| Personal information | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born | (1978-05-02)May 2, 1978 (age 46) Harvey, Illinois, U.S. | ||||||||||||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) | ||||||||||||||
| Listed weight | 261 lb (118 kg) | ||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||
| High school | Thornton Township (Harvey, Illinois) | ||||||||||||||
| College | Fresno State (1998–2002) | ||||||||||||||
| NBA draft | 2002: 1st round, 12th overall pick | ||||||||||||||
| Selected by theLos Angeles Clippers | |||||||||||||||
| Playing career | 2002–2016 | ||||||||||||||
| Position | Center /power forward | ||||||||||||||
| Number | 2, 33, 34, 4 | ||||||||||||||
| Coaching career | 2016–2019 | ||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||
| As player: | |||||||||||||||
| 2002–2004 | Los Angeles Clippers | ||||||||||||||
| 2004–2007 | Charlotte Bobcats | ||||||||||||||
| 2007 | San Antonio Spurs | ||||||||||||||
| 2007–2009 | New Orleans Hornets | ||||||||||||||
| 2010–2011 | Denver Nuggets | ||||||||||||||
| 2012 | Brujos de Guayama | ||||||||||||||
| 2012–2014 | Texas Legends | ||||||||||||||
| 2014 | New Orleans Pelicans | ||||||||||||||
| 2014–2015 | Gunma Crane Thunders | ||||||||||||||
| As coach: | |||||||||||||||
| 2016–2019 | Canton Charge (assistant) | ||||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
Stats at NBA.com  | |||||||||||||||
| Stats atBasketball Reference | |||||||||||||||
Medals
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Melvin Anderson Ely (/iːˈlaɪ/; born May 2, 1978) is an American former professionalbasketball player who was also an assistant coach for theCanton Charge of theNBA G League.
A 6'10", 261 lb (118 kg),power forward–center fromFresno State, Ely was drafted by theLos Angeles Clippers in the first round (12th overall pick) of the2002 NBA draft. At Fresno State, he enjoyed a prolific career under the coaching ofJerry Tarkanian.
While attendingHarvey Thornton High School, Ely earned All-American honors fromMcDonald's andParade Magazine. As a senior in 1997, he averaged 15.5 points per game, 9.3 rebounds per game and 5.2 blocked shots per game during the regular season and was named theChicago Sun-Times player of the year and first teamall-state. Ely led his Wildcats to asecond-place finish in 1995 and 1996 and third-place in 1997. During Ely's 3 years as a starter, Thornton Township posted a combined record of 93 wins and 4 losses, including marks of 32–1 in 1997, 31–1 in 1996 and 30–2 in 1995.[1] 3 of those losses were to eventual IHSA 2A champions Peoria Manual.
In 2007, Ely was voted one of the "100 Legends of the IHSA Boys Basketball Tournament", recognizing his superior performance in his appearances in the tournament.[2]
Under the guidance of coachJerry Tarkanian atFresno State, Ely led the Bulldogs to two NCAA tournament appearances in 2000 and 2001. He also won theWAC Player of the Year award in two consecutive seasons in 2001 and 2002.
After two seasons in Los Angeles with limited playing time, Ely was traded by the Clippers along with teammateEddie House on July 14, 2004, to theCharlotte Bobcats for two second-round draft picks in 2005 and 2006. During the2004–05 and2005–06 seasons, Ely rejuvenated his career as a prominent reserve role player. On October 2, 2006, he rejected offers from theGolden State Warriors andPhoenix Suns to sign a one-year, $3 million contract to remain with the Bobcats.[3]
On February 13, 2007, he was traded to theSan Antonio Spurs in exchange for forwardEric Williams and a second-round draft pick in 2009.[4] He played only 6 games for the Spurs, averaging 3.2 points and 2.3 rebounds per game. He did not play for the Spurs in the playoffs yet he still won the championship ring.
In the 2007 off-season, Ely signed with theNew Orleans Hornets.[5] It was formally announced on September 12 that it was a two-year contract.[6]
In 2012, Ely signed with theBrujos de Guayama of Puerto Rico.[7]
On October 27, 2012, Ely signed with theDallas Mavericks along with guardChris Douglas-Roberts.[8] He and Douglas-Roberts were waived the next day.[9] On November 1, 2012, he was acquired by theTexas Legends of theNBA D-League.[10]
In September 2013, Ely signed with theMemphis Grizzlies.[11] However, he was waived on October 26.[12]
In November 2013, he was re-acquired by the Texas Legends.[13] On February 3, 2014, Ely was named to the Prospects All-Star roster for the 2014 NBA D-League All-Star Game.[14] On April 14, 2014, he signed with theNew Orleans Pelicans for the rest of the season.[15]
Ely's final NBA game was April 16, 2014 in a 105 - 100 win over theHouston Rockets where he recorded 4 points and 1 block.
On July 15, 2014, he was traded to theWashington Wizards.[16] On July 30, 2014, he was waived by the Wizards.[17][18]
In September 2014, Ely signed a one-year deal with the Gunma Crane Thunders of the Japanesebj league.[19]
On November 2, 2017, Ely was Inducted in to the Fresno Athletic Hall of Fame with some of his 2005 Fresno State teammates in attendance.
On August 23, 2015, Ely was hired to join Martin Knezevic's staff in the newly-formed AmeriLeague in Las Vegas (league folded prior to the season).[20]
On September 27, 2016, he was hired by theCanton Charge to serve as an assistant coach.[21]
| 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 |
| † | Won anNBA championship |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002–03 | L.A. Clippers | 52 | 7 | 15.4 | .495 | .000 | .703 | 3.3 | .3 | .2 | .6 | 4.5 |
| 2003–04 | L.A. Clippers | 42 | 2 | 12.1 | .431 | .000 | .595 | 2.4 | .5 | .2 | .4 | 3.7 |
| 2004–05 | Charlotte | 79 | 17 | 20.9 | .432 | .000 | .575 | 4.1 | 1.0 | .4 | .9 | 7.3 |
| 2005–06 | Charlotte | 57 | 22 | 23.6 | .508 | .000 | .667 | 4.9 | 1.3 | .5 | .8 | 9.8 |
| 2006–07 | Charlotte | 24 | 0 | 10.2 | .383 | .000 | .686 | 1.6 | .6 | .1 | .3 | 2.9 |
| 2006–07† | San Antonio | 6 | 0 | 10.8 | .300 | .000 | .583 | 2.3 | .7 | .7 | .3 | 3.2 |
| 2007–08 | New Orleans | 52 | 1 | 11.9 | .472 | .000 | .552 | 2.8 | .4 | .1 | .3 | 3.9 |
| 2008–09 | New Orleans | 31 | 4 | 12.0 | .389 | .000 | .639 | 2.1 | .6 | .1 | .3 | 3.1 |
| 2010–11 | Denver | 30 | 2 | 12.2 | .549 | .000 | .619 | 2.5 | .5 | .1 | .4 | 2.3 |
| 2013–14 | New Orleans | 2 | 0 | 13.5 | .500 | .000 | .000 | .5 | .0 | .0 | .5 | 3.0 |
| Career | 375 | 55 | 16.0 | .460 | .000 | .625 | 3.2 | .7 | .3 | .6 | 5.3 | |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | New Orleans | 7 | 0 | 8.4 | .267 | .000 | .700 | 1.6 | .1 | .0 | .0 | 2.1 |
| Career | 7 | 0 | 8.4 | .267 | .000 | .700 | 1.6 | .1 | .0 | .0 | 2.1 | |
