NBA.com: Jim McIlvaine Bio

Jim McIlvaine became one of the most productive shotblockers in the NBA in limited playing time during his two seasons with the Washington Bullets, then signed a lucrative free agent contract with the Seattle SuperSonics. After starting at center for nearly the entire 1996-97 season and ranking 11th in the NBA in blocked shots, he was removed from the starting lineup and saw only limited action in the playoffs. He started 72 games in the 1997-98 regular season and was 14th in the league with 1.76 blocks per game, but again saw his playing time decrease in the playoffs. Traded to New Jersey on January 21, 1999, he played in 22 games for the Nets in 1998-99, missing much of the season with an injured shoulder. McIlvaine was a tremendous shotblocker at Marquette whose 7-1 frame and solid skills paved his way into the NBA. He was the Great Midwest Conference Player of the Year in 1993-94, his senior season, when he led the nation in blocked shots with an average of 4.3 per game (142 total blocks). His career total of 399 rejections set a Marquette record and placed him fifth in NCAA Division I history. In his freshman year he established a school single-season record for blocked shots with 92, then broke that mark in each of the next three seasons. But swatting shots wasn't all McIlvaine did for the Warriors. His career field goal percentage of .552 was the highest in school history, and he finished as one of only four Marquette players ever to accumulate at least 1,000 points and 500 rebounds. He averaged 13.6 points and 8.3 rebounds as a senior to earn honorable mention on the Associated Press All-America team. The Washington Bullets selected McIlvaine in the second round (32nd pick overall) of the 1994 NBA Draft. As a rookie in 1994-95, McIlvaine served as the Bullets' third center behind Kevin Duckworth and Gheorghe Muresan but received playing time when Duckworth was either injured or suspended. In 55 appearances McIlvaine averaged 1.09 blocks in just 9.7 minutes per game. While Muresan's development may have been more spectacular, McIlvaine's emergence as one of the NBA's premier shotblockers in 1995-96 was noteworthy as well. He ranked 10th in the NBA with 2.08 blocked shots per game and led the league with 6.7 blocks per 48 minutes. That prompted Seattle to sign him for the 1996-97 season and beyond. McIlvaine started the first 79 games of the season for the Sonics and averaged a solid 2.00 blocks per game, but was replaced in the starting lineup for the last three games of the regular season and played little in the 1997 NBA Playoffs. He started 72 games and again led the Sonics in blocks in 1997-98, but logged less than 10 minutes a game with four DNPs in the playoffs. The Sonics traded McIlvaine to New Jersey on January 21, 1999, receiving Don MacLean and Michael Cage in return. He played in 22 games for the Nets, making one start, before suffering torn cartilage in his left shoulder. He underwent surgery on March 31 and was sidelined for the remainder of the season.

1999-2000 REGULAR SEASON
Blocked 8 shots in a 106-101 loss in Utah on 2/28 Corralled a season-high 16 rebounds in a 110-90 win over Golden State on 2/6

1998-1999 REGULAR SEASON
Placed on the injured list on 3/22 due to torn cartilage in his left shoulder Registered 6 points (3-5 FG), 6 rebounds and 3 blocked shots, in 15 minutes, against the Boston Celtics on 2/27

1997-1998 REGULAR SEASON
Posted 8 points (3-5 FG, 2-2 FT), 4 rebounds and 3 blocked shots, in 19 minutes, in a 102-81 win over the Charlotte Hornets on 1/6 Totaled 8 points (4-5 FG), 6 rebounds and 6 blocked shots in a 107-87 victory over the Vancouver Grizzlies on 11/19 Recorded 10 points and a game-high 10 rebounds in a 119-99 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on 11/16

1996-1997 REGULAR SEASON
McIlvaine's first season with the Sonics was bittersweet. Although he started for most of the regular season and gave Seattle the defensive presence in the pivot it had sought, he was a forgotten man in the 1997 NBA Playoffs. McIlvaine averaged 2.00 blocks per game for the Sonics, leading the team and ranking 11th in the NBA. He also posted modest career-highs of 3.8 points, 4.0 rebounds and 0.3 assists in 18.0 minutes per game. He blocked a season-high six shots twice within a week, in a 117-86 rout of Minnesota on Dec. 5 and a 118-94 victory at Philadelphia on Dec. 9. He matched his career-high by scoring 12 points in a 123-83 romp over Golden State on Dec. 17. One of three players to appear in all 82 games for Seattle, McIlvaine started at center in the first 79 contests. But he was removed from the starting lineup for the final three games of the regular season and hardly got off the bench in the playoffs, appearing in just five of 12 postseason contests and playing a scant 28 minutes. He totaled nine points, two rebounds and two blocks in the playoffs.

1995-1996 REGULAR SEASON
One of the NBA's most effective spot players, McIlvaine emerged as one of the league's premier shotblockers in his second season in the NBA despite playing less than 15 minutes per game. He ranked 10th in the league with 2.08 blocks per game, but led the NBA in blocks per 48 minutes with 6.7. McIlvaine appeared in 80 games for Washington, including six starts, and had more rebounds (230) and nearly as many fouls (171) and blocks (166) as points (182). He averaged 2.3 points and 2.9 rebounds in 14.9 minutes per game. McIlvaine had streaks of 19, 10, 9 and 7 games with at least one blocked shot and finished the season with one of his most impressive performances, getting career-highs of 11 rebounds and 9 blocks plus 6 points against Chicago on April 21. Following the season he signed with Seattle as a free agent.

1994-1995 REGULAR SEASON
Although limited to deep reserve duty in his rookie season, McIlvaine showed potential as a shotblocker, finishing third on the Bullets in blocked shots despite meager playing time. He began the campaign by missing the first 10 contests with a sprained right ankle suffered on September 13; he then served as the Bullets third-string center behind Kevin Duckworth and Gheorghe Muresan. But Duckworth played little in the season s second half, opening up some time for McIlvaine until the rookie missed the last five games of the campaign with a sprained left ankle. McIlvaine saw action in 55 games and averaged 9.7 minutes, 1.7 points, and 1.9 rebounds. In 21 of the 24 games that he was on the floor for more than 10 minutes, he swatted away at least one shot. He totaled 60 blocks for an average of 1.09 per game, the third-highest total on the team behind those of Muresan (127) and Chris Webber (85).