NBA.com: Eric Riley Bio

A 7-foot center out of Michigan, Eric Riley has seen limited playing time during his NBA career, playing for several teams as he tried to carve his niche in the league. He enjoyed his best season in the college ranks as a sophomore in 1990-91, when he averaged 10.6 points and 8.6 rebounds, but once freshmen Chris Webber and Juwan Howard joined the team, Riley spent more time as a reserve. As a senior he contributed 5.6 points and 4.8 rebounds per contest off the bench, helping the Wolverines to a second consecutive appearance in the NCAA Championship Game. The Dallas Mavericks selected Riley in the second round of the 1993 NBA Draft but then traded his draft rights to the Houston Rockets for the draft rights to Popeye Jones. Playing for the Rockets in 1993-94, Riley mostly saw mop-up duty but did start two games. He was not on the Rockets' playoff roster when the team won the 1994 NBA championship. Riley began the 1994-95 season on the injured list. Waived by Houston in December, he was picked up by the Los Angeles Clippers, with whom he spent the remainder of the season. He appeared in 25 games, making 10 starts, for the Minnesota Timberwolves in 1995-96, spending most of the season on the injured list due to bursitis and tendinitis in his right knee. He played professionally in Greece in 1996-97, then signed with Dallas and appeared in 39 games for the Mavericks in 1997-98. Riley signed with the Boston Celtics as a free agent on January 27, 1999 and appeared in 35 games, making 11 starts, in the 50-game 1998-99 season. He played less than 10 minutes per game, however, and his scoring and rebounding averages were the lowest since his rookie season.

1999-2000 REGULAR SEASON
Waived by the Timberwolves on 1/11 Signed to a 10-day contract by the Minnesota Timberwolves on 1/7 Waived by the Timberwolves on 1/4 Signed as a free agent with the Minnesota Timberwolves on 1/2

1998-1999 REGULAR SEASON
On the injured list from 4/14 to 4/21 due to a sprained right ankle On the injured list from 3/19 to 4/2 due to plantar fasciitis in his left foot Scored 7 points and grabbed a career-high 14 rebounds in a 111-79 victory over the Orlando Magic on 2/24 Matched his career-high with 5 blocked shots, grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds and added 6 points in a 77-73 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on 2/6 Made his Celtics debut, registering 9 points and a team-high 11 rebounds, against the Toronto Raptors on 2/5

1997-1998 REGULAR SEASON
Posted 8 points and career-highs 12 rebounds and 5 blocked shots in a 104-101 victory over the Vancouver Grizzlies on 3/31 Registered 9 points, 8 rebounds and 4 blocked shots in a 105-94 victory over the Denver Nuggets on 3/25 Recorded a career-high 16 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 blocked shots in an 88-82 win over the Golden State Warriors on 3/19 Totaled a season-high 11 points (5-6 FG) and 9 rebounds in a 119-109 victory over the L.A. Clippers on 3/5 Posted 8 points and 8 rebounds against the Washington Wizards on 12/26 Blocked 4 shots and grabbed 9 rebounds, in his Mavericks debut, against the Sacramento Kings on 12/20 Signed as a free agent by the Mavericks on 12/17

1996-1997 REGULAR SEASON

1995-1996 REGULAR SEASON
Riley appeared in 25 games for the Minnesota Timberwolves, making 10 starts, and averaged 3.7 points and 3.0 rebounds in 12.4 minutes per game. In his 10 games as a starter he averaged 5.3 points and 4.5 rebounds in 20.6 minutes per game. He spent more than half the season on the injured list due to tendinitis and bursitis in his right knee. His two stints on the injured list forced him to miss 46 games.

1994-1995 REGULAR SEASON
Riley was on the Houston Rockets' injured list when the 1994-95 campaign got underway. He was waived by the Rockets on December 12 (without having played a game) but signed with the Clippers six days later. He played in eight games for Los Angeles in January and averaged 3.8 points in 9.6 minutes per contest. On February 5 Riley suffered multiple injuries in a car accident, and he was placed on the injured list the next day. He was reactivated on February 21 and made his first start for the Clippers one day later but played only 8 minutes. On April 8 he recorded his first double-double of the season when he scored 11 points and pulled down 10 rebounds against the Sacramento Kings. Riley finished the season with averages of 4.4 points and 2.8 rebounds in 10.9 minutes per game. He appeared in 40 contests, starting in 4.

1993-1994 REGULAR SEASON
Eric Riley was the University of Michigan's starting center until Chris Webber and Juwan Howard arrived in 1991. A junior at the time, Riley moved into reserve duty for the next two seasons and helped the Wolverines reach the NCAA Championship Game in both 1992 and 1993. Seeing potential in his 7-foot frame, the Dallas Mavericks selected Riley with the 33rd overall pick in the 1993 NBA Draft. That same day, the Mavericks traded his rights to the Houston Rockets for the draft rights to Popeye Jones. Throughout the 1993-94 season Riley served mainly as a practice player and sparring partner for Hakeem Olajuwon. He appeared in 47 games during the year, averaging 1.9 points and 1.3 rebounds in 4.7 minutes per game. In late March, Olajuwon was suspended for a game, providing Riley with the opportunity to enjoy his first NBA start. He made the most of it in a game against the Sacramento Kings on March 29 by tallying 12 points, 5 rebounds, 2 blocks, and no turnovers in 24 minutes. That start was the first for a Rockets rookie center since Olajuwon debuted in 1984-85. Riley had another fine outing on December 3, with 12 points and 5 rebounds in 12 minutes off the bench against the Atlanta Hawks. Although Riley did not make the active postseason roster, the Rockets defeated the New York Knicks in seven games to win their first NBA Championship.