Francisco Elson

Last updated
Francisco Elson
Francisco Elson.jpg
Elson with the San Antonio Spurs in 2007
Personal information
Born (1976-02-28) 28 February 1976 (age 48)
Rotterdam, Netherlands
Listed height7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)
Listed weight235 lb (107 kg)
Career information
High schoolMaria Regina Mavo
(Rotterdam, Netherlands)
College
NBA draft 1999: 2nd round, 41st overall pick
Selected by the Denver Nuggets
Playing career1994–2013
Position Center
Number56, 16, 9, 8
Career history
1994–1995 De Schiestreek
1999–2001 FC Barcelona Regal
2001–2002 Pamesa Valencia
2002–2003 Caja San Fernando
2003–2006 Denver Nuggets
2006–2008 San Antonio Spurs
2008 Seattle SuperSonics
2008–2010 Milwaukee Bucks
2010 Philadelphia 76ers
2010–2011 Utah Jazz
2012 Philadelphia 76ers
2013 Mahram Tehran
Career highlights and awards
Career NBA statistics
Points 1,726 (3.7 ppg)
Rebounds 1,638 (3.5 rpg)
Blocks 255 (0.5 bpg)
Stats   OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg at NBA.com
Stats   OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg at Basketball-Reference.com

Francisco Marinho Robby Elson (born 28 February 1976) is a Dutch former professional basketball player. Elson was the seventh Dutch player to play in the National Basketball Association (NBA). [1] Elson served as the captain of the Netherlands national basketball team in international basketball, as he led the team in several EuroBasket qualifying rounds. He was the first Dutch player to become NBA champion, with the San Antonio Spurs in 2007.

Contents

Youth and college career

Elson started his career at AMVJ Rotterdam at the age of twelve. After a couple of years playing, he stopped after his older brother Patrick died of a heart attack while playing basketball at the age of 21. [2] His gym teacher at the Maria School asked him to return to the club at the age of sixteen. He played one game in the Eredivisie, the highest level Dutch league, in the 1994–95 season for Rotterdam. [3]

Elson was a member of the Dutch Under-20 National Team. He played two seasons at Kilgore Junior College in Texas before completing his college at the University of California, Berkeley. As a senior, he helped lead the Bears to the NIT Championship. [4]

Elson was inducted into Kilgore College's Hall of Fame in 2016. [5]

Professional career

Elson was drafted in the second round of the 1999 NBA draft from Cal by the Denver Nuggets, but did not commence play with them until the 2003–04 campaign. He played four years in Spain:

Over his first two seasons with Denver, Elson was mostly a reserve. He averaged 3.6 points and 3.1 rebounds per game. In 2005–06, his third season with the Nuggets, Elson played in 72 games and started in 54 of them. He averaged 21.9 minutes, 4.9 points (on 53.2% shooting) and 4.7 rebounds per game.

Elson gained notoriety during Denver's 2004 playoff series with Minnesota through his physical attempts to contain Kevin Garnett. Elson knocked Garnett into the seats behind the basket with a hard foul early in a game and later in the game was hit in the groin by Garnett. Elson caused controversy when he described Garnett as "gay" for the groin shot. Elson later apologized to the gay and lesbian community for his comments. [6]

In July 2006 Elson signed a 2-year, $6 million contract with the San Antonio Spurs. [7] This was to help provide depth at center by replacing Nazr Mohammed and Rasho Nesterovic. Elson split time at center with Fabricio Oberto, with Elson providing rebounding and defense. [8] Elson won his first NBA Championship in 2007 after the Spurs swept the Cleveland Cavaliers.

On 21 February 2008 Elson was traded by the San Antonio Spurs along with Brent Barry to the Sonics in exchange for Kurt Thomas. [9] He spent most of this season coming off the bench for both the Spurs and the Sonics.

Elson later signed a two-year, $3 million contract with the Bucks to serve as Andrew Bogut's primary backup. [10] 2008-09, his first season with the Bucks, was the last of his NBA career where he started games with any regularity.

On 18 February 2010 Elson was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers along with sharpshooter Jodie Meeks in exchange for Primoz Brezec and Royal Ivey. [11] Elson missed most of the season after hernia surgery, and appeared in only one game with his new team. [12]

On 15 September 2010 Elson signed a guaranteed two-year contract with the Utah Jazz. [13] After his contract expired, he returned to the Netherlands for treatment on his knee. [14]

On 27 January 2012 Elson was signed by the Philadelphia 76ers to provide the team with front-court depth because of injuries at the position. [15] He signed two 10-day contracts, then was not re-signed for a third time after Spencer Hawes returned from injury. [16]

In January 2013, Elson signed with Mahram Tehran of the Iranian Basketball Super League. [17]

On 20 June 2013 Elson's retirement was announced on Dutch websites. [18] He later stated that his retirement was just from international basketball. [19] In March 2014, his retirement became official. [20]

National team career

Elson played 60 games for the Netherlands men's national basketball team, after making his debut on 5 June 1998 against Hungary. [21]

Personal life

Elson is fluent in Dutch, Spanish, English, Portuguese. He is of Surinamese descent. [22] His father is half Chinese and half Surinamees. His mother is half Indian and half Surinamees. Elson has a brown belt in karate. [23]

NBA career statistics

Legend
  GPGames played  GS Games started MPG Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage 3P%  3-point field goal percentage FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game APG  Assists per game SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game PPG Points per game Bold Career high
 † Won an NBA championship

Regular season

YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
2003–04 Denver 621414.1.472.000.6673.3.5.6.63.5
2004–05 Denver 671114.0.468.333.5703.0.5.5.63.7
2005–06 Denver 725421.9.532.200.6624.7.7.8.64.9
2006–07† San Antonio 704119.0.511.000.7754.8.8.4.85.0
2007–08 San Antonio 41313.0.419.000.8333.3.4.2.33.5
2007–08 Seattle 22212.7.341.000.4623.0.4.3.33.0
2008–09 Milwaukee 592316.6.491.250.8463.9.5.6.63.4
2009–10 Milwaukee 1105.6.308.0001.0001.2.2.1.0.9
2009–10 Philadelphia 104.0.500.000.0001.0.0.0.02.0
2010–11 Utah 6219.8.478.000.8391.9.5.3.22.2
2011–12 Philadelphia 503.2.333.000.000.2.2.2.2.4
Career47214915.3.478.188.7003.5.6.5.53.7

Playoffs

YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
2004 Denver 4015.0.583.000.5002.3.5.5.33.8
2005 Denver 106.0.000.000.0003.0.0.0.0.0
2006 Denver 5215.0.600.000.0002.2.4.8.01.2
2007† San Antonio 20811.5.591.000.7003.1.1.4.33.3
Career301012.4.581.000.6822.8.2.5.22.9

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alex English</span> American basketball player/coach

Alexander English is an American former professional basketball player, coach, and businessman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kevin Garnett</span> American basketball player (born 1976)

Kevin Maurice Garnett is an American former professional basketball player who played for 21 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Nicknamed "TheBig Ticket," Garnett is considered one of the greatest power forwards of all time, known for his intensity, versatility, and defensive ability. As of 2020, he is one of five NBA players to have won both the NBA Most Valuable Player Award and the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Richard Jefferson</span> American basketball player (born 1980)

Richard Allen Jefferson Jr. is an American former professional basketball player who played small forward. He played for eight teams in his 17-season career in the National Basketball Association (NBA).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kevin Willis</span> American basketball player

Kevin Alvin Willis is an American former professional basketball player mostly known for playing with the Atlanta Hawks in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was a 7-foot power forward/center. Excluding players not yet eligible, he holds the record for most games played among those not in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andre Miller</span> American basketball player (born 1976)

Andre Lloyd Miller is an American former professional basketball player and the current head coach for the Grand Rapids Gold. Miller has played professional basketball for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Clippers, Philadelphia 76ers, Portland Trail Blazers, Denver Nuggets, Washington Wizards, Sacramento Kings, Minnesota Timberwolves and San Antonio Spurs. Currently, he ranks eleventh all-time in NBA career assists and only missed three games to injury in his 17-year career. He is the only player in NBA history to have at least 16,000 career points, 8,000 assists and 1,500 steals without making an NBA All-Star Game.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kenyon Martin</span> American basketball player (born 1977)

Kenyon Lee Martin Sr. is an American former professional basketball player who played 15 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). As a power forward, he played for the New Jersey Nets, Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Clippers, New York Knicks and Milwaukee Bucks of the NBA, and the Xinjiang Flying Tigers of China. He played college basketball for the Cincinnati Bearcats and was named the national college player of the year during his senior season. Martin was drafted with the first overall pick in the 2000 NBA draft by the New Jersey Nets. He was an NBA All-Star in 2004.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Al Jefferson</span> American basketball player (born 1985)

Al Ricardo Jefferson is an American former professional basketball player. He was a high school All-American for Prentiss High School in Mississippi before skipping college to enter the 2004 NBA draft, where he was drafted 15th overall by the Boston Celtics. He played 14 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the Celtics, Minnesota Timberwolves, Utah Jazz, Charlotte Hornets and Indiana Pacers, earning third-team All-NBA honors in 2014 with the Hornets.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joe Smith (basketball)</span> American basketball player (born 1975)

Joseph Leynard Smith is an American former professional basketball player. A power forward, he played for 12 teams in the National Basketball Association (NBA) during his 16-year career.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kurt Thomas (basketball)</span> American basketball player (born 1972)

Kurt Vincent Thomas is an American former professional basketball player. A 6'9", 230 lb. power forward-center, Thomas was known for his hard-nosed playing style and tough defense during his eight year tenure with the New York Knicks. Having played college basketball at Texas Christian University, he was drafted by the Miami Heat in 1995 and went on to play parts of 18 seasons in the NBA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Primož Brezec</span> Slovenian basketball player (born 1979)

Primož Brezec is a Slovenian former professional basketball player. He is a 7 ft 1 in tall center. Brezec has played eight seasons in the NBA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steve Novak</span> American basketball player (born 1983)

Steven Michael Novak is an American former professional basketball player who is currently a television analyst for the Milwaukee Bucks on Fox Sports Wisconsin. He is listed as 6'10", 225 lbs. He played college basketball at Marquette University. Novak split time at both small forward and power forward. He was the NBA regular season leader in three point percentage during the 2011–12 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Millsap</span> American basketball player (born 1985)

Paul Millsap is an American former professional basketball player. A power forward from Louisiana Tech University, Millsap was selected by the Utah Jazz in the second round of the 2006 NBA draft and was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team. He played in Utah until 2013, when he became a member of the Atlanta Hawks. Millsap has also played for the Denver Nuggets and Brooklyn Nets. He is a four-time NBA All-Star.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wilson Chandler</span> American basketball player (born 1987)

Wilson Jamall Chandler is an American former professional basketball player who played in the NBA for 13 seasons, mainly with the New York Knicks and the Denver Nuggets. He has also played for Zhejiang Guangsha of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) during the 2011 NBA lockout. He played college basketball for the DePaul Blue Demons for two years before declaring for the 2007 NBA draft, where he was a first-round selection of the Knicks. Chandler is listed at 6 ft 8 in. and 225 lbs. He can play both forward positions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Hill (basketball)</span> American basketball player

George Jesse Hill Jr. is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Indiana Pacers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). While playing for Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) he received many honors, including Summit League Player of the Year and was an honorable mention All-American his junior season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tyler Zeller</span> American basketball player (born 1990)

Tyler Paul Zeller is an American former professional basketball player. He played college basketball at the University of North Carolina, where as a freshman he played on their 2009 national championship team and as a senior was an All-American and the Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year. He is the nephew of former NBA player Al Eberhard, and the brother of fellow NBA players Cody Zeller and Luke Zeller.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DeMarcus Cousins</span> American basketball player (born 1990)

DeMarcus Amir Cousins is an American professional basketball player for the Taiwan Beer Leopards of the T1 League. Nicknamed "Boogie", he played college basketball for the Kentucky Wildcats, where he was an All-American in 2010. He left Kentucky after one season, and was selected with the fifth overall pick in the 2010 NBA draft by the Sacramento Kings. In his first season with the Kings, Cousins was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team, and from 2015 to 2018, he was named an NBA All-Star four times. He is also a two-time gold medal winner as a member of the United States national team, winning his first in 2014 at the FIBA Basketball World Cup and his second in 2016 at the Rio Olympics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Axel Toupane</span> French basketball player (born 1992)

Axel Toupane is French professional basketball player for Metropolitans 92 of the French LNB Pro A. Toupane also represents the senior French national team in international events. At 2.01 m (6'7") tall and 101 kg (223 lbs.), he plays at the shooting guard and small forward positions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jerami Grant</span> American basketball player (born 1994)

Houston Jerami Grant is an American professional basketball player for the Portland Trail Blazers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Syracuse Orange and was drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers in the second round of the 2014 NBA draft. Grant has also played for the Oklahoma City Thunder, Denver Nuggets, and Detroit Pistons. He won a gold medal with the 2020 U.S. Olympic team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Torrey Craig</span> American basketball player (born 1990)

Torrey Craig is an American professional basketball player for the Chicago Bulls of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the USC Upstate Spartans, where he was named an honorable mention All-American and Atlantic Sun Conference Player of the Year in 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nikola Jokić</span> Serbian basketball player (born 1995)

Nikola Jokić is a Serbian professional basketball player who is a center for the Denver Nuggets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Nicknamed "the Joker", he is regarded as one of the greatest players and centers of all time, and is often considered the greatest draft steal in NBA history. A six-time NBA All-Star, Jokić has been named to the All-NBA Team on six occasions, and won the NBA Most Valuable Player Award for the 2020–21, 2021–22, and 2023–24 seasons. He represents the Serbian national team, with which he won a silver medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics.

References

  1. ↑ Francisco Elson's Bio on NBA.com Retrieved on 15 September 2008. Archived April 22, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
  2. ↑ Ian Thomsen's Fast Break, Sports Illustrated, March 14, 2005
  3. ↑ "Francisco Elson Basketbal statistieken Spelers Dossier - NBB Database, basketball statistieken". db.basketball.nl. Retrieved 2022-06-10.
  4. ↑ Spurs sign Francisco Elson, spurs.com, August 2, 2006
  5. ↑ "Hall of Fame - 2016 Inductees". Archived from the original on 2023-09-03. Retrieved 2020-12-11.
  6. ↑ Elson apologizes to gay and lesbian community, Associated Press, April 29, 2004
  7. ↑ Nuggets Don't Match on Elson, WOAI [ permanent dead link ], July 21, 2006
  8. ↑ NBA.com - 2007-08 Season Preview; San Antonio Spurs
  9. ↑ ESPN – Spurs get Kurt Thomas from SuperSonics for Barry, Elson and draft pick – NBA
  10. ↑ "Bucks sign Francisco Elson". NBA.com . Retrieved August 14, 2008.
  11. ↑ "Sixers Complete Four Player Trade with Milwaukee". NBA.com . February 18, 2010. Retrieved February 18, 2010.
  12. ↑ Cooney, Bob and Phil Jasner (19 February 2010). "Brezec, Ivey dealt to Bucks". Philadelphia Daily News. Philadelphia. p. 99.
  13. ↑ "Jazz signs Francisco Elson". NBA.com . September 15, 2010. Retrieved September 15, 2010.
  14. ↑ Tony Jones [@tribjazz] (April 13, 2011). "Jazz's Elson will not have offseason surgery on left knee. Still swollen, though. Will rest and receive treatment in Netherlands" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  15. ↑ "Sixers sign free agent big man Elson". CSNPhilly.com . Archived from the original on July 24, 2012. Retrieved January 27, 2012.
  16. ↑ "Turner's role is decreasing". Phillyburbs.com. March 2, 2012. Archived from the original on March 3, 2012. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
  17. ↑ "Elson kiest voor Iraans avontuur". nos.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 2022-06-10.
  18. ↑ "Francisco Elson kondigt afscheid aan". Nusport.nl (in Dutch). June 22, 2013. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
  19. ↑ "Francisco Elson: People need to stand up". Basketball+ (in Dutch). Archived from the original on September 27, 2013. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
  20. ↑ "SAS: Elson: "Ik ben nu definitief gestopt"". Sportamerika.nl (in Dutch). March 5, 2014. Archived from the original on March 22, 2014. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
  21. ↑ "Oranje Internationals". Oranje Basketball (in Dutch). Retrieved 2022-06-10.
  22. ↑ "Francisco Elson, Spurs player with Suriname ties, inspires fan frenzy for NBA finals". International Herald Tribune. Associated Press. June 14, 2007. Archived from the original on August 18, 2007.
  23. ↑ Ian Thomsen's Fast Break, Sports Illustrated, March 14, 2005
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.