David Benoit (basketball)
Encyclopedia
David Benoit is a former American
professional basketball
player, in the small forward
position.
During his career, he played seven years in the National Basketball Association
, six with the Utah Jazz
.
for Tyler Junior College
, from 1986 to 1988. His last two years of college basketball
were spent with the University of Alabama
's Crimson Tide.
in the 1990 NBA Draft
, playing his first professional season in Spain
. In the following year, he joined the NBA
's Utah Jazz
as a free agent
, and would post interesting numbers during his five-season spell.
In 1993, high-flying Benoit participated in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest, where he finished a respectable 4th out of eight contestants. During the 1994–95 season, he achieved a career-best 10 points and five rebounds
per game in 71 regular season contests, to which he added 12 and six in the postseason
's first round, as the Jazz were downed 2–3 by eventual champions
Houston Rockets
.
, Benoit left the Jazz in the 1996 summer, and signed with the New Jersey Nets
. He spent his first season in the sidelines, due to injury.
In early 1998, Benoit was traded, alongside Yinka Dare
and Kevin Edwards
, to the Orlando Magic
, for Brian Evans
and Rony Seikaly
, appearing in 24 games and averaging six points. He left the U.S.
to play with Maccabi Tel-Aviv in Israel
, due in part to the 1998 NBA lockout
, and remained there for two years.
After leaving the NBA at the age of 33 (with averages of exactly seven points and four rebounds, in 492 games), Benoit played in the Japan Basketball League
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player, in the small forward
Small forward
The small forward, or colloquially known as three, is one of the five positions in a regulation basketball game. Small forwards are typically somewhat shorter, quicker, and leaner than power forwards and centers, but on occasion are just as tall...
position.
During his career, he played seven years in the National Basketball Association
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
, six with the Utah Jazz
Utah Jazz
The Utah Jazz is a professional basketball team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. They are currently a part of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
.
High school/college
Benoit played in the NJCAANational Junior College Athletic Association
The National Junior College Athletic Association , founded in 1938, is an association of community college and junior college athletic departments throughout the United States. It is held as Divisions and Regions. The current NJCAA holds 24 separate regions.-History:The idea for the NJCAA was...
for Tyler Junior College
Tyler Junior College
Tyler Junior College is a two-year community college in Tyler, Texas, United States. TJC is one of the largest community colleges in Texas, with an enrollment of more than 12,000 credit students each year with an additional 20,000 continuing education enrollments annually. Its West Campus includes...
, from 1986 to 1988. His last two years of college basketball
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
were spent with the University of Alabama
University of Alabama
The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
's Crimson Tide.
Utah Jazz
Benoit was never chosenNBA Draft
The NBA Draft is an annual event in which the thirty teams from the National Basketball Association can draft players who are eligible and wish to join the league. These players are usually amateur U.S. college basketball players, but international players are also eligible to be drafted...
in the 1990 NBA Draft
1990 NBA Draft
The 1990 NBA Draft took place on June 27, 1990, in New York City, New York. This draft produced only one perennial All-Star,Gary Payton. Among the 54 picks, Payton is considered by far the best pick of the draft. Payton went on to be considered one of the greatest point guards of all time...
, playing his first professional season in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. In the following year, he joined the NBA
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
's Utah Jazz
Utah Jazz
The Utah Jazz is a professional basketball team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. They are currently a part of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
as a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
, and would post interesting numbers during his five-season spell.
In 1993, high-flying Benoit participated in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest, where he finished a respectable 4th out of eight contestants. During the 1994–95 season, he achieved a career-best 10 points and five rebounds
Rebound (basketball)
A rebound in basketball is the act of successfully gaining possession of the basketball after a missed field goal or free throw. Rebounds in basketball are a routine part in the game, as all possessions change after a shot is successfully made...
per game in 71 regular season contests, to which he added 12 and six in the postseason
NBA Playoffs
The National Basketball Association Playoffs is a best-of-seven elimination tournament among sixteen teams in the Eastern Conference and Western Conference , ultimately deciding the final four teams who will play in the NBA Conference Finals.-Format:Following the NBA regular season, eight teams in...
's first round, as the Jazz were downed 2–3 by eventual champions
1995 NBA Playoffs
The 1995 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1994-1995 season. The tournament concluded with the Western Conference champion Houston Rockets winning their second consecutive NBA championship by defeating the Eastern Conference champion Orlando Magic...
Houston Rockets
Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston, Texas. The team plays in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1967, and played in San Diego, California for four years, before being...
.
New Jersey/Orlando
After losing his starting position to Chris MorrisChris Morris (basketball)
Christopher Vernard Morris is a retired American professional basketball player. In his 11 season NBA career, the 6' 8" small forward played for the New Jersey Nets, Utah Jazz, and Phoenix Suns. He is a graduate of Atlanta's Douglass High School where his jersey has been retired and played for...
, Benoit left the Jazz in the 1996 summer, and signed with the New Jersey Nets
New Jersey Nets
The New Jersey Nets are a professional basketball team based in Newark, New Jersey. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
. He spent his first season in the sidelines, due to injury.
In early 1998, Benoit was traded, alongside Yinka Dare
Yinka Dare
Yinka Dare was a Nigerian professional basketball player. A 7'0", 265 pound center, he played four seasons in the National Basketball Association...
and Kevin Edwards
Kevin Edwards
Kevin Durell Edwards is a retired American professional basketball player who currently serves as DePaul University men's basketball team's director of community, corporate, and professional relations. Edwards was selected by the Miami Heat with the 20th overall pick of the 1988 NBA Draft...
, to the Orlando Magic
Orlando Magic
The Orlando Magic is a professional basketball team based in Orlando, Florida. They play in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association and are currently coached by Stan Van Gundy...
, for Brian Evans
Brian Evans (basketball)
Brian Keith Evans is an American professional basketball player who has formerly played in the NBA. A 6'8" and 220 lb forward, he played high school basketball at Terre Haute South, Indiana; Evans attended Indiana University from 1991–96, and played for the Hoosiers from 1992–96. Evans...
and Rony Seikaly
Rony Seikaly
Ronald Fred "Rony" Seikaly is a retired Lebanese-born American professional basketball player.-Early life:Seikaly was born in Beirut, Lebanon. At the age of 9, Rony moved from Beirut where he'd been attending elementary school at the Athenee de Beirut to Greece, where he spent the rest of his youth...
, appearing in 24 games and averaging six points. He left the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to play with Maccabi Tel-Aviv in Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, due in part to the 1998 NBA lockout
Lockout (industry)
A lockout is a work stoppage in which an employer prevents employees from working. This is different from a strike, in which employees refuse to work.- Causes :...
, and remained there for two years.
Jazz return
In 2000, Benoit returned to the team where he began his career. Now only a fringe player, he averaged 3.6 points in 49 games, as the Salt Lake City club once again qualified for the playoffs.After leaving the NBA at the age of 33 (with averages of exactly seven points and four rebounds, in 492 games), Benoit played in the Japan Basketball League
Japan Basketball League
The Japan Basketball League is a professional basketball league in Japan. It lies below the bj league, which is Japan's top basketball competition, but there is no promotion and relegation between bj and the JBL....
.