseret News. p. 2. Archived from the original on October 23, 2012. Retrieved July 25, 2011.
6. "Jordan's jumper with 5.2 seconds left gives Bulls 6th title". CNN.com. Associated Press. June 14, 1998. Archived from the original on November 4, 2012. Retrieved July 22, 2011.
7. "Best finals games ever in Delta Center". Deseret News. January 1, 2006. Archived from the original on November 24, 2007.
8. "Pro Basketball; N.B.A. Will Use Replay To Review Buzzer Shots". The New York Times. July 30, 2002. Retrieved May 24, 2011.
9. Hamilton, Linda (November 4, 2004). "Eisley bounces back to Utah for yet another tour of duty". Deseret News. Archived from the original on September 20, 2005.
10. ^ "Howard Eisley". ESPN. Retrieved July 28, 2011.
11. "Clippers sign Eisley". Los Angeles Clippers. Archived from the original on November 24, 2005.
12. "Clippers release G Eisley". Yahoo! Sports. January 3, 2006. Retrieved July 28, 2011.
13. "Nuggets will keep ex-Jazzman Eisley". Deseret News. Associated Press. March 24, 2006. Archived from the original on October 23, 2012. Retrieved July 28, 2011.
14. "Nene signs six-year, $60M contract with Nuggets". ESPN.com. Associated Press. July 20, 2006. Retrieved June 20, 2011.
15. Garcia, Marlen (July 21, 2006). "Bulls ship out Smith, clear spot for Griffin". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved June 20, 2011.
16. Dillman, Lisa (October 4, 2010). "Eric Bledsoe gaining better understanding of position". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 25, 2011.
17. Sanchez, Matt. "Where Are They Now? Howard Eisley". Utah Jazz. Retrieved December 4, 2011.
18. Castillo, Jorge (September 4, 2014). "Wizards hire Howard Eisley as assistant coach". Washington Post. Retrieved September 10, 2014.

External links

• Howard Eisley coach profile at NBA.com
• Howard Eisley player profile at the Wayback Machine (archived October 2, 2007) at NBA.com

• 1972 births
• Living people
• 20th-century African-American sportsmen
• 21st-century African-American sportsmen
• American men's basketball players
• Basketball coaches from Michigan
• Basketball players from Detroit
• Boston College Eagles men's basketball players
• Dallas Mavericks players
• Denver Nuggets players
• Los Angeles Clippers assistant coaches
• Los Angeles Clippers players
• Michigan Wolverines men's basketball coaches
• Minnesota Timberwolves draft picks
• Minnesota Timberwolves players
• New York Knicks assistant coaches
• New York Knicks players
• Phoenix Suns players
• Point guards
• Rockford Lightning players
• San Antonio Spurs players
• Southwestern High School (Michigan) alumni
• Utah Jazz players