Sleepy Floyd
Encyclopedia
Eric Augustus "Sleepy" Floyd (born March 6, 1960 in Gastonia, North Carolina
) is a retired American
professional basketball
player.
A 6'3" guard, Floyd played competitively at Hunter Huss High School
in Gastonia, and starred at Georgetown University
before being drafted by the New Jersey Nets
with the 13th pick of the 1982 NBA Draft
. During the middle of an unspectacular rookie season, Floyd was traded by the Nets with Mickey Johnson
to the Golden State Warriors
for Micheal Ray Richardson
. Floyd quickly blossomed while playing for the Warriors, averaging 16.5 points per game in his first full season with the franchise, and during the 1984–85 NBA season, he averaged a career high 19.5 points per game. Two seasons later, he averaged 18.8 points and 10.3 assists and earned a spot on the 1987
NBA All-Star Team. In December 1987, Floyd was traded with Joe Barry Carroll
to the Houston Rockets
for Ralph Sampson
and Steve Harris
, and Floyd would play 5½ seasons with the Rockets before signing as a free agent with the San Antonio Spurs
in 1993
, a year before the Rockets would win their 2 consecutive championships. After one season in San Antonio, he returned to the New Jersey Nets
, and he retired in 1995 with 12,260 career points and 5,175 career assists.
Floyd still holds the NBA playoff record for points scored in a quarter (29) and in half (39), in game 4 of the 1987 Western Conference Semifinals against the Los Angeles Lakers
. Floyd scored 12 consecutive field goals in the fourth quarter, finishing the game with 51 points, and prevented a sweep of the Warriors by in-state rival Lakers.
Gastonia, North Carolina
Gastonia is the largest city and county seat of Gaston County, North Carolina, United States. It is also the third largest suburb of the Charlotte Area, behind Concord and Rock Hill. The population was 71,226 as of Gastonia is the largest city and county seat of Gaston County, North Carolina,...
) is a retired American
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.
A 6'3" guard, Floyd played competitively at Hunter Huss High School
Hunter Huss High School
Hunter Huss High School is a public high school in the Gaston County Schools school district located in Gastonia, North Carolina, United States. It is the oldest existing high school in Gaston County. Currently, the school is under renovation....
in Gastonia, and starred at Georgetown University
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
before being drafted by 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...
with the 13th 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:**...
. During the middle of an unspectacular rookie season, Floyd was traded by the Nets with Mickey Johnson
Mickey Johnson
Wallace Edgar "Mickey" Johnson is a retired American NBA basketball player. A 6' 10" forward/center from tiny Aurora College, he was selected by the Portland Trail Blazers in the fourth round of the 1974 NBA Draft. The Blazers immediately traded Johnson to the Chicago Bulls, with whom he...
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...
for Micheal Ray Richardson
Micheal Ray Richardson
Micheal Ray "Sugar" Richardson is an American former professional basketball player and currently the head coach of the London Lightning of the National Basketball League of Canada. Richardson played college basketball for the Montana Grizzlies...
. Floyd quickly blossomed while playing for the Warriors, averaging 16.5 points per game in his first full season with the franchise, and during the 1984–85 NBA season, he averaged a career high 19.5 points per game. Two seasons later, he averaged 18.8 points and 10.3 assists and earned a spot on the 1987
1986-87 NBA season
-Statistics leaders:-Yearly awards:* Most Valuable Player: Magic Johnson, Los Angeles Lakers* Rookie of the Year: Chuck Person, Indiana Pacers* Defensive Player of the Year: Michael Cooper, Los Angeles Lakers...
NBA All-Star Team. In December 1987, Floyd was traded with Joe Barry Carroll
Joe Barry Carroll
Joe Barry Carroll is a retired American professional basketball player who spent ten seasons in the NBA.-1974–1976:...
to 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...
for Ralph Sampson
Ralph Sampson
Ralph Lee Sampson, Jr. is a retired American college and professional basketball player.A 7-foot-4 phenom, three-time College Player of the Year, and No...
and Steve Harris
Steve Harris (basketball)
Steve Harris is an American former professional basketball player who was selected by the Houston Rockets in the 1st round of the 1985 NBA Draft. A 6'5" shooting guard from the University of Tulsa, Harris played in 5 NBA seasons from 1985 to 1990...
, and Floyd would play 5½ seasons with the Rockets before signing as a free agent with the San Antonio Spurs
San Antonio Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs are an American professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas. They are part of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association ....
in 1993
1992-93 NBA season
-Statistics leaders:-Yearly awards:*Most Valuable Player: Charles Barkley, Phoenix Suns*Rookie of the Year: Shaquille O'Neal, Orlando Magic*Defensive Player of the Year: Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston Rockets...
, a year before the Rockets would win their 2 consecutive championships. After one season in San Antonio, he returned to 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 he retired in 1995 with 12,260 career points and 5,175 career assists.
Floyd still holds the NBA playoff record for points scored in a quarter (29) and in half (39), in game 4 of the 1987 Western Conference Semifinals against 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...
. Floyd scored 12 consecutive field goals in the fourth quarter, finishing the game with 51 points, and prevented a sweep of the Warriors by in-state rival Lakers.
See also
- List of National Basketball Association career assists leaders
- List of National Basketball Association players with 50 or more points in a playoff game