Danny Schayes is a durable NBA center who has provided sound post play and a reliable shot for 18 seasons. He is the son of Hall of Famer Dolph Schayes, who starred for the Syracuse Nationals and the Philadelphia 76ers in the 1950s and 1960s. The younger Schayes played college ball at Syracuse but didn't start until his senior year. That season, 1980-81, he led the Orangemen in scoring (14.6 ppg), rebounding (8.4 rpg), blocks and field goal percentage (.579). He set a Big East Conference record with 23 rebounds in a single game. Schayes was an All-Big East First Team selection and an honorable-mention All-American. He began his lengthy NBA career with the Utah Jazz after being picked 13th overall by the Jazz in the 1981 NBA Draft. During his second season he was traded to the Denver Nuggets for center Rich Kelley. Schayes stayed in Denver for nearly eight campaigns, from 1983 to 1990. The Nuggets of those years were a high-octane unit coached by Doug Moe. They won more than they lost, rarely advanced far in the playoffs, and scored in bunches. A frequent starter, Schayes averaged in double figures in three consecutive campaigns, 1987-88 through 1989-90, while registering free-throw percentages better than .825 in each of those years. His best season was 1987-88, when he averaged 13.9 points and 8.2 rebounds while shooting .540 from the field. Schayes then played more than three years with the Milwaukee Bucks, spent a brief term with the Los Angeles Lakers, and signed with the Phoenix Suns for 1994-95, starting 27 games for a powerful Suns team that won the Pacific Division. He became a free agent and signed with Miami in December, 1995, and provided injury relief and backup support for Alonzo Mourning. He switched allegiances between Florida teams and joined the Orlando Magic in 1996-97, backing up Rony Seikaly after Shaquille O'Neal left as a free agent. At the age of 38 he played in 74 games and made 33 starts in 1997-98, his most game action since 1990-91. In 1998-99 he provided depth in the pivot for the Magic behind starter Ike Austin and rookie Michael Doleac, appearing in 19 games.

1999-2000 REGULAR SEASON
Waived by the Minnesota Timberwolves on 12/3

1998-1999 REGULAR SEASON
On the injured list from 3/5 to 3/15 due to a strained left calf

1997-1998 REGULAR SEASON
Totaled 14 points (6-8 FG) and 3 rebounds, in 18 minutes, in a 102-87 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on 3/20 Registered 14 points and 5 rebounds in a 99-92 victory over the Vancouver Grizzlies on 3/17 Posted 14 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists against the Miami Heat on 3/15 Recorded 17 points and 9 rebounds against the Charlotte Hornets on 3/13 Totaled 12 points and 9 rebounds in an 88-78 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on 3/9 Registered 8 points and a game-high 12 rebounds in a 100-79 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on 2/25 Matched his season-high with 18 points and grabbed 9 rebounds in a 93-91 victory over the Indiana Pacers on 2/20 Posted 10 points and a season-high 13 rebounds in an 85-81 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on 2/16 Recorded a season-high 18 points (8-10 FG) and 3 rebounds, in 18 minutes, against the New York Knicks on 2/13 Totaled 8 points and a game-high 11 rebounds, in his first start of the season, in an 83-79 win over the L.A. Clippers on 12/6 Scored 13 points (6-9 FG), in 18 minutes, in a 101-97 victory over the Vancouver Grizzlies on 12/3 On the injured list from 11/12 to 11/20 due to back spasms

1996-1997 REGULAR SEASON
Schayes played in 45 games, including six starts, helping to fill the center slot with Rony Seikaly following the departure of Shaquille O'Neal as a free agent. Schayes averaged 3.0 points and 2.8 rebounds in 12.0 minutes per game. He scored in double figures twice, including 21 points (plus 11 rebounds and a career-high six steals) in 40 minutes in a starting role in a 93-84 victory over New York on April 4. He grabbed a season-high 13 rebounds in 45 minutes in a season-ending 102-88 loss to Miami on April 19. He played in all five of Orlando's playoff games against Miami, making two starts in place of an injured Seikaly, and averaged 4.4 points and 2.2 rebounds in 18.4 minutes per game.

1995-1996 REGULAR SEASON
Signed by the Heat when Alonzo Mourning was injured in December, Schayes provided frontcourt depth through the remainder of the season and the playoffs. He started six games during December and appeared in a total of 32 games overall, averaging 3.2 points and 2.8 rebounds in 12.5 minutes per game. His biggest contribution came in a 112-104 win at New Jersey on Dec. 20 when he started and played 41 minutes, scoring 17 points and grabbing 16 rebounds--all easily season highs. Schayes played in the 1,000th regular season game of his career in the season finale against Atlanta on April 21. He then appeared in the first two games of the playoffs, contributing 3.5 points and 2.0 rebounds in 8.5 minutes per game off the bench, before missing the final game due to fractures in the right side of his face.

1994-1995 REGULAR SEASON
In what turned out to be a good career move, Schayes inked a free-agent deal with the Phoenix Suns in the preseason. After having seen limited action with the Milwaukee Bucks and the Los Angeles Lakers the previous year, Schayes started 27 games for the Suns and appeared in a total of 69 contests overall. Phoenix adopted a tiered rotation at center, using Joe Kleine, Schayes, and forward-center Wayman Tisdale. Schayes averaged 4.4 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in 11.9 minutes per game and posted a .508 field-goal percentage. Yet his job was not to produce numbers; on a team packed with scorers, both Schayes and Kleine were counted on to play the role of big bodies on defense. Schayes's season highs included 17 points, 16 rebounds, and 8 assists. After winning the Pacific Division, Phoenix defeated the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round of the playoffs but then lost in seven games to the eventual NBA-champion Houston Rockets in the conference semifinals. Schayes appeared in all 10 postseason contests, averaging 2.9 points and 2.0 rebounds.

1993-1994 REGULAR SEASON
On the day of the NBA's trading deadline, the Milwaukee Bucks sent Schayes to the Los Angeles Lakers for a conditional draft choice. After having played in 23 games for the Bucks, Schayes appeared in 13 contests for the Lakers. Overall, the 12-year veteran averaged 2.4 points and 2.2 rebounds in 10.1 minutes per game. He had his best outing on April 13 against the Phoenix Suns, when he tallied 11 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists.

1992-1993 REGULAR SEASON
Schayes, recovered from his knee injury, appeared in 70 games with the Bucks, who had signed Mike Dunleavy to an eight-year contract as general manager and head coach. Milwaukee, looking to the future, lost 54 games with a roster that included six new faces. The loss total was the highest for the franchise since its 1968-69 expansion season. Schayes averaged 4.6 points and 3.6 rebounds. He led the club in rebounding five times and in steals twice. He recorded 11 double-digit scoring games. One of those was on January 5, when he scored 15 points and grabbed a season-best 15 rebounds in a game against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

1991-1992 REGULAR SEASON
Schayes, who had avoided serious injury for most of his career, played in a career-low 43 games, starting four. He was forced to sit out 39 of the final 40 games after suffering torn cartilage in his left knee on February 12. Before the injury, he had missed only 70 games in nine seasons because of injury. For the year, Schayes averaged 5.6 points and 3.9 rebounds for a Bucks team that tied for last in the Central Division. He led the team in scoring once and in rebounding four times, while recording seven double-figure scoring efforts and one 20-plus game. In four games as a starter, Schayes averaged 11.3 points. He scored a season-high 25 points against the Indiana Pacers on November 30.

1990-1991 REGULAR SEASON
Prior to the 1990-91 season, the Nuggets traded Schayes to Milwaukee for the draft rights to Terry Mills. Schayes played in all 82 games for the Bucks, logging the most minutes (2,228) since his second NBA season. Schayes had expected to play at center behind Jack Sikma, but injuries to Sikma forced Schayes into a starting role for the final 38 games of the season. Milwaukee went 21-17 with Schayes as its starting center. In those games, he averaged 13.3 points and 7.8 rebounds. For the season, Schayes averaged 10.6 points and a team-high 6.5 rebounds. His season-high scoring output was 31 points against the Cleveland Cavaliers on February 23.

1989-1990 REGULAR SEASON
Schayes missed significant time due to injuries and finished his days in Denver by playing in only 53 games. He underwent arthroscopic surgery on both ankles and was placed on the injured list for the first time in his career on December 28. The Nuggets finished in fourth place in the Midwest Division, relying heavily on the outside scoring of Fat Lever, Alex English, Walter Davis, and Michael Adams. Schayes started Denver's first eight games and made 22 starts for the season. He averaged 10.4 points and 6.4 rebounds when healthy, scoring a season-high 28 points against the Minnesota Timberwolves on March 7.

1988-1989 REGULAR SEASON
Schayes started 64 times in 76 games for the Nuggets, who finished in third place in the Midwest Division. He averaged 12.8 points and 6.6 rebounds, leading Denver with a .522 field-goal percentage. He scored a career-high 37 points in a game against the Utah Jazz on February 4. Schayes ranked third on the Nuggets in rebounding and fourth in free-throw percentage, with .826. He scored in double figures 48 times, with 13 games over 20 points. He also had 12 double-doubles. He grabbed a season-high 17 rebounds against the Heat in Miami on March 10.

1987-1988 REGULAR SEASON
Schayes enjoyed his best year with the Nuggets, averaging 13.9 points. Denver, with an unbelievable stretch run, caught the Dallas Mavericks and won the Midwest Division title in the season's final week. Schayes played a big role, averaging 16.0 points and 10.0 rebounds during Denver's last 18 regular-season games. For the season, Schayes was the only Nugget to shoot over 50 percent from the field (.540), and his 8.2 rebounding average was tops on the club. He scored a season-high 32 points in Denver's 132-125 victory over the Houston Rockets on April 15 and grabbed a season-high 19 rebounds against the Indiana Pacers on November 18. He averaged 16.4 points and a career-best 7.2 rebounds in the playoffs, including a playoff career-high 33 points against Dallas on May 17. Despite Schayes's efforts, the Nuggets lost in six games to the Mavericks in the Western Conference Semifinals.

1986-1987 REGULAR SEASON
Schayes made 76 appearances and had 41 starts for the Denver Nuggets, who dropped to fourth place in the Midwest Division. All-Star forward Calvin Natt missed all but one game with a torn Achilles tendon, and center Wayne Cooper was limited to 69 games. In their absence, Schayes and young Blair Rasmussen drew extended minutes on the front line. Schayes averaged 8.5 points and 5.0 rebounds, scoring a season-high 25 points against the Dallas Mavericks on December 26 and grabbing a season-high 14 rebounds against the Houston Rockets on January 2. He scored in double figures 29 times and grabbed 10 or more rebounds on seven occasions. He appeared in three playoff games, averaging 10.0 points and 5.7 rebounds.

1985-1986 REGULAR SEASON
Dan Issel retired after the 1984-85 season, providing Schayes with an opportunity to contribute as center Wayne Cooper's primary backup. Schayes played in 80 games, starting 13. He averaged 8.2 points and 5.5 rebounds for the Nuggets, who finished second behind the Houston Rockets in the Midwest Division. Schayes scored a season-high 25 points against the Los Angeles Clippers on March 21 and added a season-high 14 rebounds. Two weeks later he accounted for 24 points and 7 rebounds against the Clippers in Los Angeles. He scored in double figures 23 times. In the 1986 NBA Playoffs he appeared in 10 games, starting six, as the Nuggets took Houston to six games before bowing out in the Western Conference Semifinals. Schayes averaged 11.6 points and 8.2 rebounds in the postseason.

1984-1985 REGULAR SEASON
Schayes appeared in only 56 games and played a then career-low 542 minutes for the Midwest Division champion Nuggets, who featured high-scoring swingman Alex English. Denver had acquired center Wayne Cooper, guard Fat Lever, and All-Star forward Calvin Natt from the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for Kiki Vandeweghe after the 1983-84 season. Their presence accounted for Denver's turnaround and Schayes's reduced playing time. Schayes averaged 3.6 points and 2.6 rebounds while the more athletic Cooper and the scrappy Natt took care of the rebounding and defense. He played his best game on April 10 against the Los Angeles Clippers, accounting for 23 points and 12 rebounds. He played in nine playoff games, averaging 4.0 points and 3.3 rebounds.

1983-1984 REGULAR SEASON
Schayes continued his consecutive-game streak as he again played in all 82 games, starting 15 times, for a Denver team that finished third behind the Utah Jazz and the Dallas Mavericks in the Midwest Division. He averaged 7.1 points-with a season-high 26 against the Kansas City Kings on February 25-and 5.3 rebounds. Schayes contributed 5.6 points and 4.5 rebounds per game through Denver's first 57 contests. Over the final 25 games, his numbers jumped to 10.3 and 7.1, respectively. With Dan Issel bothered by a cracked rib, Schayes seized the opportunity, accounting for 17 points and 17 rebounds on February 24 in a game against the Phoenix Suns. He scored in double figures 15 times in the final 25 games.

1982-1983 REGULAR SEASON
With Utah still desperate for experienced, reliable help in the middle, Schayes was traded by the Jazz to the Denver Nuggets on February 7 for veteran center Rich Kelley. Schayes appeared in a combined 82 games for both teams, starting 50 for Utah before the trade. In Denver, Schayes was asked to serve as understudy to Dan Issel. Before acquiring Schayes, Denver had outrebounded its opponents only 13 times in 50 games. After the deal, the Nuggets won the battle of the boards 17 times in the final 32 games, with Schayes providing 5.8 rebounds per contest. He scored 12 points and collected 8 rebounds in his first game in Denver's McNichols Arena. For the season, he averaged 11.1 points and 7.7 rebounds, and he contributed 7.1 points and 5.0 rebounds per game in eight playoff contests.

1981-1982 REGULAR SEASON
The Utah Jazz made Danny Schayes the 13th overall pick of the 1981 NBA Draft. The son of NBA Hall of Famer Dolph Schayes, Danny had an outstanding athletic and academic career at Syracuse, majoring in organic chemistry while averaging 14.6 points as a senior. Schayes played in 82 games as an NBA rookie, starting 20 for a Jazz team that finished in last place in the Midwest Division. Adrian Dantley, the NBA's third-leading scorer, and Darrell Griffith took the majority of the shots for a club that was seeking help in rebounding and defense. Schayes averaged 7.9 points and 5.2 rebounds, sharing time at center with Bill Robinzine, Ben Poquette, and others. No Utah power forward or center had a double-figure scoring average that season.

• Married to former U.S. Olympic diver Wendy Lucero
• His father is basketball Hall-of-Famer Dolph Schayes
• An academic All-America at Syracuse with a 4.4 GPA while earning a degree in Organic Chemistry