Rich Kelley was a professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for ten seasons. He was born on September 22, 1953, in Stanford, California, and attended Stanford University, where he played college basketball for the Stanford Cardinal.
Kelley was selected by the New Orleans Jazz in the first round of the 1975 NBA draft. He played for the Jazz for four seasons, from 1975 to 1979, and was known for his rebounding and shot-blocking abilities. In his rookie season, Kelley averaged 8.3 points and 7.9 rebounds per game and was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team.
In 1979, Kelley was traded to the Phoenix Suns, where he played for three seasons. He continued to be a solid rebounder and shot-blocker for the Suns, and in the 1980-81 season, he averaged a career-high 10.6 rebounds per game. Kelley also had a career-high 10 blocks in a game against the San Antonio Spurs in 1981.
After his time with the Suns, Kelley played for the Utah Jazz for two seasons, from 1982 to 1984. He then played for the Cleveland Cavaliers for one season before finishing his career with the Seattle SuperSonics in the 1985-86 season.
Throughout his career, Kelley was known for his defensive skills and was a two-time NBA All-Defensive Second Team selection. He also had a career average of 7.6 points and 7.2 rebounds per game.
After retiring from basketball, Kelley worked as a financial advisor and also served as a color commentator for the Phoenix Suns. He was inducted into the Stanford Athletics Hall of Fame in 1994.
Overall, Rich Kelley had a successful career in the NBA, known for his rebounding and shot-blocking abilities, as well as his defensive skills. He played for four different teams over ten seasons and was a consistent contributor throughout his career.
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