Ed Nealy

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Ed Nealy
Personal information
Born (1960-02-19) February 19, 1960 (age 65)
Sarasota Stingers
1985Kansas City Kings
1985–1986Tampa Bay Thrillers
19861988San Antonio Spurs
1988Chicago Bulls
1988–1989Phoenix Suns
1989–1990Chicago Bulls
19901992Phoenix Suns
1992–1993Golden State Warriors
1993Chicago Bulls
Career highlights and awards
  • NBA champion (1993
    )
  • CBA champion (1986)
  • First-team All-Big Eight (1982)
  • Big Eight Newcomer of the Year (1979)
Stats at NBA.com 
Basketball Reference Edit this at Wikidata

Eddie Carl Nealy (born February 19, 1960) is an American retired

NBA championship in 1993 as a member of the Chicago Bulls
.

College career

Born in Pittsburg, Kansas, Nealy attended Kansas State University. Although he was not expected to be a factor for the Wildcats as a freshman, he started 30 of the team's 31 games, averaging 10.2 points and team leading 8.2 rebounds per game en route to Big Eight Newcomer of the Year honors. During his sophomore season, he was a vital part in helping the team win the 1980 Big Eight tournament championship and reach the Elite Eight of the 1980 NCAA Tournament after averaging 9.8 points and 8.8 rebounds per game. As a junior, he averaged 11.0 points and 9.1 rebounds, helping the Wildcats reach the West Regional Finals. During his senior season, he averaged 11.3 points and 8.7 rebounds per game, and led the Wildcats to Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament and earned first team All-Big Eight and honorable mention All-America honors.[1]

Professional career

After his college career ended, Nealy was selected by the

Kansas City Kings in the eighth round of the 1982 NBA draft.[2] In 10 NBA seasons with the Kings, San Antonio Spurs, Chicago Bulls, Phoenix Suns and Golden State Warriors
, Nealy averaged 2.7 points and 3.3 rebounds.

Nealy played two seasons in the Continental Basketball Association, averaging 9.8 points and 10.0 rebounds in 68 games. During the 1986 playoffs, he averaged 12.9 points and 15.5 rebounds for the Tampa Bay Thrillers, helping them to the CBA championship.

During his multiple stints in Chicago, Nealy became a fan-favorite (and a favorite of coach Phil Jackson)[2] for his hustle and hard work ethic, especially during the 1990 NBA playoffs during stints where Scottie Pippen and Bill Cartwright were injured or struggling during the game.[2] During his last season, Nealy was a late addition to the Chicago Bulls team which won the 1993 NBA Championship,[3] although he did not play during the playoffs. He retired following the finals.[4]

Player profile

Due to his hustle, aggressiveness and court smarts, Nealy received positive feedback for his unselfish play and willingness to be physical throughout his career.

During Nealy's college playing career,

Bobby Jones and Adrian Dantley. He is going to be a great pro some day. I truly mean that."[5]

The Jordan Rules features Phil Jackson labelling Nealy as his "favorite player, smartest player on the team."[citation needed
]

Personal life

Nealy's son, Spencer, played football at Texas A&M University.[6]

Career statistics

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high
 †  Won an NBA championship

NBA

Source[7]

Regular season

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
1982–83 Kansas City 82 61 20.0 .595 .614 5.9 .8 .8 .1 4.4
1983–84 Kansas City 71 1 13.5 .500 .800 3.1 .7 .6 .1 2.5
1984–85 Kansas City 22 0 10.1 .591 .526 2.0 .8 .1 .0 2.8
1986–87 San Antonio 60 7 16.3 .438 .129 .739 4.7 1.4 .7 .2 3.7
1987–88 San Antonio 68 1 12.3 .459 .500 .651 3.3 .7 .4 .1 2.1
1988–89 Chicago 13 0 7.2 .714 .500 1.8 .5 .2 .1 .8
1988–89 Phoenix 30 0 5.6 .276 .000 .429 1.8 .3 .1 .0 .6
1989–90 Chicago 46 0 10.9 .529 .000 .732 3.0 .6 .3 .1 2.3
1990–91 Phoenix 55 0 10.4 .464 .313 .737 2.7 .7 .4 .1 2.2
1991–92 Phoenix 52 4 9.7 .512 .400 .667 2.1 .7 .3 .0 3.1
1992–93 Golden State 30 4 7.6 .348 .318 .700 1.6 .4 .3 .0 1.5
1992–93 Chicago 11 0 7.2 .435 .200 1.000 1.5 .2 .3 .1 2.1
Career 540 78 12.6 .498 .292 .684 3.3 .7 .5 .1 2.7

Playoffs

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
1984
Kansas City
2 9.5 1.000 1.000 3.0 1.0 .0 .0 3.0
1988
San Antonio 2 0 18.0 .500 3.5 2.0 .5 .0 2.0
1989
Phoenix 4 0 1.5 .333 .8 .0 .0 .0 .5
1990
Chicago 15 0 15.2 .472 .000 .619 3.5 .3 .7 .1 3.1
1991
Phoenix 2 0 10.0 .200 .000 2.5 .0 .0 .0 1.0
1992
Phoenix 8 0 8.4 .389 .385 1.000 2.3 .5 .4 .0 2.9
Career 33 0 11.4 .441 .333 .704 2.8 .5 .4 .0 2.5

References

  1. ^ "Ed Nealy (2006) - K-State Athletics Hall of Fame". kstatesports.com. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d Sam Goldaper (May 28, 1990). "Unsung Nealy Helps the Bulls". The New York Times. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
  3. ^ "1992-93 Chicago Bulls: 20th anniversary of 1st three-peat". nba.com. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
  4. ^ "Ex-Bull Ed Nealy selling cars, but he'd like to get back on bench". Chicago Sun-Times. June 24, 2016. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
  5. Washington Post. Archived from the original
    on August 27, 2017. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
  6. ^ "Spencer Nealy profile". Archived from the original on May 2, 2014. Retrieved September 18, 2012.
  7. Basketball Reference. Sports Reference
    . Retrieved November 6, 2022.