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{{Short description|American basketball player}}
{{for|the California politician|Paul Shirley (politician)}}
{{for|the California politician|Paul Shirley (politician)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2014}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2014}}
{{Infobox basketball biography
{{Infobox basketball biography
| name = Paul Shirley
| name = Paul Shirley
| image =
| image =
| position = [[Power forward (basketball)|Power forward]]
| position = [[Power forward (basketball)|Power forward]]
| height_ft = 6 | height_in = 10
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 10
| weight_lbs = 235
| weight_lbs = 230
| league =
| league =
| team =
| team =
Line 39: Line 41:
| years11 = 2008
| years11 = 2008
| team11 = [[CB Málaga|Unicaja Málaga]]
| team11 = [[CB Málaga|Unicaja Málaga]]
| highlights =
| highlights = * Academic All-American (2001)
* [[List of Continental Basketball Association All-Star Games|CBA All-Star Game]] ([[2003 CBA All-Star Game|2003]])
}}
}}
'''Paul Murphy Shirley''' (born December 23, 1977) is a former Iowa State University and professional basketball player who last played for [[CB Málaga|Unicaja Málaga]] in the Spanish [[Asociación de Clubs de Baloncesto|ACB]]. He is also a writer; his first book, Can I Keep My Jersey?<ref>{{cite web
'''Paul Murphy Shirley''' (born December 23, 1977) is an American former professional basketball player who last played for [[CB Málaga|Unicaja Málaga]] in the Spanish [[Asociación de Clubs de Baloncesto|ACB]].
| title = Can I Keep My Jersey?
| work = Random House
| date =
| url = https://www.amazon.com/Can-Keep-Jersey-Countries-Basketball/dp/0345495705
| accessdate = August 29, 2017}}
⚫
</ref>, was released in 2007. His second book, Stories I Tell On Dates<ref>{{cite web
| title = Stories I Tell On Dates
| work =
| date =
| url = https://www.storiesitellondates.com/
| accessdate = August 29, 2017}}
</ref>, has an announced release date of October 17, 2017.


Shirley is noted for briefly maintaining an online journal while playing for the [[Phoenix Suns]] in [[2004-05 NBA season|2004–05]]. His first journal dealt with a several-day-long road trip, while the second chronicled the Suns' [[NBA Playoffs]] run. After their playoff elimination, the Suns did not re-sign him, as he rarely played in his twelfth man position.<ref>{{cite web
Shirley is noted for briefly maintaining an online journal ([[blog]]) while playing for the [[Phoenix Suns]] in [[2004-05 NBA season|2004–05]]. His first journal dealt with a several-day-long road trip,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Paul Shirley's Road Ramblings|url=https://www.nba.com/suns/news/shirley_blog.html|access-date=2021-03-20|website=Phoenix Suns|language=en}}</ref> while the second chronicled the Suns' [[NBA Playoffs]] run. He was later the author of a blog for [[ESPN]].com entitled "My So-Called Career".<ref>{{cite web
| author2 =
| title = Paul Shirley
| work =
| publisher = ESPN.com
| date =
| url = http://sports.espn.go.com/keyword/search?searchString=paul_shirley&rT=sports
| doi =
| accessdate = May 5, 2007}}</ref> He was the author of a blog for [[ESPN]].com entitled "My So-Called Career".<ref>{{cite web
| last = Shirley
| last = Shirley
| first = Paul
| first = Paul
| authorlink =
| author2 =
| title = My So-Called Career: Paul Shirley's Basketball Journal
| title = My So-Called Career: Paul Shirley's Basketball Journal
| work =
| work = ESPN.com
| publisher = ESPN.com
| date = October 20, 2005
⚫
| url = https://www.espn.com/nba/columns/story?columnist=shirley_paul&id=2198685
| date =
⚫
| url = http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/story?columnist=shirley_paul&id=2198685
| doi =
| doi =
| accessdate = January 27, 2010}}</ref>
| access-date = January 27, 2010}}</ref>


Shirley was signed to a non-guaranteed contract by the [[Minnesota Timberwolves]] in early October, but was cut in training camp before the start of the 2006–07 season. On an ESPN.com chat on October 23, Shirley referenced the $10 million, 5-year contract of [[Mark Madsen]] as the reason why he was released.<ref>{{cite web
Shirley was signed to a non-guaranteed contract by the [[Minnesota Timberwolves]] in early October 2006, but was cut in training camp before the start of the 2006–07 season. He finished his career in Spain, playing in the [[Liga ACB|ACB]] for [[ViveMenorca]] and [[Baloncesto Málaga|Unicaja Malaga]].

| last =
After Shirley's playing career, he wrote a column for the Spanish newspaper [[El País|El Pais]], maintained a podcast (''Short Corner'') with [[Justin Halpern]], and founded a writing group in Los Angeles called Writers Blok.<ref>{{Cite web|title=ABOUT|url=https://www.writersblok.org/|access-date=2021-03-20|website=writersblok|language=en}}</ref>
| first =
| authorlink =
| author2 =
| title = Chat with Paul Shirley Number 13328
| work =
| publisher = ESPN.com
| date =
| url = http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/chatESPN?event_id=13328
| doi =
| accessdate = May 5, 2007}}</ref>


Shirley's first book, ''Can I Keep My Jersey?'',<ref>{{cite book|last1=Shirley|first1=Paul|title=Can I Keep My Jersey?|work=Random House|year=2008|publisher=Random House Publishing |isbn=978-0345495709}}
</ref> was released in 2007. His second book, ''Stories I Tell On Dates'',<ref>{{cite web|date=|title=Stories I Tell On Dates|url=https://www.storiesitellondates.com/|access-date=August 29, 2017}}
</ref> came out October 17, 2017. His third book (and first novel), ''Ball Boy'',<ref>{{Cite book|last=Shirley|first=Paul|title=Ball Boy|date=February 2, 2021|publisher=Fourth Bar Books |isbn=978-0578800356}}</ref> was released in February 2021.
<!--==Playing career==
<!--==Playing career==
==Collegiate Totals==
==Collegiate Totals==
Line 111: Line 85:


== Career ==
== Career ==
Shirley was born in [[Redwood City, California]] and grew up near the small town of [[Meriden, Kansas]]. He played high school basketball at Jefferson West High School.
Shirley was born in [[Redwood City, California]], and grew up near the small town of [[Meriden, Kansas]]. He played high school basketball at Jefferson West High School, where he was a [[National Merit Scholarship Program|National Merit Finalist]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Berri|first=David|title=Paul Shirley Was Good At Basketball (Sometimes!)|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidberri/2017/12/18/paul-shirley-was-good-at-basketball-sometimes/|access-date=2021-03-20|website=Forbes|language=en}}</ref>


Shirley worked his way from [[walk-on (sports)|walk-on]] to three-year starter for the [[Iowa State]] Cyclones basketball team. He was coached first by [[Tim Floyd]] (until Floyd left the Cyclones to become the head coach of the [[Chicago Bulls]]) and then by [[Larry Eustachy]]. His notable teammates included future NBA players [[Jamaal Tinsley]], [[Kelvin Cato]], and [[Marcus Fizer]]. The [[1999-2000 Iowa State Cyclones men's basketball team|Cyclones]] progressed to the Elite Eight of the [[NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship|NCAA basketball tournament]] his junior season. In his college career, he earned three Academic All-[[Big 12]] selections and, in his senior season, was named second-team Academic All-American.
Shirley worked his way from [[walk-on (sports)|walk-on]] to three-year starter for the [[Iowa State]] basketball team. He was coached first by [[Tim Floyd]] (until Floyd left the Cyclones to become the head coach of the [[Chicago Bulls]]) and then by [[Larry Eustachy]]. Notable teammates included future NBA players [[Jamaal Tinsley]], [[Kelvin Cato]], and [[Marcus Fizer]].


After winning the [[Big 12 Conference|Big XII]]'s regular-season conference championship,<ref>{{Cite web|last=Writer|first=Michael Zogg-Daily Staff|title=SPORTS MOMENTS: Elite 2000 team wins Big 12 title|url=https://www.iowastatedaily.com/sports/sports-moments-elite-2000-team-wins-big-12-title/article_1af3125e-9fa9-5c50-bb2b-62a587e483a7.html|access-date=2021-03-20|website=Iowa State Daily|language=en}}</ref> the [[1999-2000 Iowa State Cyclones men's basketball team|Cyclones]] advanced to the Elite Eight of the [[NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship|NCAA basketball tournament]] during Shirley's junior season, losing to eventual champion Michigan State. At the end of Shirley's senior year, Iowa State became the fourth number-two seed to lose in the first round of the tournament.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Men's Hoops Goes Down to Hampton, 58-57|url=https://cyclones.com/news/2001/3/15/859224.aspx|access-date=2021-03-20|website=Iowa State University Athletics|language=en}}</ref>
⚫
After graduating, the 6'10" Shirley played [[power forward (basketball)|power forward]] for thirteen different professional teams including the [[NBA]] teams the [[Phoenix Suns]], [[Atlanta Hawks]], and the [[Chicago Bulls]], as well as [[Panionios BC|Panionios Athens]] of the [[A1 Ethniki|Greek A1 League]], [[Joventut Badalona]], [[Menorca Bàsquet|ViveMenorca]], and [[CB Málaga|Unicaja Málaga]] of the [[Liga ACB|Spanish ACB League]], and [[UNICS Kazan]] of the [[Russian Basketball Super League|Russian Super League]].


During his college career, Shirley earned three Academic All-[[Big 12]] selections and, in his senior season, was named second-team Academic All-American.<ref>{{Cite web|title=(PDF) - CoSIDA Conference|url=https://academicallamerica.com/documents/2017/4/11/2001%20MENS%20BASKETBALL.pdf?id=2199|access-date=2021-03-20|website=academicallamerica.com|language=en}}</ref> He graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering.
He has three brothers who used to live in the [[Jefferson County, Kansas|Johnson County, Kansas City area]], Shirley's off-season home.


⚫
After college, the 6'10" Shirley played [[power forward (basketball)|power forward]] for thirteen different professional teams including, in the [[NBA]], the [[Phoenix Suns]], [[Atlanta Hawks]], and the [[Chicago Bulls]], as well as [[Panionios BC|Panionios Athens]] of the [[A1 Ethniki|Greek A1 League]], [[Joventut Badalona]], [[Menorca Bàsquet|ViveMenorca]], and [[CB Málaga|Unicaja Málaga]] of the [[Liga ACB|Spanish ACB League]], and [[UNICS Kazan]] of the [[Russian Basketball Super League|Russian Super League]].
He appeared in the film ''[[Glory Road (film)|Glory Road]]'' (#50 for Iowa, uncredited)<ref>{{cite web

Shirley also appeared in NBA preseason games with the [[Los Angeles Lakers]], [[New Orleans Hornets]], and [[Minnesota Timberwolves]], and played summer league games with the Timberwolves and [[Cleveland Cavaliers]].

Shirley played a total of 18 games in the NBA from 2002 to 2005 where he averaged 1.8 points and 1.1 rebounds. His final game was during his tenure with the [[Phoenix Suns]] on April 20, 2005, in a 107–132 loss to the [[Sacramento Kings]] where he played for 4 minutes and the only stat he recorded was 1 assist.

Shirley has three younger brothers, including chartmaker Matt Shirley.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Hoff|first=Madison|title=Meet the graphic designer mapping the absurdities of millennial life on incredibly shareable graphs and charts across Instagram|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/matt-shirley-creates-a-fun-and-relatable-chart-every-day-2020-2|access-date=2021-03-20|website=Business Insider|date=January 16, 2020 }}</ref> He appeared in the film ''[[Glory Road (film)|Glory Road]]'' (#50 for Iowa, uncredited)<ref>{{cite web
| title = Paul Shirley
| title = Paul Shirley
| work = The Internet Movie Database
| work = The Internet Movie Database
| date =
| date =
| url = https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2165552/
| url = https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2165552/
| accessdate = November 1, 2009}}
| access-date = November 1, 2009}}
</ref> and an episode of the TBS Sitcom Ground Floor (Kevin)<ref>{{cite web
</ref> and in an episode of the TBS Sitcom ''[[Ground Floor]]'' (Kevin).<ref>{{cite web
| title = Ground Floor
| title = Ground Floor
| work = The Internet Movie Database
| work = The Internet Movie Database
| date =
| date =
| url = https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3911604/
| url = https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3911604/
| accessdate = August 29, 2017}}
| access-date = August 29, 2017}}
</ref>
⚫
</ref>. He also produced a television pilot for Twentieth Century Fox called The Twelfth Man<ref>{{cite web

⚫
He also produced an unaired television pilot for Twentieth Century Fox called ''The Twelfth Man''.<ref>{{cite web
| title = The Twelfth Man
| title = The Twelfth Man
| work = The Internet Movie Database
| work = The Internet Movie Database
| date =
| date =
| url = https://m.imdb.com/title/tt0756415/
| url = https://m.imdb.com/title/tt0756415/
| accessdate = August 29, 2017}}
| access-date = August 29, 2017}}
</ref>.. It never aired.
</ref>


==Writing career and Controversies==
==Writing career==
Shirley's blogs at ESPN and elsewhere contained observations on players, teams, fans, cities, sports media, [[cheerleaders]], the game of basketball, and topics outside the athletic sphere. He commented on topics such as the [[USA Patriot Act]], which he condemned as "[putting] the US on a fast-track to an [[Orwellian]] destiny".<ref>{{cite web
Shirley's blogs at ESPN and elsewhere contained observations on players, teams, fans, cities, sports media, [[cheerleaders]], the game of basketball, and topics outside the athletic sphere. He commented on topics such as the [[USA Patriot Act]], which he condemned as "[putting] the US on a fast-track to an [[Orwellian]] destiny".<ref>{{cite web | last = Shirley | first = Paul | title = The Paul Shirley Show | work = NBA.com | date = | url = http://www.nba.com/suns/news/shirley_playoff_blog.html | doi = | access-date = May 5, 2007}}</ref> His writing garnered attention from national sports media, as well as other outlets such as ''[[Newsweek]]'',<ref>{{Cite web|last=EDT|first=Newsweek Staff On 5/1/05 at 8:00 PM|date=2005-05-01|title=BLOGWATCH|url=https://www.newsweek.com/blogwatch-118813|access-date=2021-03-20|website=Newsweek|language=en}}</ref> ''[[The Wall Street Journal]],''<ref>{{Cite news|last=Online|first=David RothSpecial to The Wall Street Journal|date=2005-04-29|title=An NBA Team's 12th Man Is a Star in Blogging World|language=en-US|work=Wall Street Journal|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB111445048716416116|access-date=2021-03-20|issn=0099-9660}}</ref> and by ESPN's [[Bill Simmons]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=ESPN.com: Page 2 : An SOS for KG's career|url=http://www.espn.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/061122|access-date=2021-03-20|website=www.espn.com}}</ref>
| last = Shirley
⚫
| first = Paul
| authorlink =
| author2 =
| title = The Paul Shirley Show
| work =
| publisher = NBA.com
| date =
| url = http://www.nba.com/suns/news/shirley_playoff_blog.html
| doi =
| accessdate = May 5, 2007}}</ref> His writing garnered attention from national sports media, as well as other outlets such as ''[[Newsweek]]'', ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'', and the [[British Broadcasting Corporation]].{{Citation needed|date=January 2010}}


Shirley's first book, entitled ''Can I Keep My Jersey?'', was released on May 15, 2007 from [[Random House]].<ref>{{Cite book
Shirley's first book, ''Can I Keep My Jersey?'', was published on May 15, 2007, by [[Random House]].<ref>{{Cite book
| last = Shirley
| last = Shirley
| first = Paul
| first = Paul
Line 159: Line 130:
| publisher = Random House
| publisher = Random House
| year = 2007
| year = 2007
| url = https://archive.org/details/canikeepmyjersey00paul
| url =http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780345491367
| id =
| id =
| isbn = 978-0-345-49570-9}}</ref> A paperback version of the book was released on December 26, 2007.
| isbn = 978-0-345-49570-9
| url-access = registration
His second book, Stories I Tell On Dates<ref>{{cite web
}}</ref> It received positive reviews from The Onion's [[The A.V. Club|AV Club]], which noted that it "deserves a spot next to [[Ball Four]]."<ref>{{Cite web|title=Paul Shirley: Can I Keep My Jersey?: 11 Teams, 5 Countries, And 4 Years In My Life As A Basketball Vagabond|url=https://www.avclub.com/paul-shirley-can-i-keep-my-jersey-11-teams-5-countr-1798202640|access-date=2021-03-20|website=AUX|date=May 31, 2007 |language=en-us}}</ref> A paperback version of the book was released on December 26, 2007.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Shirley|first=Paul|title=Can I Keep My Jersey|year=2008|publisher=Random House Publishing |isbn=978-0345495709}}</ref>

⚫
His second book, ''Stories I Tell On Dates'',<ref>{{cite web
| title = Stories I Tell On Dates
| title = Stories I Tell On Dates
| work =
| date =
| date =
| url = https://www.storiesitellondates.com/
| url = https://www.storiesitellondates.com/
| accessdate = August 29, 2017}}
| access-date = August 29, 2017}}
</ref> came out October 17, 2017. A [[podcast]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=Stories I Tell on Dates|url=https://open.spotify.com/show/1HACAEfpQqFharWGeJidko|access-date=2021-03-20|website=Spotify|language=en}}</ref> of the same name followed soon after.
</ref>, has an announced release date of October 17, 2017.


His third book, ''Ball Boy'', was released February 2, 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-02-15|title=Untold stories behind the scenes on Hawks, Bulls, Suns with former NBA player Paul Shirley|url=https://hoopshype.com/2021/02/15/behind-scenes-hawks-bulls-suns-former-nba-player-paul-shirley/|access-date=2021-03-20|website=HoopsHype|language=en-US}}</ref>
⚫
Shirley's writings have sometimes been the cause of controversy. In a Slate.com piece with Neal Pollack, he compared rooting for the San Antonio Spurs to cheering for cancer<ref>{{cite web

Between 2008 and 2015, Shirley wrote a monthly column about the NBA called "Historias de un Tío Alto" (loosely: "Stories by a Tall Guy") in ''[[El País|El Pais]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Artículos escritos por Paul Shirley|url=https://elpais.com/autor/paul-shirley/|access-date=2021-03-20|website=EL PAÍS|date=June 21, 2016 |language=es}}</ref>

===ESPN dismissal===
⚫
Shirley's writings have sometimes been the cause of controversy. In a Slate.com piece with Neal Pollack, he compared rooting for the San Antonio Spurs to cheering for cancer.<ref>{{cite journal
| title = Why I Root for Brent Barry
| title = Why I Root for Brent Barry
| work = Slate
| journal = Slate
| date =
| date = May 17, 2007
| url = http://www.slate.com/articles/sports/sports_nut/features/2007/the_nba_playoffs/why_i_root_for_brent_barry.html
| url = http://www.slate.com/articles/sports/sports_nut/features/2007/the_nba_playoffs/why_i_root_for_brent_barry.html
| accessdate = September 1, 2017}}
| access-date = September 1, 2017| last1 = Shirley
⚫
| first1 = Paul
⚫
</ref>. In a 2009 column for ESPN.com, he called the Beatles overrated<ref>{{cite web
}}
⚫
</ref> In a 2009 column for ESPN.com, he called the Beatles overrated,<ref>{{cite web
| title = Dare I say The Beatles weren't so fab
| title = Dare I say The Beatles weren't so fab
| work = ESPN
| work = ESPN
| date =
| date = September 15, 2009
| url = http://www.espn.com/espn/thelife/news/story?id=4474313
| url = http://www.espn.com/espn/thelife/news/story?id=4474313
| accessdate = September 1, 2017}}
| access-date = September 1, 2017}}
</ref>, drawing the ire of fellow music critics. And in 2010, he published a blog questioning the potential efficacy of relief efforts for that year's earthquake writing in part "Could you not resort to the creation of flimsy shanty- and shack-towns? And could some of you maybe use a condom once in a while?." Afterwards, he was dismissed by ESPN. The company's full statement: "He was a part-time freelance contributor. The views he expressed on another site of course do not at all reflect our company's views on the Haiti relief efforts. He will no longer contribute to ESPN."<ref>{{cite web| last =| first =| authorlink =| author2 =| title =Statement regarding Paul Shirley| work =ESPN Media Zone| publisher =ESPN.com| date =January 27, 2010| url =http://www.espnmediazone3.com/us/2010/01/statement-regarding-paul-shirley/| doi =| accessdate =January 27, 2010| deadurl =yes| archiveurl =https://web.archive.org/web/20100129005652/http://www.espnmediazone3.com/us/2010/01/statement-regarding-paul-shirley/| archivedate =January 29, 2010| df =mdy-all}}</ref>
</ref> drawing the ire of fellow music critics. And in 2010, he published a blog questioning the potential efficacy of relief efforts for that year's [[2010 Haiti earthquake|earthquake]] in Haiti. Afterward, he was dismissed by ESPN. The company's full statement read: "He was a part-time freelance contributor. The views he expressed on another site of course do not at all reflect our company's views on the Haiti relief efforts. He will no longer contribute to ESPN."<ref>{{cite web| title =Statement regarding Paul Shirley| work =ESPN Media Zone| publisher =ESPN.com| date =January 27, 2010| url =http://www.espnmediazone3.com/us/2010/01/statement-regarding-paul-shirley/| access-date =January 27, 2010| url-status =dead| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20100129005652/http://www.espnmediazone3.com/us/2010/01/statement-regarding-paul-shirley/| archive-date =January 29, 2010| df =mdy-all}}</ref>


==Statistics==
==Statistics==
Line 231: Line 211:
* [http://www.nba.com/playerfile/paul_shirley/ Paul Shirley NBA.com Profile]
* [http://www.nba.com/playerfile/paul_shirley/ Paul Shirley NBA.com Profile]
* [http://www.euroleague.net/competition/players/showplayer?gamecode=85&pcode=BUA Euroleague.net Profile]
* [http://www.euroleague.net/competition/players/showplayer?gamecode=85&pcode=BUA Euroleague.net Profile]
* [http://www.acb.com/jugador.php?id=B39 ACB.com Profile (Spain)]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20160914160839/http://www.acb.com/jugador.php?id=B39 ACB.com Profile (Spain)]


{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}
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[[Category:1977 births]]
[[Category:1977 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
⚫
[[Category:American bloggers]]
[[Category:American expatriate basketball people in China]]
[[Category:American expatriate basketball people in China]]
[[Category:American expatriate basketball people in Greece]]
[[Category:American expatriate basketball people in Greece]]
[[Category:American expatriate basketball people in Russia]]
[[Category:American expatriate basketball people in Russia]]
[[Category:American expatriate basketball people in Spain]]
[[Category:American expatriate basketball people in Spain]]
[[Category:American male bloggers]]
⚫
[[Category:American bloggers]]
⚫
[[Category:American male writers]]
⚫
[[Category:American men's basketball players]]
[[Category:Atlanta Hawks players]]
[[Category:Atlanta Hawks players]]
[[Category:Basketball players from California]]
[[Category:Baloncesto Málaga players]]
[[Category:Basketball players from Kansas]]
[[Category:Basketball players from Kansas]]
⚫
[[Category:American men's basketball players]]
[[Category:BC UNICS players]]
[[Category:BC UNICS players]]
[[Category:Beijing Olympians]]
[[Category:Beijing Olympians players]]
[[Category:Chicago Bulls players]]
[[Category:Chicago Bulls players]]
[[Category:Greek Basket League players]]
[[Category:Greek Basket League players]]
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[[Category:Panionios B.C. players]]
[[Category:Panionios B.C. players]]
[[Category:People from Jefferson County, Kansas]]
[[Category:People from Jefferson County, Kansas]]
[[Category:People from Johnson County, Kansas]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Johnson County, Kansas]]
[[Category:People from Redwood City, California]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Redwood City, California]]
[[Category:Basketball players from San Mateo County, California]]
[[Category:Phoenix Suns players]]
[[Category:Phoenix Suns players]]
[[Category:Power forwards (basketball)]]
[[Category:Power forwards]]
[[Category:Undrafted National Basketball Association players]]
[[Category:Undrafted NBA players]]
[[Category:Yakima Sun Kings players]]
[[Category:Yakima Sun Kings players]]
⚫
[[Category:American male writers]]

Latest revision as of 03:32, 19 November 2024

For the California politician, see Paul Shirley (politician).

Paul Shirley
Personal information
Born (1977-12-23) December 23, 1977 (age 46)
Redwood City, California
NationalityAmerican
Listed height6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
Listed weight230 lb (104 kg)
Career information
High schoolJefferson West (Meriden, Kansas)
CollegeIowa State (1996–2001)
NBA draft2001: undrafted
Playing career2001–2008
PositionPower forward
Career history
2001–2002Panionios Athens
2002–2003Yakima Sun Kings
2002–2003Atlanta Hawks
2003Joventut Badalona
2003–2004Kansas City Knights
2004Chicago Bulls
2004UNICS Kazan
2005Phoenix Suns
2005Beijing Aoshen Olympians
2007–2008ViveMenorca
2008Unicaja Málaga
Career highlights and awards
Stats at NBA.com Edit this at Wikidata
Stats at Basketball Reference Edit this at Wikidata

Paul Murphy Shirley (born December 23, 1977) is an American former professional basketball player who last played for Unicaja Málaga in the Spanish ACB.

Shirley is noted for briefly maintaining an online journal (blog) while playing for the Phoenix Suns in 2004–05. His first journal dealt with a several-day-long road trip,[1] while the second chronicled the Suns' NBA Playoffs run. He was later the author of a blog for ESPN.com entitled "My So-Called Career".[2]

Shirley was signed to a non-guaranteed contract by the Minnesota Timberwolves in early October 2006, but was cut in training camp before the start of the 2006–07 season. He finished his career in Spain, playing in the ACB for ViveMenorca and Unicaja Malaga.

After Shirley's playing career, he wrote a column for the Spanish newspaper El Pais, maintained a podcast (Short Corner) with Justin Halpern, and founded a writing group in Los Angeles called Writers Blok.[3]

Shirley's first book, Can I Keep My Jersey?,[4] was released in 2007. His second book, Stories I Tell On Dates,[5] came out October 17, 2017. His third book (and first novel), Ball Boy,[6] was released in February 2021.

Career

[edit]

Shirley was born in Redwood City, California, and grew up near the small town of Meriden, Kansas. He played high school basketball at Jefferson West High School, where he was a National Merit Finalist.[7]

Shirley worked his way from walk-on to three-year starter for the Iowa State basketball team. He was coached first by Tim Floyd (until Floyd left the Cyclones to become the head coach of the Chicago Bulls) and then by Larry Eustachy. Notable teammates included future NBA players Jamaal Tinsley, Kelvin Cato, and Marcus Fizer.

After winning the Big XII's regular-season conference championship,[8] the Cyclones advanced to the Elite Eight of the NCAA basketball tournament during Shirley's junior season, losing to eventual champion Michigan State. At the end of Shirley's senior year, Iowa State became the fourth number-two seed to lose in the first round of the tournament.[9]

During his college career, Shirley earned three Academic All-Big 12 selections and, in his senior season, was named second-team Academic All-American.[10] He graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering.

After college, the 6'10" Shirley played power forward for thirteen different professional teams including, in the NBA, the Phoenix Suns, Atlanta Hawks, and the Chicago Bulls, as well as Panionios Athens of the Greek A1 League, Joventut Badalona, ViveMenorca, and Unicaja Málaga of the Spanish ACB League, and UNICS Kazan of the Russian Super League.

Shirley also appeared in NBA preseason games with the Los Angeles Lakers, New Orleans Hornets, and Minnesota Timberwolves, and played summer league games with the Timberwolves and Cleveland Cavaliers.

Shirley played a total of 18 games in the NBA from 2002 to 2005 where he averaged 1.8 points and 1.1 rebounds. His final game was during his tenure with the Phoenix Suns on April 20, 2005, in a 107–132 loss to the Sacramento Kings where he played for 4 minutes and the only stat he recorded was 1 assist.

Shirley has three younger brothers, including chartmaker Matt Shirley.[11] He appeared in the film Glory Road (#50 for Iowa, uncredited)[12] and in an episode of the TBS Sitcom Ground Floor (Kevin).[13]

He also produced an unaired television pilot for Twentieth Century Fox called The Twelfth Man.[14]

Writing career

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Shirley's blogs at ESPN and elsewhere contained observations on players, teams, fans, cities, sports media, cheerleaders, the game of basketball, and topics outside the athletic sphere. He commented on topics such as the USA Patriot Act, which he condemned as "[putting] the US on a fast-track to an Orwellian destiny".[15] His writing garnered attention from national sports media, as well as other outlets such as Newsweek,[16] The Wall Street Journal,[17] and by ESPN's Bill Simmons.[18]

Shirley's first book, Can I Keep My Jersey?, was published on May 15, 2007, by Random House.[19] It received positive reviews from The Onion's AV Club, which noted that it "deserves a spot next to Ball Four."[20] A paperback version of the book was released on December 26, 2007.[21]

His second book, Stories I Tell On Dates,[22] came out October 17, 2017. A podcast[23] of the same name followed soon after.

His third book, Ball Boy, was released February 2, 2021.[24]

Between 2008 and 2015, Shirley wrote a monthly column about the NBA called "Historias de un Tío Alto" (loosely: "Stories by a Tall Guy") in El Pais.[25]

ESPN dismissal

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Shirley's writings have sometimes been the cause of controversy. In a Slate.com piece with Neal Pollack, he compared rooting for the San Antonio Spurs to cheering for cancer.[26] In a 2009 column for ESPN.com, he called the Beatles overrated,[27] drawing the ire of fellow music critics. And in 2010, he published a blog questioning the potential efficacy of relief efforts for that year's earthquake in Haiti. Afterward, he was dismissed by ESPN. The company's full statement read: "He was a part-time freelance contributor. The views he expressed on another site of course do not at all reflect our company's views on the Haiti relief efforts. He will no longer contribute to ESPN."[28]

Statistics

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Collegiate statistics

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Year Age Team G GS MIN FGM FGA 3PM 3PA FTM FTA REB AST STL BLK TO PF PTS
4 Season Totals 109 46 N/A 283 511 1 2 255 373 552 69 58 45 153 N/A 822

Source: Cyclones.com and Sports-Reference.com

Professional statistics

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Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

NBA career statistics

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Regular season

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Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2002–03 Atlanta 2 0 2.5 .000 .000 .000 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
2003–04 Chicago 7 0 12.3 .435 .000 .000 2.3 0.6 0.1 0.1 3.0
2004–05 Phoenix 9 0 3.3 .455 .000 .500 0.2 0.3 0.0 0.0 1.3
Career 18 0 6.7 .395 .000 .429 1.1 0.4 0.05 0.05 1.8

References

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  1. ^ "Paul Shirley's Road Ramblings". Phoenix Suns. Retrieved March 20, 2021.
  2. ^ Shirley, Paul (October 20, 2005). "My So-Called Career: Paul Shirley's Basketball Journal". ESPN.com. Retrieved January 27, 2010.
  3. ^ "ABOUT". writersblok. Retrieved March 20, 2021.
  4. ^ Shirley, Paul (2008). Can I Keep My Jersey?. Random House Publishing. ISBN 978-0345495709. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  5. ^ "Stories I Tell On Dates". Retrieved August 29, 2017.
  6. ^ Shirley, Paul (February 2, 2021). Ball Boy. Fourth Bar Books. ISBN 978-0578800356.
  7. ^ Berri, David. "Paul Shirley Was Good At Basketball (Sometimes!)". Forbes. Retrieved March 20, 2021.
  8. ^ Writer, Michael Zogg-Daily Staff. "SPORTS MOMENTS: Elite 2000 team wins Big 12 title". Iowa State Daily. Retrieved March 20, 2021.
  9. ^ "Men's Hoops Goes Down to Hampton, 58-57". Iowa State University Athletics. Retrieved March 20, 2021.
  10. ^ "(PDF) - CoSIDA Conference" (PDF). academicallamerica.com. Retrieved March 20, 2021.
  11. ^ Hoff, Madison (January 16, 2020). "Meet the graphic designer mapping the absurdities of millennial life on incredibly shareable graphs and charts across Instagram". Business Insider. Retrieved March 20, 2021.
  12. ^ "Paul Shirley". The Internet Movie Database. Retrieved November 1, 2009.
  13. ^ "Ground Floor". The Internet Movie Database. Retrieved August 29, 2017.
  14. ^ "The Twelfth Man". The Internet Movie Database. Retrieved August 29, 2017.
  15. ^ Shirley, Paul. "The Paul Shirley Show". NBA.com. Retrieved May 5, 2007.
  16. ^ EDT, Newsweek Staff On 5/1/05 at 8:00 PM (May 1, 2005). "BLOGWATCH". Newsweek. Retrieved March 20, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  17. ^ Online, David RothSpecial to The Wall Street Journal (April 29, 2005). "An NBA Team's 12th Man Is a Star in Blogging World". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved March 20, 2021.
  18. ^ "ESPN.com: Page 2 : An SOS for KG's career". www.espn.com. Retrieved March 20, 2021.
  19. ^ Shirley, Paul (2007). Can I Keep My Jersey?. Random House. ISBN 978-0-345-49570-9.
  20. ^ "Paul Shirley: Can I Keep My Jersey?: 11 Teams, 5 Countries, And 4 Years In My Life As A Basketball Vagabond". AUX. May 31, 2007. Retrieved March 20, 2021.
  21. ^ Shirley, Paul (2008). Can I Keep My Jersey. Random House Publishing. ISBN 978-0345495709.
  22. ^ "Stories I Tell On Dates". Retrieved August 29, 2017.
  23. ^ "Stories I Tell on Dates". Spotify. Retrieved March 20, 2021.
  24. ^ "Untold stories behind the scenes on Hawks, Bulls, Suns with former NBA player Paul Shirley". HoopsHype. February 15, 2021. Retrieved March 20, 2021.
  25. ^ "Artículos escritos por Paul Shirley". EL PAÍS (in Spanish). June 21, 2016. Retrieved March 20, 2021.
  26. ^ Shirley, Paul (May 17, 2007). "Why I Root for Brent Barry". Slate. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  27. ^ "Dare I say The Beatles weren't so fab". ESPN. September 15, 2009. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  28. ^ "Statement regarding Paul Shirley". ESPN Media Zone. ESPN.com. January 27, 2010. Archived from the original on January 29, 2010. Retrieved January 27, 2010.
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