Derrick Alston

For his son and current basketball player, see Derrick Alston Jr.

Derrick Alston
Alston in 2014
Wisconsin Herd
PositionAssistant coach
LeagueNBA G League
Personal information
Born (1972-08-20) August 20, 1972 (age 52)
The Bronx, New York
NationalityAmerican
Listed height6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
Listed weight225 lb (102 kg)
Career information
High schoolHoboken (Hoboken, New Jersey)
CollegeDuquesne (1990–1994)
NBA draft1994: 2nd round, 33rd overall pick
Selected by the Philadelphia 76ers
Playing career1994–2012
PositionPower forward / center
Number21, 45
Coaching career2012–present
Career history
As player:
1994–1996Philadelphia 76ers
1996Atlanta Hawks
1996–1997Efes Pilsen
1997–1998TDK Manresa
1998–2000FC Barcelona
2000–2002Pamesa Valencia
2002–2003Real Madrid
2003–2005Lleida
2005–2006BCM Gravelines
2006Ural Great Perm
2006–2007Türk Telekom
2007–2008New Zealand Breakers
2008–2009Libertad de Sunchales
2009–2010Boca Juniors
2010La Unión de Formosa
2011–2012Boca Juniors
As coach:
2012–2015Houston Rockets (assistant)
2015–2019Westchester Knicks (assistant)
2019–2022Westchester Knicks
2022–2023College Park Skyhawks (assistant)
2023–presentMontreal Alliance
2024Pioneros de Los Mochis
2024–presentWisconsin Herd (assistant)
Career highlights and awards
Stats at NBA.com Edit this at Wikidata
Stats at Basketball Reference Edit this at Wikidata

Derrick Samuel Alston Sr. (born August 20, 1972) is an American basketball coach and former player who serves as an assistant coach for the Wisconsin Herd of the NBA G League. In February 2023, Alston became the second head coach of the Montreal Alliance of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL). He previously coached primarily in the NBA G League, including as the head coach of the Westchester Knicks.[1]

Early life

Born in The Bronx, New York, Alston played basketball at Hoboken High School in Hoboken, New Jersey.[2]

Professional career

Alston, a power forward/center from Duquesne University, started off his professional career when he was selected 33rd overall in the 1994 NBA draft by the Philadelphia 76ers for whom he played two seasons. He then played 2 games for the Atlanta Hawks in late 1996 before taking his game overseas.

Joining the New Zealand Breakers mid-season 2007–08, Alston made an immediate impact. Statwise, he reached the top 20 in the league for FG%, shooting at 56.0%, and offensive rebounds, while averaging 13.8 ppg and being instrumental in helping the Breakers reach the playoffs for the first time in club history.

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

NBA

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
1994–95 Philadelphia 64 1 16.1 .465 .000 .492 3.4 0.5 0.6 0.5 4.7
1995–96 Philadelphia 73 41 22.1 .512 .333 .491 4.1 0.8 0.8 0.7 6.2
1996–97 Atlanta 2 0 5.5 .000 .000 .000 2.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Career 139 42 19.1 .489 .143 .487 3.8 0.7 0.7 0.6 5.4

College

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
1990–91 Duquesne 28 25 28.8 .536 .000 .598 6.3 1.3 0.8 1.9 11.3
1991–92 Duquesne 28 - 32.8 .556 .000 .526 8.0 1.5 1.2 2.1 13.9
1992–93 Duquesne 28 27 34.3 .563 1.000 .574 9.3 1.1 1.4 2.1 19.9
1993–94 Duquesne 30 - 36.0 .578 .000 .601 7.3 1.4 1.6 1.8 21.3
Career 114 52 33.0 .561 .333 .576 7.7 1.3 1.2 2.0 16.7

Coaching career

After retiring, in 2012, Alston joined the staff of the Houston Rockets and served as their Player Development Coach for two seasons 2012–2015.[3] On October 27, 2015, he was hired by the Westchester Knicks to be an assistant coach.[4]

In August 2014, Alston traveled to the Philippines as a SportsUnited Sports Envoy for the U.S. Department of State. In this function, he worked with Alison Feaster and Erik Spoelstra to conduct basketball clinics and events for more than 375 youth from underserved areas. In so doing, Alston helped contribute to SportsUnited's mission to advance the status of women and girls around the world and to show support to an important regional partner.[5]

In August 2019, he was named head coach of the Westchester Knicks of the NBA G League.[6] He held the head coaching position until the end of the 2021–22 season.[7] On October 25, 2022, Alston was named an assistant coach of the NBA G League's College Park Skyhawks.[8]

In November 2023, Alston was named head coach of the Pioneros de Los Mochis of the Circuito de Baloncesto de la Costa del Pacífico (CIBACOPA) ahead of the 2024 season.[9]

On November 1, 2024, Alston became an assistant coach for the Wisconsin Herd.[10]

Personal life

Alston's son Derrick Alston Jr. was a college basketball player at Boise State,[11] before embarking on a career in professional basketball.[12] Alston also has a daughter named Avery.

References

  1. ^ "Montreal Alliance names Derrick Alston Sr. head coach". Montreal Gazette. February 15, 2023.
  2. ^ Brennan, John. "ALL-STAR EFFORTS CARRY NETS", The Record (Bergen County), January 14, 1995. Accessed August 12, 2008. "Derrick Alston, a second-round draft choice by the 76ers out of Duquesne, is a Hoboken High School graduate."
  3. ^ DERRICK ALSTON SE INCORPORA AL CUERPO TÉCNICO DE HOUSTON ROCKETS Archived 2012-10-14 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ "Westchester Knicks hire Coby Karl, Derrick Alston as assistants". Newsday.com. October 27, 2015. Retrieved October 27, 2015.
  5. ^ "Day 5 of 6: WHO IS THIS NBA ICON? Miami... - U.S. Embassy, Manila Philippines | Facebook". www.facebook.com. Archived from the original on February 26, 2022. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  6. ^ "Derrick Alston Named Westchester Knicks Head Coach". OurSports Central. August 20, 2019.
  7. ^ Magliocchetti, Geoff (May 27, 2022). "Knicks Hire DeSagana Diop To Head G League Team". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
  8. ^ "College Park Skyhawks Announce Coaching Staff for 2022-23 Season". OurSports Central. October 25, 2022. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
  9. ^ Rojas, Roberto (November 29, 2023). "Derrick Alston es el nuevo coach de Pioneros de Los Mochis". Debate.com.mx (in Spanish). Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  10. ^ "WISCONSIN HERD ANNOUNCES COACHING STAFF FOR 2024-25 SEASON". NBA.com. November 1, 2024. Retrieved November 1, 2024.
  11. ^ Southorn, Dave (February 14, 2020). "How Derrick Alston Jr. built himself up to carry the weight for Boise State". The Athletic. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  12. ^ "Stars outshine Hustle in Salt Lake". DeSoto County News. January 19, 2022. Retrieved January 28, 2023.