Jerome Whitehead was a professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for ten seasons. He was born on February 4, 1956, in California, and attended the University of San Diego, where he played college basketball.
Whitehead was selected by the Golden State Warriors in the second round of the 1978 NBA draft. He played for the Warriors for two seasons before being traded to the San Diego Clippers in 1980. He played for the Clippers for three seasons before being traded to the Dallas Mavericks in 1983.
Whitehead played for the Mavericks for two seasons before being traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers in 1985. He played for the Cavaliers for one season before being traded to the Utah Jazz in 1986. He played for the Jazz for one season before being traded back to the Warriors in 1987. He played for the Warriors for one season before being traded to the San Antonio Spurs in 1988. He played for the Spurs for one season before retiring from the NBA in 1989.
Whitehead was a versatile player who could play both center and power forward positions. He was known for his rebounding and shot-blocking abilities. He was also a good scorer, averaging 8.5 points per game over his career.
Whitehead's best season was in 1981-82 when he averaged 13.8 points and 9.2 rebounds per game for the Clippers. He also had a career-high 31 points in a game against the Phoenix Suns that season.
Whitehead played in a total of 617 NBA games over his career, averaging 7.2 points and 5.9 rebounds per game. He also played in 29 playoff games, averaging 5.4 points and 4.2 rebounds per game.
After retiring from the NBA, Whitehead worked as a basketball coach at various levels. He coached at the high school, college, and professional levels, including stints as an assistant coach for the Clippers and the Sacramento Kings.
Whitehead passed away on November 9, 2012, at the age of 56. He was remembered by his former teammates and coaches as a hard-working and dedicated player who always gave his best on the court.
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