David Wesley

David Barakau Wesley (born November 14, 1970) is an American former professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He is the current television color analyst for the New Orleans Pelicans. He is the cousin of former NBA player Michael Dickerson.[1]

For the video game developer, see David Wesely.
David Wesley
Wesley in 2006
Personal information
Born (1970-11-14) November 14, 1970
San Antonio, Texas
NationalityAmerican
Listed height6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Listed weight229 lb (104 kg)
Career information
High schoolLongview (Longview, Texas)
College
  • Temple JC (1988–1989)
  • Baylor (1989–1992)
NBA draft1992 / Undrafted
Playing career1992–2007
PositionPoint guard / Shooting guard
Career history
1992–1993Wichita Falls Texans
1993–1994New Jersey Nets
1994–1997Boston Celtics
1997–2002Charlotte Hornets
2002–2003New Orleans Hornets
2004–2006Houston Rockets
2006–2007Cleveland Cavaliers
Career highlights and awards
Career NBA statistics
Points11,842 (12.5 ppg)
Rebounds2,405 (2.5 rpg)
Assists4,159 (4.4 apg)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com

High school and college

David graduated from Longview High School in Longview, Texas. He was classmates with former NFL player Bobby Taylor. Wesley played his freshman year at Temple Junior College, then transferred to Baylor University. Wesley averaged 17 points per game and 4.4 assists per game in 72 total games at Baylor, and left in 1992, 33 hours short of a degree in physical education.[2]

NBA career

When Wesley left Baylor University in 1992, many scouts considered him too small (at 6'1") to play as a shooting guard in the NBA, and doubted his ability to make the transition to point guard. As a result, Wesley was not selected in the 1992 NBA draft. He spent the 1992–93 season in the CBA playing for the Wichita Falls Texans, and signed with the New Jersey Nets as a free agent in 1993.[3] He later played for the Boston Celtics, the Charlotte/New Orleans Hornets the Houston Rockets, and the Cleveland Cavaliers. Wesley dispelled the initial doubts about his ability to succeed in the NBA, averaging almost 13 points and 4.6 assists per game over a 14-year career, including ten straight seasons with double-digit scoring averages (1995–96 through 2004–05). He received praise as a tenacious man-to-man defender, and a reliable outside shooter. Wesley played in 55 playoff games and scored double figures in more than half of them.

During the 2006–07 season, Wesley only played for 35 games and averaged career-lows of 2.1 points, 1.0 rebounds and 1.1 assists. He also did not play any minutes during the playoffs. On September 29, 2007, he was traded back to the Hornets for Cedric Simmons.[4] On October 29, 2007, the New Jersey Nets reacquired guard David Wesley from the New Orleans Hornets for swingman Bernard Robinson, center Mile Ilić and cash considerations. On November 1, 2007, not even a week after the Nets signed him, he was waived. A few days later, Wesley stated he planned on ending his NBA career. His 11,842 career points rank second all-time behind Moses Malone among undrafted NBA players.[5][6]

Coaching

From 2011–2012, Wesley worked as an assistant coach for the NBA D-League Texas Legends.[7]

Broadcasting

On August 6, 2012, it was announced that Wesley would join the Fox Sports New Orleans team in broadcasting New Orleans Hornets games. (Since then, the team has been renamed the New Orleans Pelicans.) He was hired to be the Hornets' television color analyst.[8]

Personal

David Wesley was charged in 2000 with misdemeanor reckless driving in the crash that killed his friend and teammate Bobby Phills. A Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police report said Phills and Wesley were speeding at more than 100 mph (160 km/h) when Phills lost control and crossed into oncoming traffic and collided with a car. The report said both Phills and Wesley were driving "in an erratic, reckless, careless, negligent and/or aggressive manner", and the men were "involved in a speed competition".[9] In a non-jury trial, a judge acquitted Wesley of the charge of racing Phills.[10]

Achievements and honors

References
  1. "Ilgauskas' time could be winding down". news-herald.com. Archived from the original on February 16, 2012. Retrieved March 20, 2009.
  2. http://www.news-journal.com/sports/content/sports/stories/2008/06/21/06212008_wesleycamp.html
  3. Cavaliers sign David Wesley
  4. Cavs make two moves
  5. "Hornets Welcome New Faces to 2012-13 FOX Sports New Orleans TV Broadcast Team" (Press release). New Orleans Hornets. August 6, 2012. Retrieved April 29, 2020. Upon retiring in 2007, Wesley ranked second all-time (behind Moses Malone) in NBA history among undrafted players with 11,842 career points.
  6. "These Bears could ball". Waco Tribune-Herald. December 29, 2008. Retrieved April 29, 2020. Following Baylor, Wesley played 15 years in the NBA, and is the league's No. 2 all-time scorer among undrafted players, behind only Moses Malone.
  7. "NBA Development League: David Wesley Takes Job with Hornets". NBA.com. Archived from the original on August 10, 2014.
  8. "New Orleans Hornets' new television broadcast team includes Joel Meyers and former NBA player David Wesley". NOLA.com.
  9. "N.B.A.: SAN ANTONIO; Elliott Returns to Practice Following Transplant". The New York Times. February 3, 2000. Retrieved on August 7, 2012.
  10. "After the Crash: Friends, teammates, and family remember the career, legacy, and tragic death of former Charlotte Hornets guard Bobby Phills". Grantland. March 31, 2015. Retrieved on June 1, 2016.
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