Alec Kessler
Encyclopedia
Alec Christopher Kessler (January 13, 1967 – October 13, 2007) was an American
college basketball
player for the University of Georgia
and later, as a professional, for the Miami Heat
in the NBA
. After his basketball career ended, he became an orthopedic surgeon.
The 6' 11" power forward
/center
was selected 12th in the 1990 NBA Draft
by the Houston Rockets
, but his draft rights were immediately traded to the Miami Heat
in exchange for the draft rights to Dave Jamerson
and Carl Herrera
.
In his NBA career, he was a member of the Heat for 210 games spanning four seasons until being waived on November 2, 1994 (prior to the start of the 1994-95 season). He was played mostly as a backup center and held career averages of 5.2 points and 3.6 rebound
s per game.
at Emory University
, graduating in 1999. He was an orthopedic surgeon in practice in Pensacola, Florida
.
Kessler died after suffering a heart attack
during an informal basketball game in Gulf Breeze, Florida
on October 13, 2007. He was survived by his wife, Rhea, and two sons, Nicholas and Christopher.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
college basketball
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
player for the University of Georgia
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
and later, as a professional, for the Miami Heat
Miami Heat
The Miami Heat is a professional basketball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. The team is a member of the Southeast Division in the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . They play their home games at American Airlines Arena in Downtown Miami...
in the NBA
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
. After his basketball career ended, he became an orthopedic surgeon.
Career
Kessler played collegiately for the University of Georgia where he was a three-time academic all-American first-team selection as well as the national academic all-American of the year in 1989 and 1990. Kessler left Georgia as the school's all-time leading scorer with 1,788 points.The 6' 11" power forward
Power forward (basketball)
Power forward is a position in the sport of basketball. The position is referred to in playbook terms as the four position and is commonly abbreviated "PF". It has also been referred to as the "post" position. Power forwards play a role similar to that of center in what is called the "post" or "low...
/center
Center (basketball)
The center, colloquially known as the five or the post, is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. The center is normally the tallest player on the team, and often has a great deal of strength and body mass as well...
was selected 12th in the 1990 NBA Draft
1990 NBA Draft
The 1990 NBA Draft took place on June 27, 1990, in New York City, New York. This draft produced only one perennial All-Star,Gary Payton. Among the 54 picks, Payton is considered by far the best pick of the draft. Payton went on to be considered one of the greatest point guards of all time...
by the Houston Rockets
Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston, Texas. The team plays in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1967, and played in San Diego, California for four years, before being...
, but his draft rights were immediately traded to the Miami Heat
Miami Heat
The Miami Heat is a professional basketball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. The team is a member of the Southeast Division in the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . They play their home games at American Airlines Arena in Downtown Miami...
in exchange for the draft rights to Dave Jamerson
Dave Jamerson
John David "Dave" Jamerson is an American former professional basketball player who was selected by the Miami Heat in the 1st round of the 1990 NBA Draft. Jamerson played for the Houston Rockets, Utah Jazz and New Jersey Nets in 3 NBA seasons...
and Carl Herrera
Carl Herrera
Carl Víctor Herrera Alleyne is a retired Venezuelan basketball player. A power forward, he was part of the Houston Rockets National Basketball Association championship teams of the mid-1990s....
.
In his NBA career, he was a member of the Heat for 210 games spanning four seasons until being waived on November 2, 1994 (prior to the start of the 1994-95 season). He was played mostly as a backup center and held career averages of 5.2 points and 3.6 rebound
Rebound (basketball)
A rebound in basketball is the act of successfully gaining possession of the basketball after a missed field goal or free throw. Rebounds in basketball are a routine part in the game, as all possessions change after a shot is successfully made...
s per game.
After the NBA
After leaving the NBA, Kessler attended medical schoolMedical school
A medical school is a tertiary educational institution—or part of such an institution—that teaches medicine. Degree programs offered at medical schools often include Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, Bachelor/Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Philosophy, master's degree, or other post-secondary...
at Emory University
Emory University
Emory University is a private research university in metropolitan Atlanta, located in the Druid Hills section of unincorporated DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. The university was founded as Emory College in 1836 in Oxford, Georgia by a small group of Methodists and was named in honor of...
, graduating in 1999. He was an orthopedic surgeon in practice in Pensacola, Florida
Pensacola, Florida
Pensacola is the westernmost city in the Florida Panhandle and the county seat of Escambia County, Florida, United States of America. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 56,255 and as of 2009, the estimated population was 53,752...
.
Kessler died after suffering a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
during an informal basketball game in Gulf Breeze, Florida
Gulf Breeze, Florida
Gulf Breeze is a city located on the Fairpoint Peninsula in Santa Rosa County, Florida, United States and is a suburb of Pensacola which lies to the north, across Pensacola Bay. The population was 5,665 at the 2000 census. As of 2005, the population estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau is 6,455. ...
on October 13, 2007. He was survived by his wife, Rhea, and two sons, Nicholas and Christopher.