| Santiago Basket Titanes | |
|---|---|
| Title | Head coach |
| League | LDC |
| Personal information | |
| Born | (1976-04-03)April 3, 1976 (age 49) Hartford, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Listed height | 7 ft 3 in (2.21 m) |
| Listed weight | 212 lb (96 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Sierra Vista (Baldwin Park, California) |
| College | Central Connecticut (1994–1996) |
| NBA draft | 1997:undrafted |
| Playing career | 1996–2012 |
| Position | Center |
| Number | 33 |
| Coaching career | 2023–present |
| Career history | |
Playing | |
| 1996–1997 | Norwich Neptunes |
| 1997–2000 | Los Angeles Clippers |
| 2001, 2003 | Pennsylvania Valley Dawgs |
| 2004–2005 | Rockford Lightning |
| 2005 | Gary Steelheads |
| 2006–2007 | Butte Daredevils |
| 2007 | Buffalo Silverbacks |
| 2007–2008 | Tulsa 66ers |
| 2008 | Yunnan Bulls |
| 2012 | Santa Barbara Breakers |
Coaching | |
| 2023–present | Santiago Basket Titanes |
| Career highlights | |
| |
Stats at NBA.com  | |
| Stats atBasketball Reference | |
Keith Mitchell Closs Jr. (born April 3, 1976) is an American professionalbasketball coach and former player who is the head coach for the Santiago Basket Titanes of the Laliga de Campeones (LDC). He played at thecenter position.
At 7 feet 3 inches (2.21 m) and 212 pounds (96 kg), Closs playedcollegiately atCentral Connecticut State University, leading the nation inblocks his only two years in college, and still holding theNCAADivision I career record for blocks with 5.87 blocked shots per game.[1]
After starting playing professionally in the Atlantic Basketball Association with the Norwich Neptunes,[2] Closs moved to the Clippers in 1997. Having logged career highs in points, rebounds, assists and steals during 1999–2000, his NBA career abruptly ended, with a club record for most blocked shots per 48 minutes (4.7).
Closs played three seasons as a backupcenter for theNational Basketball Association'sLos Angeles Clippers from1997 to2000, averaging 3.9 points, 2.9rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game during his spell.
Closs played for the Pennsylvania Valley Dawgs of theUSBL in the 2001 and 2003 seasons.[3]
On December 11, 2004, Closs signed with theRockford Lightning of theContinental Basketball Association (CBA).[4] He averaged a league-high 4.4 blocks per game as well as 7.2 points and 7.0 rebounds per game with the Lightning. On February 1, 2005, Closs was released by the Lightning.[5] He also played in the CBA with theGary Steelheads during the 2004–05 season.[3]
Closs played for theButte Daredevils in the CBA during the 2006–07 season but was released after being arrested for public intoxication.[6] He then joined theBuffalo Silverbacks of theAmerican Basketball Association.[6]
Closs was selected with the 11th pick in the 5th round of the 2007NBA Development League draft by theTulsa 66ers.[7]
In December 2008, Closs signed with theChinese league'sYunnan Bulls, and averaged 16.1 points, 11.9 rebounds and 5.9 blocked shots per game.[8]
Closs played for the Santa Barbara Breakers of the West Coast Professional Basketball League in 2012.[6]
On July 21, 2023, Closs was announced as the head coach of the Santiago Basket Titanes in the Dominican Laliga de Campeones.[9]
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
Source[10]
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997–98 | L.A. Clippers | 58 | 1 | 12.8 | .449 | – | .597 | 2.9 | .3 | .2 | 1.4 | 4.0 |
| 1998–99 | L.A. Clippers | 15 | 0 | 5.8 | .522 | .000 | .800 | 1.7 | .0 | .2 | .6 | 2.1 |
| 1999–2000 | L.A. Clippers | 57 | 6 | 14.4 | .487 | .000 | .590 | 3.1 | .4 | .2 | 1.3 | 4.2 |
| Career | 130 | 7 | 12.7 | .471 | .000 | .606 | 2.9 | .3 | .2 | 1.3 | 3.9 |
Closs is the oldest of six children. His favorite book isGiant Steps byKareem Abdul-Jabbar.[1]
Closs admitted to being analcoholic, even before joining the Clippers. The pressure of the NBA only led to more drinking and after threeDUI offenses, he sought help in 2007. During a 2008 interview, he said he had turned his life around, having given up the addiction for good.[11]
His father, Keith Mitchell Closs Sr. died on December 1, 2017, from a possible heart attack, according to Closs's Twitter account.
Closs also has a son, Keith M. Closs III, born January 21, 2000.
In August 2022, Closs became an assistant coach in the Turkish basketball league[12]
Closs has the fifth lowest BMI of all players in NBA history.[13]