Osie Leon Wood III (born March 25, 1962 in Columbia, South Carolina

Columbia, South Carolina

Columbia is the state capital and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 129,272 according to the 2010 census. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. The city is the center of a metropolitan...

), is an American

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 former 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 who was selected by the Philadelphia 76ers

Philadelphia 76ers

The Philadelphia 76ers are a professional basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . Originally known as the Syracuse Nationals, they are one of the oldest franchises in the NBA...

 in the 1st round (10th overall) of the 1984 NBA Draft

1984 NBA Draft

The 1984 NBA Draft was the 38th annual draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held at the Felt Forum at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York on June 19, 1984 before the 1984–85 season. The draft was broadcast in the United States on the USA Network. In this draft,...

. A 6'3" shooting guard from Saint Monica Catholic High School

Saint Monica Catholic High School

Saint Monica Catholic High School is a parochial, co-educational, secondary school in Santa Monica, California, consisting of students in grades 9-12...

 and California State University-Fullerton, Wood played in six NBA seasons for six different teams. He played for the 76ers, Washington Bullets

Washington Wizards

The Washington Wizards are a professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C., previously known as Washington Bullets. They play in the National Basketball Association .-Early years:...

, 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...

, San Antonio Spurs

San Antonio Spurs

The San Antonio Spurs are an American professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas. They are part of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association ....

, Atlanta Hawks

Atlanta Hawks

The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are part of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association .-The first years:...

 and Sacramento Kings

Sacramento Kings

The Sacramento Kings are a professional basketball team based in Sacramento, California, United States. They are currently members of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...

. He also had a short stint in Germany for MTV 1846 Giessen

Giessen 46ers

LTi Gießen 46ers is a basketball club based in Gießen, Germany that plays in the Basketball Bundesliga and the only team that never left the league since it was established in 1966. Their home arena is Sporthalle Gießen-Ost....

, where he was signed for the playoffs and appeared in three games, scoring a total of 77 points.

In his NBA career, Wood played in 274 games and scored a total of 1,742 points. He also won a gold medal as a member of the 1984 U.S. Olympic basketball team coached by Bobby Knight

Bobby Knight

-Indiana:When Indiana University was seeking a new coach in 1971, they turned to Knight. Knight was given the nickname "The General" by former University of Detroit and Detroit Pistons coach-turned-broadcaster Dick Vitale....

.

Currently Wood is an NBA official

Official (basketball)

In basketball, an official is a person who has the responsibility to enforce the rules and maintain the order of the game. The title of official also applies to the scorers and timekeepers, as well as other personnel that have an active task in maintaining the game...

.

External links

• "Wood Sues NBA" @ New York Times