Morris Almond
Encyclopedia
Morris Almond is an American
professional basketball
player.
in Powder Springs, Georgia
, and was a teammate of current Atlanta Hawks
forward Josh Smith
.
. He was relatively unknown in his first two seasons with the Owls, but he broke out of anonymity in his junior season. His scoring average jumped to 21.9 points per game (up from 7.2 points per game as a sophomore). His scoring average led all players in Conference USA
that season.
With his increased fame, Almond considered skipping his final college season to play professional basketball. Ultimately, he decided to stay at Rice for his senior year; it turned out to be a great decision. He improved his scoring average further to 26.4 points per game, ranking third in the nation. He was named Conference USA Player of the Year and was named AP All-America Honorable Mention.
Almond finished his career at Rice with 121 games played and a scoring average of 15.1 points per game. After graduation, he was selected by the Utah Jazz
in the first round (25th pick) in the 2007 NBA Draft
.
on December 2, 2008. He scored his first NBA points on January 8, 2008 against the Indiana Pacers
, with 2 points on 1-of-5 shooting. However, he spent most of the season with the team's D-League
affiliate, the Utah Flash
, to whom he was assigned. He led the D-League in scoring during the season, averaging 25.6 points per game. In just his fifth game with the team on December 21, 2007, he tied a league record with 51 points in a 118–116 victory over the Austin Toros
. Later in the season, he broke the record with a 53-point performance against the Bakersfield Jam
in a 102–87 win.
On September 18, 2009, Morris Almond signed with the Orlando Magic
. He was waived on October 21, 2009. Almond later played for the Maine Red Claws and Springfield Armor
of the NBDL. He then signed with Real Madrid Baloncesto
of the Spanish
ACB
. In July 2010 he left Real Madrid and joined the Italian club Scavolini Pesaro.
| align="left" | 2007–08
| align="left" | Utah
| 9 || 0 || 4.3 || .267 || .250 || .667 || .2 || .3 || .1 || .0 || 1.4
|-
| align="left" | 2008–09
| align="left" | Utah
| 25 || 1 || 10.2 || .407 || .294 || .808 || 1.4 || .3 || .2 || .2 || 3.7
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 34 || 1 || 8.6 || .385 || .286 || .781 || 1.1 || .3 || .2 || .1 || 3.1
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.
High school
Almond attended McEachern High SchoolMcEachern High School
John McEachern High School or McEachern High School is a public high school established in 1908 in Powder Springs, Georgia, USA. It was originally established as the Seventh District Agricultural and Mechanical School. Due to its history, McEachern has an open campus, with its buildings spaced...
in Powder Springs, Georgia
Powder Springs, Georgia
Powder Springs is a city in Cobb County, Georgia, United States. The population was 13,940 at the 2010 census.- History :The town of Powder Springs was incorporated as Springville in 1838 in the lands of two Cherokee Indian chiefs, Chief Nose and Chief Ana Kanasta . Gold had been discovered in...
, and was a teammate of current 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:...
forward Josh Smith
Josh Smith
Josh Smith is an American professional basketball player with the Atlanta Hawks of the NBA. Josh is one of five kids born to Paulette and Pete Smith. His siblings are Walter, Phebe, Kasola and Shanti. His popular nickname is "J-Smoove".Smith attended John McEachern High School. For his senior...
.
College career
Almond played college basketball at Rice UniversityRice University
William Marsh Rice University, commonly referred to as Rice University or Rice, is a private research university located on a heavily wooded campus in Houston, Texas, United States...
. He was relatively unknown in his first two seasons with the Owls, but he broke out of anonymity in his junior season. His scoring average jumped to 21.9 points per game (up from 7.2 points per game as a sophomore). His scoring average led all players in Conference USA
Conference USA
Conference USA, officially abbreviated C-USA, is a college athletic conference whose member institutions are located within the Southern United States. The conference participates in the NCAA's Division I in all sports...
that season.
With his increased fame, Almond considered skipping his final college season to play professional basketball. Ultimately, he decided to stay at Rice for his senior year; it turned out to be a great decision. He improved his scoring average further to 26.4 points per game, ranking third in the nation. He was named Conference USA Player of the Year and was named AP All-America Honorable Mention.
Almond finished his career at Rice with 121 games played and a scoring average of 15.1 points per game. After graduation, he was selected by 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...
in the first round (25th pick) in the 2007 NBA Draft
2007 NBA Draft
The 2007 NBA Draft was held on June 28, 2007 at the WaMu Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. It was broadcast on television in 115 countries. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur U.S...
.
Professional career
Almond played in 9 games with the Jazz during his rookie season with the Jazz, averaging 4.3 minutes. His NBA career high is currently 12 points, at SacramentoSacramento 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...
on December 2, 2008. He scored his first NBA points on January 8, 2008 against 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...
, with 2 points on 1-of-5 shooting. However, he spent most of the season with the team's D-League
NBA Development League
The NBA Development League, or NBA D-League, is the National Basketball Association's official minor league basketball organization. Known until summer 2005 as the National Basketball Development League , the NBA D-League started with eight teams in the fall of 2001...
affiliate, the Utah Flash
Utah Flash
The Utah Flash was a team of the NBA Development League that began playing in 2007 and folded in 2011. They played their home games at the UCCU Center on the campus of Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah...
, to whom he was assigned. He led the D-League in scoring during the season, averaging 25.6 points per game. In just his fifth game with the team on December 21, 2007, he tied a league record with 51 points in a 118–116 victory over the Austin Toros
Austin Toros
The Austin Toros are a NBA Development League minor league basketball team based in Cedar Park, Texas, United States.The team plays home games at Cedar Park Center.Their logo is the design of a bull and basketball with the state of Texas in the background...
. Later in the season, he broke the record with a 53-point performance against the Bakersfield Jam
Bakersfield Jam
The Bakersfield Jam is an expansion franchise of the National Basketball Association Development League that began play in 2006-07. It plays its home games at the newly-built Jam Events Center in Bakersfield, California, United States, which had been built as their practice facility...
in a 102–87 win.
On September 18, 2009, Morris Almond signed with 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...
. He was waived on October 21, 2009. Almond later played for the Maine Red Claws and Springfield Armor
Springfield Armor
The Springfield Armor is a basketball team located in Springfield, Massachusetts, which plays in the NBA Development League. The Armor plays its home games at the MassMutual Center in Springfield's Metro Center neighborhood. The team is owned by HWS Basketball, LLC which is principally owned by...
of the NBDL. He then signed with Real Madrid Baloncesto
Real Madrid Baloncesto
Real Madrid Baloncesto is a Spanish professional basketball team founded in 1932 as a division of the Real Madrid club. They play in the Asociación de Clubes de Baloncesto ....
of the Spanish
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...
ACB
Asociación de Clubs de Baloncesto
The Liga ACB, known as the Liga Endesa for sponsorship reasons, is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in Spain. It was founded in 1956 with the name of Liga Nacional. The league changed its name to the current one in 1983. The league is rated as one of the three "A" level European...
. In July 2010 he left Real Madrid and joined the Italian club Scavolini Pesaro.
Regular season
|-| align="left" | 2007–08
| align="left" | Utah
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...
| 9 || 0 || 4.3 || .267 || .250 || .667 || .2 || .3 || .1 || .0 || 1.4
|-
| align="left" | 2008–09
2008–09 NBA season
The 2008–09 NBA season was the 63rd season of the National Basketball Association . The 1,230-game regular season began on Tuesday, October 28, 2008, and ended on Wednesday, April 15, 2009...
| align="left" | Utah
| 25 || 1 || 10.2 || .407 || .294 || .808 || 1.4 || .3 || .2 || .2 || 3.7
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 34 || 1 || 8.6 || .385 || .286 || .781 || 1.1 || .3 || .2 || .1 || 3.1