Howard Eisley

Howard Jonathan Eisley (born December 4, 1972) is an American retired professional basketball player and 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.

Howard Eisley
Eisley in 2013
Michigan Wolverines
PositionAssistant coach
LeagueBig Ten Conference
Personal information
Born (1972-12-04) December 4, 1972
Detroit, Michigan
NationalityAmerican
Listed height6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Listed weight185 lb (84 kg)
Career information
High schoolSouthwestern (Detroit, Michigan)
CollegeBoston College (1990–1994)
NBA draft1994 / Round: 2 / Pick: 30th overall
Selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves
Playing career1994–2006
PositionPoint guard
Number10, 1, 9, 4, 12, 6
Coaching career2010–present
Career history
As player:
1994–1995Minnesota Timberwolves
1995San Antonio Spurs
1995Rockford Lightning
1995–2000Utah Jazz
2000–2001Dallas Mavericks
2001–2004New York Knicks
2004Phoenix Suns
2004–2005Utah Jazz
2005–2006Los Angeles Clippers
2006Denver Nuggets
As coach:
2010–2014Los Angeles Clippers (assistant)
2014–2016Washington Wizards (assistant)
2016–2019New York Knicks (assistant)
2019–presentMichigan (assistant)
Career NBA statistics
Points5,116 (6.5 ppg)
Rebounds1,324 (1.7 rpg)
Assists2,748 (3.5 apg)
Stats  at NBA.com
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com

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.[1]

Career

As a rookie in 1994–95, Eisley started in four games for the Timberwolves out of 34.[1][2] With average playing time of 14.6 minutes per game, Eisley averaged 3.3 points and 2.3 assists. 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.[1]

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.[1][3] Previously, Eisley was the final player cut from Jazz training camp.[4] 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.[3] 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."[2] Eisley was known for his quiet manner.[4][5]

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.[6][7] (This game took place four years before the NBA instituted instant replay to review calls.[8]) The Chicago Bulls would beat the Utah Jazz in that game 87-86 and win the championship series four games to two.

He was traded to the Dallas Mavericks during the 2000 season. He was traded to the New York Knicks in 2001. He was traded to the Phoenix Suns in 2003. 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.[9] In 74 games, Eisley averaged 19.3 minutes, 5.6 points, 1.2 rebounds, and 3.4 assists.[10] 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.[1]

2005–06 was Eisley's final NBA season; he played in the Los Angeles Clippers and Denver Nuggets this season. On November 17, 2005, Eisley signed as a free agent with the Clippers.[11] In 13 games with the Clippers, Eisley averaged 0.7 points, 1.1 rebounds, and 1.9 assists.[10] The Clippers, having experimented with a three-guard lineup as Corey Maggette was out due to injury, released Eisley on January 3, 2006.[12] Following two 10-day contracts, the Nuggets kept Eisley for the rest of the season from March 23, 2006.[13] With the Nuggets, Eisley played in 19 games and averaged 4.8 points, 1.0 rebounds, and 2.3 assists.[10] On July 20, 2006, the Nuggets traded Eisley to the Chicago Bulls, but the Bulls later waived him.[14][15]

In 2010, Eisley became a player development assistant for the Los Angeles Clippers.[16][17]

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.[18]

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. Retrieved July 25, 2011.
  3. Hamilton, Linda (December 6, 1995). "Watson out indefinitely; Jazz beckon Eisley". Deseret News. Retrieved July 25, 2011.
  4. Rock, Brad (March 7, 1996). "Eisley very quietly puts in minutes". Deseret News. Retrieved July 25, 2011.
  5. Evans, Richard (January 31, 1996). "Eisley working hard to stick around". Deseret News. p. 2. Retrieved July 25, 2011.
  6. "Jordan's jumper with 5.2 seconds left gives Bulls 6th title". CNN.com. Associated Press. June 14, 1998. 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. 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.
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