John Thomas Salley ( ; born May 16, 1964) 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. He was the first player in
NBA
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 ...
history to win championships with three franchises (since joined by
Robert Horry
Robert Keith Horry ( ; born August 25, 1970) is an American former professional basketball player and current sports commentator. Horry was a member of seven championship winning teams and is considered, by some, to be one of the most clutch sho ...
,
Danny Green, and
LeBron James
LeBron Raymone James Sr. ( ; born December 30, 1984) is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Nicknamed "King James", he is the NBA's all-time leading scorer and ...
), as well as the first player in the NBA to win a championship in three different decades (since joined by
Tim Duncan
Timothy Theodore Duncan (born April 25, 1976) is an American former professional basketball player and coach. He List of NBA players who have spent their entire career with one franchise, spent his entire 19-year career with the San Antonio Sp ...
).
After being drafted in the first round out of
Georgia Tech
The Georgia Institute of Technology (commonly referred to as Georgia Tech, GT, and simply Tech or the Institute) is a public research university and institute of technology in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. Established in 1885, it has the lar ...
in the
1986 NBA draft, the -tall Salley played both
power forward
The power forward (PF), also known as the four, is one of the five traditional Basketball positions, positions in a regulation basketball game. Traditionally, power forwards have played a role similar to center (basketball), centers and are typi ...
and
center for the
Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons are an American professional basketball team based in Detroit. The Pistons compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Central Division (NBA), Central Division of the Eastern Conference (NBA), East ...
,
Miami Heat
The Miami Heat are an American professional basketball team based in Miami. The Heat compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Southeast Division (NBA), Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference (NBA), Eastern C ...
,
Toronto Raptors
The Toronto Raptors are a Canadian professional basketball team based in Toronto. The Raptors compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NBA), Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference (NBA), E ...
,
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago. The Bulls compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference. The team was founded on January 16 ...
,
Panathinaikos, and
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles. The Lakers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Pacific Division (NBA), Pacific Division of the Western Conference (NBA ...
. He was a long-time host of the former
Fox Sports Net
Fox Sports Networks (FSN), formerly known as Fox Sports Net, was the collective name for a group of regional sports channels in the United States. Formed in 1996 by News Corporation, the networks were acquired by the Walt Disney Company on Mar ...
show ''
The Best Damn Sports Show Period''. He is a vegan activist, chef, and wellness entrepreneur.
Early life
John Thomas Salley was born on May 16, 1964, in
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is a Boroughs of New York City, borough of New York City located at the westernmost end of Long Island in the New York (state), State of New York. Formerly an independent city, the borough is coextensive with Kings County, one of twelv ...
,
New York
New York most commonly refers to:
* New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States
* New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York
New York may also refer to:
Places United Kingdom
* ...
. Salley played on the basketball team at
Canarsie High School
Canarsie High School was a public high school in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Canarsie in New York City. It first opened in 1964 but closed in 2011. The building currently operates as Canarsie Educational Campus, housing several smaller high sc ...
in Brooklyn.
College career
Salley is a 1988 graduate of
Georgia Tech
The Georgia Institute of Technology (commonly referred to as Georgia Tech, GT, and simply Tech or the Institute) is a public research university and institute of technology in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. Established in 1885, it has the lar ...
's
College of Management. He helped the Yellow Jackets win the 1985 ACC Championship, they also advanced to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament. He left in 1986 as Tech's all-time leader in blocked shots. Salley holds Georgia Tech's personal fouls record, and has had his jersey number 22 retired, a very rare honor in college basketball. Salley was seen as potential top 3 pick during his senior year .
Professional career
Detroit Pistons (1986–1992)
Salley had a draft workout 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), ...
for the 2nd overall pick against
Len Bias
Leonard Kevin Bias (November 18, 1963June 19, 1986) was an American college basketball player for the Maryland Terrapins. In the last of his four years playing for Maryland, he was named a consensus first-team All-American. Two days after being s ...
in front off
Red Auerbach
Arnold Jacob "Red" Auerbach (September 20, 1917 – October 28, 2006) was an American professional basketball coach and executive. As a head coach in the National Basketball Association (NBA), he led the Boston Celtics to an unprecedented champio ...
. The Chicago Bulls promised Salley if he was there at nine they would take him but took
Brad Sellers. Salley was drafted by the
Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons are an American professional basketball team based in Detroit. The Pistons compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Central Division (NBA), Central Division of the Eastern Conference (NBA), East ...
with the 11th overall pick in the first round of the
1986 NBA draft out of
Georgia Tech
The Georgia Institute of Technology (commonly referred to as Georgia Tech, GT, and simply Tech or the Institute) is a public research university and institute of technology in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. Established in 1885, it has the lar ...
. After joining the Pistons, he became close friends with
Adrian Dantley
Adrian Delano Dantley (born February 28, 1955) is an American former professional basketball player and coach who played 15 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Dantley is a six-time NBA All-Star, a two-time All-NBA selection an ...
, who taught him proper nutrition, how to exercise, and how to conduct himself off the court. Salley, for his part, called Dantley "The Teacher". Salley would become good friends with comedian
Eddie Murphy
Edward Regan Murphy (born April 3, 1961) is an American actor, comedian, and singer. He had his breakthrough as a standup comic before gaining stardom for his film roles; he is widely recognized as one of the greatest comedians of all time. H ...
and made several appearances at comedy clubs in the off-season. In 1989 and 1990, he played on two Pistons NBA championship teams. He is among the Pistons' all-time leaders in blocked shots.
Under the coaching of
Chuck Daly
Charles Jerome Daly (July 20, 1930 – May 9, 2009) was an American basketball head coach. He led the Detroit Pistons to two consecutive National Basketball Association (NBA) championships in 1989 and 1990—during the team's "Bad Boys" era— ...
, Salley was part of the Pistons era that featured three consecutive NBA finals appearances. The team's highly physical, defense-oriented, and dirty style of play earned them the nickname of the NBA's "Bad Boys", with Salley playing alongside
Dennis Rodman
Dennis Keith Rodman (born May 13, 1961) is an American former professional basketball player. Renowned for his defensive and rebounding abilities, his biography on the official NBA website states that he is "arguably the best rebounding forw ...
,
Bill Laimbeer,
James Edwards,
Joe Dumars
Joe Dumars III ( ; born May 24, 1963) is an American professional basketball executive and former player who is the head of basketball operations for the New Orleans Pelicans. He could play either shooting guard or point guard on offense and was ...
,
Isiah Thomas
Isiah Lord Thomas III ( ; born April 30, 1961), also known as "Zeke", is an American former professional basketball player who is head coach of the Saginaw Soul of the Basketball Super League, and also an analyst for NBA TV and Fox Sports. H ...
,
Rick Mahorn
Derrick Allen Mahorn (born September 21, 1958) is an American former professional basketball player who played power forward and center for the Washington Bullets, Detroit Pistons, Philadelphia 76ers, and the New Jersey Nets of the National Ba ...
and Dantley. After losing the
1988 NBA Finals
The 1988 NBA Finals was the championship series of the National Basketball Association's (NBA) 1987–88 season, and the culmination of the season's playoffs. The defending NBA champion and Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers de ...
in seven games to the Lakers, the Pistons turned it around to sweep the Lakers in four games in
1989
1989 was a turning point in political history with the "Revolutions of 1989" which ended communism in Eastern Bloc of Europe, starting in Poland and Hungary, with experiments in power-sharing coming to a head with the opening of the Berlin W ...
. Salley and the Pistons repeated in
1990
Important events of 1990 include the Reunification of Germany and the unification of Yemen, the formal beginning of the Human Genome Project (finished in 2003), the launch of the Hubble Space Telescope, the separation of Namibia from South ...
, defeating the
Portland Trail Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers (colloquially known as the Blazers) are an American professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. The Trail Blazers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Northwest Division (N ...
in five games. The Pistons' run came to an end when the
Michael Jordan
Michael Jeffrey Jordan (born February 17, 1963), also known by his initials MJ, is an American businessman and former professional basketball player, who is currently a minority owner of the Charlotte Hornets of the National Basketball Ass ...
-led
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago. The Bulls compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference. The team was founded on January 16 ...
swept them in four games in the
1991 Eastern Conference finals; following game four, while most of the Pistons players chose to return to the locker room rather than congratulate the new Eastern Conference champions, Salley was one of the few who stayed on the court as the game ended to congratulate the Bulls.
Miami Heat (1992–1995)
Salley was traded to the
Miami Heat
The Miami Heat are an American professional basketball team based in Miami. The Heat compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Southeast Division (NBA), Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference (NBA), Eastern C ...
in 1992. In the
1995 NBA expansion draft he was selected by the inaugural Toronto Raptors team after being made available by the Heat.
Toronto Raptors (1995–1996)
In February 1996, he negotiated a buyout of his contract and was waived thus ending his
stint with the Raptors during which he averaged 19.3 minutes and 6 points per game.
Chicago Bulls (1996)
Free of his Raptors contract, in early March 1996, Salley signed a 10-day contract with the
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago. The Bulls compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference. The team was founded on January 16 ...
, joining the roster with
Michael Jordan
Michael Jeffrey Jordan (born February 17, 1963), also known by his initials MJ, is an American businessman and former professional basketball player, who is currently a minority owner of the Charlotte Hornets of the National Basketball Ass ...
,
Scottie Pippen
Scotty Maurice Pippen Sr. (born September 25, 1965), usually spelled Scottie Pippen, is an American former professional basketball player. He played 17 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA), winning six NBA championships with th ...
,
Toni Kukoč
Toni Kukoč (; born September 18, 1968) is a Croatian former professional basketball player who serves as Special Advisor to Jerry Reinsdorf, the owner of the Chicago Bulls. After a highly successful period in European basketball, he was one of ...
, and former Pistons teammates
Dennis Rodman
Dennis Keith Rodman (born May 13, 1961) is an American former professional basketball player. Renowned for his defensive and rebounding abilities, his biography on the official NBA website states that he is "arguably the best rebounding forw ...
and
James Edwards. Following another 10-day contract right after the first one ended, the Bulls signed Salley as a free agent and he spent the rest of the season with the team. The
1995–96 Bulls achieved a record-breaking 72-win season, the best-ever regular-season record at the time, later surpassed by the
2015–16 Golden State Warriors at 73–9. Salley would win his third NBA championship in June, playing sparingly in the
1996 NBA Finals.
Panathinaikos (1996)
In September 1996, thirty-two-year-old Salley came out of what turned out to be only a three-month retirement and went to play in
Greece
Greece, officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. Located on the southern tip of the Balkan peninsula, it shares land borders with Albania to the northwest, North Macedonia and Bulgaria to the north, and Turkey to th ...
, where he joined the
reigning EuroLeague champions Panathinaikos of the
Greek Basket League
The Greek Basketball League (GBL), and also known as the Stoiximan Greek Basketball League (GBL) for sponsorship reasons, is the Greek basketball league system, first tier level professional basketball league in Greece. It is run by the ...
on a one-year US$1 million contract.
Before accepting the
Božidar Maljković-coached Panathinaikos' offer, Salley had reportedly consulted with recent Bulls teammate
Toni Kukoč
Toni Kukoč (; born September 18, 1968) is a Croatian former professional basketball player who serves as Special Advisor to Jerry Reinsdorf, the owner of the Chicago Bulls. After a highly successful period in European basketball, he was one of ...
who knew Maljković well having spent four trophy-laden seasons anchoring his late 1980s
KK Split
Košarkaški klub Split (), commonly referred to as KK Split or simply Split, is a men's professional basketball Sports club, club based in Split, Croatia, Split, Croatia. The club competes in the ABA League and the HT Premijer liga, Croatian Leag ...
teams.
[Ο μήνας της "αράχνης" .](_blank)
/ref>
Salley made his Panathinaikos debut on September 25, 1996, in EuroLeague
The EuroLeague is a European men's professional basketball club competition. The league is widely recognised as the top-tier and the most prestigious men's basketball league in Europe. The league consists of 20 teams, of which 16 are given lon ...
away at FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona (), commonly known as FC Barcelona and colloquially as Barça (), is a professional Football club (association football), football club based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, that competes in La Liga, the top flight of ...
, a 77–58 loss during which he scored 5 points before fouling out in only 12 minutes of action. Right away, Salley got on the bad side of coach Maljković who refused to modify his disciplinarian approach in order to accommodate a veteran player with a notable NBA career behind him. Though Salley's performances somewhat improved over the following three EuroLeague outings—10 points in a home loss versus ASVEL, 9 points and 11 rebounds in a blowout home win versus KK Split
Košarkaški klub Split (), commonly referred to as KK Split or simply Split, is a men's professional basketball Sports club, club based in Split, Croatia, Split, Croatia. The club competes in the ABA League and the HT Premijer liga, Croatian Leag ...
, and 21 points and 8 rebounds in a win away at minnows Bayer Leverkusen
Bayer 04 Leverkusen, officially known as Bayer 04 Leverkusen Fußball GmbH () and commonly known as Bayer Leverkusen or simply Leverkusen, is a German professional football club based in Leverkusen, North Rhine-Westphalia. It competes in the B ...
—as he seemingly showed signs of adjustment to FIBA basketball rules and European referees by managing to stay out of foul trouble, he continued to butt heads with coach Maljković. After flying back to Athens with the team the morning after the Leverkusen game, Salley refused to go to practice and as a result, got dropped by Maljković for their Greek League game the following day. The player then flew back to the United States for meetings with TV executives over a new talk show he had been planning to host for Disney
The Walt Disney Company, commonly referred to as simply Disney, is an American multinational mass media and entertainment industry, entertainment conglomerate (company), conglomerate headquartered at the Walt Disney Studios (Burbank), Walt Di ...
, returning to Athens an hour before the club's Greek Cup
The Greek Football Cup (), commonly known as the Greek Cup or Betsson Greek Cup for sponsorship reasons is a Greek football competition, run by the Hellenic Football Federation.
The Greek Cup is the second-most important domestic men's footba ...
game versus P.A.O.K.
PAOK (, Πανθεσσαλονίκειος Αθλητικός Όμιλος Κωνσταντινοπολιτών, ''Panthessalonikeios Athlitikós Ómilos Constantinopoliton'', ''Pan-Thessalonian Athletic Club of Constantinopolitans''), commonly ...
on October 22, 1996—a trip that included Salley renting a private Lear jet in Paris for US$20,000 out of his own pocket in order to make it back to Athens in time for the game after having his connecting flight delayed and then even renting a helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which Lift (force), lift and thrust are supplied by horizontally spinning Helicopter rotor, rotors. This allows the helicopter to VTOL, take off and land vertically, to hover (helicopter), hover, and ...
once he landed at Athens' Ellinikon Airport to take him right to Panathinaikos' OACA Hall in the city's Marousi
Marousi or Maroussi (), also known as Amarousio (), is a city and a suburb in the northeastern part of the Athens#Athens Urban Area, Athens urban area, Greece. Marousi dates back to the era of the History of Athens, ancient Athenian Republic; its ...
neighbourhood. However, Maljković still refused to include him in the lineup. In response, Salley decided to leave Panathinaikos unilaterally two days later on October 24, 1996, after only a month at the club.
Salley appeared in seven games for Panathinaikos and ended up getting paid about €300,000.
Los Angeles Lakers (1999–2000)
In 1999, Salley joined a Lakers team led by superstars Shaquille O'Neal
Shaquille Rashaun O'Neal ( ; born March 6, 1972), commonly known as Shaq ( ), is an American former professional basketball player who is a sports analyst on the television program ''Inside the NBA''. He is a and Center (basketball), center ...
and Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bean Bryant ( ; August 23, 1978 – January 26, 2020) was an American professional basketball player. A shooting guard, he List of NBA players who have spent their entire career with one franchise, spent his entire 20-year career with t ...
and also reunited with his former Bulls coach, Phil Jackson
Philip Douglas Jackson (born September 17, 1945) is an American former professional basketball player, coach, and executive in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Jackson is a 13-time NBA champion, having won two as a player and 11 as ...
. He saw little action for the Lakers en route to their first of three consecutive NBA championships, primarily serving as O'Neal's backup. In 2000, he retired again following the first Lakers championship season after proudly proclaiming that he had won "four championship rings, with three different teams, in three different decades and two different millenniums". He would be the last Laker to wear #16 before Pau Gasol
Pau Gasol Sáez (, ; born July 6, 1980) is a Spanish former professional basketball player. He was a six-time NBA All-Star Game, NBA All-Star and a four-time All-NBA team selection, twice on the second team and twice on the third team. Gasol ...
, whom it was retired in honor of. 14 years later, Tim Duncan
Timothy Theodore Duncan (born April 25, 1976) is an American former professional basketball player and coach. He List of NBA players who have spent their entire career with one franchise, spent his entire 19-year career with the San Antonio Sp ...
of the San Antonio Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs are an American professional basketball team based in San Antonio. The Spurs compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Southwest Division (NBA), Southwest Division of the Western Conference (NBA ...
became the second player to achieve titles in three different decades (sans the requirement of different teams) by leading his Spurs to five championships between 1999
1999 was designated as the International Year of Older Persons.
Events January
* January 1 – The euro currency is established and the European Central Bank assumes its full powers.
* January 3 – The Mars Polar Lander is launc ...
and 2014
The year 2014 was marked by the surge of the Western African Ebola epidemic, West African Ebola epidemic, which began in 2013, becoming the List of Ebola outbreaks, most widespread outbreak of the Ebola, Ebola virus in human history, resul ...
.
Post-basketball activities
Film
In 1995, John Salley had a role in '' Bad Boys'' as a thick-glassed computer hacking nerd prisoner named Fletcher, who gets out of jail because he helps crack files for the Miami Police Department. In 1996, Salley appeared as a veteran basketball player alongside Whoopi Goldberg
Caryn Elaine Johnson (born November 13, 1955), known professionally as Whoopi Goldberg (), is an American actor, comedian, author, and television personality.Kuchwara, Michael (AP Drama Writer)"Whoopi Goldberg: A One-Woman Character Parade". ...
in the film '' Eddie'', about a fan who takes over as coach of the New York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, shortened and more commonly referred to as the New York Knicks, are an American professional basketball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of Manhattan. The Knicks compete in the Na ...
.
In 2003, Salley reprised his role of Fletcher in ''Bad Boys II
''Bad Boys II'' is a 2003 American action comedy film directed by Michael Bay, produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, and the sequel to the 1995 film '' Bad Boys'', in addition to the second film in the ''Bad Boys'' film series. Martin Lawrence, ...
'' and appeared in the Showtime TV film '' Coast to Coast'' alongside actress Selma Blair.
He also appeared in the movie '' Confessions of a Shopaholic'' in 2009 as a member of the shopaholic help group (playing a retired NBA player) and had a bit role as a pimp in the blaxploitation spoof ''Black Dynamite
''Black Dynamite'' is a 2009 American blaxploitation action comedy film starring Michael Jai White, Tommy Davidson, and Salli Richardson. The film was directed by Scott Sanders and co-written by White, Sanders, and Byron Minns, who also co-s ...
''.
Salley appeared in the Disney Channel
Disney Channel is an American pay television television channel, channel that serves as the flagship (broadcasting), flagship property of Disney Branded Television, a unit of the Disney Entertainment business segment of the Walt Disney Company ...
original movie, ''The Ultimate Christmas Present
''The Ultimate Christmas Present'' is a 2000 American Christmas fantasy comedy film released as a Disney Channel Original Movie and starring Brenda Song and Hallee Hirsh. It premiered December 1, 2000 on Disney Channel as part of their Christma ...
'', as a tall elf
An elf (: elves) is a type of humanoid supernatural being in Germanic peoples, Germanic folklore. Elves appear especially in Norse mythology, North Germanic mythology, being mentioned in the Icelandic ''Poetic Edda'' and the ''Prose Edda'' ...
.
In 2018, Salley appeared in the Netflix original movie, '' Nappily Ever After'', starring Sanaa Lathan.
In 2022, Salley appears in '' Sneakerella'' as a famous sneaker maker and former basketball star.
In 2024, Salley returned to his role of Fletcher in '' Bad Boys: Ride or Die''.
Television
In season 2, episode 5 of Malcolm & Eddie he plays Lt. Stanley Proctor.
In the fall of 1998, Salley hosted the game show ''I Can't Believe You Said That'', which aired on the Fox Family Channel. During that time, he also guest-starred as a panelist on ''Hollywood Squares
''Hollywood Squares'' (originally ''The Hollywood Squares'', later stylized as ''H2: Hollywood Squares'') is an American game show in which two contestants compete in a game of tic-tac-toe to win cash and prizes. The show originally aired as a ...
'' and ''Match Game
''Match Game'' is an American television panel game show that premiered on NBC in 1962 and has been revived several times over the course of the last six decades. The game features contestants trying to match answers given by celebrity paneli ...
''.
In 2000, he appeared as himself in an episode of ''Sabrina the Teenage Witch
''Sabrina the Teenage Witch'' is a comic book series published by Archie Comics about the adventures of a fictional American teenager named Sabrina Spellman. Sabrina was created by writer George Gladir and artist Dan DeCarlo, and first appeared ...
''. Appearing in the episode titled "Welcome Back Duke”. In the credits his character's name was just NBA player.
In 2001, he appeared as himself on a special TV Hosts episode of '' Weakest Link'' where he was the first contestant voted off.
In 2005, he appeared in the television series '' Noah's Arc'' as Victor.
He was one of the hosts of '' The Best Damn Sports Show Period'' on Fox Sports Network. Salley hosted ''The John Salley Block Party'', a radio morning show on Los Angeles station 100.3 The Beat from 2005 – 2006.
For a short time, Salley provided analysis for NBC's ''NBA Showtime
''NBA Showtime'' was the pregame show aired before each ''NBA on NBC'' telecast. The program, a half-hour in length, began during the 1990–91 NBA season, and was initially hosted by Bob Costas. Costas left in the mid-1990s, and became lead ...
''.
Salley has also hosted VH1's '' Basketball Wives'' (2010–2012) and '' Basketball Wives LA'' (2011, 2012, 2014, 2015) Reunion Specials.
Starting from 2019, Salley reprised his role of Fletcher in the ''Bad Boys'' spinoff TV series '' LA's Finest''.
Guest appearances
In 2001, he made an appearance in the Luther Vandross
Luther Ronzoni Vandross Jr. (April 20, 1951 – July 1, 2005) was an American Soul music, soul and Contemporary R&B, R&B singer, songwriter, and record producer. Over his career, he achieved eleven consecutive RIAA certification, RIAA-certified ...
music video, "Take You Out". He also appeared on a celebrity episode of '' Weakest Link'' that same year and was voted off in the first round.
In 2004, he was part of the panel of celebrity judges in the TBS Superstation show '' He's a Lady''.
In 2006
2006 was designated as the International Year of Deserts and Desertification.
Events
January
* January 1– 4 – Russia temporarily cuts shipment of natural gas to Ukraine during a price dispute.
* January 12 – A stampede during t ...
, Salley was named the Commissioner of the American Basketball Association
The American Basketball Association (ABA) was a major professional basketball league that operated for nine seasons from 1967 to 1976. The upstart ABA operated in direct competition with the more established National Basketball Association thr ...
.
In 2007, Salley appeared in the ABC reality television
Reality television is a genre of television programming that documents purportedly unscripted real-life situations, often starring ordinary people rather than professional actors. Reality television emerged as a distinct genre in the early 1990s ...
series '' Fast Cars and Superstars: The Gillette Young Guns Celebrity Race'', featuring a dozen celebrities in a stock car
Stock car racing is a form of automobile racing run on oval tracks and road courses. It originally used production-model cars, hence the name "stock car", but is now run using cars specifically built for racing. It originated in the southe ...
racing competition. In the first round of competition, Salley matched up against professional wrestler
Professional wrestling, often shortened to either pro wrestling or wrestling,The term "wrestling" is most often widely used to specifically refer to modern scripted professional wrestling, though it is also used to refer to real-life wrest ...
John Cena
John Felix Anthony Cena ( ; born April 23, 1977) is an American actor and professional wrestler. As a wrestler, he has been signed to WWE , where he is the current WWE Championship, Undisputed WWE Champion in his record 14th reign, which is ...
and tennis
Tennis is a List of racket sports, racket sport that is played either individually against a single opponent (singles (tennis), singles) or between two teams of two players each (doubles (tennis), doubles). Each player uses a tennis racket st ...
star Serena Williams
Serena Jameka Williams (born September 26, 1981) is an American former professional tennis player. She was ranked as the List of WTA number 1 ranked singles tennis players, world No. 1 in women's singles by the Women's Tennis Association (WT ...
. Salley also became the host of the BET show ''Ballers''.
Salley joined the cast of the reality competition show '' I'm a Celebrity…Get Me out of Here!'', which premiered on June 1, 2009. He came in third place behind winner Lou Diamond Phillips and runner-up Torrie Wilson
Torrie Anne Wilson (born July 24, 1975) is an American model (person), model, former fitness competitor and retired professional wrestler. She is best known for her time in WWE and WCW.
As a fitness competitor, Wilson won the Miss Galaxy compet ...
.
Salley hosted a podcast on Adam Carolla
Adam Carolla (born May 27, 1964) is an American radio personality, comedian, actor and podcaster. He hosts '' The Adam Carolla Show'', a talk show distributed as a podcast which set the record as the "most downloaded podcast" as judged by ''Guin ...
's ACE Broadcasting Network with sportswriter Kevin Hench entitled '' Spider and the Henchman''. The show was canceled on March 18, 2011.
In 2012, he appeared as a celebrity judge on ''RuPaul's Drag Race
''RuPaul's Drag Race'' is an American reality competition television series, the first in the Drag Race (franchise), ''Drag Race'' franchise, produced by World of Wonder (company), World of Wonder for Logo TV (season 1–8), WOW Presents Plus, ...
'' (season 4, episode 2).
On an episode of Bravo's '' Millionaire Matchmaker'' ("The NFL Kicker and the Workaholic", aired March 12, 2013), he acted as a consultant to Patti Stanger to help one of her clients (an ex-NFL player) become less of a "playa" and find a woman to settle down with.
Vegan activism and wellness career
Salley is a vegan
Veganism is the practice of abstaining from the use of animal products and the consumption of animal source foods, and an associated philosophy that rejects the commodity status of animals. A person who practices veganism is known as a ve ...
activist and has appeared on PETA
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA; ) is an American animal rights nonprofit organization based in Norfolk, Virginia, and led by Ingrid Newkirk, its international president.
Founded in March 1980 by Newkirk and animal right ...
's testimonial videos, as well as in promoting alternatives to practices of massive factory farming.
Salley is also noted for speaking at Michigan's Vegfest since 2009 and appearing on VegMichigan's billboard campaign. He also appeared before the U.S. Congress to advocate for vegetarian options to be served in public schools in Nov ’09 and May ’10 as part of the Child Nutrition Act discussions.
On May 4, 2010, it was announced that Salley had joined the Simply Raw team. The group of individuals who produced the documentary '' Raw for 30'' had approached Salley with their video about reversing diabetes, and "it instantly got his attention" since his father had the disease.
Salley teamed up with Farm Sanctuary in 2010 to host their New York City
New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...
''Walk for Farm Animals'' on Sunday, October 24, 2010.
In June 2012 Salley became the official spokesperson for a natural supplements line called VirMax that is developed by Natural Product Solutions, LLC.
In December 2015, Salley encouraged US First Lady Michelle Obama
Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama ( Robinson; born January 17, 1964) is an American attorney and author who served as the first lady of the United States from 2009 to 2017, being married to Barack Obama, the 44th president of the United Stat ...
to go vegan "for the planet" – setting a lifestyle example of reducing environmental impacts from greenhouse gas
Greenhouse gases (GHGs) are the gases in the atmosphere that raise the surface temperature of planets such as the Earth. Unlike other gases, greenhouse gases absorb the radiations that a planet emits, resulting in the greenhouse effect. T ...
release.
"Vegan eating is not just a slam dunk for human health; it's also the most effective way to combat climate change." ~ John Salley
Salley is an entrepreneur in the cannabis industry, launching his own cannabis
''Cannabis'' () is a genus of flowering plants in the family Cannabaceae that is widely accepted as being indigenous to and originating from the continent of Asia. However, the number of species is disputed, with as many as three species be ...
brand Deuces22 and taking an ownership stake in the cannabis testing company GreenSpace Labs. Salley is also an advisory board member with cannabis social networking platform BudTrader.
Salley is an ambassador for Operation Smile.
Personal life
Salley married Natasha Duffy in 1993. They have two children together, and Salley also has a daughter from a previous relationship. Salley is a member of Omega Psi Phi
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. () is a List of African-American fraternities, historically African-American Fraternities and sororities, fraternity. It was founded on November 17, 1911 at Howard University. Omega Psi Phi is a founding member of ...
initiated through Nu Omega Chapter in Detroit. He is also a 33° Scottish Rite Freemason in Los Angeles.
NBA career statistics
Regular season
, -
, style="text-align:left;",
, style="text-align:left;", Detroit
Detroit ( , ) is the List of municipalities in Michigan, most populous city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is situated on the bank of the Detroit River across from Windsor, Ontario. It had a population of 639,111 at the 2020 United State ...
, 82 , , 2 , , 17.8 , , .562 , , .000 , , .614 , , 3.6 , , 0.7 , , 0.5 , , 1.5 , , 5.3
, -
, style="text-align:left;",
, style="text-align:left;", Detroit
Detroit ( , ) is the List of municipalities in Michigan, most populous city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is situated on the bank of the Detroit River across from Windsor, Ontario. It had a population of 639,111 at the 2020 United State ...
, 82 , , 16 , , 24.4 , , .566 , , – , , .709 , , 4.9 , , 1.4 , , 0.6 , , 1.7 , , 8.5
, -
, style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;", †
, style="text-align:left;", Detroit
Detroit ( , ) is the List of municipalities in Michigan, most populous city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is situated on the bank of the Detroit River across from Windsor, Ontario. It had a population of 639,111 at the 2020 United State ...
, 67 , , 21 , , 21.8 , , .498 , , .000 , , .692 , , 5.0 , , 1.1 , , 0.6 , , 1.1 , , 7.0
, -
, style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;", †
, style="text-align:left;", Detroit
Detroit ( , ) is the List of municipalities in Michigan, most populous city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is situated on the bank of the Detroit River across from Windsor, Ontario. It had a population of 639,111 at the 2020 United State ...
, 82 , , 12 , , 23.3 , , .512 , , .250 , , .713 , , 5.4 , , 0.8 , , 0.6 , , 1.9 , , 7.2
, -
, style="text-align:left;",
, style="text-align:left;", Detroit
Detroit ( , ) is the List of municipalities in Michigan, most populous city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is situated on the bank of the Detroit River across from Windsor, Ontario. It had a population of 639,111 at the 2020 United State ...
, 74 , , 1 , , 22.3 , , .475 , , .000 , , .727 , , 4.4 , , 0.9 , , 0.7 , , 1.5 , , 7.4
, -
, style="text-align:left;",
, style="text-align:left;", Detroit
Detroit ( , ) is the List of municipalities in Michigan, most populous city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is situated on the bank of the Detroit River across from Windsor, Ontario. It had a population of 639,111 at the 2020 United State ...
, 72 , , 38 , , 24.6 , , .512 , , .000 , , .715 , , 4.1 , , 1.6 , , 0.7 , , 1.5 , , 9.5
, -
, style="text-align:left;",
, style="text-align:left;", Miami
Miami is a East Coast of the United States, coastal city in the U.S. state of Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, Florida, Miami-Dade County in South Florida. It is the core of the Miami metropolitan area, which, with a populat ...
, 51 , , 34 , , 27.9 , , .502 , , – , , .799 , , 6.1 , , 1.6 , , 0.6 , , 1.4 , , 8.3
, -
, style="text-align:left;",
, style="text-align:left;", Miami
Miami is a East Coast of the United States, coastal city in the U.S. state of Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, Florida, Miami-Dade County in South Florida. It is the core of the Miami metropolitan area, which, with a populat ...
, 76 , , 45 , , 25.1 , , .477 , , .667 , , .729 , , 5.4 , , 1.8 , , 0.7 , , 1.0 , , 7.7
, -
, style="text-align:left;",
, style="text-align:left;", Miami
Miami is a East Coast of the United States, coastal city in the U.S. state of Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, Florida, Miami-Dade County in South Florida. It is the core of the Miami metropolitan area, which, with a populat ...
, 75 , , 50 , , 26.1 , , .499 , , – , , .739 , , 4.5 , , 1.6 , , 0.6 , , 1.1 , , 7.3
, -
, style="text-align:left;",
, style="text-align:left;", Toronto
Toronto ( , locally pronounced or ) is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, most populous city in Canada. It is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Ontario. With a p ...
, 25 , , 6 , , 19.3 , , .486 , , – , , .723 , , 3.9 , , 1.6 , , 0.4 , , 0.5 , , 6.0
, -
, style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;", †
, style="text-align:left;", Chicago
Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...
, 17 , , 0 , , 11.2 , , .343 , , – , , .600 , , 2.5 , , 0.9 , , 0.5 , , 0.9 , , 2.1
, -
, style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;", †
, style="text-align:left;", L.A. Lakers
, 45 , , 3 , , 6.7 , , .362 , , – , , .750 , , 1.4 , , 0.6 , , 0.2 , , 0.3 , , 1.6
, - class="sortbottom"
, style="text-align:center;" colspan="2", Career
, 748 , , 228 , , 22.1 , , .506 , , .214 , , .714 , , 4.5 , , 1.2 , , 0.6 , , 1.3 , , 7.0
Playoffs
, -
, style="text-align:left;", 1987
Events January
* January 1 – Bolivia reintroduces the Boliviano currency.
* January 2 – Chadian–Libyan conflict – Battle of Fada: The Military of Chad, Chadian army destroys a Libyan armoured brigade.
* January 3 – Afghan leader ...
, style="text-align:left;", Detroit
Detroit ( , ) is the List of municipalities in Michigan, most populous city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is situated on the bank of the Detroit River across from Windsor, Ontario. It had a population of 639,111 at the 2020 United State ...
, 15, , 0, , 20.7, , .500, , –, , .643, , 4.8, , 0.7, , 0.2, , 1.1, , 6.2
, -
, style="text-align:left;", 1988
, style="text-align:left;", Detroit
Detroit ( , ) is the List of municipalities in Michigan, most populous city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is situated on the bank of the Detroit River across from Windsor, Ontario. It had a population of 639,111 at the 2020 United State ...
, 23, , 0, , 27.1, , .538, , .000, , .710, , 6.7, , 0.9, , 0.7, , 1.6, , 7.0
, -
, style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;", 1989
1989 was a turning point in political history with the "Revolutions of 1989" which ended communism in Eastern Bloc of Europe, starting in Poland and Hungary, with experiments in power-sharing coming to a head with the opening of the Berlin W ...
†
, style="text-align:left;", Detroit
Detroit ( , ) is the List of municipalities in Michigan, most populous city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is situated on the bank of the Detroit River across from Windsor, Ontario. It had a population of 639,111 at the 2020 United State ...
, 17, , 0, , 23.1, , .586, , –, , .667, , 4.6, , 0.5, , 0.5, , 1.5, , 8.9
, -
, style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;", 1990
Important events of 1990 include the Reunification of Germany and the unification of Yemen, the formal beginning of the Human Genome Project (finished in 2003), the launch of the Hubble Space Telescope, the separation of Namibia from South ...
†
, style="text-align:left;", Detroit
Detroit ( , ) is the List of municipalities in Michigan, most populous city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is situated on the bank of the Detroit River across from Windsor, Ontario. It had a population of 639,111 at the 2020 United State ...
, 20, , 0, , 27.4, , .475, , –, , .755, , 5.9, , 1.0, , 0.5, , 1.7, , 9.5
, -
, style="text-align:left;", 1991
It was the final year of the Cold War, which had begun in 1947. During the year, the Soviet Union Dissolution of the Soviet Union, collapsed, leaving Post-soviet states, fifteen sovereign republics and the Commonwealth of Independent State ...
, style="text-align:left;", Detroit
Detroit ( , ) is the List of municipalities in Michigan, most populous city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is situated on the bank of the Detroit River across from Windsor, Ontario. It had a population of 639,111 at the 2020 United State ...
, 15, , 0, , 20.5, , .543, , –, , .600, , 4.1, , 0.7, , 0.4, , 1.3, , 7.5
, -
, style="text-align:left;", 1992
1992 was designated as International Space Year by the United Nations.
Events January
* January 1 – Boutros Boutros-Ghali of Egypt replaces Javier Pérez de Cuéllar of Peru as United Nations Secretary-General.
* January 6
** The Republ ...
, style="text-align:left;", Detroit
Detroit ( , ) is the List of municipalities in Michigan, most populous city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is situated on the bank of the Detroit River across from Windsor, Ontario. It had a population of 639,111 at the 2020 United State ...
, 5, , 1, , 29.8, , .455, , .000, , .821, , 6.0, , 2.8, , 0.6, , 2.8, , 12.6
, -
, style="text-align:left;", 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 ...
, style="text-align:left;", Miami
Miami is a East Coast of the United States, coastal city in the U.S. state of Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, Florida, Miami-Dade County in South Florida. It is the core of the Miami metropolitan area, which, with a populat ...
, 5, , 5, , 40.2, , .386, , –, , .688, , 8.0, , 1.6, , 0.4, , 1.0, , 11.0
, -
, style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;", 1996
1996 was designated as:
* International Year for the Eradication of Poverty
Events January
* January 8 – A Zairean cargo plane crashes into a crowded market in the center of the capital city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo ...
†
, style="text-align:left;", Chicago
Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...
, 16, , 0, , 5.3, , .545, , –, , .286, , 0.7, , 0.4, , 0.1, , 0.1, , 0.9
, -
, style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;", 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;", L.A. Lakers
, 18, , 0, , 4.3, , .385, , –, , .700, , 1.2, , 0.2, , 0.1, , 0.3, , 0.9
, - class="sortbottom"
, style="text-align:center;" colspan="2", Career
, 134 , , 6 , , 20.1 , , .505 , , .000 , , .690 , , 4.4 , , 0.8 , , 0.4 , , 1.2 , , 6.4
See also
* List of NBA players with most championships
The following is a list of National Basketball Association (NBA) players who won the most championships.
The NBA is a Major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada, major professional basketball league in North America. It ...
References
External links
John Salley NBA stats
@ basketball-reference.com
FOX Sports: The Scoop On John Salley
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Salley, John
1964 births
Living people
20th-century African-American male actors
20th-century African-American sportsmen
20th-century American male actors
20th-century American sportsmen
21st-century African-American male actors
21st-century African-American sportsmen
21st-century American male actors
21st-century American sportsmen
African-American television personalities
All-American college men's basketball players
American expatriate basketball people in Canada
American expatriate basketball people in Greece
American game show hosts
American male film actors
American male television actors
American men's basketball players
American sports radio personalities
American veganism activists
Basketball players from Brooklyn
Businesspeople in the cannabis industry
Canarsie High School alumni
Centers (basketball)
Chicago Bulls players
Detroit Pistons draft picks
Detroit Pistons players
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets men's basketball players
Greek Basket League players
Los Angeles Lakers players
Miami Heat players
NBA broadcasters
Panathinaikos B.C. players
Participants in American reality television series
People from Canarsie, Brooklyn
Power forwards
Toronto Raptors expansion draft picks
Toronto Raptors players