David Barakau Wesley (born November 14, 1970) is an American former professional

basketball Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular Basketball court, court, compete with the primary objective of #Shooting, shooting a basketball (ball), basketball (appro ...

player who played in the

National Basketball Association The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a professional basketball league in North America composed of 30 teams (29 in the United States and 1 in Canada). The NBA is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Ca ...

(NBA).

Early life

David graduated from Longview High School in

Longview, Texas Longview is a city in, and county seat of, Gregg County, Texas, United States. Longview is located in East Texas, where Interstate 20 and U.S. Highway system, U.S. highways U.S. Route 80, 80 and U.S. Route 259, 259 converge just north of the Sabi ...

. He was classmates with former NFL player Bobby Taylor.

College career

Wesley played his freshman year at Temple Junior College, then transferred to

Baylor University Baylor University is a Private university, private Baptist research university in Waco, Texas, United States. It was chartered in 1845 by the last Congress of the Republic of Texas. Baylor is the oldest continuously operating university in Te ...

. Wesley averaged 17 points per game and 4.4 assists per game in 72 total games at Baylor, and left in 1992, 33 hours short of a degree in

physical education Physical education is an academic subject taught in schools worldwide, encompassing Primary education, primary, Secondary education, secondary, and sometimes tertiary education. It is often referred to as Phys. Ed. or PE, and in the United Stat ...

Professional career

Wichita Falls Texans (1992–1993)

When Wesley left

in 1992, many scouts considered him too small (at 6'1") to play as a

shooting guard The shooting guard (SG), also known as the two, two guard or off guard,Shooting guards are 6'3"–6'7"BBC Sports academy URL last accessed 2006-09-09. is one of the five traditional basketball positions, positions in a regulation basketball game ...

in the NBA, and doubted his ability to make the transition to

point guard The point guard (PG), also called the one or the point, is one of the Basketball positions, five positions in a regulation basketball game. A point guard has perhaps the most specialized role of any position and is usually the shortest player ...

. As a result, Wesley was not selected in the 1992 NBA draft. He spent the 1992–93 season in the

Continental Basketball Association The Continental Basketball Association (CBA), originally known as the Eastern Pennsylvania Basketball League, and later as the Eastern Professional Basketball League and the Eastern Basketball Association, was a men's professional basketball m ...

(CBA) playing for the

Wichita Falls Texans The Wichita Falls Texans were a minor league basketball team in the Continental Basketball Association from 1988 to 1994. The team was located in Wichita Falls, Texas, and played their games at D.L. Ligon Coliseum, located on the campus of Midwe ...

where he was selected to the CBA All-Rookie First Team.

New Jersey Nets, Boston Celtics, Charlotte/New Orleans Hornets, and Houston Rockets (1993–2006)

Wesley signed with the

New Jersey Nets New or NEW may refer to: Music * New, singer of K-pop group The Boyz * ''New'' (album), by Paul McCartney, 2013 ** "New" (Paul McCartney song), 2013 * ''New'' (EP), by Regurgitator, 1995 * "New" (Daya song), 2017 * "New" (No Doubt song), 1 ...

as a free agent in 1993. He later played for the

Boston Celtics The Boston Celtics ( ) are an American professional basketball team based in Boston. The Celtics compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NBA), Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference (NBA), ...

, the Charlotte/

New Orleans Hornets New or NEW may refer to: Music * New, singer of K-pop group The Boyz * ''New'' (album), by Paul McCartney, 2013 ** "New" (Paul McCartney song), 2013 * ''New'' (EP), by Regurgitator, 1995 * "New" (Daya song), 2017 * "New" (No Doubt song), 1 ...

the

Houston Rockets The Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston. The Rockets compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Southwest Division (NBA), Southwest Division of the Western Conference (NBA) ...

, and the

Cleveland Cavaliers The Cleveland Cavaliers, often referred to as the Cavs, are an American professional basketball team based in Cleveland. The Cavaliers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Central Division (NBA), Central Divis ...

. Wesley dispelled the initial doubts about his ability to succeed in the NBA, averaging almost 13 points and 4.6 assists per game over a 14-year career, including ten straight seasons with double-digit scoring averages (1995–96 through 2004–05). He received praise as a tenacious man-to-man defender, and a reliable outside shooter. Wesley played in 55 playoff games and scored double figures in more than half of them.

Cleveland Cavaliers (2006–2007)

During the 2006–07 season, Wesley only played for 35 games and averaged career-lows of 2.1 points, 1.0 rebounds and 1.1 assists. He also did not play any minutes during the

playoffs The playoffs, play-offs, postseason or finals of a sports league are a competition played after the regular season by the top competitors to determine the league champion or a similar accolade. Depending on the league, the playoffs may be eithe ...

. On September 29, 2007, Wesley was traded back to the Hornets for Cedric Simmons. On October 29, 2007, the New Jersey Nets reacquired guard David Wesley from the New Orleans Hornets for swingman Bernard Robinson, center Mile Ilić and cash considerations. On November 1, 2007, not even a week after the Nets signed him, he was waived. A few days later, Wesley stated he planned on ending his NBA career. His 11,842 career points rank second all-time behind

Moses Malone Moses Eugene Malone Sr. (March 23, 1955 – September 13, 2015) was an American professional basketball player who played in both the American Basketball Association (ABA) and the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1974 through 1995. A ...

among undrafted NBA players.

NBA career statistics

Regular season

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New Jersey New Jersey is a U.S. state, state located in both the Mid-Atlantic States, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. Located at the geographic hub of the urban area, heavily urbanized Northeas ...

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Boston Boston is the capital and most populous city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. The city serves as the cultural and Financial centre, financial center of New England, a region of the Northeas ...

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, 82 , , 53 , , 25.7 , , .459 , , .426 , , .753 , , 3.2 , , 4.8 , , 1.2 , , .1 , , 12.3 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",

, 74 , , 73 , , 40.4 , , .468 , , .360 , , .781 , , 3.6 , , 7.3 , , 2.2 , , .2 , , 16.8 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;", Charlotte , 81 , , 81 , , 35.1 , , .443 , , .347 , , .795 , , 2.6 , , 6.5 , , 1.7 , , .4 , , 13.0 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;", Charlotte , style="background:#cfecec;", 50* , , style="background:#cfecec;", 50* , , 37.0 , , .446 , , .359 , , .832 , , 3.2 , , 6.4 , , 2.0 , , .2 , , 14.1 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;", Charlotte , 82 , , style="background:#cfecec;", 82* , , 33.7 , , .426 , , .355 , , .778 , , 2.7 , , 5.6 , , 1.3 , , .1 , , 13.6 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;", Charlotte , 82 , , style="background:#cfecec;", 82* , , 37.9 , , .422 , , .376 , , .799 , , 2.7 , , 4.4 , , 1.6 , , .2 , , 17.2 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;", Charlotte , 67 , , 63 , , 37.1 , , .400 , , .332 , , .734 , , 2.1 , , 3.5 , , 1.1 , , .2 , , 14.2 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",

New Orleans New Orleans (commonly known as NOLA or The Big Easy among other nicknames) is a Consolidated city-county, consolidated city-parish located along the Mississippi River in the U.S. state of Louisiana. With a population of 383,997 at the 2020 ...

, 73 , , 73 , , 37.1 , , .433 , , .424 , , .781 , , 2.4 , , 3.4 , , 1.5 , , .1 , , 16.7 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",

, 61 , , 60 , , 32.8 , , .389 , , .323 , , .753 , , 2.2 , , 2.9 , , 1.2 , , .2 , , 14.0 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",

, 26 , , 26 , , 35.9 , , .389 , , .350 , , .882 , , 3.3 , , 4.2 , , 1.3 , , .0 , , 13.9 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",

Houston Houston ( ) is the List of cities in Texas by population, most populous city in the U.S. state of Texas and in the Southern United States. Located in Southeast Texas near Galveston Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, it is the county seat, seat of ...

, 54 , , 53 , , 34.1 , , .404 , , .383 , , .841 , , 2.6 , , 2.9 , , 1.1 , , .1 , , 10.9 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",

, 71 , , 59 , , 33.4 , , .403 , , .365 , , .807 , , 2.5 , , 2.9 , , .8 , , .1 , , 9.9 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",

Cleveland Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Cuyahoga County. Located along the southern shore of Lake Erie, it is situated across the Canada–U.S. maritime border and approximately west of the Ohio-Pennsylvania st ...

, 35 , , 5 , , 10.1 , , .293 , , .237 , , .714 , , 1.0 , , 1.1 , , .3 , , .1 , , 2.1 , - class="sortbottom" , style="text-align:center;" colspan="2", Career , 949 , , 796 , , 31.9 , , .424 , , .368 , , .786 , , 2.5 , , 4.4 , , 1.3 , , .2 , , 12.5 , -

Playoffs

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1994 The year 1994 was designated as the " International Year of the Family" and the "International Year of Sport and the Olympic Ideal" by the United Nations. In the Line Islands and Phoenix Islands of Kiribati, 1994 had only 364 days, omitti ...

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, 3 , , 0 , , 6.0 , , .429 , , .250 , , 1.000 , , .0 , , 1.0 , , .7 , , .0 , , 3.0 , - , style="text-align:left;",

1998 1998 was designated as the ''International Year of the Ocean''. Events January * January 6 – The ''Lunar Prospector'' spacecraft is launched into orbit around the Moon, and later finds evidence for Lunar water, frozen water, in soil i ...

, style="text-align:left;", Charlotte , 9 , , 9 , , 31.7 , , .398 , , .429 , , .714 , , 2.0 , , 6.7 , , .8 , , .0 , , 10.0 , - , style="text-align:left;",

2000 2000 was designated as the International Year for the Culture of Peace and the World Mathematics, Mathematical Year. Popular culture holds the year 2000 as the first year of the 21st century and the 3rd millennium, because of a tende ...

, style="text-align:left;", Charlotte , 4 , , 4 , , 38.0 , , .333 , , .300 , , 1.000 , , 3.0 , , 4.8 , , 2.0 , , .0 , , 11.0 , - , style="text-align:left;",

2001 The year's most prominent event was the September 11 attacks against the United States by al-Qaeda, which Casualties of the September 11 attacks, killed 2,977 people and instigated the global war on terror. The United States led a Participan ...

, style="text-align:left;", Charlotte , 10 , , 10 , , 39.4 , , .470 , , .394 , , .756 , , 3.0 , , 3.9 , , 1.6 , , .1 , , 17.0 , - , style="text-align:left;",

2002 The effects of the September 11 attacks of the previous year had a significant impact on the affairs of 2002. The war on terror was a major political focus. Without settled international law, several nations engaged in anti-terror operation ...

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2003 2003 was designated by the United Nations as the International Year of Fresh water, Freshwater. In 2003, a Multi-National Force – Iraq, United States-led coalition 2003 invasion of Iraq, invaded Iraq, starting the Iraq War. Demographic ...

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, 6 , , 6 , , 30.8 , , .403 , , .412 , , 1.000 , , 1.2 , , 2.2 , , .8 , , .2 , , 13.2 , - , style="text-align:left;",

2004 2004 was designated as an International Year of Rice by the United Nations, and the International Year to Commemorate the Struggle Against Slavery and Its Abolition (by UNESCO). Events January * January 3 – Flash Airlines Flight 60 ...

, style="text-align:left;",

, 7 , , 7 , , 34.7 , , .324 , , .367 , , .714 , , 2.3 , , 2.4 , , .7 , , .0 , , 10.6 , - , style="text-align:left;",

2005 2005 was designated as the International Year for Sport and Physical Education and the International Year of Microcredit. The beginning of 2005 also marked the end of the International Decade of the World's Indigenous Peoples, Internationa ...

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, 7 , , 7 , , 39.9 , , .352 , , .476 , , .692 , , 3.0 , , 3.3 , , 1.3 , , .1 , , 8.1 , - class="sortbottom" , style="text-align:center;" colspan="2", Career , 55 , , 52 , , 35.1 , , .398 , , .408 , , .796 , , 2.2 , , 3.7 , , 1.1 , , .1 , , 12.1 , -

Coaching

Wesley was an assistant coach for the Texas Legends of the NBA D-League from 2010 to 2012.

Broadcasting

On August 6, 2012, it was announced that Wesley would join the Fox Sports New Orleans team in broadcasting

games. (Since then, the team has been renamed the

New Orleans Pelicans The New Orleans Pelicans are an American professional basketball team based in New Orleans. The Pelicans compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Southwest Division (NBA), Southwest Division of the Western Confere ...

.) He was hired to be the Pelicans television color analyst. He was eventually replaced by Antonio Daniels prior to the start of the 2019–20 NBA season.

Personal

He is the cousin of former NBA player Michael Dickerson. Wesley was charged in 2000 with misdemeanor

reckless driving In United States law, reckless driving is a major moving violation related to aggressive driving that generally consists of driving a vehicle with willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property. It is usually a more serious o ...

in the crash that killed his friend and teammate Bobby Phills. A Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police report said Phills was speeding at more than when he lost control and crossed into oncoming traffic and collided with a car. The report said both Phills and Wesley were driving "in an erratic, reckless, careless, negligent and/or aggressive manner". In a non-jury trial, a judge acquitted Wesley of the charge of racing Phills.

References

External links

David Wesley Profile NBA
– David Wesley Player Profile * {{DEFAULTSORT:Wesley, David 1970 births Living people American men's basketball players Basketball coaches from Texas Basketball players from San Antonio Baylor Bears men's basketball players Boston Celtics players Charlotte Hornets players Cleveland Cavaliers players Houston Rockets players Junior college men's basketball players in the United States Longview High School alumni NBA broadcasters New Jersey Nets players New Orleans Hornets announcers New Orleans Hornets players New Orleans Pelicans announcers Sportspeople from Longview, Texas Point guards Shooting guards Sportspeople from San Antonio Texas Legends coaches Undrafted NBA players Wichita Falls Texans players 20th-century American sportsmen

Early life

College career

Professional career

Wichita Falls Texans (1992–1993)

New Jersey Nets, Boston Celtics, Charlotte/New Orleans Hornets, and Houston Rockets (1993–2006)

Cleveland Cavaliers (2006–2007)

NBA career statistics

Regular season

Playoffs

Coaching

Broadcasting

Personal

See also

References

External links