Wally Szczerbiak
Encyclopedia
Walter Robert "Wally" Szczerbiak (icon ; born March 5, 1977) 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.

Early life

Szczerbiak was born in Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...

, 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...

, while his father Walter
Walter Szczerbiak
Walter Szczerbiak is a former American basketball player.He won three Euroleague titles with Real Madrid ....

 (a former ABA
American Basketball Association
The American Basketball Association was a professional basketball league founded in 1967. The ABA ceased to exist with the ABA–NBA merger in 1976.-League history:...

 player) was playing for Real Madrid
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 ....

, and spent much of his childhood in Europe during his father's playing career. When Walter retired, he moved his family back to his native Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...

, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...

, where Wally attended high school in Cold Spring Harbor
Cold Spring Harbor, New York
Cold Spring Harbor is a hamlet in Suffolk County, New York on the North Shore of Long Island. As of the United States 2000 Census, the CDP population was 4,975.Cold Spring Harbor is in the Town of Huntington.-History:...

. Szczerbiak competed for the Long Island team in the 1994 Empire State Games
Empire State Games
The Empire State Games are a set of annual Olympic-style competitions for amateur athletes from the state of New York, encompassing several divisions and allowing athletes of all ages to compete. It was a member of the National Congress of State Games...

.

College career

In college, Szczerbiak played for Miami University
Miami University
Miami University is a coeducational public research university located in Oxford, Ohio, United States. Founded in 1809, it is the 10th oldest public university in the United States and the second oldest university in Ohio, founded four years after Ohio University. In its 2012 edition, U.S...

 in Oxford, Ohio
Oxford, Ohio
Oxford is a city in northwestern Butler County, Ohio, United States, in the southwestern portion of the state. It lies in Oxford Township, originally called the College Township. The population was 21,943 at the 2000 census. This college town was founded as a home for Miami University. Oxford...

. He graduated from the Richard T. Farmer School of Business
Richard T. Farmer School of Business
The Farmer School of Business is the business school at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, with approximately 2,200 full-time students are enrolled as of 2011....

 at Miami University where he studied marketing
Marketing
Marketing is the process used to determine what products or services may be of interest to customers, and the strategy to use in sales, communications and business development. It generates the strategy that underlies sales techniques, business communication, and business developments...

. At Miami he led his team to the Sweet 16 in the 1999 NCAA Tournament
1999 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1999 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 11, 1999, and ended with the championship game on March 29 at Tropicana Field in St....

 as a #10 seed. Szczerbiak scored a career high 43 points in a first round win over #7 seed University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...

. He followed that up with a 24-point performance in the second round against #2 seed Utah
University of Utah
The University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest...

, leading the Redhawks to the Sweet 16, where they would eventually lose to Kentucky
University of Kentucky
The University of Kentucky, also known as UK, is a public co-educational university and is one of the state's two land-grant universities, located in Lexington, Kentucky...

 58-43, despite Szczerbiak's 23-point performance.

He was named a first team All-American, and second team All-American in 1998-99. In the same year, he was named MAC Player of the Year
Mid-American Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year
The Mid-American Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year is a basketball award given to the most outstanding men's basketball player in the Mid-American Conference. The award was first given following the 1967–68 season. Four players have won the award multiple times: Tom Kozelko, Ron...

.

He finished his career at Miami University as the university's second all-time leading scorer with 1,847 points.

Minnesota Timberwolves (1999–2006)

The Minnesota Timberwolves
Minnesota Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves are an American professional basketball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . Founded in 1989, the team is currently owned by Glen Taylor...

 selected Szczerbiak 6th overall in the 1999 NBA Draft
1999 NBA Draft
The 1999 NBA Draft was held on June 30, 1999 at the MCI Center in Washington, D.C. It was the first draft in which four players from the same college were picked in the first round, with Elton Brand , Trajan Langdon , Corey Maggette and William Avery being selected out of Duke University...

. His best year as a pro was in 2002 when he was a coaches' selection to the Western Conference
Western Conference (NBA)
Below is a list of current Western Conference NBA team rosters.-Western Conference:There are a total of 15 teams in the Western Conference. The current leading team of the Western conference are the Dallas Mavericks....

 All-Star team. Later he tied a Timberwolves franchise record of 44 points on April 13, 2003, since broken by Kevin Garnett
Kevin Garnett
Kevin Maurice Garnett is an American professional basketball player who currently plays power forward for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association . After a high school basketball career at Farragut Career Academy which included winning a national player of the year award, he...

. Szczerbiak was coming off the bench for the 2004-05 NBA season
2004-05 NBA season
The 2004–05 NBA season was the 59th season of the National Basketball Association . It began on November 2, 2004 and ended June 23, 2005. The season ended with the San Antonio Spurs defeating defending champion Detroit Pistons 4–3 in the NBA Finals....

. He was uncomfortable with the role and wanted to be a starter. In the 2005-06 season
2005-06 NBA season
The 2005–06 NBA season was the 60th season of the National Basketball Association. It began on November 1, 2005 and ran through April 19, 2006...

, the former all–star returned to the starting role.

Boston Celtics (2006–07)

On January 26, 2006, Szczerbiak, along with Michael Olowokandi
Michael Olowokandi
Michael Olowokandi is a retired Nigerian British professional basketball center who played in the American National Basketball Association from 1998 to 2007....

, Dwayne Jones
Dwayne Jones
Dwayne Jones is an American professional basketball player.-College career:Along with senior Jameer Nelson and juniors Delonte West and Pat Carroll, Jones was an integral part of the undefeated Saint Joseph's team during the 2004 regular season. The Hawks earned a #1 seed in the NCAA Tournament...

 and a conditional first–round draft pick, was traded to the Boston Celtics
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...

 for Ricky Davis
Ricky Davis
Tyree Ricardo Davis , better known as Ricky Davis, is an American professional basketball player.-Biography:...

, Mark Blount
Mark Blount
Mark D. Blount is an American professional basketball player. Blount is a 7'0" tall center and weighs 250 lb , being a primarily offensive big man with a soft touch....

, Marcus Banks
Marcus Banks
Arthur Lemarcus Banks III, commonly known as Marcus Banks , is an American professional basketball player who most recently played with the New Orleans Hornets of the NBA....

, Justin Reed
Justin Reed
Justin Michael Reed is an American professional basketball player, in the small forward position.Reed has been a free agent since the end of the 2009 season.-College career:...

, and two second-round draft picks.

Szczerbiak underwent knee surgery in the 2006 offseason to fix a knee which had been injured for several months.

In the 2006-07 season
2006-07 NBA season
The 2006–07 NBA season was the 61st season of the National Basketball Association. The regular season began on October 31, 2006 and ran through April 18, 2007. The league fielded 30 teams, each playing an 82 game regular season schedule. The top eight seeds from each conference reached the NBA...

, Szczerbiak played well early on, including a 35-point performance against the Charlotte Bobcats
Charlotte Bobcats
The Charlotte Bobcats is a professional basketball team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They play in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association. The Bobcats were established in 2004 as an expansion team, two seasons after Charlotte's previous NBA...

 early in the season. However, he was soon plagued by several injuries to both ankles, which greatly affected his performance, namely his shooting and jumping ability. Szczerbiak decided to have season–ending surgery on his ankles.

Seattle SuperSonics (2007–08)

On June 28 (the night of 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...

), the Celtics traded Szczerbiak 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...

 along with Delonte West
Delonte West
Delonte Maurice West is an American professional basketball player who last played with the Boston Celtics of the NBA.-High school career:...

 and Jeff Green
Jeff Green (basketball)
Jeffrey Lynn Green is an American professional basketball player with the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association. Green attended Georgetown University until following his junior year, when he entered the 2007 NBA Draft...

 (Boston's 5th overall pick) for Ray Allen
Ray Allen
Walter Ray Allen is an American professional basketball player who is currently playing for the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association. He has played professionally for the Milwaukee Bucks, Seattle SuperSonics, and the Boston Celtics; and collegiately for the University of...

 and Glen Davis
Glen Davis (basketball)
Ronald Glen Davis , commonly known as Glen Davis and by his nickname Big Baby, is an American basketball player who last played for the NBA's Boston Celtics...

 (Seattle's 35th overall).

Cleveland Cavaliers (2008–09)

On February 21, 2008, Szczerbiak was traded from the SuperSonics to the Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers are a professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They began playing in the National Basketball Association in 1970 as an expansion team...

 along with Sonics teammate Delonte West
Delonte West
Delonte Maurice West is an American professional basketball player who last played with the Boston Celtics of the NBA.-High school career:...

, in a 3-way deal also involving the Bulls, which also sent Ben Wallace
Ben Wallace
Ben Camey Wallace is an American basketball center for the Detroit Pistons of the NBA. A native of Alabama, Wallace attended Cuyahoga Community College and Virginia Union University and signed with the Washington Bullets as an undrafted free agent in 1996...

 and Joe Smith to Cleveland.

Szczerbiak played in 25 regular season games (one start) with the Cavaliers averaging 8.2 points and 3.2 rebounds. He scored 18 points against Detroit on April 16, 2008. Between the SuperSonics and the Cavaliers, Szczerbiak played in 75 games (two starts) and averaged 11.5 points and 2.9 rebounds.

During the playoffs, Wally took over as a starter for the Cleveland Cavaliers playing at the #2 spot. Wally helped the Cavs get past the first–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....

 by putting up 26 points along with shooting 6–13 from the 3 point line in game six against the Washington Wizards
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:...

. For the playoffs, Szczerbiak averaged 10.8 points per game.

During the 2008–2009 NBA season, Szczerbiak played in 74 games, starting in 5 of them. Given 20 minutes a game, Szczerbiak averaged 7 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.1 assists while shooting .450% from the field and .411% from 3.

Free agency

During the offseason, Szczerbiak's contract ran up and was not renewed by the Cavaliers, making him a free agent. The accquistions of guard Anthony Parker
Anthony Parker
Anthony Michael Parker is an American professional basketball player who last played with the Cleveland Cavaliers of the National Basketball Association . After graduating from Bradley University with a major in liberal arts, he entered the 1997 NBA Draft and played briefly in the NBA before...

 and forward Jamario Moon
Jamario Moon
Jamario Raman Moon is an American professional basketball player. Moon played college basketball for one season at Meridian Community College and began his professional career with teams in the United States Basketball League and NBA Development League, the Harlem Globetrotters, and Mexican...

, both formerly of the Toronto Raptors
Toronto Raptors
The Toronto Raptors are a professional basketball team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1995, along with the Vancouver Grizzlies, as part of the NBA's re-expansion...

, had made Szczerbiak, who earned $63 million from a contract he had signed back with Minnesota, expendable. Total earnings during the entirety of his career are roughly estimated at $74 million.

Knee surgery and possible retirement

On November 5. 2009, Szczerbiak revealed that he had a third surgery performed on his left knee three weeks earlier, and that his career could be over as a result.

A week later, on November 11, 2009, he reportedly rejected a contract offer from the Denver Nuggets (which was worth the league's veteran minimum); opting instead to continue to rehabilitate from the knee surgery and possibly test the free agent market again if the rehab goes well. Another report around this date had him reportedly mulling the possibility of retirement for a broadcasting career after a tryout opportunity with the New York Knicks
New York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...

 fell through.

Personal life

Szczerbiak and his wife Shannon have 3 children, the youngest of whom was born on March 1, 2008. He is named Maximus Jack. The other two children are daughters, named Annabella and Amberley. Szczerbiak has two younger siblings, Will and Wendy.

Szczerbiak later became a basketball analyst for CBS College Sports.

Regular season

|-
| align="left" | 1999–00
| align="left" | Minnesota
Minnesota Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves are an American professional basketball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . Founded in 1989, the team is currently owned by Glen Taylor...


| 73 || 53 || 29.7 || .511 || .359 || .826 || 3.7 || 2.8 || .8 || .3 || 11.6
|-
| align="left" | 2000–01
| align="left" | Minnesota
| 82 || 82 || 34.8 || .510 || .338 || .870 || 5.5 || 3.2 || .7 || .4 || 14.0
|-
| align="left" | 2001–02
| align="left" | Minnesota
| 82 || 82 || 38.0 || .508 || .455 || .831 || 4.8 || 3.1 || .8 || .3 || 18.7
|-
| align="left" | 2002–03
| align="left" | Minnesota
| 52 || 42 || 35.3 || .481 || .421 || .867 || 4.6 || 2.6 || .9 || .4 || 17.6
|-
| align="left" | 2003–04
| align="left" | Minnesota
| 28 || 0 || 22.2 || .449 || .435 || .828 || 3.1 || 1.2 || .4 || .0 || 10.2
|-
| align="left" | 2004–05
| align="left" | Minnesota
| 81 || 37 || 31.6 || .506 || .373 || .855 || 3.7 || 2.4 || .5 || .2 || 15.5
|-
| align="left" | 2005–06
| align="left" | Minnesota
| 40 || 40 || 38.9 || .495 || .406 || .896 || 4.8 || 2.8 || .5 || .4 || 20.1
|-
| align="left" | 2005–06
| align="left" | Boston
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...


| 32 || 31 || 36.7 || .476 || .393 || .898 || 3.8 || 3.2 || .6 || .1 || 17.5
|-
| align="left" | 2006–07
| align="left" | Boston
| 32 || 19 || 28.1 || .415 || .415 || .897 || 3.1 || 1.7 || .6 || .1 || 15.0
|-
| align="left" | 2007–08
| align="left" | Seattle
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...


| 50 || 1 || 23.6 || .460 || .428 || .843 || 2.7 || 1.4 || .3 || .1 || 13.1
|-
| align="left" | 2007–08
| align="left" | Cleveland
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers are a professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They began playing in the National Basketball Association in 1970 as an expansion team...


| 25 || 1 || 22.2 || .359 || .365 || .878 || 3.2 || 1.4 || .4 || .3 || 8.2
|-
| align="left" | 2008-09
| align="left" | Cleveland
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers are a professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They began playing in the National Basketball Association in 1970 as an expansion team...


| 74 || 5 || 20.6 || .450 || .411 || .849 || 3.1 || 1.1 || .4 || .1 || 7.0
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 651 || 393 || 30.8 || .485 || .406 || .860 || 4.0 || 2.4 || .6 || .2 || 14.1
|-
| align="left" | All-Star
| align="left" |
| 1 || 0 || 12.0 || .667 || .667 || .000 || 3.0 || 3.0 || 1.0 || .0 || 10.0

Playoffs

|-
| align="left" | 1999–00
2000 NBA Playoffs
The 2000 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1999–2000 season. The tournament concluded with the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers win their first championship in twelve years by defeating the Eastern Conference champion Indiana Pacers...


| align="left" | Minnesota
Minnesota Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves are an American professional basketball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . Founded in 1989, the team is currently owned by Glen Taylor...


| 4 || 4 || 23.5 || .400 || .000 || .000 || 2.0 || .5 || .8 || .2 || 6.0
|-
| align="left" | 2000–01
2001 NBA Playoffs
The 2001 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 2000–01 season. The tournament concluded with the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers winning their second consecutive championship by defeating the Eastern Conference champion Philadelphia 76ers...


| align="left" | Minnesota
| 4 || 4 || 35.8 || .486 || .000 || .800 || 4.5 || 2.5 || 1.2 || .8 || 14.0
|-
| align="left" | 2001–02
2002 NBA Playoffs
The 2002 NBA Playoffs were the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 2001–02 season. This would be the final postseason that held a best-of-5 first-round series; next year's postseason would see those series expanded to a best-of-7 format...


| align="left" | Minnesota
| 3 || 3 || 43.7 || .477 || .222 || .889 || 7.0 || 2.0 || .7 || .0 || 20.0
|-
| align="left" | 2002–03
2003 NBA Playoffs
The 2003 NBA playoffs was the postseason of the National Basketball Association's 2002-03 NBA season. This postseason was notable for being the first time all series were conducted in a best-of-7 format. It was also the only time in playoff history that no team was swept in a first-round series....


| align="left" | Minnesota
| 6 || 6 || 42.0 || .475 || .214 || .867 || 5.0 || 2.2 || 1.0 || .2 || 14.5
|-
| align="left" | 2003–04
2004 NBA Playoffs
The 2004 NBA Playoffs were the postseason of the National Basketball Association's 2003–04 season. Consisting of 16 teams in two conferences, the playoffs involved about two months of play. The playoffs were conducted in seven-game series, with the team with the better record holding home court...


| align="left" | Minnesota
| 12 || 0 || 24.8 || .420 || .345 || .927 || 3.3 || 1.7 || .5 || .2 || 11.8
|-
| 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" | Cleveland
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers are a professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They began playing in the National Basketball Association in 1970 as an expansion team...


| 13 || 13 || 28.8 || .376 || .323 || .929 || 1.8 || 1.5 || .2 || .1 || 10.8
|-
| 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" | Cleveland
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers are a professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They began playing in the National Basketball Association in 1970 as an expansion team...


| 12 || 0 || 12.8 || .444 || .167 || .818 || 2.3 || .6 || .2 || .1 || 3.6
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 54 || 30 || 26.8 || .427 || .285 || .882 || 3.1 || 1.4 || .5 || .2 || 10.2

External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
x
OK