Brad Sellers
Encyclopedia
Bradley Donn Sellers is a retired American
professional basketball
player. A 7'0" power forward/center
from the University of Wisconsin and Ohio State University
, he was selected by the Chicago Bulls
in the first round (ninth pick overall) of the 1986 NBA Draft
.
Sellers was a controversial selection among the Bulls' staff and players. General manager Jerry Krause
was attracted to Sellers because of his above-average shooting ability, which was rare in a player of Sellers' size. Michael Jordan
and others, however, had wanted Krause to draft Johnny Dawkins
, a hard-playing guard from Duke University
and a friend of Jordan http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/nba/1999/jordan_retires/archive/871109/. Sellers eventually became a part-time starter for the Bulls, but he never averaged more than 9.5 points or 4.7 rebounds in a season, and with the emergence of forward Scottie Pippen
during the 1988 NBA Playoffs
, he began to see his playing time diminish http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/nba/1999/jordan_retires/archive/880516/. In 1989, he was finally traded to the Seattle SuperSonics
for the 18th overall pick of the NBA Draft, which would become B. J. Armstrong
.
Sellers also played briefly for the Minnesota Timberwolves
and the Detroit Pistons
before leaving the NBA in 1993 to embark on a lengthy overseas career. Sellers played in Spain
, Israel
, Greece
(Aris BC
), and France
before retiring in 2000 to become community liaison director for his hometown.
Sellers also has become a media personality in Cleveland as he is the color commentator for Cleveland State Vikings
basketball on SportsTime Ohio
, and a Cleveland Cavaliers
/NBA studio analyst for WEWS channel 5 (ABC
).
According to the October 25, 2011 New York Times, Sellers intends to run for mayor of Warrensville Heights.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player. A 7'0" power forward/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...
from the University of Wisconsin and Ohio State University
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
, he was selected by the Chicago Bulls
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1966. They play their home games at the United Center...
in the first round (ninth pick overall) of the 1986 NBA Draft
1986 NBA Draft
-Drug and health issues involving drafted players:There were various drug-related problems that plagued players in the 1986 NBA draft. Most notable was the death of highly-touted Len Bias. Bias died less than two days after being selected second overall by the defending champion Boston Celtics. His...
.
Sellers was a controversial selection among the Bulls' staff and players. General manager Jerry Krause
Jerry Krause
Jerry Krause is a former professional basketball scout and general manager for, among other franchises, the Baltimore Bullets and, most notably, the Chicago Bulls of the National Basketball Association. He is a two-time recipient of the NBA's Executive of the Year award.-Early career:Krause was...
was attracted to Sellers because of his above-average shooting ability, which was rare in a player of Sellers' size. Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan
Michael Jeffrey Jordan is a former American professional basketball player, active entrepreneur, and majority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats...
and others, however, had wanted Krause to draft Johnny Dawkins
Johnny Dawkins
-External links:*...
, a hard-playing guard from Duke University
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
and a friend of Jordan http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/nba/1999/jordan_retires/archive/871109/. Sellers eventually became a part-time starter for the Bulls, but he never averaged more than 9.5 points or 4.7 rebounds in a season, and with the emergence of forward Scottie Pippen
Scottie Pippen
Scottie Maurice Pippen is a retired American professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association . He is most remembered for his time with the Chicago Bulls, with whom he was instrumental in six NBA Championships and their record 1995–96 season of 72 wins...
during the 1988 NBA Playoffs
NBA Playoffs
The National Basketball Association Playoffs is a best-of-seven elimination tournament among sixteen teams in the Eastern Conference and Western Conference , ultimately deciding the final four teams who will play in the NBA Conference Finals.-Format:Following the NBA regular season, eight teams in...
, he began to see his playing time diminish http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/nba/1999/jordan_retires/archive/880516/. In 1989, he was finally traded to the Seattle SuperSonics
Seattle SuperSonics
The Seattle SuperSonics were an American professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington that played in the Pacific and Northwest Divisions of the National Basketball Association from 1967 until 2008. Following the 2007–08 season, the team relocated to Oklahoma City, and now plays as...
for the 18th overall pick of the NBA Draft, which would become B. J. Armstrong
B. J. Armstrong
Benjamin Roy "B. J." Armstrong, Jr. is a retired American professional basketball player. As a starting point guard, he was an integral part of the NBA's Chicago Bulls dynasty of the 1990s....
.
Sellers also played briefly for the Minnesota Timberwolves
Minnesota Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves are an American professional basketball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . Founded in 1989, the team is currently owned by Glen Taylor...
and the Detroit Pistons
Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons are a franchise of the National Basketball Association based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The team's home arena is The Palace of Auburn Hills. It was originally founded in Fort Wayne, Indiana as the Fort Wayne Pistons as a member of the National Basketball League in 1941, where...
before leaving the NBA in 1993 to embark on a lengthy overseas career. Sellers played in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
(Aris BC
Aris BC
Aris Basketball Club is the professional basketball team of the Thessaloniki-based Greek sport club Aris Thessaloniki. Aris BC was founded in 1922, eight years after the founding of Aris Thessaloniki....
), and France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
before retiring in 2000 to become community liaison director for his hometown.
Sellers also has become a media personality in Cleveland as he is the color commentator for Cleveland State Vikings
Cleveland State Vikings
The Cleveland State Vikings, or Vikes, are the athletic teams of Cleveland State University. Before as Fenn College they were known as the Fenn College Foxes or Fenn Foxes. Cleveland State competes in NCAA Division I. They have been a member of the NCAA Division I since 1972. They were previously...
basketball on SportsTime Ohio
SportsTime Ohio
SportsTime Ohio is a regional sports network in Cleveland and northern Ohio, launched in 2006. It was created to air Cleveland Indians games, and is owned by the family which owns the team. It is also the cable television home of the Cleveland Browns...
, and a Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers are a professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They began playing in the National Basketball Association in 1970 as an expansion team...
/NBA studio analyst for WEWS channel 5 (ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
).
According to the October 25, 2011 New York Times, Sellers intends to run for mayor of Warrensville Heights.