Rodney White
Encyclopedia
Rodney Charles White is an American
professional basketball
player currently playing in South Korea for the Anyang KGC Pro Basketball Club. He played college basketball at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte
, where he was named the national freshman of the Year by ESPN
, and he was selected by the Detroit Pistons
with the 9th overall pick of the 2001 NBA Draft
.
and played in only 16 games during the 2001-2002 season, averaging 3.5 points in 8.1 minutes.
Sensing untapped potential in White, then Denver Nuggets
General Manager Kiki Vandeweghe took a gamble, sending a bounty of two players and a future first round pick to Detroit in exchange for White.
White had an inconsistent and tumultuous tenure in Denver. Flashes of brilliance on the offensive end were overshadowed by lack of defensive commitment, drawing the same ire from coach Jeff Bzdelik
he had received from Carlisle in Detroit.
Overall, White averaged 7.7 points over 186 games with the Nuggets. His best output coming as an occasional starter during the hapless 17-win 2002-2003
season, in which he averaged 9 points in 72 games.
That poor season parlayed into a top pick in the draft
, which the Nuggets used to select Carmelo Anthony
. With a surefire star in Anthony now on board, Vandeweghe was able to concede failure and package White with fellow bust Nikoloz Tskitishvili
. Late in the 2004-2005
season, the pair was dealt to the Golden State Warriors
in exchange for Eduardo Najera
, Luis Flores
, and a future first round pick. The pick was later sent to the Philadelphia 76ers
as part of the Allen Iverson
trade.
White played sparingly in 16 games for the Warriors, averaging 5.1 points in 11.7 minutes.
White was released by the Warriors the following summer.
with Bàsquet Manresa
, followed by a stint with Lagun Aro Bilbao. He was cut by Bilbao on November 1, 2006. The following month, he joined Scavolini-Gruppo Spar Pesaro
in the Italian League
for the remainder of their season. In November 2007, he joined the Chinese League
team Zhejiang Guangsha. He next played with the Arecibo Captains
of the Puerto Rican League. In the summer of 2008, he signed a contract with the Euroleague
power Maccabi Tel Aviv
. He was cut by Maccabi on December 2, 2008. White later played for Zhejiang Guangsha in China
. On June 15, 2011 he agreed to sign with the Anyang KGC Basketball team in South Korea.
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 currently playing in South Korea for the Anyang KGC Pro Basketball Club. He played college basketball at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
The University of North Carolina at Charlotte , also known as UNC Charlotte or simply Charlotte, is a public research university located in Charlotte, North Carolina, United States...
, where he was named the national freshman of the Year by ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
, and he was selected 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...
with the 9th overall pick of the 2001 NBA Draft
2001 NBA Draft
The 2001 NBA Draft took place on June 27, 2001 in New York City, New York. Kwame Brown became the first high school player drafted with the first overall pick...
.
NBA
Despite his lofty 9th overall selection, White quickly fell out favor with new Pistons coach Rick CarlisleRick Carlisle
Richard Preston Carlisle is the head coach of the NBA's Dallas Mavericks. He has also coached the Indiana Pacers and Detroit Pistons, and was previously a player in the NBA. He is also one of the only 11 people to win an NBA championship both as a player and as a coach.-Playing career:Carlisle...
and played in only 16 games during the 2001-2002 season, averaging 3.5 points in 8.1 minutes.
Sensing untapped potential in White, then Denver Nuggets
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...
General Manager Kiki Vandeweghe took a gamble, sending a bounty of two players and a future first round pick to Detroit in exchange for White.
White had an inconsistent and tumultuous tenure in Denver. Flashes of brilliance on the offensive end were overshadowed by lack of defensive commitment, drawing the same ire from coach Jeff Bzdelik
Jeff Bzdelik
Jeff Bzdelik is an American basketball coach, currently coaching at Wake Forest University. He formerly coached the Denver Nuggets in the National Basketball Association for slightly over two seasons, from 2002 through 2004...
he had received from Carlisle in Detroit.
Overall, White averaged 7.7 points over 186 games with the Nuggets. His best output coming as an occasional starter during the hapless 17-win 2002-2003
2002-03 NBA season
The 2002–03 NBA season was the 57th season of the National Basketball Association. The season ended with the San Antonio Spurs beating the New Jersey Nets 4-2 in the 2003 NBA Finals.-Notable occurrences:...
season, in which he averaged 9 points in 72 games.
That poor season parlayed into a top pick in the 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...
, which the Nuggets used to select Carmelo Anthony
Carmelo Anthony
Carmelo Kiyan Anthony , nicknamed "Melo", is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the New York Knicks in the National Basketball Association...
. With a surefire star in Anthony now on board, Vandeweghe was able to concede failure and package White with fellow bust Nikoloz Tskitishvili
Nikoloz Tskitishvili
Nikoloz Tskitishvili is a Georgian professional basketball player. He is a 7'0", 245 lb. forward-center, who was selected 5th overall by the Denver Nuggets in the 2002 NBA Draft.-Pro career:...
. Late in the 2004-2005
2004-05 NBA season
The 2004–05 NBA season was the 59th season of the National Basketball Association . It began on November 2, 2004 and ended June 23, 2005. The season ended with the San Antonio Spurs defeating defending champion Detroit Pistons 4–3 in the NBA Finals....
season, the pair was dealt to 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...
in exchange for Eduardo Najera
Eduardo Nájera
Eduardo Alonso Nájera Pérez is a Mexican professional basketball player in the NBA, currently playing for the Charlotte Bobcats.-Personal information:...
, Luis Flores
Luis Flores
Luis Alberto Flores is a professional basketball player from the Dominican Republic. He is a 6 ft 2 in and 205 lb guard. He grew up in the United States, in the predominantly Latino neighborhood of Washington Heights in New York City, and attended Norman Thomas High School...
, and a future first round pick. The pick was later sent to the 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...
as part of the Allen Iverson
Allen Iverson
Allen Ezail Iverson is an American professional basketball point guard and shooting guard. He was selected by the Philadelphia 76ers with the number one pick in the 1996 NBA Draft. He was named the NBA Rookie of the Year in the 1996–97 season...
trade.
White played sparingly in 16 games for the Warriors, averaging 5.1 points in 11.7 minutes.
White was released by the Warriors the following summer.
Overseas
White's career picked up in Europe, but his journeyman tag remained. White first caught on in the Spanish LeagueAsociación de Clubs de Baloncesto
The Liga ACB, known as the Liga Endesa for sponsorship reasons, is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in Spain. It was founded in 1956 with the name of Liga Nacional. The league changed its name to the current one in 1983. The league is rated as one of the three "A" level European...
with Bàsquet Manresa
Basquet Manresa
Bàsquet Manresa, S.A.D., known as Assignia Manresa for sponsorship reasons, is a professional basketball team based in Manresa, Catalonia, Spain, playing in Liga ACB. The team was founded in 1931. They are currently playing their home games at the Pavelló Nou Congost...
, followed by a stint with Lagun Aro Bilbao. He was cut by Bilbao on November 1, 2006. The following month, he joined Scavolini-Gruppo Spar Pesaro
Victoria Libertas Pesaro
Victoria Libertas , full name Unione Sportiva Victoria Libertas Pallacanestro, is a professional basketball team that is based in Pesaro, Italy. The club competes in the top level Italian professional basketball league, the Lega Basket Serie A...
in the Italian League
Serie A (basketball)
Lega Basket Serie A is the highest level club competition in Italian professional basketball where play determines the national champion. The season consists of a home-and-away schedule of 30 games, followed by an eight-team playoff round. Quarterfinals and semifinals series are best-of-five, and...
for the remainder of their season. In November 2007, he joined the Chinese League
Chinese Basketball Association
The Chinese Basketball Association , often abbreviated to the CBA, is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in China.The league is commonly known as the CBA, and this acronym is often used even in Chinese...
team Zhejiang Guangsha. He next played with the Arecibo Captains
Arecibo Captains
The Capitanes de Arecibo are a team in the Baloncesto Superior Nacional , Puerto Rico's main basketball league. In 2010, the team also played in the Premier Basketball League under the name Capitanes de Puerto Rico....
of the Puerto Rican League. In the summer of 2008, he signed a contract with the Euroleague
Euroleague
Euroleague Basketball, commonly known as the Euroleague, is the highest level tier and most important professional club basketball competition in Europe, with teams from up to 18 different countries, members of FIBA Europe. For sponsorship reasons, for five seasons starting with 2010–2011, it is...
power Maccabi Tel Aviv
Maccabi Tel Aviv (basketball)
Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv B.C. is a professional Israeli basketball club based in Tel Aviv. The team plays in three leagues: the Euroleague, the Israeli Basketball Super League, and the Adriatic League....
. He was cut by Maccabi on December 2, 2008. White later played for Zhejiang Guangsha in China
Chinese Basketball Association
The Chinese Basketball Association , often abbreviated to the CBA, is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in China.The league is commonly known as the CBA, and this acronym is often used even in Chinese...
. On June 15, 2011 he agreed to sign with the Anyang KGC Basketball team in South Korea.
Legal Troubles
On July 27, 2011 Charlotte Observer reported that White was charged with felony manufacture of marijuana, along with 4 other charges.External links
- College & NBA stats @ Basketballreference.com
- Euroleague.net Player Profile
- Career moves at Hoopshype.com