Michael Doleac is a retired American professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for nine seasons. He was born on June 15, 1977, in San Antonio, Texas, and grew up in Colorado. Doleac played college basketball at the University of Utah, where he was a standout player and helped lead the team to the NCAA Championship game in 1998.
Doleac was selected in the first round of the 1998 NBA Draft by the Orlando Magic, where he played for three seasons. He was primarily used as a backup center during his time with the Magic, but he did start in several games and showed flashes of potential. In his third season with the team, Doleac averaged 7.2 points and 4.2 rebounds per game, which were both career highs at the time.
After his stint with the Magic, Doleac played for several other NBA teams, including the Cleveland Cavaliers, New York Knicks, Denver Nuggets, Miami Heat, and Minnesota Timberwolves. He was primarily used as a backup center during his time with these teams, but he did have some notable performances. For example, in the 2004 NBA Playoffs, Doleac helped lead the Miami Heat to a first-round upset over the New Orleans Hornets by scoring 15 points in Game 5.
Overall, Doleac's NBA career was solid but unspectacular. He was known for his size (7 feet tall) and his ability to shoot from mid-range, but he was not a dominant force on the court. He finished his career with averages of 4.8 points and 3.5 rebounds per game.
After retiring from the NBA in 2008, Doleac went on to pursue a career in real estate. He also stayed involved in basketball by coaching youth teams and working as a color commentator for college basketball games. In 2019, he was hired as an assistant coach for the Utah Utes men's basketball team, where he currently works.
In conclusion, Michael Doleac was a solid NBA player who had a respectable career but was never a star. He played for several teams over the course of nine seasons and was known for his size and shooting ability. After retiring from basketball, he went on to pursue a career in real estate and coaching.
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