Ricky Pierce
Encyclopedia
Ricky Charles Pierce is a retired American
National Basketball Association
(NBA) player.
and from Rice University
. He was drafted by the Detroit Pistons
in the 1st round (18th pick) of the 1982 NBA Draft
. However, he found his most career success after he was traded by the San Diego Clippers before the 1984-85 season along with Terry Cummings
to the Milwaukee Bucks
.
Pierce won the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award
for 1986–87 by averaging his 19.5 points in his third season with the Bucks. He earned the same award again three seasons later, averaging 23.0 points without starting a single game (an NBA record) in 1989–90. In the week preceding the 1991 trade deadline, the Bucks traded Pierce to the Seattle SuperSonics
for Dale Ellis
.
Pierce became a regular starter in 1991–92, his first full season with the Sonics. He made 75 consecutive free throws through several games in November–December of 1991, the second-longest such streak at that time. In 1993, Pierce and teammates Gary Payton
and Shawn Kemp
led the Sonics to Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals, but lost to the Phoenix Suns
. Pierce returned to the bench for 1993–94 following Seattle’s off-season acquisition of Kendall Gill
.
He retired after the 1997–98 season in his second stint with the Bucks.
He also once had a playing stint in the Greek league
with AEK Athens
in the beginning of his last active season as a player.
. Pierce was giving advice to parents on how to teach their kids the perfect jump shot. A product would later be developed known as the Accushot22, a specially designed basketball with 10 oval indentations. The product sells for $37.95, although hundreds are given away free to underprivileged children.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
National Basketball Association
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...
(NBA) player.
Playing career
He graduated from Garland High SchoolGarland High School
Garland High School is a public secondary school located in Dallas, Texas . Garland High School enrolls students in grades 9-12 and is a part of the Garland Independent School District. The school is a member of the AP program, the IB program, and is known for its football team, the Garland...
and from Rice University
Rice University
William Marsh Rice University, commonly referred to as Rice University or Rice, is a private research university located on a heavily wooded campus in Houston, Texas, United States...
. He was drafted by the Detroit Pistons
Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons are a franchise of the National Basketball Association based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The team's home arena is The Palace of Auburn Hills. It was originally founded in Fort Wayne, Indiana as the Fort Wayne Pistons as a member of the National Basketball League in 1941, where...
in the 1st round (18th pick) of the 1982 NBA Draft
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:**...
. However, he found his most career success after he was traded by the San Diego Clippers before the 1984-85 season along with Terry Cummings
Terry Cummings
Robert Terrell "Terry" Cummings is a retired American professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association for 18 seasons as a power forward and occasional center.-College and NBA years:...
to 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....
.
Pierce won the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award
NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award
The National Basketball Association's Sixth Man of the Year Award is an annual National Basketball Association award given since the 1982–83 NBA season to the league's most valuable player for his team coming off the bench as a substitute . A panel of sportswriters and broadcasters from throughout...
for 1986–87 by averaging his 19.5 points in his third season with the Bucks. He earned the same award again three seasons later, averaging 23.0 points without starting a single game (an NBA record) in 1989–90. In the week preceding the 1991 trade deadline, the Bucks traded Pierce to the Seattle SuperSonics
Seattle SuperSonics
The Seattle SuperSonics were an American professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington that played in the Pacific and Northwest Divisions of the National Basketball Association from 1967 until 2008. Following the 2007–08 season, the team relocated to Oklahoma City, and now plays as...
for Dale Ellis
Dale Ellis
Dale Ellis is a retired American professional basketball player, who played in the National Basketball Association....
.
Pierce became a regular starter in 1991–92, his first full season with the Sonics. He made 75 consecutive free throws through several games in November–December of 1991, the second-longest such streak at that time. In 1993, Pierce and teammates Gary Payton
Gary Payton
Gary Dwayne Payton is a former American professional basketball point guard. He is best known for his 13-year tenure with the Seattle SuperSonics, and holds Seattle franchise records in points, assists, and steals...
and Shawn Kemp
Shawn Kemp
Shawn T. Kemp is a former American professional basketball player, who played in the National Basketball Association for 14 seasons. He was a six-time NBA All-Star and a three-time All-NBA Second Team member.-Early years:...
led the Sonics to Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals, but lost 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...
. Pierce returned to the bench for 1993–94 following Seattle’s off-season acquisition of Kendall Gill
Kendall Gill
Kendall Cedric Gill is a retired American professional basketball player, now a sports analyst for Comcast Sports Net and the Big Ten Network.-Early life:...
.
He retired after the 1997–98 season in his second stint with the Bucks.
He also once had a playing stint in the Greek league
A1 Ethniki
The Greek Basket League , commonly referred to as the Greek Basketball League or Greek Basketball Championship, is the highest professional basketball league in Greece. It is run by HEBA...
with AEK Athens
AEK Athens BC
AEK BC , the Athletic Union of Constantinople, is a Greek professional sports basketball club based in Athens, Greece. The club was established in Athens in 1924 by Greek refugees from Constantinople in the wake of the Greco-Turkish War ....
in the beginning of his last active season as a player.
Post playing career
Since retiring, Pierce has developed his own basketball system that assists with shooting accuracy with specially-designed fingertip-placement markers. Pierce developed the idea after watching his son, Aron, playing basketball at the YMCAYMCA
The Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...
. Pierce was giving advice to parents on how to teach their kids the perfect jump shot. A product would later be developed known as the Accushot22, a specially designed basketball with 10 oval indentations. The product sells for $37.95, although hundreds are given away free to underprivileged children.
External links
(selected season stats and career highs)- Ricky Pierce biography by the NBA