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David West (basketball)
Encyclopedia
David Moorer West is an American
professional basketball
player who has most recently played with the NBA
's New Orleans Hornets. He is currently a free agent.
Though he was born and grew up in Teaneck
, New Jersey
, West went to high school at Garner Magnet High School
in Garner, North Carolina
and at Hargrave Military Academy
in Chatham, Virginia
and won First Team All-State honors in North Carolina
.
. There, he was a four-year starter on the basketball team. West was the first XU player to get his number retired while still playing for the Musketeers, during which he led Xavier to a top 10 national ranking and a #3 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
West was named as a first-team All-American his senior year and the 2003 Associated Press and United States Basketball Writers Association
National Player of the Year, averaging 20.1 ppg and 11.8 rpg as a senior while leading XU to its second straight 26–6 season. West led Xavier to 94 wins in his four seasons while finishing as Xavier's all-time blocked shot leader (228 blocks) and second on XU's all-time scoring (2,132 points) and rebounding (1,308 rebounds) lists. West was also named as the Atlantic 10 Conference Player of the Year three years in a row. As a senior, he was selected as the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award
winner, recognizing him as the nation's top senior men's basketball player.
In October 2007, Sports Illustrated
released Sports Illustrated: The Basketball Book, which featured West on its NCAA All-Decade Team for the decade beginning in 2000. He was joined by Connecticut
's Emeka Okafor
and three Duke
players, Jay Williams
, J. J. Redick and Shane Battier
.
. After recording modest production in his first two seasons, in 2005–06 West enjoyed a breakthrough, averaging 17.4 points and 7.4 rebounds with a .512 FG% in 74 games. That year, he finished second in the voting for the NBA Most Improved Player Award
, behind Boris Diaw
of the Phoenix Suns
. He also saw some time at center
, due to the team's lack of a true big man. That season he demonstrated an ability to perform under pressure, as he converted three game-winning jump shots.
In 2006–07, West ended the season averaging 18.3 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists. Despite missing 30 games due to an elbow
injury, West recorded five games of 30 or more points and 13 games of 20 or more points.
West again increased his statistical production in 2007–08, and was selected to his first NBA All-Star Game
as a reserve, along with teammate Chris Paul
. Paul later stated that he would rather not play with a power forward in the league other than West, because "he's not in it for the spotlight, all he cares about is getting buckets [scoring]." West reinforced his desire to be a team player in a 2008 postseason interview, saying that he does not care about being overlooked but would rather focus on "play[ing] and be[ing] as effective as possible" when he is out on the court.
In 2008–09
West repeated as an all-star and posted a new career high by scoring 21.0 points per game.
On March 25, 2011, during one of the New Orleans Hornets' last games of the season vs. the Utah Jazz
, West came down awkwardly after a dunk. The event occurred with 22.3 left in the fourth quarter. West tore his anterior cruciate ligament
in his left knee.
On June 27, 2011, West confirmed he was opting out of the final year of his contract to become a free agent. He did not however totally rule out signing a contract extension with the team.
. His game is fundamental for the most part, as he is not known for being a flamboyant player. West is known for his explosive scoring capabilities, with his fine midrange game and threatening inside presence. He is also an effective rebounder and consistent on the defensive end. West is an above average ball handler for his size, capable of converting with either hand.
West graduated from Xavier with a bachelor of arts degree in Communications. He is also an accomplished musician who plays the tuba
. He and his wife, Lesley, have one daughter, Dasia, and one son, David Benjamin.
West also loves to make mixtapes for his teammates, saying that it is a healthy habit that keeps him "in the house and off [his] feet".
West comes from a family of above-average height. His mother, Harriet, is 6 feet (1.8 m) tall (1.83 m), while his father, Amos, is 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m).
West has a Xavier "X" tattooed on his arm which displays, on either side, "My life, my way". The X is a tribute to his alma mater Xavier University.
| align="left" | 2003–04
| align="left" | New Orleans
| 71 || 1 || 13.1 || .474 || .000 || .713 || 4.2 || .8 || .4 || .4 || 3.8
|-
| align="left" | 2004–05
| align="left" | New Orleans
| 30 || 8 || 18.4 || .436 || .400 || .680 || 4.3 || .8 || .4 || .5 || 6.2
|-
| align="left" | 2005–06
| align="left" | NO/Oklahoma City
| 74 || 74 || 34.1 || .512 || .273 || .843 || 7.4 || 1.2 || .8 || .9 || 17.1
|-
| align="left" | 2006–07
| align="left" | NO/Oklahoma City
| 52 || 52 || 36.5 || .476 || .320 || .824 || 8.2 || 2.2 || .8 || .7 || 18.3
|-
| align="left" | 2007–08
| align="left" | New Orleans
| 76 || 76 || 37.8 || .482 || .240 || .850 || 8.9 || 2.3 || .8 || 1.3 || 20.6
|-
| align="left" | 2008–09
| align="left" | New Orleans
| 76 || 76 || 39.2 || .472 || .240 || .884 || 8.5 || 2.3 || .6 || .9 || 21.0
|-
| align="left" | 2009–10
| align="left" | New Orleans
| 81 || 81 || 36.4 || .505 || .259 || .865 || 7.5 || 3.0 || .9 || .7 || 19.0
|-
| align="left" | 2010–11
| align="left" | New Orleans
| 70 || 70 || 35.0 || .508 || .222 || .807 || 7.6 || 2.3 || 1.0 || .9 || 18.9
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 530 || 438 || 32.4 || .490 || .264 || .839 || 7.3 || 2.0 || .8 || .8 || 16.4
|-
| align="left" | All-Star
| align="left" |
| 2 || 0 || 15.0 || .545 || .000 || .000 || 3.5 || .5 || .5 || .0 || 6.0
| align="left" | 2003–04
| align="left" | New Orleans
| 7 || 0 || 15.9 || .536 || .000 || .846 || 4.3 || 1.1 || .3 || .6 || 5.9
|-
| align="left" | 2007–08
| align="left" | New Orleans
| 12 || 12 || 40.4 || .466 || .500 || .891 || 8.5 || 2.8 || 1.1 || 1.9 || 21.2
|-
| align="left" | 2008–09
| align="left" | New Orleans
| 5 || 5 || 35.6 || .400 || .000 || .897 || 7.4 || 1.2 || 1.0 || .4 || 18.0
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 24 || 17 || 32.3 || .456 || .500 || .887 || 7.0 || 2.0 || .8 || 1.2 || 16.0
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 who has most recently played with 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...
's New Orleans Hornets. He is currently a free agent.
Though he was born and grew up in Teaneck
Teaneck, New Jersey
Teaneck is a township in Bergen County, New Jersey, and a suburb in the New York metropolitan area. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 39,776, making it the second-most populous among the 70 municipalities in Bergen County....
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, West went to high school at Garner Magnet High School
Garner Magnet High School
Garner Magnet High School is a 4AA school in the Wake County Public School System . GMHS has a current enrollment of 2311 students...
in Garner, North Carolina
Garner, North Carolina
Garner is a town in Wake County, North Carolina, United States and a suburb of Raleigh. The population was 17,757 at the 2000 census and was 27,533 in 2009.-Geography:Garner is located at ....
and at Hargrave Military Academy
Hargrave Military Academy
Hargrave Military Academy is a private American boarding school located in the town of Chatham, Virginia.Hargrave is a school affiliated with the Baptist General Association of Virginia emphasizing Christian values that focuses on a college and military preparatory program...
in Chatham, Virginia
Chatham, Virginia
Chatham is a town in Pittsylvania County, Virginia, United States. Chatham's population was 1,338 at the 2000 census. It is included in the Danville, Virginia Metropolitan Statistical Area. Chatham is home to Chatham High School and Hargrave Military Academy. It is also home to Chatham Hall , an...
and won First Team All-State honors in North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
.
College career
West attended and graduated from Xavier University in Cincinnati, OhioOhio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
. There, he was a four-year starter on the basketball team. West was the first XU player to get his number retired while still playing for the Musketeers, during which he led Xavier to a top 10 national ranking and a #3 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
West was named as a first-team All-American his senior year and the 2003 Associated Press and United States Basketball Writers Association
United States Basketball Writers Association
The United States Basketball Writers Association was founded in 1956 by Walter Byers and serves the interests of journalists who cover college basketball.-Scholarships:...
National Player of the Year, averaging 20.1 ppg and 11.8 rpg as a senior while leading XU to its second straight 26–6 season. West led Xavier to 94 wins in his four seasons while finishing as Xavier's all-time blocked shot leader (228 blocks) and second on XU's all-time scoring (2,132 points) and rebounding (1,308 rebounds) lists. West was also named as the Atlantic 10 Conference Player of the Year three years in a row. As a senior, he was selected as the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award
Lowe's Senior CLASS Award
The Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award is an annual college athletic award in the NCAA Division I. Qualified competitors must be seniors who have remained within their NCAA Division I college for a four-year commitment and achieved excellence in one of nine sports.....
winner, recognizing him as the nation's top senior men's basketball player.
In October 2007, Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
released Sports Illustrated: The Basketball Book, which featured West on its NCAA All-Decade Team for the decade beginning in 2000. He was joined by Connecticut
University of Connecticut
The admission rate to the University of Connecticut is about 50% and has been steadily decreasing, with about 28,000 prospective students applying for admission to the freshman class in recent years. Approximately 40,000 prospective students tour the main campus in Storrs annually...
's Emeka Okafor
Emeka Okafor
Chukwuemeka Ndubuisi Okafor, abbreviated as Emeka Okafor , is an American basketball power forward and center for the New Orleans Hornets of the National Basketball Association. Prior to the NBA, Okafor attended Houston's Bellaire High School, and the University of Connecticut.-Early life:Okafor...
and three Duke
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...
players, Jay Williams
Jay Williams (basketball)
Jason David Williams , professionally known as Jay Williams, is a former American professional basketball player with the NBA Chicago Bulls. He last signed with the Austin Toros of the NBA Development League, but was waived by the Toros on December 30, 2006 to rehabilitate a nagging injury...
, J. J. Redick and Shane Battier
Shane Battier
Shane Courtney Battier is an American professional basketball player . He most recently played with the Memphis Grizzlies of the National Basketball Association. He has also been a member of the U.S...
.
Professional career
West was drafted by the New Orleans Hornets in the first round, eighteenth overall in the 2003 NBA Draft2003 NBA Draft
The 2003 NBA Draft was held on June 26, 2003 at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting basketball players and other first-time eligible players, such as players from high schools and...
. After recording modest production in his first two seasons, in 2005–06 West enjoyed a breakthrough, averaging 17.4 points and 7.4 rebounds with a .512 FG% in 74 games. That year, he finished second in the voting for the NBA Most Improved Player Award
NBA Most Improved Player Award
The National Basketball Association's Most Improved Player Award is an annual National Basketball Association award given since the 1985–86 NBA season, to the most improved player of the regular season. The winner is selected by a panel of sportswriters throughout the United States and Canada,...
, behind Boris Diaw
Boris Diaw
Boris Babacar Diaw-Riffiod, better known as Boris Diaw , is a French professional basketball player for JSA Bordeaux in France. He has also played in the National Basketball Association for the Atlanta Hawks, Phoenix Suns, and Charlotte Bobcats...
of 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...
. He also saw some time at 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...
, due to the team's lack of a true big man. That season he demonstrated an ability to perform under pressure, as he converted three game-winning jump shots.
In 2006–07, West ended the season averaging 18.3 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists. Despite missing 30 games due to an elbow
Elbow
The human elbow is the region surrounding the elbow-joint—the ginglymus or hinge joint in the middle of the arm. Three bones form the elbow joint: the humerus of the upper arm, and the paired radius and ulna of the forearm....
injury, West recorded five games of 30 or more points and 13 games of 20 or more points.
West again increased his statistical production in 2007–08, and was selected to his first NBA All-Star Game
2008 NBA All-Star Game
-Eastern Conference roster:The Boston Celtics, the team with the league's best record, came into New Orleans with three players. Kevin Garnett, top vote-getter in the league with 2,399,148 votes, was selected as a starter, while Paul Pierce and Ray Allen were selected as reserves by the coaches of...
as a reserve, along with teammate Chris Paul
Chris Paul
Christopher Emmanuel Paul is an American professional basketball point guard for the New Orleans Hornets.Paul was born and raised in North Carolina. Despite only playing two varsity basketball seasons in high school, he was a McDonald's All-American and accepted a scholarship with nearby Wake...
. Paul later stated that he would rather not play with a power forward in the league other than West, because "he's not in it for the spotlight, all he cares about is getting buckets [scoring]." West reinforced his desire to be a team player in a 2008 postseason interview, saying that he does not care about being overlooked but would rather focus on "play[ing] and be[ing] as effective as possible" when he is out on the court.
In 2008–09
2008–09 NBA season
The 2008–09 NBA season was the 63rd season of the National Basketball Association . The 1,230-game regular season began on Tuesday, October 28, 2008, and ended on Wednesday, April 15, 2009...
West repeated as an all-star and posted a new career high by scoring 21.0 points per game.
On March 25, 2011, during one of the New Orleans Hornets' last games of the season vs. the Utah Jazz
Utah Jazz
The Utah Jazz is a professional basketball team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. They are currently a part of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
, West came down awkwardly after a dunk. The event occurred with 22.3 left in the fourth quarter. West tore his anterior cruciate ligament
Anterior cruciate ligament
The anterior cruciate ligament is a cruciate ligament which is one of the four major ligaments of the human knee. In the quadruped stifle , based on its anatomical position, it is referred to as the cranial cruciate ligament.The ACL originates from deep within the notch of the distal femur...
in his left knee.
On June 27, 2011, West confirmed he was opting out of the final year of his contract to become a free agent. He did not however totally rule out signing a contract extension with the team.
Player profile
At 6' 9" and 240 lb (108.9 kg), West is a power forwardPower 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...
. His game is fundamental for the most part, as he is not known for being a flamboyant player. West is known for his explosive scoring capabilities, with his fine midrange game and threatening inside presence. He is also an effective rebounder and consistent on the defensive end. West is an above average ball handler for his size, capable of converting with either hand.
Awards and honors
- 2× NBA All-Star: 2008, 2009
- Three-Time Atlantic 10 Conference Player of the Year
- 2003 AP National Player of the Year
- 2003 National Player of the Year by the United States Basketball Writers Association
- 2003 Pete Newell Big Man award from the National Association of Basketball Coaches
- Honorable Mention All-America honors from AP as a sophomore
- First Team All-America by AP as a senior and Second Team as a junior
Personal life
West is extremely interested in "black history, philosophy and various societal issues" and has been cited by Chris Paul as being the smartest New Orleans Hornets player.West graduated from Xavier with a bachelor of arts degree in Communications. He is also an accomplished musician who plays the tuba
Tuba
The tuba is the largest and lowest-pitched brass instrument. Sound is produced by vibrating or "buzzing" the lips into a large cupped mouthpiece. It is one of the most recent additions to the modern symphony orchestra, first appearing in the mid-19th century, when it largely replaced the...
. He and his wife, Lesley, have one daughter, Dasia, and one son, David Benjamin.
West also loves to make mixtapes for his teammates, saying that it is a healthy habit that keeps him "in the house and off [his] feet".
West comes from a family of above-average height. His mother, Harriet, is 6 feet (1.8 m) tall (1.83 m), while his father, Amos, is 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m).
West has a Xavier "X" tattooed on his arm which displays, on either side, "My life, my way". The X is a tribute to his alma mater Xavier University.
Regular season
|-| align="left" | 2003–04
| align="left" | New Orleans
| 71 || 1 || 13.1 || .474 || .000 || .713 || 4.2 || .8 || .4 || .4 || 3.8
|-
| align="left" | 2004–05
| align="left" | New Orleans
| 30 || 8 || 18.4 || .436 || .400 || .680 || 4.3 || .8 || .4 || .5 || 6.2
|-
| align="left" | 2005–06
| align="left" | NO/Oklahoma City
| 74 || 74 || 34.1 || .512 || .273 || .843 || 7.4 || 1.2 || .8 || .9 || 17.1
|-
| align="left" | 2006–07
| align="left" | NO/Oklahoma City
| 52 || 52 || 36.5 || .476 || .320 || .824 || 8.2 || 2.2 || .8 || .7 || 18.3
|-
| align="left" | 2007–08
| align="left" | New Orleans
| 76 || 76 || 37.8 || .482 || .240 || .850 || 8.9 || 2.3 || .8 || 1.3 || 20.6
|-
| align="left" | 2008–09
2008–09 NBA season
The 2008–09 NBA season was the 63rd season of the National Basketball Association . The 1,230-game regular season began on Tuesday, October 28, 2008, and ended on Wednesday, April 15, 2009...
| align="left" | New Orleans
| 76 || 76 || 39.2 || .472 || .240 || .884 || 8.5 || 2.3 || .6 || .9 || 21.0
|-
| align="left" | 2009–10
2009–10 NBA season
The 2009–10 NBA season was the 64th season of the National Basketball Association . The 1,230-game regular season began on Tuesday, October 27, 2009, and ended on Wednesday, April 14, 2010....
| align="left" | New Orleans
| 81 || 81 || 36.4 || .505 || .259 || .865 || 7.5 || 3.0 || .9 || .7 || 19.0
|-
| align="left" | 2010–11
2010–11 NBA season
The 2010–11 NBA season was the 65th season of the National Basketball Association . The 2011 NBA All-Star Game was played on February 20, 2011 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. The Dallas Mavericks defeated the Miami Heat in six games, 4 games to 2, to win their first NBA title, and...
| align="left" | New Orleans
| 70 || 70 || 35.0 || .508 || .222 || .807 || 7.6 || 2.3 || 1.0 || .9 || 18.9
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 530 || 438 || 32.4 || .490 || .264 || .839 || 7.3 || 2.0 || .8 || .8 || 16.4
|-
| align="left" | All-Star
| align="left" |
| 2 || 0 || 15.0 || .545 || .000 || .000 || 3.5 || .5 || .5 || .0 || 6.0
Playoffs
|-| align="left" | 2003–04
2004 NBA Playoffs
The 2004 NBA Playoffs were the postseason of the National Basketball Association's 2003–04 season. Consisting of 16 teams in two conferences, the playoffs involved about two months of play. The playoffs were conducted in seven-game series, with the team with the better record holding home court...
| align="left" | New Orleans
| 7 || 0 || 15.9 || .536 || .000 || .846 || 4.3 || 1.1 || .3 || .6 || 5.9
|-
| align="left" | 2007–08
2008 NBA Playoffs
The 2008 NBA Playoffs was the postseason for the National Basketball Association's 2007–08 season which ended with the Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics defeating the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers 4–2....
| align="left" | New Orleans
| 12 || 12 || 40.4 || .466 || .500 || .891 || 8.5 || 2.8 || 1.1 || 1.9 || 21.2
|-
| align="left" | 2008–09
2009 NBA Playoffs
The 2009 NBA Playoffs was the postseason for the National Basketball Association's 2008–09 season. The playoffs started on April 18, 2009 with ABC, ESPN, TNT, and NBA TV broadcasting the games in the United States...
| align="left" | New Orleans
| 5 || 5 || 35.6 || .400 || .000 || .897 || 7.4 || 1.2 || 1.0 || .4 || 18.0
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 24 || 17 || 32.3 || .456 || .500 || .887 || 7.0 || 2.0 || .8 || 1.2 || 16.0
See also
- List of NCAA Division I men's basketball players with 2000 points and 1000 rebounds
External links
- NBA.com profile
- 2003 Oscar Robertson trophy College Basketball Player of the Year
- hoopshype.com profile