Greg Kelser
Encyclopedia
Gregory Kelser (born September 17, 1957, in Panama City, Florida
) is a retired American
basketball
player and current television color commentator
. Kelser played in the NBA from 1979–1986 and is best known for his standout career at Michigan State
.
in 1975, Kelser was brought to Michigan State
by Gus Ganakas
- who left the head coach position after Kelser's freshman season. His impressive on-court skills earned him the sobriquet "Special K", after a popular, locally-made cereal
. In his junior year (the freshman year for Earvin "Magic" Johnson
and Jay Vincent
) under coach Jud Heathcote
, the Spartan
squad had an impressive season, racking up a 25–5 record, the Big Ten Conference
title, and a berth in the 1978 NCAA tournament
, where they made it to the regional finals before losing narrowly to eventual champion Kentucky
. As a senior, he along with Johnson led the Spartans to the 1979 NCAA tournament
championship, the first in the school's history. Kelser was often on the receiving end of spectacular alley-oop passes from Johnson. He later wrote a book about his basketball experiences at MSU.
, but was later traded to the Seattle SuperSonics
in exchange for Vinnie Johnson
in 1981. Kelser also spent time with the San Diego Clippers and the Indiana Pacers
.
on radio and television.
He is a commentator for Pistons
games on Fox Sports Detroit with his partner George Blaha
and on the Big Ten Network.
Panama City, Florida
-Personal income:The median income for a household in the city was $31,572, and the median income for a family was $40,890. Males had a median income of $30,401 versus $21,431 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,830...
) is a retired American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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 and current television color commentator
Color commentator
A color commentator is a sports commentator who assists the play-by-play announcer, often by filling in any time when play is not in progress. The color analyst and main commentator will often exchange comments freely throughout the broadcast, when the play-by-play announcer is not describing the...
. Kelser played in the NBA from 1979–1986 and is best known for his standout career at Michigan State
Michigan State Spartans men's basketball
The Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team represents Michigan State University and competes in the Big Ten Conference of NCAA Division I. The team currently plays at the Breslin Student Events Center...
.
Early life
Kelser grew up in a military family, spending part of his childhood in Okinawa. He credits his exposure to military discipline with contributing to his later success in athletics.College career
Upon graduating from Detroit-Henry Ford High SchoolFord High School (Detroit, Michigan)
Henry Ford High School is located at 20000 Evergreen Road, on the northwest side of Detroit, Michigan; the facility is staffed and operated by Detroit Public Schools. Ford High opened its doors on September 5, 1957; it was constructed to accommodate an overflow of students from nearby Cooley,...
in 1975, Kelser was brought to Michigan State
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
by Gus Ganakas
Gus Ganakas
Gus G. Ganakas is an American sports broadcaster and former Michigan State Spartans men's basketball coach. He was the head coach there from 1969–76....
- who left the head coach position after Kelser's freshman season. His impressive on-court skills earned him the sobriquet "Special K", after a popular, locally-made cereal
Special K
Special K is a lightly toasted breakfast cereal manufactured by the Kellogg Company. The cereal was introduced to the United States in 1956. It is made primarily from rice and wheat....
. In his junior year (the freshman year for Earvin "Magic" Johnson
Magic Johnson
Earvin "Magic" Johnson Jr. is a retired American professional basketball player who played point guard for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association . After winning championships in high school and college, Johnson was selected first overall in the 1979 NBA Draft by the Lakers...
and Jay Vincent
Jay Vincent
Jay Fletcher Vincent is a retired American professional basketball player.A 6'7" forward, Vincent played at Michigan State University under coach, Jud Heathcote, where he teamed with Magic Johnson and Greg Kelser to win the 1979 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament...
) under coach Jud Heathcote
Jud Heathcote
George Melvin "Jud" Heathcote is a former college basketball coach. He was a head coach for 24 seasons at the collegiate level: five at Montana and 19 at Michigan State...
, the Spartan
Michigan State Spartans men's basketball
The Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team represents Michigan State University and competes in the Big Ten Conference of NCAA Division I. The team currently plays at the Breslin Student Events Center...
squad had an impressive season, racking up a 25–5 record, the Big Ten Conference
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
title, and a berth in the 1978 NCAA tournament
1978 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1978 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 32 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 11, 1978, and ended with the championship game on March 27 in St. Louis, Missouri...
, where they made it to the regional finals before losing narrowly to eventual champion Kentucky
Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball
The Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team, representing the University of Kentucky, is the winningest in the history of college basketball, both in all-time wins and all-time winning percentage. Kentucky's all-time record currently stands at 2058–647...
. As a senior, he along with Johnson led the Spartans to the 1979 NCAA tournament
1979 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1979 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 40 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 9, 1979, and ended with the championship game on March 26 in Salt Lake City, Utah...
championship, the first in the school's history. Kelser was often on the receiving end of spectacular alley-oop passes from Johnson. He later wrote a book about his basketball experiences at MSU.
NBA career
He was drafted by the Pistons in 19791979 NBA Draft
The 1979 NBA Draft was the 33rd annual draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held on June 25, 1979, before the 1979–80 season. In this draft, 22 NBA teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players and other eligible players, including international players...
, but was later traded to the Seattle SuperSonics
Seattle SuperSonics
The Seattle SuperSonics were an American professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington that played in the Pacific and Northwest Divisions of the National Basketball Association from 1967 until 2008. Following the 2007–08 season, the team relocated to Oklahoma City, and now plays as...
in exchange for Vinnie Johnson
Vinnie Johnson
Vincent "Vinnie" Johnson is a retired American professional basketball player and a key player as sixth man for the Detroit Pistons during the team's NBA championships of 1989 and 1990.-College basketball career:...
in 1981. Kelser also spent time with the San Diego Clippers and the Indiana Pacers
Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers are a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They are members of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association...
.
Post-NBA career
Since leaving the NBA, Kelser has worked extensively as a sports announcer and/or commentatorColor commentator
A color commentator is a sports commentator who assists the play-by-play announcer, often by filling in any time when play is not in progress. The color analyst and main commentator will often exchange comments freely throughout the broadcast, when the play-by-play announcer is not describing the...
on radio and television.
He is a commentator for Pistons
Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons are a franchise of the National Basketball Association based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The team's home arena is The Palace of Auburn Hills. It was originally founded in Fort Wayne, Indiana as the Fort Wayne Pistons as a member of the National Basketball League in 1941, where...
games on Fox Sports Detroit with his partner George Blaha
George Blaha
George Blaha has been the radio and television play-by-play voice of the Detroit Pistons since the 1976–77 NBA season...
and on the Big Ten Network.
See also
- List of NCAA Division I men's basketball players with 2000 points and 1000 rebounds
External links
- Career NBA stats
- Where Are They Now? Greg Kelser, by Steve Grinczel, March 18, 2004