Marquis Daniels
Encyclopedia
Marquis Antwane Daniels (born January 7, 1981) is a , 200 pounds (90.7 kg) guard-forward who most recently was a member of the Sacramento Kings
. Daniels was an undrafted guard in the 2003 NBA Draft
, yet has become a regular rotation player averaging at least 17.8 minutes per game in each one of his first six seasons. He played his first three years for the Dallas Mavericks
and was subsequently traded to the Indiana Pacers
, where he finished the final three guaranteed years of his contract. Daniels then signed with the Boston Celtics
after a period in free agency.
in his hometown Orlando, Florida
, before transferring to Mt. Zion Christian Academy
(the same school as current NBA player Tracy McGrady
).
, Daniels reached the Sweet 16
in the 2003 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
. He averaged 23.3 points and 7.0 rebounds in three games, including an impressive 27-point, nine-rebound performance in a close one-point loss against the eventual national champion Syracuse
.
Daniels graduated from Auburn University
with a degree
in Sociology
in just three-and-a-half years. At Auburn, he averaged 18.4 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.3 assist
s and 2.3 steals per game as a senior and was named to the All SEC
Second Team as a senior and team MVP
as a sophomore, junior and senior.
' head coach Don Nelson
initially planned on using their 2nd round pick to select Daniels (whom they accidentally discovered while watching game tapes of Josh Howard
) but his son Donnie Nelson
convinced him to trade the pick to Denver
instead and assured his father that they would get him one way or the other. As the calls started pouring in on Daniels' agent's cellphone (among the callers were Magic
head coach Doc Rivers
), it was later revealed that they had a gentleman's agreement with the Mavericks that his client would sign with them in the event that he did not get drafted.
After a remarkable stint at the team's summer league games, Daniels was signed to a one-year, minimum contract.
Daniels was mostly a third-stringer during his rookie season, used only when victory was all but sure. In the short minutes he was on the floor however, he showed flashes of brilliance. When Steve Nash was out with a stomach flu, Nelson plugged in Daniels as the starting point guard and the rookie delivered with a near triple-double finishing with 14 points, 9 rebounds and 9 assists followed by a 16 point, 7 rebound and 8 assist game in a loss against the T-Wolves the next night.
Although his reign as a starter was cut short, Nelson grew tired of the team's lackluster play following their third-straight loss and decided to bring back the classic small ball line-up in a 118–88 triumph over the Orlando Magic
. This line-up had the 6'9" Antoine Walker
at center
and Daniels at the two-guard position and was the permanent starting five until their post-season demise. Daniels averaged 19.7 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists during that 10-game stretch. Daniels signed a 6-year, $38-million contract with the Mavs in the 2004 off-season.
On July 6, 2006, Daniels was traded to the Indiana Pacers for Austin Croshere
. The Pacers did not pick up their $7.3 million team option for Daniels in 2009, which made him a free agent
. Daniels signed with the Boston Celtics
on September 1, 2009.
On February 6, 2011, while the Celtics were playing against the Orlando Magic
, Daniels collided with Magic guard
Gilbert Arenas
and suffered a bruised spinal cord. Daniels lay motionless on the floor for several minutes before being taken away on a stretcher. He gave the Boston crowd a thumbs up sign, and after arriving at a Boston Hospital regained movement of his arms and legs.
On February 24, 2011 Daniels was traded to the Sacramento Kings along with cash for a conditional second round draft pick. This trade helped reduce Boston's luxury tax as well as got the Kings over the league's salary cap minimum, though Daniels did not play a game for the Kings.
on his lower right arm, and Chinese
characters on his other arm which were intended to represent his initials, but translate to English
as "healthy woman roof". Also, he has an entire bible verse on his chest, which he used to read to his paralyzed grandmother.
| style="text-align:left;"| 2003–04
| style="text-align:left;"| Dallas
| 56 || 15 || 18.6 || .494 || .306 || .769 || 2.6 || 2.1 || .9 || .2 || 8.5
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2004–05
| style="text-align:left;"| Dallas
| 60 || 17 || 23.5 || .437 || .200 || .737 || 3.6 || 2.1 || 1.4 || .2 || 9.1
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2005–06
| style="text-align:left;"| Dallas
| 62 || 29 || 28.5 || .480 || .211 || .754 || 3.6 || 2.8 || 1.1 || .2 || 10.2
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2006–07
| style="text-align:left;"| Indiana
| 45 || 4 || 17.8 || .459 || .231 || .700 || 1.8 || 1.3 || .6 || .2 || 7.1
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2007–08
| style="text-align:left;"| Indiana
| 74 || 1 || 20.9 || .430 || .265 || .698 || 2.9 || 1.9 || 1.1 || .2 || 8.2
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2008–09
| style="text-align:left;"| Indiana
| 54 || 43 || 31.5 || .451 || .200 || .721 || 4.6 || 2.1 || 1.1 || .5 || 13.6
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2009–10
| style="text-align:left;"| Boston
| 51 || 4 || 18.4 || .498 || .214 || .607 || 1.9 || 1.3 || .5 || .1 || 5.6
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2010–11
| style="text-align:left;"| Boston
| 49 || 0 || 19.1 || .491 || .190 || .684 || 2.3 || 1.3 || .8 || .4 || 5.5
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| Career
| style="text-align:left;"|
| 451 || 113 || 22.5 || .462 || .232 || .719 || 3.0 || 1.9 || 1.0 || .3 || 8.6
| style="text-align:left;"| 2003–04
| style="text-align:left;"| Dallas
| 5 || 5 || 36.8 || .427 || .143 || .636 || 6.2 || 3.0 || 2.0 || .6 || 15.8
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2004–05
| style="text-align:left;"| Dallas
| 11 || 0 || 15.0 || .433 || .167 || .704 || 3.1 || 1.3 || .6 || .3 || 6.5
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2005–06
| style="text-align:left;"| Dallas
| 20 || 0 || 11.1 || .446 || .400 || .762 || 1.1 || 1.3 || .2 || .1 || 3.4
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2009–10
| style="text-align:left;"| Boston
| 11 || 0 || 3.4 || .385 || .500 || 1.000 || 0.9 || .1 || .0 || .0 || 1.5
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| Career
| style="text-align:left;"|
| 47 || 5 || 12.9 || .431 || .250 || .724 || 2.0 || 1.2 || .4 || .2 || 5.0
Sacramento Kings
The Sacramento Kings are a professional basketball team based in Sacramento, California, United States. They are currently members of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
. Daniels was an undrafted guard in the 2003 NBA Draft
2003 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...
, yet has become a regular rotation player averaging at least 17.8 minutes per game in each one of his first six seasons. He played his first three years 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...
and was subsequently traded to 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...
, where he finished the final three guaranteed years of his contract. Daniels then signed with the Boston Celtics
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
after a period in free agency.
High school career
Daniels attended Edgewater High SchoolEdgewater High School
Edgewater High School is a public secondary school located in the College Park section of Orlando, Florida. It is operated by the Orange County Public Schools system. The athletic teams are known as the 'Fighting Eagles' with colors red and white....
in his hometown Orlando, Florida
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
, before transferring to Mt. Zion Christian Academy
Mt. Zion Christian Academy
Mount Zion Christian Academy is a college preparatory, non-denominational, co-educational day school and boarding school located in Durham, North Carolina. The Academy is most noted for its successful prep basketball program. The prep program has produced many D-1 college players,...
(the same school as current NBA player Tracy McGrady
Tracy McGrady
Tracy Lamar McGrady, Jr., is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Detroit Pistons.Entering the league after graduating from high school, McGrady eventually became a seven-time All-Star. He led the league in scoring in 2003 and 2004. He has also played for the Toronto...
).
College career
With Auburn UniversityAuburn University
Auburn University is a public university located in Auburn, Alabama, United States. With more than 25,000 students and 1,200 faculty members, it is one of the largest universities in the state. Auburn was chartered on February 7, 1856, as the East Alabama Male College, a private liberal arts...
, Daniels reached the Sweet 16
NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
The NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship is a single-elimination tournament held each spring in the United States, featuring 68 college basketball teams, to determine the national championship in the top tier of college basketball...
in the 2003 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
The NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship is a single-elimination tournament held each spring in the United States, featuring 68 college basketball teams, to determine the national championship in the top tier of college basketball...
. He averaged 23.3 points and 7.0 rebounds in three games, including an impressive 27-point, nine-rebound performance in a close one-point loss against the eventual national champion Syracuse
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...
.
Daniels graduated from Auburn University
Auburn University
Auburn University is a public university located in Auburn, Alabama, United States. With more than 25,000 students and 1,200 faculty members, it is one of the largest universities in the state. Auburn was chartered on February 7, 1856, as the East Alabama Male College, a private liberal arts...
with a degree
Academic degree
An academic degree is a position and title within a college or university that is usually awarded in recognition of the recipient having either satisfactorily completed a prescribed course of study or having conducted a scholarly endeavour deemed worthy of his or her admission to the degree...
in Sociology
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
in just three-and-a-half years. At Auburn, he averaged 18.4 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.3 assist
Assist (basketball)
In basketball, an assist is attributed to a player who passes the ball to a teammate in a way that leads to a score by field goal, meaning that he or she was "assisting" in the basket. There is some judgment involved in deciding whether a passer should be credited with an assist...
s and 2.3 steals per game as a senior and was named to the All SEC
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
Second Team as a senior and team MVP
Most Valuable Player
In sports, a Most Valuable Player award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests...
as a sophomore, junior and senior.
NBA career
Projected as a second-round pick, Daniels waited for his name to be called. The MavericksDallas 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...
' head 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....
initially planned on using their 2nd round pick to select Daniels (whom they accidentally discovered while watching game tapes of Josh Howard
Josh Howard
Joshua Jay Howard is an American professional basketball player who most recently played for the NBA's Washington Wizards. At and , he plays as a small forward.-High school:...
) but his son Donnie Nelson
Donnie Nelson
Donnie Nelson is the General Manager and president of basketball operations for the NBA team the Dallas Mavericks. Donnie attended Worcester Academy for High School. He is the son of Don Nelson, the former head coach of the Golden State Warriors...
convinced him to trade the pick to Denver
Denver Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets are a professional basketball team based in Denver, Colorado. They play in the National Basketball Association . They were founded as the Denver Rockets in 1967 as a charter franchise of the American Basketball Association, and became one of that league's more successful teams...
instead and assured his father that they would get him one way or the other. As the calls started pouring in on Daniels' agent's cellphone (among the callers were Magic
Orlando Magic
The Orlando Magic is a professional basketball team based in Orlando, Florida. They play in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association and are currently coached by Stan Van Gundy...
head coach Doc Rivers
Doc Rivers
Glenn Anton "Doc" Rivers is a former professional basketball player and the current head coach of the NBA's Boston Celtics. Rivers was known for his defense while playing in the NBA...
), it was later revealed that they had a gentleman's agreement with the Mavericks that his client would sign with them in the event that he did not get drafted.
After a remarkable stint at the team's summer league games, Daniels was signed to a one-year, minimum contract.
Daniels was mostly a third-stringer during his rookie season, used only when victory was all but sure. In the short minutes he was on the floor however, he showed flashes of brilliance. When Steve Nash was out with a stomach flu, Nelson plugged in Daniels as the starting point guard and the rookie delivered with a near triple-double finishing with 14 points, 9 rebounds and 9 assists followed by a 16 point, 7 rebound and 8 assist game in a loss against the T-Wolves the next night.
Although his reign as a starter was cut short, Nelson grew tired of the team's lackluster play following their third-straight loss and decided to bring back the classic small ball line-up in a 118–88 triumph over the Orlando Magic
Orlando Magic
The Orlando Magic is a professional basketball team based in Orlando, Florida. They play in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association and are currently coached by Stan Van Gundy...
. This line-up had the 6'9" Antoine Walker
Antoine Walker
Antoine Devon Walker is an American professional basketball player who most recently played for the Idaho Stampede of the NBA Development League...
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...
and Daniels at the two-guard position and was the permanent starting five until their post-season demise. Daniels averaged 19.7 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists during that 10-game stretch. Daniels signed a 6-year, $38-million contract with the Mavs in the 2004 off-season.
On July 6, 2006, Daniels was traded to the Indiana Pacers for Austin Croshere
Austin Croshere
Austin Nathan Croshere is a retired American professional basketball player and current analyst for Fox Sports Indiana broadcasts of Indiana Pacers games.-Education:...
. The Pacers did not pick up their $7.3 million team option for Daniels in 2009, which made him a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
. Daniels signed with the Boston Celtics
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
on September 1, 2009.
On February 6, 2011, while the Celtics were playing against the Orlando Magic
Orlando Magic
The Orlando Magic is a professional basketball team based in Orlando, Florida. They play in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association and are currently coached by Stan Van Gundy...
, Daniels collided with Magic 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...
Gilbert Arenas
Gilbert Arenas
Gilbert Jay Arenas, Jr. is an American professional basketball player for the Orlando Magic of the National Basketball Association . He plays as a point guard and shooting guard....
and suffered a bruised spinal cord. Daniels lay motionless on the floor for several minutes before being taken away on a stretcher. He gave the Boston crowd a thumbs up sign, and after arriving at a Boston Hospital regained movement of his arms and legs.
On February 24, 2011 Daniels was traded to the Sacramento Kings along with cash for a conditional second round draft pick. This trade helped reduce Boston's luxury tax as well as got the Kings over the league's salary cap minimum, though Daniels did not play a game for the Kings.
Tattoos
Daniels is noted for having several tattoos inscribed on different parts of his body. The tattoos range from a detailed map of Florida that covers his entire back, a caricature of a man blowing his head off with a shotgunShotgun
A shotgun is a firearm that is usually designed to be fired from the shoulder, which uses the energy of a fixed shell to fire a number of small spherical pellets called shot, or a solid projectile called a slug...
on his lower right arm, and Chinese
Chinese language
The Chinese language is a language or language family consisting of varieties which are mutually intelligible to varying degrees. Originally the indigenous languages spoken by the Han Chinese in China, it forms one of the branches of Sino-Tibetan family of languages...
characters on his other arm which were intended to represent his initials, but translate to English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
as "healthy woman roof". Also, he has an entire bible verse on his chest, which he used to read to his paralyzed grandmother.
Regular season
|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2003–04
| style="text-align:left;"| Dallas
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...
| 56 || 15 || 18.6 || .494 || .306 || .769 || 2.6 || 2.1 || .9 || .2 || 8.5
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2004–05
| style="text-align:left;"| Dallas
| 60 || 17 || 23.5 || .437 || .200 || .737 || 3.6 || 2.1 || 1.4 || .2 || 9.1
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2005–06
| style="text-align:left;"| Dallas
| 62 || 29 || 28.5 || .480 || .211 || .754 || 3.6 || 2.8 || 1.1 || .2 || 10.2
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2006–07
| style="text-align:left;"| Indiana
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...
| 45 || 4 || 17.8 || .459 || .231 || .700 || 1.8 || 1.3 || .6 || .2 || 7.1
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2007–08
| style="text-align:left;"| Indiana
| 74 || 1 || 20.9 || .430 || .265 || .698 || 2.9 || 1.9 || 1.1 || .2 || 8.2
|-
| style="text-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...
| style="text-align:left;"| Indiana
| 54 || 43 || 31.5 || .451 || .200 || .721 || 4.6 || 2.1 || 1.1 || .5 || 13.6
|-
| style="text-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....
| style="text-align:left;"| Boston
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
| 51 || 4 || 18.4 || .498 || .214 || .607 || 1.9 || 1.3 || .5 || .1 || 5.6
|-
| style="text-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...
| style="text-align:left;"| Boston
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
| 49 || 0 || 19.1 || .491 || .190 || .684 || 2.3 || 1.3 || .8 || .4 || 5.5
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| Career
| style="text-align:left;"|
| 451 || 113 || 22.5 || .462 || .232 || .719 || 3.0 || 1.9 || 1.0 || .3 || 8.6
Playoffs
|-| style="text-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...
| style="text-align:left;"| Dallas
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...
| 5 || 5 || 36.8 || .427 || .143 || .636 || 6.2 || 3.0 || 2.0 || .6 || 15.8
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2004–05
2005 NBA Playoffs
The 2005 NBA Playoffs was the postseason of the National Basketball Association's 2004–05 season.The San Antonio Spurs, the number two ranked team in the Western Conference, won the 2005 NBA Playoffs by defeating the defending champions, the Detroit Pistons, 4-3 in the NBA Finals...
| style="text-align:left;"| Dallas
| 11 || 0 || 15.0 || .433 || .167 || .704 || 3.1 || 1.3 || .6 || .3 || 6.5
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2005–06
2006 NBA Playoffs
The 2006 NBA Playoffs was the postseason of the National Basketball Association's 2005–06 season. The Miami Heat won the first championship in the history of the franchise by defeating the Dallas Mavericks 4-2 in the 2006 NBA Finals...
| style="text-align:left;"| Dallas
| 20 || 0 || 11.1 || .446 || .400 || .762 || 1.1 || 1.3 || .2 || .1 || 3.4
|-
| style="text-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....
| style="text-align:left;"| Boston
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
| 11 || 0 || 3.4 || .385 || .500 || 1.000 || 0.9 || .1 || .0 || .0 || 1.5
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| Career
| style="text-align:left;"|
| 47 || 5 || 12.9 || .431 || .250 || .724 || 2.0 || 1.2 || .4 || .2 || 5.0