Leroy Ellis
Encyclopedia
LeRoy Ellis is a retired American
basketball
player.
from St. John's University, Ellis was selected by the Los Angeles Lakers
in the first round (8th pick overall) of the 1962 NBA Draft
. He played 14 seasons (1962–1976) in the NBA with the Lakers, Baltimore Bullets
, Portland Trail Blazers
, and Philadelphia 76ers
, including being a member of the 1971-72
Los Angeles Lakers
championship team
. Not only did they win the championship, they also recorded the longest winning streak in NBA history with 33 wins. At the close of his NBA career 1976, Ellis had amassed career totals of 10,176 points and 8,709 rebounds
.
Ellis was on the first Portland Trail Blazers
team, selected from Baltimore in the 1970 expansion draft. He was in the starting lineup for the Trail Blazers' inaugural game. He was their leading scorer (15.9 ppg) and the leading rebounder, averaging 12.3 boards per game, the third best average in the Blazers’ first three decades.
He continued playing basketball long after his professional career ended, including being a part of several Senior Masters Games national championship teams in Portland.
while he played professional basketball, and eventually continued residing there upon retiring from the NBA. He later entered the tire
industry during his retirement and moved to Southern California
to operate a tire store in Orange County
. LeRoy Ellis was accompanied by his son, LeRon
, and the two moved to the city of Anaheim, California
while awaiting for the rest of their family to join them at a later time. He is a frequent caller of sports radio stations in his former hometown of Philadelphia.
Three of Ellis' children have gone on to play college basketball
: his daughter Lisa played women's basketball
for California State University, Long Beach and the University of Kentucky
; his eldest son LeRoy Jr. played NCAA Division I men’s basketball for the University of the Pacific and was a member of the 1990 NCAA Division II National Champion Kentucky Wesleyan College
; and another son, LeRon
, played at the University of Kentucky
and Syracuse University
before playing two and a half seasons in the NBA. LeRoy Ellis' youngest son, Lee Christopher Ellis, was shot to death on a Los Angeles
street in 1998 at age 19.
LeRoy now resides near Portland Oregon with his significant other, Vera Moeller. He is currently retired. He has been battling prostate cancer.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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.
Professional career
A 6'10" centerCenter (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 St. John's University, Ellis was selected by the Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
in the first round (8th pick overall) of the 1962 NBA Draft
1962 NBA Draft
The 1962 NBA Draft was the 16th annual draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held on March 26, 1962 before to the 1962–63 season. In this draft, nine NBA teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players. A player who had finished his four-year college...
. He played 14 seasons (1962–1976) in the NBA with the Lakers, Baltimore Bullets
Washington Wizards
The Washington Wizards are a professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C., previously known as Washington Bullets. They play in the National Basketball Association .-Early years:...
, Portland Trail Blazers
Portland Trail Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers, commonly known as the Blazers, are an American professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The Trail Blazers originally played their home games in the...
, and Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers are a professional basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . Originally known as the Syracuse Nationals, they are one of the oldest franchises in the NBA...
, including being a member of the 1971-72
1971–72 NBA season
The 1971–72 NBA season was the 26th season of the National Basketball Association. The season ended with the Los Angeles Lakers winning the NBA Championship, beating the New York Knicks 4 games to 1 in the NBA Finals....
Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
championship team
1972 NBA Finals
The 1972 NBA Finals was played at the conclusion of the 1971–72 NBA season. The Western Conference Champion Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Eastern Conference Champion New York Knicks in five games...
. Not only did they win the championship, they also recorded the longest winning streak in NBA history with 33 wins. At the close of his NBA career 1976, Ellis had amassed career totals of 10,176 points and 8,709 rebounds
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...
.
Ellis was on the first Portland Trail Blazers
Portland Trail Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers, commonly known as the Blazers, are an American professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The Trail Blazers originally played their home games in the...
team, selected from Baltimore in the 1970 expansion draft. He was in the starting lineup for the Trail Blazers' inaugural game. He was their leading scorer (15.9 ppg) and the leading rebounder, averaging 12.3 boards per game, the third best average in the Blazers’ first three decades.
He continued playing basketball long after his professional career ended, including being a part of several Senior Masters Games national championship teams in Portland.
Personal
Ellis and his family settled in Portland, OregonPortland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
while he played professional basketball, and eventually continued residing there upon retiring from the NBA. He later entered the tire
Tire
A tire or tyre is a ring-shaped covering that fits around a wheel rim to protect it and enable better vehicle performance by providing a flexible cushion that absorbs shock while keeping the wheel in close contact with the ground...
industry during his retirement and moved to Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
to operate a tire store in Orange County
Orange County, California
Orange County is a county in the U.S. state of California. Its county seat is Santa Ana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 3,010,232, up from 2,846,293 at the 2000 census, making it the third most populous county in California, behind Los Angeles County and San Diego County...
. LeRoy Ellis was accompanied by his son, LeRon
LeRon Ellis
LeRon Perry Ellis is an American professional basketball player and former NBA athlete. Ellis was considered to be one of the premier high school basketball players in the nation among the class of 1987 while playing for the top-ranked Southern California prep school squad Mater Dei...
, and the two moved to the city of Anaheim, California
Anaheim, California
Anaheim is a city in Orange County, California. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was about 365,463, making it the most populated city in Orange County, the 10th most-populated city in California, and ranked 54th in the United States...
while awaiting for the rest of their family to join them at a later time. He is a frequent caller of sports radio stations in his former hometown of Philadelphia.
Three of Ellis' children have gone on to play 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....
: his daughter Lisa played women's basketball
Women's basketball
Women's basketball is one of the few women's sports that developed in tandem with its men's counterpart. It became popular, spreading from the east coast of the United States to the west coast , in large part via women's colleges...
for California State University, Long Beach and the University of Kentucky
University of Kentucky
The University of Kentucky, also known as UK, is a public co-educational university and is one of the state's two land-grant universities, located in Lexington, Kentucky...
; his eldest son LeRoy Jr. played NCAA Division I men’s basketball for the University of the Pacific and was a member of the 1990 NCAA Division II National Champion Kentucky Wesleyan College
Kentucky Wesleyan College
Kentucky Wesleyan College is a private Methodist college in Owensboro, Kentucky, a city on the Ohio River. KWC is just 40 minutes east of Evansville, Indiana, 2 hours north of Nashville, Tennessee, 2 hours west of Louisville, Kentucky, and 4 hours east of St. Louis, Missouri...
; and another son, LeRon
LeRon Ellis
LeRon Perry Ellis is an American professional basketball player and former NBA athlete. Ellis was considered to be one of the premier high school basketball players in the nation among the class of 1987 while playing for the top-ranked Southern California prep school squad Mater Dei...
, played at the University of Kentucky
University of Kentucky
The University of Kentucky, also known as UK, is a public co-educational university and is one of the state's two land-grant universities, located in Lexington, Kentucky...
and Syracuse University
Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
before playing two and a half seasons in the NBA. LeRoy Ellis' youngest son, Lee Christopher Ellis, was shot to death on a Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
street in 1998 at age 19.
LeRoy now resides near Portland Oregon with his significant other, Vera Moeller. He is currently retired. He has been battling prostate cancer.