Mike Davis (basketball, born 1956)

Mike Davis
Personal information
Born (1956-08-02) August 2, 1956 (age 68)
Jacksonville, Florida
NationalityAmerican
Listed height6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
Listed weight230 lb (104 kg)
Career information
High schoolBishop Mose Davis
(Jacksonville, Florida)
College
NBA draft1978: undrafted
Playing career1978–1991
PositionCenter
Number26
Career history
1978–1981Bancoroma Roma
1981–1982Seleco Napoli
1982New York Knicks
1982–1983Albany Patroons
1983New York Knicks
1983–1985Barcelona
1985–1986Limoges
1986–1987Fantoni Udine
1987–1988Benetton Treviso
1988–1989Annabella Pavia
1989–1991Grupo IFA Granollers
Career highlights and awards
Stats at NBA.com Edit this at Wikidata
Stats at Basketball Reference Edit this at Wikidata

Michael Anthony Davis (born August 2, 1956) is an American former professional basketball player. Playing as a center, his career mostly took place in Italy and Spain, though he had a short stint in the National Basketball Association (NBA).

College career

Born and raised in Jacksonville, Florida, Davis did not play high-school basketball, as he didn't make his school's team in 11th grade. However, after growing to 6-10, he took up the sport again. He moved to Shaw College, Detroit, in 1974, living in Dave Bing's house.[1]

As a sophomore, he played for Mercer County Community College, earning National Junior College Athletic Association All-American honours.[2]

Davis then moved to Maryland, playing in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) of the NCAA Division I, in 1976. He was an ACC Rookie of the week in 1976–1977,[3] also being noted for his play that season, only his third of competitive basketball.[1] However, in January 1978, he was kicked off the squad by coach Lefty Driesell after disagreements between the two, he stayed on scholarship at Maryland.[4]

Professional career

Going undrafted in 1978, David moved to the Italian Serie A where he would stay four years. Returning to the US in 1982, he joined the New York Knicks, played in the summer league and exhibition games but was cut just before the season began.[5]

The center then joined Continental Basketball Association side Albany Patroons. After averaging 16.5 points, 10.5 rebounds (a league second best) per game with the Patroons, he was re-signed by the Knicks on 23 February 1983 on a 10-day contract to replace the injured Vince Taylor.[6] He did not play during that period, nor when he signed a new 10-day contract but was finally signed to a permanent contract in March 1983 until the end of the season.[5] Davis scored 5 points in six minutes on his NBA debut,[5] he would play in 8 games, averaging 1.8 points, 1.3 rebounds and 0.5 blocks in 3.5 minutes per game.[7]

After being released by the Knicks at the end of the season, he returned to Europe, this time with Spanish Liga ACB side Barcelona in 1983. With the Spaniards he would win the 1985 European Cup Winners' Cup and the 1985 Club World Cup.

References

  1. ^ a b Denlinger, Kenneth (February 13, 1977). "Driesell's '77 Bunch Stranger Than Fiction". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 9, 2015.
  2. ^ "Men's Basketball – NJCAA All-Americans". Mercer County Community College. Retrieved July 9, 2015.
  3. ^ "Conference Honors". Maryland Terrapins. Retrieved July 9, 2015.
  4. ^ Cuniberti, Betty (January 31, 1978). "Center Davis Is Kicked Off Terp Squad". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 9, 2015.
  5. ^ a b c Moran, Malcolm (March 17, 1983). "Players; Davis savors a short season". The New York Times. Retrieved July 8, 2015.
  6. ^ "The New York Knicks placed 6-5 Vince Taylor on..." United Press International. New York. February 23, 1983. Retrieved July 8, 2015.
  7. ^ "Michael Davis (New York Knicks)". NBA. Retrieved July 8, 2015.