Bryant Reeves: Difference between revisions

Bryant Reeves
Personal information
Born	June 8, 1973 (age 51); Fort Smith, Arkansas, U.S.
Listed height	7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)
Listed weight	290 lb (132 kg)
Career information
High school	Gans (Gans, Oklahoma)
College	Oklahoma State (1991–1995)
NBA draft	1995: 1st round, 6th overall pick
	Selected by the Vancouver Grizzlies
Playing career	1995–2002
Position	Center
Number	50
Career history
1995–2002	Vancouver / Memphis Grizzlies
Career highlights and awards
	NBA All-Rookie Second Team (1996); 2× Second-team All-American – UPI (1994, 1995); 2× Third-team All-American – AP (1994, 1995); Big Eight Player of the Year (1993); 3× First-team All-Big Eight (1993–1995);
Career NBA statistics
Points	4,945 (12.5 ppg)
Rebounds	2,745 (6.9 rpg)
Blocks	302 (0.8 bpg)
	Stats at NBA.com
	Stats at Basketball Reference

Browse history interactively

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Bryant Reeves (born June 8, 1973) is an American former professional basketball player. Reeves spent his entire career with the National Basketball Association's Vancouver Grizzlies, playing with the team from 1995 until 2001. He was nicknamed "Big Country" by his college teammate Byron Houston after Reeves was amazed by the size of the United States following his first cross-country airplane flight,^[1] having grown up in the small community of Gans, Oklahoma.^[2]

College career

Standing 7 feet (210 cm) tall and weighing between 275 and 300 pounds (125 and 136 kg), Reeves was an imposing physical presence on the court and was primed to become a dominant center in the NBA. He had a strong collegiate career with Oklahoma State University, where he averaged 21.5 points per game as a senior and led OSU to the 1995 Final Four.

Professional career

Vancouver / Memphis Grizzlies (1995–2002)

Reeves became the Grizzlies' first-ever draft choice, selected sixth overall in the 1995 NBA draft.^[3]

Reeves played six seasons with the Grizzlies. After averaging 13.3 points per game in a solid rookie season, he averaged 16.2 points per game in the 1996–97 season and was subsequently awarded with a six-year, $61.8 million contract extension. The next season was his best, when he averaged 16.3 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 1.08 blocked shots per game. During that season he scored a career-high 41 points against the Boston Celtics.

After 1998, weight-control problems and injuries began to take a toll on Reeves, and his numbers fell off dramatically.^[4] He was still the starting center for the Grizzlies, but his minutes per game dropped, and his field goal percentage dropped significantly. Eventually, after the Grizzlies moved to Memphis, Tennessee in 2001, Reeves started the season on the injured list due to chronic back pain and was never able to play another game (the only games he played with the team in Memphis were two preseason games). During preseason play in the fall of 2001, Reeves experienced back pain after just two preseason games.^[5] On January 29, 2002, the Grizzlies announced Reeves' retirement from the NBA due to chronic back pain caused by degenerative discs.^[6] At the time he was the Grizzlies all-time leader in games played with 395.^[7]

NBA career statistics

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

Regular season


Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
1995–96	Vancouver	77	63	24.9	.457	.000	.732	7.4	1.4	0.6	0.7	13.3
1996–97	Vancouver	75	75	37.0	.486	.091	.704	8.1	2.1	0.4	0.9	16.2
1997–98	Vancouver	74	74	34.1	.523	.000	.706	7.9	2.1	0.5	1.1	16.3
1998–99	Vancouver	25	14	28.1	.406	.000	.578	5.5	1.5	0.5	0.3	10.8
1999–00	Vancouver	69	67	25.7	.448	.000	.648	5.7	1.2	0.5	0.6	8.9
2000–01	Vancouver	75	48	24.4	.460	.250	.796	6.0	1.1	0.6	0.7	8.3
Career		395	341	30.6	.475	.074	.703	6.9	1.6	0.5	0.8	12.5

Personal life

Bryant was the subject of Kathleen Jayme's documentary film Finding Big Country in 2018.^[8] Following his career, Reeves went back to Oklahoma and is now a cattle farmer and a family man, living on a ranch in Sequoyah County.^[9] His son Trey was a three year walk on at Oklahoma State, earning a scholarship his final year and was accepted to Harvard Law School.^[10]^[11]

References

^ NBA.com player file
^ Reeves' Town Reacts When `News' Breaks
^ The First Face of the Grizzlies Franchise and a Big Country
^ PRO BASKETBALL; Some Scales Tipping Over As N.B.A. Season Tips Off
^ "Grizzlies' Reeves disabled by back".
^ "Reeves retired with back injury". United Press International. January 29, 2002. Retrieved December 29, 2022.
^ "Back to the country - Back injury forces Grizzlies' Reeves to retirement". Sports Illustrated. CNN. January 29, 2002. Archived from the original on March 10, 2006. Retrieved December 29, 2022.
^ Dana Gee, "Finding Big Country documentary answers the whatever happened to question". Vancouver Sun, December 4, 2018.
^ Writer, BILL HAISTEN World Sports (July 3, 2020). "Back to the Country: Former OSU basketball great Bryant Reeves savors life on a piece of paradise in Sequoyah County". Tulsa World. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
^ "Son of Bryant 'Big Country' Reeves is surprised when he is given a scholarship at Oklahoma State". CBSSports.com. November 9, 2018. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
^ Unruh, Jacob. "'He really is gifted': How Trey Reeves went from Oklahoma State walk-on to Harvard Law School". The Oklahoman. Retrieved May 13, 2023.

External links

Historical Player Profile at NBA.com
Career statistics from NBA.com and Basketball Reference
TheDraftReview.com: Bryant Reeves's NBA Draft History Page

[1] NBA.com player file

[2] Reeves' Town Reacts When `News' Breaks

[3] The First Face of the Grizzlies Franchise and a Big Country

[4] PRO BASKETBALL; Some Scales Tipping Over As N.B.A. Season Tips Off

[5] "Grizzlies' Reeves disabled by back".

[6] "Reeves retired with back injury". United Press International. January 29, 2002. Retrieved December 29, 2022.

[7] "Back to the country - Back injury forces Grizzlies' Reeves to retirement". Sports Illustrated. CNN. January 29, 2002. Archived from the original on March 10, 2006. Retrieved December 29, 2022.

[8] Dana Gee, "Finding Big Country documentary answers the whatever happened to question". Vancouver Sun, December 4, 2018.

[9] Writer, BILL HAISTEN World Sports (July 3, 2020). "Back to the Country: Former OSU basketball great Bryant Reeves savors life on a piece of paradise in Sequoyah County". Tulsa World. Retrieved May 13, 2023.

[10] "Son of Bryant 'Big Country' Reeves is surprised when he is given a scholarship at Oklahoma State". CBSSports.com. November 9, 2018. Retrieved May 13, 2023.

[11] Unruh, Jacob. "'He really is gifted': How Trey Reeves went from Oklahoma State walk-on to Harvard Law School". The Oklahoman. Retrieved May 13, 2023.

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{short description|American basketball player}}
+{{For|the American football player|Bryan Reeves}}
+{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
 {{Infobox basketball biography
-| name            = Bryant Reeves
+| name = Bryant Reeves
-| image           =
+| image =
-| width           =
+| width =
-| caption         =
+| caption =
-| height_ft       = 7
+| height_ft = 7
-| height_in       = 0
+| height_in = 0
-| weight_lb       = 275
+| weight_lb = 290
-| birth_date      = {{birth date and age|1973|06|08}}
+| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1973|06|08}}
-| birth_place     = [[Fort Smith, Arkansas]]
+| birth_place = [[Fort Smith, Arkansas]], U.S.
+| high_school = Gans ([[Gans, Oklahoma]])
-| nationality     = American
-| high_school     = Gans ([[Gans, Oklahoma]])
+| college = [[Oklahoma State Cowboys basketball|Oklahoma State]] (1991–1995)
+| draft_year = 1995
-| college         = [[Oklahoma State Cowboys basketball|Oklahoma State]] (1991–1995)
-| draft_year      = 1995
+| draft_round = 1
-| draft_round     = 1
+| draft_pick = 6
+| draft_team = [[Vancouver Grizzlies]]
-| draft_pick      = 6
+| career_start = 1995
-| draft_team      = [[Vancouver Grizzlies]]
-| career_start    = 1995
+| career_end = 2002
-| career_end      = 2001
 | career_position = [[Center (basketball)|Center]]
-| career_number   = 50
+| career_number = 50
-| years1          = {{nbay|1995|start}}–{{nbay|2000|end}}
+| years1 = {{nbay|1995|start}}–{{nbay|2001|end}}
-| team1           = Vancouver Grizzlies
+| team1 = [[Vancouver Grizzlies|Vancouver]] / [[Memphis Grizzlies]]
-| highlights      =
+| highlights =
 * [[NBA All-Rookie Second Team]] ({{nbay|1995|end}})
 * 2× Second-team [[NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans|All-American]] – [[United Press International|UPI]] ([[1994 NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans|1994]], [[1995 NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans|1995]])
 * 2× Third-team All-American – [[Associated Press|AP]] (1994, 1995)
-* 2× [[Big Eight Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year|Big Eight Player of the Year]] (1993, 1995)
+* [[Big Eight Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year|Big Eight Player of the Year]] (1993)
 * 3× First-team All-[[Big Eight Conference|Big Eight]] (1993–1995)
-| stats_league    = NBA
+| stats_league = NBA
-| stat1label      = [[Point (basketball)|Points]]
+| stat1label = [[Point (basketball)|Points]]
-| stat1value      = 4,945 (12.5 ppg)
+| stat1value = 4,945 (12.5 ppg)
-| stat2label      = [[Rebound (basketball)|Rebounds]]
+| stat2label = [[Rebound (basketball)|Rebounds]]
-| stat2value      = 2,745 (6.9 rpg)
+| stat2value = 2,745 (6.9 rpg)
-| stat3label      = [[Block (basketball)|Blocks]]
+| stat3label = [[Block (basketball)|Blocks]]
-| stat3value      = 302 (0.8 bpg)
+| stat3value = 302 (0.8 bpg)
-| bbr             = reevebr01
 }}
-'''Bryant Reeves''' (born June 8, 1973) is an American retired professional [[basketball]] player. Reeves spent his entire career with the [[National Basketball Association|NBA]]'s [[Vancouver Grizzlies]], playing with the team from 1995 until 2001. He was nicknamed "'''Big Country'''" by his college teammate [[Byron Houston]] after Reeves was amazed following his first airplane flight across the United States,<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20061213174656/http://www.nba.com/playerfile/bryant_reeves/bio.html NBA.com player file]</ref> having grown up in the small community of [[Gans, Oklahoma]].<ref>[http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1995-04-01/sports/9503310658_1_gans-big-country-town Reeves' Town Reacts When `News' Breaks]</ref>
+'''Bryant Reeves''' (born June 8, 1973) is an American former professional [[basketball]] player. Reeves spent his entire career with the [[National Basketball Association]]'s [[Vancouver Grizzlies]], playing with the team from 1995 until 2001. He was nicknamed "'''Big Country'''" by his college teammate [[Byron Houston]] after Reeves was amazed by the size of the United States following his first cross-country airplane flight,<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20061213174656/http://www.nba.com/playerfile/bryant_reeves/bio.html NBA.com player file]</ref> having grown up in the small community of [[Gans, Oklahoma]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20151004214142/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1995-04-01/sports/9503310658_1_gans-big-country-town Reeves' Town Reacts When `News' Breaks]</ref>
 ==College career==
-Standing {{Convert|7|ft|cm|spell=in}} tall and weighing between {{convert|275|and|300|lb}}, Reeves was an imposing physical presence on the court and was primed to become a dominant [[center (basketball)|center]] in the NBA. After a strong collegiate career with [[Oklahoma State University–Stillwater|Oklahoma State University]], where he averaged 21.5 points per game as a senior and led OSU to the 1995 [[NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament|Final Four]], Reeves became the Grizzlies' first-ever draft choice, selected sixth overall in the [[1995 NBA draft]].<ref>[http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2568472-the-first-face-of-the-grizzlies-franchise-and-a-big-country The First Face of the Grizzlies Franchise and a Big Country]</ref>
+Standing {{Convert|7|ft|cm|spell=}} tall and weighing between {{convert|275|and|300|lb}}, Reeves was an imposing physical presence on the court and was primed to become a dominant [[center (basketball)|center]] in the NBA. He had a strong collegiate career with [[Oklahoma State University–Stillwater|Oklahoma State University]], where he averaged 21.5 points per game as a senior and led OSU to the [[1995 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|1995 Final Four]].
-==Professional career==
+== Professional career ==
-Reeves played six seasons with the Grizzlies. After averaging 13.3 points per game in a solid [[1995–96 NBA season|rookie season]], he averaged 16.2 points per game in [[1996–97 NBA season|1996–97 season]] and was subsequently awarded with a six-year, $61.8 million contract extension. The [[1997–98 NBA season|next season]] was his best, when he averaged 16.3 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 1.08 blocked shots per game. During that season he scored a career-high 41 points against the [[Boston Celtics]].
+=== Vancouver / Memphis Grizzlies (1995–2002) ===
-After 1998, weight-control problems and injuries began to take a toll on Reeves, and his numbers fell off dramatically.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1999/02/07/sports/pro-basketball-some-scales-tipping-over-as-nba-season-tips-off.html PRO BASKETBALL; Some Scales Tipping Over As N.B.A. Season Tips Off]</ref> He was still the starting center for the Grizzlies, but his minutes per game dropped, and his [[Field goal (basketball)|field goal]] percentage dropped significantly. Eventually, after the Grizzlies moved to [[Memphis, Tennessee]] in [[2001–02 NBA season|2001]], Reeves started the season on the injured list due to chronic back pain and was never able to play another game (the only games he played with the team in Memphis were two preseason games). During the preseason play in the fall of 2001, Reeves had experienced back pain and had to be taken off the court on two connected stretchers carried by eight of his teammates.{{citation needed|date=June 2016}} He retired from the league midway through the [[2001–02 NBA season|2001–02 season]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20060310155317/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/news/2002/01/29/reeves_retires_ap/ Back injury forces Grizzlies' Reeves to retirement]</ref>
+Reeves became the Grizzlies' first-ever draft choice, selected sixth overall in the [[1995 NBA draft]].<ref>[http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2568472-the-first-face-of-the-grizzlies-franchise-and-a-big-country The First Face of the Grizzlies Franchise and a Big Country]</ref>
+Reeves played six seasons with the Grizzlies. After averaging 13.3 points per game in a solid [[1995–96 NBA season|rookie season]], he averaged 16.2 points per game in the [[1996–97 NBA season|1996–97 season]] and was subsequently awarded with a six-year, $61.8 million contract extension. The [[1997–98 NBA season|next season]] was his best, when he averaged 16.3 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 1.08 blocked shots per game. During that season he scored a career-high 41 points against the [[Boston Celtics]].
+After 1998, weight-control problems and injuries began to take a toll on Reeves, and his numbers fell off dramatically.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1999/02/07/sports/pro-basketball-some-scales-tipping-over-as-nba-season-tips-off.html PRO BASKETBALL; Some Scales Tipping Over As N.B.A. Season Tips Off]</ref> He was still the starting center for the Grizzlies, but his minutes per game dropped, and his [[Field goal (basketball)|field goal]] percentage dropped significantly. Eventually, after the [[Vancouver Grizzlies relocation to Memphis|Grizzlies moved]] to [[Memphis, Tennessee]] in [[2001–02 NBA season|2001]], Reeves started the season on the injured list due to chronic back pain and was never able to play another game (the only games he played with the team in Memphis were two preseason games). During preseason play in the fall of 2001, Reeves experienced back pain after just two preseason games.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/2001/10/30/grizzlies-reeves-disabled-by-back/62125055007/ | title=Grizzlies' Reeves disabled by back }}</ref> On January 29, 2002, the Grizzlies announced Reeves' retirement from the NBA due to chronic back pain caused by degenerative discs.<ref>{{cite news |title=Reeves retired with back injury |url=https://www.upi.com/Sports_News/2002/01/29/Reeves-retired-with-back-injury/89901012339589/ |access-date=29 December 2022 |work=[[United Press International]] |date=29 January 2002}}</ref> At the time he was the Grizzlies all-time leader in games played with 395.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Back to the country - Back injury forces Grizzlies' Reeves to retirement |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/news/2002/01/29/reeves_retires_ap/ |access-date=29 December 2022 |magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]] |publisher=[[CNN]] |date=29 January 2002 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060310155317/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/news/2002/01/29/reeves_retires_ap/ |archive-date=10 March 2006}}</ref>
 ==NBA career statistics==
@@ Line 55: / Line 60: @@
 | align="left" | [[1995–96 NBA season|1995–96]]
 | align="left" | [[1995–96 Vancouver Grizzlies season|Vancouver]]
-| 77 || 63 || 24.9 ||.457 ||.000 ||.732 || 7.4 ||1.4 ||0.6 ||0.7 || 13.3
+| '''77''' || 63 || 24.9 ||.457 ||.000 ||.732 || 7.4 ||1.4 ||'''0.6''' ||0.7 || 13.3
 |-
 | align="left" | [[1996–97 NBA season|1996–97]]
 | align="left" | [[1996–97 Vancouver Grizzlies season|Vancouver]]
-| 75 ||75 || '''37.0''' || .486 || .679 ||.704 || '''8.1''' || '''2.1''' || 0.4 || 0.9 || 16.2
+| 75 ||'''75''' || '''37.0''' || .486 || .091 ||.704 || '''8.1''' || '''2.1''' || 0.4 || 0.9 || 16.2
 |-
 | align="left" | [[1997–98 NBA season|1997–98]]
 | align="left" | [[1997–98 Vancouver Grizzlies season|Vancouver]]
-| 74 || 74 ||34.1 || '''.523''' ||.346 ||.706 ||7.9 ||2.1 ||0.5 || '''1.1''' || '''16.3'''
+| 74 || 74 ||34.1 || '''.523''' ||.000 ||.706 ||7.9 ||2.1 ||0.5 || '''1.1''' || '''16.3'''
 |-
 | align="left" | [[1998–99 NBA season|1998–99]]
 | align="left" | [[1998–99 Vancouver Grizzlies season|Vancouver]]
-| 25 ||14 || 28.1 ||.406 || .694 ||.578 ||5.5 ||1.5 ||0.5 || 0.3 || 10.8
+| 25 ||14 || 28.1 ||.406 || .000 ||.578 ||5.5 ||1.5 ||0.5 || 0.3 || 10.8
 |-
 | align="left" | [[1999–2000 NBA season|1999–00]]
@@ Line 83: / Line 88: @@
 ==Personal life==
+Bryant was the subject of [[Kathleen Jayme]]'s documentary film ''[[Finding Big Country]]'' in 2018.<ref>Dana Gee, [https://vancouversun.com/entertainment/movies/finding-big-country-documentary-answers-the-whatever-happened-to-question "Finding Big Country documentary answers the whatever happened to question"]. ''[[Vancouver Sun]]'', December 4, 2018.</ref> Following his career, Reeves went back to Oklahoma and is now a cattle farmer and a family man, living on a ranch in [[Sequoyah County, Oklahoma|Sequoyah County]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Writer |first=BILL HAISTEN World Sports |title=Back to the Country: Former OSU basketball great Bryant Reeves savors life on a piece of paradise in Sequoyah County |url=https://tulsaworld.com/archive/back-to-the-country-former-osu-basketball-great-bryant-reeves-savors-life-on-a-piece/article_9b5dae32-e81c-5a89-8a79-4a40c698e395.html |access-date=2023-05-13 |website=Tulsa World |date=3 July 2020 |language=en}}</ref> His son Trey was a three year walk on at Oklahoma State, earning a scholarship his final year and was accepted to [[Harvard Law School]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Son of Bryant 'Big Country' Reeves is surprised when he is given a scholarship at Oklahoma State |url=https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/son-of-bryant-big-country-reeves-is-surprised-when-he-is-given-a-scholarship-at-oklahoma-state/ |access-date=2023-05-13 |website=CBSSports.com |date=9 November 2018 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Unruh |first=Jacob |title='He really is gifted': How Trey Reeves went from Oklahoma State walk-on to Harvard Law School |url=https://www.oklahoman.com/story/sports/2021/09/01/oklahoma-state-basketball-trey-reeves-went-walk-harvard-law/5583109001/ |access-date=2023-05-13 |website=The Oklahoman |language=en-US}}</ref>
-Reeves owns a large cattle ranch outside Gans, where he lives with his wife and four children.<ref>https://vancouversun.com/sports/Hunting+down+Grizzlies+years+later/4312436/story.html</ref>
 ==See also==
@@ Line 93: / Line 98: @@
 ==External links==
 *[http://www.nba.com/historical/playerfile/index.html?player=bryant_reeves Historical Player Profile] at [[NBA.com]]
+*{{Basketballstats|bbr= r/reevebr01}}
-*{{basketball-reference}}
 *[http://thedraftreview.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2403 TheDraftReview.com: Bryant Reeves's NBA Draft History Page]
-{{1995 NBA Draft}}
+{{1995 NBA draft}}
 {{Big Eight Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year navbox}}
@@ Line 104: / Line 109: @@
 [[Category:All-American college men's basketball players]]
 [[Category:American expatriate basketball people in Canada]]
-[[Category:Basketball players at the 1995 NCAA Men's Division I Final Four]]
+[[Category:American men's basketball players]]
 [[Category:Basketball players from Arkansas]]
 [[Category:Basketball players from Oklahoma]]
@@ Line 113: / Line 118: @@
 [[Category:Vancouver Grizzlies draft picks]]
 [[Category:Vancouver Grizzlies players]]
+[[Category:20th-century American sportsmen]]