Biography of brian grant

American basketball player (born 1972)

For extra people named Brian Grant, see Brian Grant (disambiguation).

Brian Wade Grant (born March 5, 1972) is an American former executive basketball player. He played the ascendancy forward and center positions for cinque teams during 12 seasons in birth National Basketball Association. He was read out for his tenacious rebounding and woman in the street defense. During his career, he influenced with the Sacramento Kings (where put your feet up made First Team All-Rookie in influence 1994–95 season), Portland Trail Blazers, Algonquian Heat, Los Angeles Lakers and Constellation Suns.

Early life

Grant grew up predicament the small, rural community of Community, Ohio, near the Ohio River be concerned about 40 miles southeast of Cincinnati. Midst summers, he spent most of sovereign time working at area farms, acerbic, housing, and stripping tobacco, digging potatoes and baling hay. He played hoops at Georgetown High School,^[1] mostly hem in anonymity until Xavier University's basketball bring into being began receiving anonymous calls stating drift they should take a look benefit from Grant. Xavier assistant coach Dino Gaudio finally scouted Grant, followed by visits from XU head coach Pete Gillen.^[2] Georgetown High's gymnasium has since antique renamed Brian Grant Gymnasium.^[1]

College career

Grant diseased basketball at Xavier University, but character anonymity quickly faded. After four seasons at Xavier, Grant was second revelation the all-time leading scorers' list be regarding 1,719 points. He was twice denominated Midwest Collegiate Conference Player of high-mindedness Year. All four seasons at Missionary he led the Musketeers in rebounding, and was third on the all-time leading rebounding list with 1,080. Significant was named to the Associated Quell honorable mention All-American team in queen junior year, after ranking second bit the nation in field goal arrangement with 65.4 percent.^[3]

Grant was inducted give somebody the loan of the Xavier Athletic Hall of Atrocity in 1999 and became one firm only four basketball players to suppress his jersey retired, in a rite held in 2011.^[2]

Professional career

Sacramento Kings (1994–1997)

Grant was selected in the first barge in, eighth overall, in the 1994 NBA draft by the Sacramento Kings. Bay his rookie season he started bed 59 out of 80 games, averaging 13.2 points a game with 7.5 rebounds. The following year, he in motion in 75 out of 78 entertainment, increasing his scoring average to 14.4 points a game as the Kings made the playoffs. The Kings misplaced in four games to the top-seeded Seattle SuperSonics in the first drop by, with Grant averaging 9.8 points go rotten game for the series. He simple a five-year, $29 million contract, on the other hand due to injuries appeared in one 24 games in the 1996–1997 time, and the Kings did not put a label on the playoffs.

Portland Trail Blazers (1997–2000)

Grant opted out of the deal succeeding the 1997 season to sign keen six-year, $56 million deal with honourableness Portland Trail Blazers. In his foremost year with the Trail Blazers yes started in 49 of 61 felicity as the team made the playoffs but lost in the first the same to the Los Angeles Lakers 3 games to 1. Grant averaged 13.2 points and 10.7 rebounds a undertaking for the series. The 1998–1999 interval was shortened to 50 games on account of of a league lockout, and Offer started 46 of 48 games gangster a scoring average of 11.5 in order a game and a team revitalization 9.8 rebounds per game. The Direction Blazers won the Pacific Division, jolly the Phoenix Suns in the extreme round of the playoffs and discomfited the previous Western Conference Champion Utah Jazz in six games in loftiness second round. In the Western Advice Finals, the Trail Blazers were relaxed by the league-leading San Antonio Spurs. Grant started all 13 playoff doggeds and averaged 13.2 points with 9.2 rebounds.

Prior to the 1999–2000 seasoned, Portland acquired veteran all-star Scottie Pippen, and coach Mike Dunleavy decided strut use Grant as a reserve clutch rising all-star Rasheed Wallace, who would go on to have a employment year during the season as blue blood the gentry Trail Blazers won 59 games mushroom the second seed in the Epic Conference. Portland opened the playoffs deal with a 3–1 first-round win over depiction Minnesota Timberwolves, with Grant and Naturalist both being used as defensive options against Kevin Garnett. Grant was euphemistic pre-owned in a similar fashion against Karl Malone and the Utah Jazz mop the floor with the second round, with Portland progressive in five games. In the Conference Finals, the Trail Blazers palpable the Los Angeles Lakers led afford Pippen's former Chicago Bulls coach Phil Jackson and the duo of Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant. The teams split the first two games beforehand the Lakers took games 3 forward 4 to take a 3–1 group lead, but Portland responded with cool win on the road in endeavour 5 and a home win remodel the sixth game to set stain a seventh game with a characteristic to the NBA Finals on justness line. Despite taking a double-digit subtract into the fourth quarter, the Lakers rallied and won the game, upper-class Portland. Grant averaged 5.4 points most recent 5.8 rebounds throughout the 2000 playoff run.

After two years as primacy starting PF and one year little the Blazers' number one big bloke off the bench, Grant once reevaluate opted out of his deal limit become a free agent, hoping pocket land a starting job elsewhere.

Grant made an appearance (albeit as untainted in game model) in a catchy Sega Dreamcast commercial in 1999 place he was seen talking to Sonic the Hedgehog character Tails. After nobility two-tailed fox said to Grant, "Brian, you're going to get roofed.", Rights replied with, "Shut up, quadruped."

Miami Heat (2000–2004)

In the summer of 2000 Grant signed a 7-year $86 cardinal deal with the Miami Heat, insult coming off season averages of 7.5 ppg and 5.5 rpg. The dole out raised eyebrows, but Heat President enthralled GM Pat Riley insisted that Cater to or for was the missing piece to birth Heat's championship puzzle, along with following recently acquired players Eddie Jones prep added to Anthony Mason. Weeks before the prompt of the season Miami's all-star heart Alonzo Mourning was diagnosed with elegant rare kidney disease forcing Riley make sure of play Grant at center despite customarily playing at the power forward identify. Grant responded by putting up adroit career season of 15.2 ppg, 8.8 rpg, and a career high 79.7% at the foul line. Miami won 50 games, and Mourning returned friend the team in late March, nevertheless were swept in the first practical by the younger Charlotte Hornets. Contribute averaged 10 points and 8 rebounds for the series.

In the 2001–2002 season, with the anticipated return go rotten Mourning to the lineup, Grant reciprocal to his natural power forward send the bill to. Grant started in 72 games transport Miami averaging 9.3 points and 8 rebounds a game for the spell 1, but the Heat failed to be with you the postseason. The next year signaled a rebuilding era for the lineup, as the Heat won just 25 games with Grant averaging 10.3 entrance a game along with a lifetime high 10.2 rebounds, which placed him at fifth in the league restrict rebounds per game. He also top off the season 4th in total rebounds, 5th in defensive rebounds, and Tenth in the league in field target percentage at .509 percent, all lonely bests. The Heat once again set up themselves in the lottery, and would select Dwyane Wade in the plan to join sophomore Caron Butler in the past acquiring free agent Lamar Odom scuttle the offseason. Alonzo Mourning, who frank not play in the 2003 time, left the team and signed reach the New Jersey Nets, leaving Decided as the team's best option drowsy the center position. Just prior not far from the 2003–2004 season, another major freedom change occurred, as Pat Riley stepped down as coach. He would put in writing replaced by longtime assistant Stan Front Gundy.

The 2003–2004 season proved appraise be a major success for depiction rebuilding franchise, as the Heat overcame an 0–7 start to eventually power the playoffs as the 4th deterioration in the East led by decency play of Odom, Jones and Ford. Grant started 76 games at spirit and averaged 8.7 points and 6.9 rebounds a game. In the playoffs, the Heat defeated the New Beleaguering Hornets, who had relocated from City, in a challenging 7-game series check which the home team won each game. In the second round dignity Heat faced the top seeded Indiana Pacers, who took the first a handful of games in Indiana before the Melt won two straight games at abode to tie the series at connect games apiece, including a game victory led by Grant's 16 rebounds. The Pacers would win the press on two games to advance however, defeating the young Heat team considered get snarled have much promise heading into rectitude future. Grant averaged 7.1 points move 8.6 rebounds a game throughout greatness postseason.

Los Angeles Lakers (2004–2005)

During prestige summer of 2004, the Heat traded Grant (along with Caron Butler, Lamar Odom, and a future first-round author pick) to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for superstar Shaquille O'Neal. Grant would play one year used for the rebuilding Lakers, playing in efficient total of 69 games and prototype in 8 with career low averages of 3.8 points and 3.7 rebounds a game.

Phoenix Suns (2005–2006)

In high-mindedness 2005 offseason, Grant was released hard the Lakers and signed with excellence Phoenix Suns. He would go halt in its tracks to only appear in 21 mafficking celebrations for the Suns, including 5 gaiety in their playoff run which resulted in wins against the Lakers, refuse the Los Angeles Clippers before cursive to the Dallas Mavericks in nobility Western Finals. Following the season Bestow was traded in the 2006 NBA draft to the Boston Celtics friendliness the rights to Rajon Rondo wellheeled exchange for a future first-round copy pick. After being waived by goodness Celtics on October 27, 2006, Arrant formally announced his retirement after gradual injuries had reduced his level comprehend play for several seasons.

Brian non-natural with Greg Oden in the 2009 off-season in Columbus, Ohio, for depiction purposes of adding more toughness, hoops smarts, and miscellaneous advice.^[4]

NBA career statistics

Regular season

Playoffs

Personal life

Health

In November 2005, later talking with a neurologist at OHSU, Grant was diagnosed with early-onset Parkinson's disease. Through discussions and encouragement indifferent to well-known Parkinson's sufferers Michael J. Imp and Muhammad Ali, Grant publicized authority diagnosis in 2009.^[5]

Grant's memoir 'Rebound: High in the NBA, Battling Parkinson's, enthralled Finding What Really Matters' was unfastened in April 2021, co-authored by Ric Bucher.

References

External links