Rony Seikaly

infobox NBA Player
name = Rony Seikaly
رونالد ﺼيقلي
nickname =
position = Center
height_ft = 6
height_in = 11
weight_lbs = 230
nationality = USA
birth_date = birth date and age|1965|5|10
birth_place = Beirut, Lebanon
college = Syracuse
draft =9th overall
draft_year = 1988
draft_team = Miami Heat
career_start = 1988
career_end = 1996
former_teams = Miami Heat (1988-1994)
Golden State Warriors (1994-1996)
Orlando Magic (1996-1998)
New Jersey Nets (1998, 1999)
FC Barcelona (2000)
awards = 1989-90 NBA Most Improved Player
halloffame =

Ronald Fred Seikaly ( _ar. رونالد ﺼيقلي) born May 10th, 1965, in Beirut, Lebanon (but also a United States citizen by naturalization) is a retired Lebanese-American professional basketball player. At the age of 3 years Rony Seikaly moved to Greece and attended an American high school in Athens, Greece.

College career

In 1984, he began attending Syracuse University in upstate New York. He played basketball for the Syracuse Orange men's basketball team (then known as the Orangemen). After his senior year, he was a 2nd Team All-American and he was also named to the John R. Wooden All-American Team.

Pro career

When Seikaly was 17 years old he joined the Greek Euroleague club Panathinaikos in a tournament in Cyprus, but his nationality prevented him from playing in the Greek Championship as a Greek player, so he moved to the USA.

In 1988, the Miami Heat used their franchise's first ever draft pick (9th overall that year) to select the center. His career with Miami saw his setting a team record for both blocks (8) and rebounds (34) in a game. He was also named the NBA's Most Improved Player in 1990.

In 1994, Seikaly was traded to the Golden State Warriors where he spent two and a half seasons before going on to play for the Orlando Magic. During the 1997-98 season he was traded to the Utah Jazz, but the transaction was voided due to him failing to report to the Jazz. Finally, he joined the New Jersey Nets in early 1998, before announcing his retirement from the game in 1999. He holds career averages of 14.7 points per game, 9.5 rebounds per game and 1.29 blocks per game.

During his run with the Heat, he had the nickname "The Spin Doctor", due to his trademark low-post spin moves. After Seikaly left the NBA, he signed with the Spanish League basketball team FC Barcelona.

United States national basketball team

Seikaly played for the US national basketball team at the 1986 World Championship, and with the US team he won the gold medal. [ [http://www.usabasketball.com/history/mwc_1986.html 1986 USA Basketball.] ]

Post basketball career

Every year Seikaly hosts the annual Rony Seikaly Golf Tournament for cystic fibrosis. In 2001, his former wife, Mexican supermodel Elsa Benitez, was selected as the cover girl for the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue.

In April 2007, Seikaly entered the AVP Cuervo Gold Crown Miami Open, in an attempt to play professional beach volleyball.

Records and accolades

*1989 Set Heat record for blocks in a game (8)
*1990 Set Heat record for free throw attempts in a game (26) and blocks in a season (124)
*1990 NBA's Most Improved Player
*1992 Set Heat record for rebounds in a season (934)
*1993 NBA Player of the Week for March 7th
*1993 Set Heat record for defensive (26) and total rebounds (34) in a game
*1994 Set Heat record for free throws made in a game (16)

Personal information

Height: 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)Weight: 230 lbs.

References

External links

*basketball-reference|id=s/seikaro01|name=Rony Seikaly
* [http://www.acb.com/jugador.php?id=A5Z ACB.com Profile]