Granville S. Waiters (January 8, 1961 – March 23, 2021) was an American professional basketball player.
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 8, 1961 Columbus, Ohio |
| Died | March 23, 2021 (aged 60) Columbus, Ohio |
| Nationality | American |
| Listed height | 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) |
| Listed weight | 225 lb (102 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Columbus East (Columbus, Ohio) |
| College | Ohio State (1979–1983) |
| NBA draft | 1983: 2nd round, 39th overall pick |
| Selected by the Portland Trail Blazers | |
| Playing career | 1983–1990 |
| Position | Center |
| Number | 31 |
| Career history | |
| 1983–1985 | Indiana Pacers |
| 1985–1986 | Houston Rockets |
| 1986–1988 | Chicago Bulls |
| 1988–1989 | FC Barcelona |
| 1989–1990 | Cajabilbao |
| Career NBA statistics | |
| Points | 606 (2.4 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 540 (2.2 rpg) |
| Blocks | 185 (0.7 bpg) |
| Stats at NBA.com | |
| Stats at Basketball Reference | |
At 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) and 225 lb (102 kg), Waiters played center. As a senior in high school, Waiters helped Columbus East to a state championship over St. Joseph, who were led by his eventual Buckeyes and Pacers teammate Clark Kellogg.[1] During the 1982–83 season for Ohio State, he was a team captain and averaged 10.4 points and 7.5 rebounds per game.[2]
He was drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers in the second round of the 1983 NBA draft. The Blazers sold his draft rights to the Indiana Pacers, and Waiters spent his first two seasons in Indiana. He then played one year for the Houston Rockets which saw him make an appearance in the 1986 NBA Finals and then two years for the Chicago Bulls, before he left the NBA for Europe in 1988. On Waiters’ role as a key bench player focused on defense and rebounding on the early Jordan Bulls, head coach Doug Collins said "He never complained. He played his heart out. He was an awesome guy, a gentle giant off the court..."[3] Waiters averaged 2.4 points and 2.2 rebounds throughout his NBA career.
From 1988 to 1990, Waiters played in the Spanish league as a member of FC Barcelona Basquet and Cajabilbao. Until his death, he was involved with humanitarian efforts in his native Ohio.[4]
Following a hospitalization for COVID-19,[5] Waiters died at his home in Columbus on March 23, 2021, at the age of 60. On his death, former teammate Brad Sellers said "…he taught young players like me what it was to be a professional, how to be appreciative of your moment. He was a great guy to have in the locker room. Granville was like, ‘Listen here, work hard, do your part.' He always acted older than he was, carried himself like that. Just a good guy to be around and have as a teammate."[6]
References
edit- ^ Smith, Sam (March 23, 2021). "Former Bulls center Granville Waiters gone at age 60". NBA.com. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
- ^ FORMER OHIO STATE BASKETBALL PLAYER GRANVILLE WAITERS DIES AT 60
- ^ Smith, Sam (March 23, 2021). "Former Bulls center Granville Waiters gone at age 60". NBA.com. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
- ^ "Board of Directors | After-School All-Stars". Archived from the original on January 29, 2016. Retrieved February 14, 2016.
- ^ Arace, Michael (April 19, 2021). "Michael Arace: East High celebrates the life of Granville Waiters, the gentle giant". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
- ^ Smith, Sam (March 23, 2021). "Former Bulls center Granville Waiters gone at age 60". NBA.com. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
External links
edit- Career statistics from NBA.com and Basketball Reference
- Personal Web Site
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