Jelani McCoy is a former professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for several teams during his career. McCoy was born on December 6, 1977, in San Diego, California, and attended St. Augustine High School in San Diego. He was a standout basketball player in high school and was named the California State Player of the Year in 1995.
After graduating from high school, McCoy attended the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where he played college basketball for the Bruins. He played for UCLA from 1995 to 1998 and was a key player on the team that won the NCAA championship in 1995. McCoy was known for his athleticism and shot-blocking ability, and he was named to the All-Pac-10 team in 1998.
After his college career, McCoy was selected in the second round of the 1998 NBA draft by the Seattle SuperSonics. He played for the SuperSonics for two seasons before being traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in 2000. McCoy played for the Lakers for one season before being traded to the Toronto Raptors in 2001.
McCoy played for the Raptors for two seasons before being traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2003. He played for the Cavaliers for one season before being traded to the Atlanta Hawks in 2004. McCoy played for the Hawks for one season before being traded to the Denver Nuggets in 2005.
McCoy played for the Nuggets for one season before being released in 2006. He then played briefly for the Dallas Mavericks before being released again. McCoy played his final season in the NBA for the Houston Rockets in 2007-2008.
Throughout his NBA career, McCoy was known for his shot-blocking ability and his athleticism. He was a solid role player who provided energy and defense off the bench. McCoy's best season statistically was in 2001-2002 when he averaged 6.2 points and 4.5 rebounds per game for the Raptors.
After his NBA career, McCoy played professionally overseas in several countries, including Japan, China, and Israel. He also played in the NBA Development League for the Los Angeles D-Fenders in 2010-2011.
Overall, Jelani McCoy had a solid basketball career that spanned over a decade. He was a key player on a championship-winning college team and played for several NBA teams during his career. McCoy was known for his athleticism and shot-blocking ability, and he was a solid role player who provided energy and defense off the bench.
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