| No. 10, 1, 9, 4, 12, 6 | |
|---|---|
| Point guard | |
| Personal information | |
| Date of birth | December 4, 1972 |
| Place of birth | Detroit, Michigan |
| Nationality | American |
| High school | Southwestern (Detroit, Michigan) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
| Listed weight | 185 lb (84 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Boston College (1990–1994) |
| NBA Draft | 1994 / Round: 2 / Pick: 30th overall |
| Selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves | |
| Pro career | 1994–2006 |
| Career history | |
| As player: | |
| 1994–1995 | Minnesota Timberwolves |
| 1995 | San Antonio Spurs |
| 1995 | Rockford Lightning (CBA) |
| 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–present | Los Angeles Clippers (assistant) |
| 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.com | |
Howard Jonathan Eisley (born December 4, 1972) is a retired American professional basketball point guard and current assistant coach for the Los Angeles Clippers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Born in Detroit, Eisley played college basketball at Boston College and was drafted in 1994 by the Minnesota Timberwolves. In his twelve seasons in the NBA, Eisley played six with the Utah Jazz (1995–2000, 2004–2005) and the other six in seven other teams, most recently the Denver Nuggets.
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Eisley graduated from Southwestern High School in Detroit 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]
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, 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 averaged 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; not only that, but his shot was halfway towards the basket with 1 second left on the shot clock. 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]
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