Mike Davis (basketball, born 1956)

Mike Davis
Personal information
Born 2 August 1956
Jacksonville, Florida
Nationality American
Listed height 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
Listed weight 230 lb (104 kg)
Career information
High school Bishop Mose Davis
(Jacksonville, Florida)
College Shaw College (1974–1975)
Mercer County (1975–1976)
Maryland (1976–1978)
NBA draft 1978 / Undrafted
Playing career 1978–1991
Position Center
Career history
1978–1981 Bancoroma Roma (Italy)
1981–1982 Seleco Napoli (Italy)
1982 New York Knicks
1982–1983 Albany Patroons (CBA)
1983 New York Knicks
1983–1985 Barcelona (Spain)
1985–1986 Limoges (France)
1986–1987 Fantoni Udine (Italy)
1987–1988 Benetton Treviso (Italy)
1988–1989 Annabella Pavia (Italy)
1989–1991 Grupo IFA Granollers (Spain)
Career highlights and awards

Michael Anthony "Mike" Davis (born August 2, 1956) is an American former professional basketball player. Playing as a center, his career mostly took place in Italy and Spain, though he had a short stint in the NBA.

College career

Born and raised in Jacksonville, Florida, Davis did not play high-school basketball, as he didn't make his school's team in 11th grade. However, after growing to 6-10, he took up the sport again. He moved to Shaw College, Detroit, in 1974, living in Dave Bing's house.[1]

As a sophomore, he played for Mercer County Community College, earning National Junior College Athletic Association All-American honours.[2]

Davis then moved to Maryland, playing in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) of the NCAA Division I, in 1976. He was an ACC Rookie of the week in 1976-1977,[3] also being noted for his play that season, only his third of competitive basketball.[1] However, in January 1978, he was kicked off the squad by coach Lefty Driesell after disagreements between the two, he stayed on scholarship at Maryland.[4]

Professional career

Going undrafted in 1978, David moved to the Italian Serie A where he would stay four years. Returning to the U.S. in 1982, he joined the New York Knicks, played in the summer league and exhibition games but was cut just before the season began.[5]

The center then joined Continental Basketball Association side Albany Patroons. After averaging 16.5 points, 10.5 rebounds (a league second best) per game with the Patroons, he was re-signed by the Knicks on 23 February 1983 on a 10-day contract to replace the injured Vince Taylor.[6] He did not play during that period, nor when he signed a new 10-day contract but was finally signed to a permanent contract in March 1983 until the end of the season.[5] Davis scored 5 points in six minutes on his NBA debut,[5] he would play in 8 games, averaging 1.8 points, 1.3 rebounds and 0.5 blocks in 3.5 minutes per game.[7]

After being released by the Knicks at the end of the season, he returned to Europe, this time with Spanish Liga ACB side Barcelona in 1983. With the Spaniards he would win the 1985 European Cup Winner's Cup and the 1985 Club World Cup.

References

  1. 1 2 Denlinger, Kenneth (13 February 1977). "Driesell's '77 Bunch Stranger Than Fiction". The Washington Post. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
  2. "Men's Basketball - NJCAA All-Americans". Mercer County Community College. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
  3. "Conference Honors". Maryland Terrapins. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
  4. Cuniberti, Betty (31 January 1978). "Center Davis Is Kicked Off Terp Squad". The Washington Post. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
  5. 1 2 3 Moran, Malcolm (17 March 1983). "Players; Davis savors a short season". The New York Times. Retrieved 8 July 2015.
  6. "The New York Knicks placed 6-5 Vince Taylor on...". United Press International. New York. 23 February 1983. Retrieved 8 July 2015.
  7. "Michael Davis (New York Knicks)". NBA. Retrieved 8 July 2015.
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