Bubba Wells
Encyclopedia
Charles Richard "Bubba" Wells (born July 26, 1974 in Russellville, Kentucky
) is a retired American
professional basketball
player. He played briefly for the Dallas Mavericks
of the NBA
. He played collegiately
for Austin Peay State University
and was named 1997 Ohio Valley Conference
Player of the Year.
Selected 34th by the Mavs in the 1997 NBA Draft
, the little-used small forward
's NBA career was short-lived, consisting of just 39 games of the 1997–98 season. However, he did start two games in March 1998, in place of the injured Cedric Ceballos
.
His NBA career came to an abrupt end in 1998, after he was traded to the Phoenix Suns
along with Martin Müürsepp
, the draft rights to Pat Garrity, and a future first-round draft pick in exchange for point guard
Steve Nash
. Wells never played a game for the Suns. He was later traded to the Chicago Bulls
, also for whom he never played. He later played for the LaCrosse Bobcats of the CBA
, the Oklahoma Storm
of USBL
, the Memphis Houn'Dawgs
of the ABA, and overseas in Greece and the Philippines. He played for the Harlem Globetrotters
in 2004–05. Since June 2005, Wells has been an assistant men's basketball coach at Austin Peay
.
, then-Mavericks coach Don Nelson
employed a desperate tactic to limit the Bulls' offense. He inserted Wells into the game with the express purpose of fouling power forward
Dennis Rodman
, a notoriously poor free throw
shooter, away from the ball.
The plan failed, however, when Rodman hit nine-of-twelve foul shots and Chicago went on to win the game 111–105. Wells fouled out late in the third quarter after registering his sixth personal foul in a total of three minutes' playing time.
The previous record-holder was Dick Farley
of the Syracuse Nationals
who was disqualified in five minutes on March 12, 1956.
. The previous summer Wells served as a supporter to Jones on NBC TV game show, Deal or No Deal
. Wells has a daughter, Alyiah.
Russellville, Kentucky
As of the census of 2000, there were 7,149 people, 3,064 households, and 1,973 families residing in the city. The population density was 672.1 people per square mile . There were 3,458 housing units at an average density of 325.1 per square mile...
) is a retired American
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. He played briefly for the Dallas Mavericks
Dallas Mavericks
The Dallas Mavericks are a professional basketball team based in Dallas, Texas. They are members of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association , and the reigning NBA champions, having defeated the Miami Heat in the 2011 NBA Finals.According to a 2011...
of 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...
. He played collegiately
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....
for Austin Peay State University
Austin Peay State University
Austin Peay State University is a four-year public university located in Clarksville, Tennessee, and operated by the Tennessee Board of Regents. It is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools .-History:...
and was named 1997 Ohio Valley Conference
Ohio Valley Conference
The Ohio Valley Conference is a college athletic conference which operates in the midwestern and southeastern United States. It participates in Division I of the NCAA; the conference's football programs compete in the Football Championship Subdivision , the lower of two levels of Division I...
Player of the Year.
Selected 34th by the Mavs in the 1997 NBA Draft
1997 NBA Draft
The 1997 NBA Draft took place on June 25, 1997 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Although the Celtics had the second worst record in the 1996-97 season and the best odds of winning the lottery with two picks, the Spurs, usually a model of winning and consistency, lost David Robinson to an injury early...
, the little-used small forward
Small forward
The small forward, or colloquially known as three, is one of the five positions in a regulation basketball game. Small forwards are typically somewhat shorter, quicker, and leaner than power forwards and centers, but on occasion are just as tall...
's NBA career was short-lived, consisting of just 39 games of the 1997–98 season. However, he did start two games in March 1998, in place of the injured Cedric Ceballos
Cedric Ceballos
Cedric Z. Ceballos is an American professional basketball player. As a small forward, he played most notably for the Los Angeles Lakers and the Phoenix Suns, later finishing his NBA career with the Dallas Mavericks, Detroit Pistons and Miami Heat.Ceballos attended college at Ventura College and...
.
His NBA career came to an abrupt end in 1998, after he was traded to the Phoenix Suns
Phoenix Suns
The Phoenix Suns are a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association and the only team in their division not to be based in California. Their home arena since 1992 has been the US...
along with Martin Müürsepp
Martin Müürsepp
Martin Müürsepp is an Estonian retired professional basketball player and basketball coach.-Club career:...
, the draft rights to Pat Garrity, and a future first-round draft pick in exchange for point guard
Point guard
Point guard , also called the play maker or "the ball-handler", is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. A point guard has perhaps the most specialized role of any position – essentially, he is expected to run the team's offense by controlling the ball and making sure that...
Steve Nash
Steve Nash
Stephen John "Steve" Nash, OC, OBC is a South African-born Canadian professional basketball player who plays point guard for the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association . Nash enjoyed a successful high-school basketball career, and he was eventually given a scholarship by Santa Clara...
. Wells never played a game for the Suns. He was later traded to 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...
, also for whom he never played. He later played for the LaCrosse Bobcats of the CBA
Continental Basketball Association
The Continental Basketball Association was a professional men's basketball league in the United States, which has been on hiatus since the 2009 season.- History :...
, the Oklahoma Storm
Oklahoma Storm
The Oklahoma Storm was a United States Basketball League team located in Enid, Oklahoma. Founded by sports agent and attorney James Sears Bryant, the Storm successfully captured the USBL championship under head coach Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 2002, defeating Kansas with a final score of 122-109. The...
of USBL
United States Basketball League
The United States Basketball League , often abbreviated to the USBL, was a professional men's spring basketball league. The league was formed in 1985. The final champions are the Kansas Cagerz, who won the title game on July 1, 2007.-History:...
, the Memphis Houn'Dawgs
Memphis Houn'Dawgs
The Memphis Houn'Dawgs was an American Basketball Association team based in Memphis, Tennessee.The team began play in the fall of 2000. The team played in the DeSoto Civic Center in Southaven, Mississippi, and only played the 2000-2001 ABA season before disbanding.They finished second place in the...
of the ABA, and overseas in Greece and the Philippines. He played for the Harlem Globetrotters
Harlem Globetrotters
The Harlem Globetrotters are an exhibition basketball team that combines athleticism, theater and comedy. The executive offices for the team are currently in downtown Phoenix, Arizona; the team is owned by Shamrock Holdings, which oversees the various investments of the Roy E. Disney family.Over...
in 2004–05. Since June 2005, Wells has been an assistant men's basketball coach at Austin Peay
Austin Peay State University
Austin Peay State University is a four-year public university located in Clarksville, Tennessee, and operated by the Tennessee Board of Regents. It is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools .-History:...
.
Wells breaks 41-year NBA record
Bubba Wells holds the dubious distinction of being the player with the quickest disqualification due to personal fouls in an NBA regular season game. In a December 29, 1997 game against the Chicago BullsChicago 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...
, then-Mavericks coach Don Nelson
Don Nelson
Donald Arvid "Don" Nelson is a former NBA player and head coach. He coached the Milwaukee Bucks, the New York Knicks, the Dallas Mavericks, and the Golden State Warriors....
employed a desperate tactic to limit the Bulls' offense. He inserted Wells into the game with the express purpose of fouling 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...
Dennis Rodman
Dennis Rodman
Dennis Keith Rodman is a retired American Hall of Fame professional basketball player of the National Basketball Association's Detroit Pistons, San Antonio Spurs, Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks. Born in Trenton, New Jersey, he was nicknamed "Dennis the Menace" and "The...
, a notoriously poor free throw
Free throw
In basketball, free throws or foul shots are unopposed attempts to score points from a restricted area on the court , and are generally awarded after a foul on the shooter by the opposing team...
shooter, away from the ball.
The plan failed, however, when Rodman hit nine-of-twelve foul shots and Chicago went on to win the game 111–105. Wells fouled out late in the third quarter after registering his sixth personal foul in a total of three minutes' playing time.
The previous record-holder was Dick Farley
Dick Farley (basketball)
Richard L. Farley was an American professional basketball player.A 6'4" guard/forward from Winslow, Indiana, Farley played for the 1953 Indiana University national championship team...
of the Syracuse Nationals
Syracuse Nationals
The Syracuse Nationals were an American professional basketball team that existed from 1946 to 1963 as part of the National Basketball League and National Basketball Association . They are currently known as the Philadelphia 76ers, and are the NBA's oldest continued franchise.The team began in...
who was disqualified in five minutes on March 12, 1956.
Personal
In August 2007, Wells married the former Tracee Jones, head women's basketball coach at Tennessee State UniversityTennessee State University
Tennessee State University is a land-grant university located in Nashville, Tennessee. TSU is the only state-funded historically black university in Tennessee.-History:...
. The previous summer Wells served as a supporter to Jones on NBC TV game show, Deal or No Deal
Deal or No Deal
Deal or No Deal is the name of several closely related television game shows, the first of which was the Dutch Miljoenenjacht produced by Dutch producer Endemol. It is played with up to 26 cases with certain sums of money...
. Wells has a daughter, Alyiah.