Lester Conner
Encyclopedia
Lester Allen Conner is a former assistant coach for the NBA Indiana Pacers
, and is a former American professional basketball
player, who played for numerous NBA teams. He played the point guard
position.
After two seasons playing for Los Medanos Junior College and Chabot College, Conner played collegiately at Oregon State University
under legendary coach Ralph Miller
, and was on the 1980-1981 squad which spent most of the season at #1 in the polls, before being upset in the second round of the 1981 NCAA Tournament
. He was drafted in 1982
as the 14th pick overall, by the Golden State Warriors
, and played with the Warriors for 4 seasons. He would later play for the Houston Rockets
, and serve two stints with both the New Jersey Nets
and the Milwaukee Bucks
, finishing his NBA career with the Los Angeles Clippers
, the Indiana Pacers
, and the Los Angeles Lakers
. He ended his NBA playing days in 1995.
Conner began his NBA coaching career in 1998 as an assistant to Rick Pitino for the Boston Celtics.
He also was twice the assistant coach in Milwaukee for head coach Terry Stotts, leaving after Stotts was fired following the 2006-2007 season.
Conner credits current Indiana Pacers head coach Jim O'Brien for his start in coaching. and has worked under O'Brien on three separate occasions. The first was with the Boston Celtics from 2001-04. The second was as associate head coach for the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2004-05 season. In June, 2007, Conner moved to Indiana, to once again work for O'Brien and the Pacers.
Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers are a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They are members of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association...
, and is a former American 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 played for numerous NBA teams. He played the 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...
position.
After two seasons playing for Los Medanos Junior College and Chabot College, Conner played collegiately at Oregon State University
Oregon State University
Oregon State University is a coeducational, public research university located in Corvallis, Oregon, United States. The university offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees and a multitude of research opportunities. There are more than 200 academic degree programs offered through the...
under legendary coach Ralph Miller
Ralph Miller
Ralph H. Miller was an American basketball coach. A native of Chanute, Kansas, Miller coached at the University of Wichita , the University of Iowa and Oregon State University , compiling a 657-382 overall record in 38 seasons combined...
, and was on the 1980-1981 squad which spent most of the season at #1 in the polls, before being upset in the second round of the 1981 NCAA Tournament
1981 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1981 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 48 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 12, 1981, and ended with the championship game on March 30 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania...
. He was drafted in 1982
1982 NBA Draft
The 1982 NBA Draft took place on June 29, 1982 at the Felt Forum at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York.-Key:-Draft:-Other picks:-External links:**...
as the 14th pick overall, by the Golden State Warriors
Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors are an American professional basketball team based in Oakland, California. They are part of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
, and played with the Warriors for 4 seasons. He would later play for 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...
, and serve two stints with both the New Jersey Nets
New Jersey Nets
The New Jersey Nets are a professional basketball team based in Newark, New Jersey. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
and the Milwaukee Bucks
Milwaukee Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks are a professional basketball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. They are part of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1968 as an expansion team, and currently plays at the Bradley Center....
, finishing his NBA career with the Los Angeles Clippers
Los Angeles Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers are a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, United States. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
, the Indiana Pacers
Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers are a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They are members of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association...
, and 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...
. He ended his NBA playing days in 1995.
Conner began his NBA coaching career in 1998 as an assistant to Rick Pitino for the Boston Celtics.
He also was twice the assistant coach in Milwaukee for head coach Terry Stotts, leaving after Stotts was fired following the 2006-2007 season.
Conner credits current Indiana Pacers head coach Jim O'Brien for his start in coaching. and has worked under O'Brien on three separate occasions. The first was with the Boston Celtics from 2001-04. The second was as associate head coach for the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2004-05 season. In June, 2007, Conner moved to Indiana, to once again work for O'Brien and the Pacers.