Ronnie Price
Encyclopedia
Ronald D'Wayne Price is an American
professional basketball
player who last played for the Utah Jazz
of the National Basketball Association
.
, located approximately two miles northeast of Friendswood, Texas
. Because of his lack of height, Price was not offered any basketball scholarships after graduation. He walked-on at Nicholls State University
in Thibodaux, Louisiana
. He grew to 5-foot-11 by the beginning of his freshman season and surprised many people by averaging 11.3 points per game. He continued growing to his current height of 6-foot-2, but he felt the situation at Nicholls State was not right for him. He transferred to what was then Utah Valley State College (now Utah Valley University) in Orem, Utah
.
As a sophomore (2002–03), Price averaged 15.3 points per game, earning Honorable Mention honors in the NJCAA Region 18. UVSC became a four-year institution the following year, and Price decided to stay as the school transitioned to NCAA Division I basketball. He improved his scoring average to 20.2 points per game as a junior (2003–04), leading the Wolverines to the Division I Provisional National Championship. The Wolverines finished the season with a 23–5 record. Price scored a career-high 37 points in a game twice during the season.
His senior season (2004–05) was spectacular. Price averaged 24.3 points per game, ranking third in the nation in that category. CBS
sportsline.com ranked him as the top college point guard in the country. For his efforts, he was named Division I Independent Player of the Year. He finished his senior year with a terrific performance, scoring a season-high 36 points (27 in the second half) in a 71–52 victory over Northern Colorado
.
Price was inducted into the Utah Valley University Hall of Fame on February 4, 2010 at halftime of a game between the Wolverines and the University of Texas-Pan American.
and Detroit Pistons
. In August 2005, he signed a guaranteed two-year contract with the Sacramento Kings
. He played sporadically in two seasons with the Kings, backing up Mike Bibby
and Jason Hart (prior to Hart being waived and picked up by the Clippers) averaging 2.9 points in 87 games. He only started one game during his time in Sacramento (a loss to the Phoenix Suns
). He scored a career-high 16 points in a game against the Jazz in November 2006, including a ferocious one-handed slam over Carlos Boozer
that was named the NBA's Haier Play of the Day.
In July 2007, Price signed a free agent contract with the Jazz. He started the season as third-string point guard, behind Deron Williams
and Jason Hart (Hart for the second time). Price eventually replaced Hart as the main backup to Williams. He played in 61 games in 2007–08, averaging 3.7 points per game. He made highlight reels again after a block he had on Luke Walton
in game 4 of the second round of the 2008 NBA Playoffs
against the L.A. Lakers
. Walton appeared to have a breakaway layup or dunk when Price unexpectedly caught up with him at the last moment and blocked him soundly, despite their difference in height. This was after receiving 4 stitches and a large bandage above his right eye following a flagrant foul from Ronny Turiaf
earlier in the game.
Price is the first player to enter the NBA directly from Utah Valley University. Travis Hansen
and Michael McDonald
are the only other former UVU players to enter the NBA.
| align="left" | 2005–06
| align="left" | Sacramento
| 29 || 0 || 5.2 || .362 || .222 || 1.000 || .5 || .4 || .2 || .0 || 2.1
|-
| align="left" | 2006–07
| align="left" | Sacramento
| 58 || 1 || 9.7 || .390 || .323 || .673 || 1.2 || .8 || .5 || .1 || 3.3
|-
| align="left" | 2007–08
| align="left" | Utah
| 61 || 3 || 9.6 || .431 || .347 || .684 || .8 || 1.3 || .5 || .1 || 3.7
|-
| align="left" | 2008–09
| align="left" | Utah
| 52 || 17 || 14.2 || .379 || .311 || .756 || 1.3 || 2.1 || .8 || .1 || 4.0
|-
| align="left" | 2009–10
| align="left" | Utah
| 60 || 4 || 13.4 || .405 || .286 || .695 || 1.2 || 2.0 || .7 || .2 || 4.3
|-
| align="left" | 2010–11
| align="left" | Utah
| 59 || 0 || 12.2 || .352 || .290 || .744 || 1.0 || .9 || .7 || .1 || 3.3
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 319 || 25 || 11.2 || .390 || .306 || .722 || 1.1 || 1.3 || .6 || .1 || 3.6
| align="left" | 2005–06
| align="left" | Sacramento
| 4 || 0 || 2.3 || .000 || .000 || .000 || .0 || .3 || .0 || .0 || .0
|-
| align="left" | 2007–08
| align="left" | Utah
| 12 || 0 || 5.7 || .323 || .214 || .769 || .3 || .9 || .5 || .2 || 2.8
|-
| align="left" | 2008–09
| align="left" | Utah
| 2 || 0 || 8.0 || .300 || .000 || 1.000 || 1.5 || 2.5 || .5 || .0 || 4.0
|-
| align="left" | 2009–10
| align="left" | Utah
| 10 || 0 || 9.0 || .292 || .286 || .500 || 1.0 || 1.4 || .4 || .1 || 2.0
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 28 || 0 || 6.5 || .294 || .208 || .696 || .6 || 1.1 || .4 || .1 || 2.2
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 who last played for 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...
of 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...
.
College career
At 5-foot-8, Price was considered undersized as a senior at Clear Brook High SchoolClear Brook High School
Clear Brook High School is a secondary school located in unincorporated Harris County, Texas, United States, adjacent to the city of Friendswood....
, located approximately two miles northeast of Friendswood, Texas
Friendswood, Texas
Friendswood is a city in the U.S. state of Texas within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area. The city lies in Galveston and Harris counties. As of the 2000 U.S...
. Because of his lack of height, Price was not offered any basketball scholarships after graduation. He walked-on at Nicholls State University
Nicholls State University
Nicholls State University, founded in 1948, is a public university located in Thibodaux, Louisiana, USA. Nicholls is part of the University of Louisiana System of universities. Originally called Francis T. Nicholls Junior College, the institution split from the Louisiana State University System in...
in Thibodaux, Louisiana
Thibodaux, Louisiana
Thibodaux is a small city in and the parish seat of Lafourche Parish, Louisiana, United States, along the banks of Bayou Lafourche in the northwestern part of the parish. The population was 14,431 at the 2000 census. Thibodaux is a principal city of the Houma–Bayou Cane–Thibodaux...
. He grew to 5-foot-11 by the beginning of his freshman season and surprised many people by averaging 11.3 points per game. He continued growing to his current height of 6-foot-2, but he felt the situation at Nicholls State was not right for him. He transferred to what was then Utah Valley State College (now Utah Valley University) in Orem, Utah
Orem, Utah
Orem is a city in Utah County, Utah, United States, in the north-central part of the state. It is adjacent to Provo, Lindon, and Vineyard and is about south of Salt Lake City. Orem is one of the principal cities of the Provo-Orem, Utah Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Utah and...
.
As a sophomore (2002–03), Price averaged 15.3 points per game, earning Honorable Mention honors in the NJCAA Region 18. UVSC became a four-year institution the following year, and Price decided to stay as the school transitioned to NCAA Division I basketball. He improved his scoring average to 20.2 points per game as a junior (2003–04), leading the Wolverines to the Division I Provisional National Championship. The Wolverines finished the season with a 23–5 record. Price scored a career-high 37 points in a game twice during the season.
His senior season (2004–05) was spectacular. Price averaged 24.3 points per game, ranking third in the nation in that category. CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
sportsline.com ranked him as the top college point guard in the country. For his efforts, he was named Division I Independent Player of the Year. He finished his senior year with a terrific performance, scoring a season-high 36 points (27 in the second half) in a 71–52 victory over Northern Colorado
Northern Colorado
Northern Colorado is a region in the northern portion of Colorado. It borders Northwestern Colorado, Northeastern Colorado, the north portion of Central Colorado, and the northwest state of Wyoming. Northern Colorado receives over 300 days of sunshine per year, and has a Semi-arid climate...
.
Price was inducted into the Utah Valley University Hall of Fame on February 4, 2010 at halftime of a game between the Wolverines and the University of Texas-Pan American.
Professional career
Price was not drafted into the NBA, but he was invited to work out with some of the top teams in the league, including the Utah JazzUtah 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...
and Detroit 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...
. In August 2005, he signed a guaranteed two-year contract with the 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 played sporadically in two seasons with the Kings, backing up Mike Bibby
Mike Bibby
Michael "Mike" Bibby is an American professional basketball player who most recently played for the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association. He is a 6'2" point guard, and he attended Shadow Mountain High School in Phoenix, Arizona and played collegiately at the University of Arizona. In...
and Jason Hart (prior to Hart being waived and picked up by the Clippers) averaging 2.9 points in 87 games. He only started one game during his time in Sacramento (a loss to the Phoenix Suns
Phoenix Suns
The Phoenix Suns are a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association and the only team in their division not to be based in California. Their home arena since 1992 has been the US...
). He scored a career-high 16 points in a game against the Jazz in November 2006, including a ferocious one-handed slam over Carlos Boozer
Carlos Boozer
Carlos Austin Boozer, Jr. is an American professional basketball player with the Chicago Bulls of the National Basketball Association...
that was named the NBA's Haier Play of the Day.
In July 2007, Price signed a free agent contract with the Jazz. He started the season as third-string point guard, behind Deron Williams
Deron Williams
Deron Michael Williams , nicknamed D-Will, is an American basketball player currently with the New Jersey Nets of the National Basketball Association . Williams has also played for the Utah Jazz of the NBA and Beşiktaş of the Turkish Basketball League...
and Jason Hart (Hart for the second time). Price eventually replaced Hart as the main backup to Williams. He played in 61 games in 2007–08, averaging 3.7 points per game. He made highlight reels again after a block he had on Luke Walton
Luke Walton
Luke Theodore Walton is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association . His primary position is at small forward. After the 2010 NBA Finals, Walton and his father Hall of Famer Bill Walton became the first and only father and son to...
in game 4 of the second round of the 2008 NBA Playoffs
2008 NBA Playoffs
The 2008 NBA Playoffs was the postseason for the National Basketball Association's 2007–08 season which ended with the Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics defeating the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers 4–2....
against the L.A. Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
. Walton appeared to have a breakaway layup or dunk when Price unexpectedly caught up with him at the last moment and blocked him soundly, despite their difference in height. This was after receiving 4 stitches and a large bandage above his right eye following a flagrant foul from Ronny Turiaf
Ronny Turiaf
Ronny Turiaf is a French professional basketball player for the New York Knicks of the NBA. Turiaf has been a member of the French national basketball team....
earlier in the game.
Price is the first player to enter the NBA directly from Utah Valley University. Travis Hansen
Travis Hansen
Travis Mitchell Hansen is an American former professional basketball player who last played for BC Khimki in Russia. He played one year in the NBA for the Atlanta Hawks.-Biography:...
and Michael McDonald
Michael McDonald (basketball)
Michael Dewayne McDonald is a retired American basketball player. A 6'10" and center, he played collegiately for Utah Valley State College and the University of New Orleans. In 1990–91 he averaged 12.3 points and 8.3 rebounds for Utah Valley...
are the only other former UVU players to enter the NBA.
Regular season
|-| align="left" | 2005–06
| align="left" | Sacramento
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...
| 29 || 0 || 5.2 || .362 || .222 || 1.000 || .5 || .4 || .2 || .0 || 2.1
|-
| align="left" | 2006–07
| align="left" | Sacramento
| 58 || 1 || 9.7 || .390 || .323 || .673 || 1.2 || .8 || .5 || .1 || 3.3
|-
| 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...
| 61 || 3 || 9.6 || .431 || .347 || .684 || .8 || 1.3 || .5 || .1 || 3.7
|-
| 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
| 52 || 17 || 14.2 || .379 || .311 || .756 || 1.3 || 2.1 || .8 || .1 || 4.0
|-
| align="left" | 2009–10
2009–10 NBA season
The 2009–10 NBA season was the 64th season of the National Basketball Association . The 1,230-game regular season began on Tuesday, October 27, 2009, and ended on Wednesday, April 14, 2010....
| align="left" | Utah
| 60 || 4 || 13.4 || .405 || .286 || .695 || 1.2 || 2.0 || .7 || .2 || 4.3
|-
| align="left" | 2010–11
2010–11 NBA season
The 2010–11 NBA season was the 65th season of the National Basketball Association . The 2011 NBA All-Star Game was played on February 20, 2011 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. The Dallas Mavericks defeated the Miami Heat in six games, 4 games to 2, to win their first NBA title, and...
| align="left" | Utah
| 59 || 0 || 12.2 || .352 || .290 || .744 || 1.0 || .9 || .7 || .1 || 3.3
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 319 || 25 || 11.2 || .390 || .306 || .722 || 1.1 || 1.3 || .6 || .1 || 3.6
Playoffs
|-| align="left" | 2005–06
2006 NBA Playoffs
The 2006 NBA Playoffs was the postseason of the National Basketball Association's 2005–06 season. The Miami Heat won the first championship in the history of the franchise by defeating the Dallas Mavericks 4-2 in the 2006 NBA Finals...
| align="left" | Sacramento
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...
| 4 || 0 || 2.3 || .000 || .000 || .000 || .0 || .3 || .0 || .0 || .0
|-
| align="left" | 2007–08
2008 NBA Playoffs
The 2008 NBA Playoffs was the postseason for the National Basketball Association's 2007–08 season which ended with the Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics defeating the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers 4–2....
| 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...
| 12 || 0 || 5.7 || .323 || .214 || .769 || .3 || .9 || .5 || .2 || 2.8
|-
| align="left" | 2008–09
2009 NBA Playoffs
The 2009 NBA Playoffs was the postseason for the National Basketball Association's 2008–09 season. The playoffs started on April 18, 2009 with ABC, ESPN, TNT, and NBA TV broadcasting the games in the United States...
| align="left" | Utah
| 2 || 0 || 8.0 || .300 || .000 || 1.000 || 1.5 || 2.5 || .5 || .0 || 4.0
|-
| align="left" | 2009–10
2010 NBA Playoffs
The 2010 NBA Playoffs was the postseason for the National Basketball Association's 2009–10 season. The playoffs started on April 17, 2010 with ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, TNT, and NBA TV broadcasting the games in the United States...
| align="left" | Utah
| 10 || 0 || 9.0 || .292 || .286 || .500 || 1.0 || 1.4 || .4 || .1 || 2.0
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 28 || 0 || 6.5 || .294 || .208 || .696 || .6 || 1.1 || .4 || .1 || 2.2