The first player raised in Great Britain (Manchester, England) to play in the NBA, John Amaechi also scored the first NBA points of the new millenium (1/2/00 at Miami). Not drafted by an NBA franchise, he played 28 games for the Cleveland Cavaliers in 1995-96, then spent three seasons in Europe -- with Cholet and Limoges in France, with Kinder Bologna in Italy, with Panathinaikos in Greece (which he led to the quarter-finals of the Euro League in 1997-98) and with the Sheffield Sharks in England -- before returning to the NBA with the Orlando Magic in 1999-2000.
2002-2003:
Averaged 2.0 points and 1.5 rebounds in 50 games with Utah ... scored a season-high 12 points (on a
season-high-tying four field goals) with a season high-tying four rebounds on Dec. 14 ... also grabbed
four rebounds on Dec. 8 at the Lakers, Feb. 22 vs.
Denver and Mar. 8 at Dallas ... scored nine points (on
a season-high-tying four field goals) on Jan. 4 at
Minnesota ... registered a season-high two blocked
shots vs. Atlanta on Nov. 8 ... recorded a season-high
two steals on Nov. 6 vs. Detroit and Dec. 22 at
Memphis.
2001-2002:
Saw action in 54 of the 82 games on the season, recording 27 DNP-CDs and missed the 4/5/02 game vs. Sacramento after being suspended by Coach Jerry Sloan...Averaged 3.2 points per game and 2.0 rebounds, playing 10.9 minutes per contest...Scored a season-high 18 points vs. San Antonio on 1/23/02, connecting on 9-12 field goal attempts in just 22 minutes...Recorded four games of double-figure scoring, but connected on just .325 percent from the field (54-166)...Pulled down a season-high 7 rebounds twice (vs. Atlanta on 11/7/02 and at Charlotte on 3/14/02) and registered the 600th rebound of his career at Portland on 11/7/01...Played in his 200th career game at Washington on 11/16/01.
2000-01:
Played in all 82 games for Orlando, making 36 starts....Averaged 7.9 ppg and 3.3 rpg in 20.9 mpg....As a starter, averaged 10.3 ppg, 4.0 rpg and 1.0 apg in 28.0 mpg....One of only three Magic players to play in all 82 games....Scored in double figures 27 times, including season-high 27 points on 11/19/00 vs. Portland....Also had season-high-tying nine rebounds in game....Led (or tied) the team in scoring three times and in rebounding four times....Recorded career-high three blocked shots on 11/12/00 @ Golden State....Played career-best 48 minutes on 11/24/00 @ Boston....Appeared in all four postseason games vs. Milwaukee, averaging 2.3 ppg in 7.3 mpg.
1999-2000:
Played in 80 games for Orlando, making 53 starts....Ranked as the team's third-leading scorer at 10.5 ppg....Also contributed 3.3 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 0.44 steals and 0.46 blocks in 21.1 mpg, shooting .437 from the field and .766 from the free throw line....Tied for sixth in voting for the NBA's Most Improved Player Award....Did not play in two games early in the season due to coach's decision....As a starter, averaged 11.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 22.7 mpg....One of only seven undrafted players (four on Orlando) to start for their respective teams in the NBA....Scored in double figures 41 times, topped by a 31 points against Denver on 3/11/00 when he shot 12-for-20 from the field and 7-for-9 from the line....Scored 20 or more points seven times and led (or tied) the team in scoring eight times....Grabbed a season-high 10 rebounds at Minnesota on 12/2/99 and led the team in rebounding three times....Popular with fans and the media....Chosen to the 1999-2000 NBA All-Interview First Team by members of the media who regularly cover the league.
1995-96:
Played 28 games (357 minutes) for the Cleveland Cavaliers, averaging 2.8 ppg and 1.9 rpg.
COLLEGE:
Played three seasons at Penn State, twice being named a First Team Academic All-American....Led the Nittany Lions with 16.1 ppg, 9.9 rpg and 68 blocked shots during the 1994-95 season....Helped lead team to a 21-11 record during that campaign....Also led the team in field-goal percentage, shooting .560 from the floor....During his junior season (1993-94), led Penn State in scoring, rebounding, blocked shots, steals (tied) and minutes played....Named Third Team All-Big Ten after posting 18.9 ppg and 8.9 rpg....Scored 20 or more points nine times and posted 11 double-doubles....Established school record for blocked shots and blocked five shots in a game three times....Earned Big Ten Player of the Week honors once....Spent freshman season at Vanderbilt (1990-91), averaging 2.8 ppg and 2.7 rpg in 13 minutes for the Commodores.
