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357:. His father, Walter Kelser Jr., was a monumental influence on his life. He credits his exposure to military discipline with contributing to his later success in athletics. Kelser stated, "A military background helped me a lot. My mother stressed and my dad enforced a respect for authority. It was a time when you knew your place. That transferred easily to the court and the classroom. I always knew who was in charge. It was my job to listen and learn." Raised
451:, Kelser said, “My biggest thrill in basketball was playing in a game that featured Larry and Magic – two of the greatest players in NBA history. It was the way it should have been, Magic and Bird playing for the national title. That’s why that game is still talked about today. The memory is made more special, because I got a chance to be a difference maker, and, that’s something I’m proud of.”
553:
in Social
Sciences. Spartan coach Jud Heathcote brought focus to Kelser in completing the degree, "Coach Heathcote stayed on me and showed me he cared. It would've been easy for him not to worry about it. Instead, I had no choice to get it over with and get him off my back. I wasn't going to walk
557:
Kelser was named to the
Michigan Sports Hall of Fame in 2006, and his high school, Henry Ford High School, dedicated the Gregory Kelser Gymnasium in October 2007. He was inducted into the Michigan State University Athletics Hall of Fame in 1996. He lives in
571:
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482:, averaging what would be a career high 14.2 ppg in his first season, but chronic knee injuries would begin to play a factor in his NBA career, as he was limited to just 25 games played in
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948:
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was rejected after Kelser failed his physical. The two teams would revisit the trade, and Kelser was traded to
Seattle a year later, in December 1981, with Detroit acquiring
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513:. In total, over six NBA seasons, Kelser averaging 9.7 ppg and 4.6 rpg, never playing a full slate of games in any season.
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at commencement. But my mom said, `Oh, yes, you are!' I'm really glad I did. And I remember Jud being there to watch me."
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player, and remains the only player in
Spartan basketball history, to score over 2,000 points with over 1,000 rebounds.
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Kelser would spend most of two seasons with the Sonics, averaging, 7.0 ppg, and was then traded in 1983 to the
483:
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75–64. The title was the first in the school's history. Kelser was often on the receiving end of spectacular
1289:
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505:, where he averaged 11.0 ppg in a career high 80 games played. He would wrap up his NBA career with the
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Kelser finished his career at
Michigan State averaging 17.5 ppg and 9.5 rpg and was named third-team
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682:"Michigan State Michigan State University Spartans, Official Athletic Site – Michigan State"
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643:"Greg Kelser speaks about academics, character and winning the NCAA national championship"
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on radio and television, working games as a commentator for
Detroit Pistons games on
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passes from
Johnson and later wrote a book about his basketball experiences at MSU.
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572:
List of NCAA Division I men's basketball players with 2000 points and 1000 rebounds
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458:. In addition, he was a two-time Academic All-American. He was the first
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668:"Michigan State All-Decade Teams: Magic and 'Special K' define the 1970's"
486:. The Pistons, burned in recent history by similar knee issues with star
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breakfast cereal. In his junior year (the freshman year for new additions
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Kelser finished his degree at
Michigan State in 1981, graduating with a
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Kelser grew up in a military family, spending part of his childhood in
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887:"From the court to color commentating: Chatting with Greg Kelser"
803:"From the court to color commentating: Chatting with Greg Kelser"
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Since leaving the NBA, Kelser has worked extensively as a sports
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before his knee injuries forced his retirement at the end of the
378:
83:
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Michigan State
Spartans men's basketball 1978–79 NCAA champions
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784:"Greg Kelser: All-American On The Court And In The Classroom"
624:"Greg Kelser: All-American On The Court And In The Classroom"
595:"Greg Kelser: All-American On The Court And In The Classroom"
722:"Michigan State vs. Indiana State Box Score, March 26, 1979"
490:, attempted to move on, but a December 1980 trade with the
428:
Then, as a senior, he and
Johnson led the Spartans to the
478:. Kelser quickly established himself for the rebuilding
817:"Greg Kelser of the Detroit Pistons received a clean..."
708:"Michigan State vs. Kentucky Box Score, March 18, 1978"
834:"Greg Kelser failed a physical exam by the Seattle..."
738:
341:
and spent six seasons playing professionally in the
1391:College basketball announcers in the United States
869:"NBA Players: Greg Kelser Profile and Basic Stats"
745:Greg Kelser's Tales from Michigan State Basketball
1446:Henry Ford High School (Detroit, Michigan) alumni
449:1979 NCAA Division I Basketball Championship Game
1416:Michigan State Spartans men's basketball players
1357:
329:(born September 17, 1957) is a retired American
601:. Michigan State University. February 22, 2008
589:
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1376:All-American college men's basketball players
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956:
16:American basketball player & commentator
674:
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361:, he attended a parochial middle school in
1461:20th-century African-American sportspeople
1456:21st-century African-American sportspeople
1096:
1082:
963:
949:
726:College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com
339:1979 NCAA Champion Michigan State Spartans
304:
770:"Greg Kelser earned "Special K" moniker"
640:
1426:Sportspeople from Panama City, Florida
1358:
618:
616:
1077:
944:
742:; Grinczel, Steve (October 1, 2006).
365:where he was the only Black student.
732:
516:
919:Michigan State University Athletics
915:"Greg Kelser (1996) – Hall of Fame"
788:Michigan State University Athletics
628:Michigan State University Athletics
613:
599:Michigan State University Athletics
470:Kelser was drafted by the hometown
393:, Kelser earned him the sobriquet "
13:
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800:
248:retired by Michigan State Spartans
14:
1477:
1421:Minnesota Timberwolves announcers
1381:American men's basketball players
929:
368:
337:. Kelser was a key member of the
58:6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
641:DeFever, Dana (April 28, 2010).
544:
1451:Basketball players from Detroit
1386:Basketball players from Florida
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381:in 1975, Kelser was brought to
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333:player and current television
110:: 1st round, 4th overall pick
1:
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214:Career highlights and awards
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1436:Seattle SuperSonics players
1401:Detroit Pistons draft picks
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319:at Basketball-Reference.com
10:
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1466:African-American Catholics
1431:San Diego Clippers players
1396:Detroit Pistons announcers
417:title, and a berth in the
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748:. Sports Publishing LLC.
533:Detroit with his partner
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873:www.landofbasketball.com
855:Basketball-Reference.com
432:championship, defeating
66:190 lb (86 kg)
1406:Detroit Pistons players
474:as the 4th pick in the
1411:Indiana Pacers players
403:Earvin "Magic" Johnson
375:Henry Ford High School
260:Career NBA statistics
562:with his wife Donna.
373:Upon graduating from
790:. February 22, 2008.
630:. February 22, 2008.
430:1979 NCAA tournament
419:1978 NCAA tournament
48:Panama City, Florida
27:Personal information
851:"Greg Kelser Stats"
772:. October 12, 2021.
551:Bachelor of Science
492:Seattle SuperSonics
180:Seattle SuperSonics
23:
670:. August 23, 2020.
560:Franklin, Michigan
511:1984-85 NBA season
503:San Diego Clippers
460:Big Ten Conference
415:Big Ten Conference
192:San Diego Clippers
71:Career information
42:September 17, 1957
21:
1353:
1352:
1071:
1070:
755:978-1-59670-051-2
688:on April 12, 2009
517:Announcing career
397:", a play on the
335:color commentator
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84:Detroit, Michigan
1473:
1305:Clint Richardson
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936:Career NBA stats
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684:. Archived from
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115:Selected by the
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1265:Danny Salisbury
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1139:Sidney Moncrief
1129:Bill Cartwright
1124:David Greenwood
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280:1,402 (4.6 rpg)
270:2,961 (9.7 ppg)
164:Detroit Pistons
117:Detroit Pistons
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1149:Vinnie Johnson
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986:Terry Donnelly
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476:1979 NBA draft
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409:) under coach
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545:Personal life
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438:Indiana State
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411:Jud Heathcote
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290:411 (1.3 apg)
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63:Listed weight
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55:Listed height
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44:(age 67)
34:
30:
25:
19:
1345:Joe DeSantis
1340:Johnny Moore
1335:Paul Mokeski
1315:Larry Wilson
1275:Gary Garland
1233:Second round
1219:Sly Williams
1214:Larry Knight
1189:Phil Hubbard
1184:Brad Holland
1164:Roy Hamilton
1144:James Bailey
1133:
1033:Rob Gonzalez
1015:
1004:Don Brkovich
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690:. Retrieved
686:the original
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650:. Retrieved
646:
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627:
603:. Retrieved
598:
556:
548:
535:George Blaha
531:Bally Sports
520:
500:
469:
456:All-American
453:
446:
427:
391:East Lansing
372:
352:
326:
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233:All-American
18:
1366:1957 births
1320:Victor King
1280:Edgar Jones
1250:Oliver Mack
1245:Johnny High
1204:Reggie King
1199:Lee Johnson
1159:Larry Demic
1154:Calvin Natt
1134:Greg Kelser
1112:First round
1016:Greg Kelser
1010:Jay Vincent
998:Ron Charles
537:and on the
527:commentator
498:in return.
407:Jay Vincent
387:Gus Ganakas
231:Third-team
97:(1975–1979)
76:High school
22:Greg Kelser
1360:Categories
1330:Mark Young
1270:Tony Price
1240:Tico Brown
1209:Wiley Peck
1174:Jim Paxson
1063:Bill Berry
1046:Head coach
578:References
488:Bob Lanier
466:NBA career
434:Larry Bird
349:Early life
331:basketball
309:at NBA.com
80:Henry Ford
38:1957-09-17
1295:Kim Goetz
1285:Tony Zeno
1224:Kyle Macy
1039:Rich Kaye
523:announcer
442:alley-oop
425:, 52–49.
395:Special K
187:1983–1984
126:1979–1985
103:NBA draft
692:April 5,
652:July 10,
605:April 4,
566:See also
423:Kentucky
399:Kelloggs
359:Catholic
276:Rebounds
131:Position
525:and/or
484:1980–81
480:Pistons
447:On the
379:Detroit
286:Assists
246:No. 32
91:College
752:
363:Boston
303:
266:Points
141:Number
50:, U.S.
647:mlive
317:Stats
301:Stats
750:ISBN
694:2009
654:2023
607:2009
436:and
405:and
241:1979
226:1979
199:1985
175:1983
171:1981
159:1981
155:1979
108:1979
32:Born
1037:42
1031:35
1026:MOP
1020:33
1014:32
1008:31
1002:21
996:15
990:12
984:11
837:UPI
820:UPI
385:by
377:in
1362::
917:.
871:.
853:.
786:.
724:.
645:.
626:.
615:^
597:.
586:^
541:.
345:.
237:AP
235:–
40:)
1097:e
1090:t
1083:v
1028:)
1024:(
964:e
957:t
950:v
921:.
903:.
889:.
875:.
857:.
839:.
822:.
805:.
758:.
728:.
710:.
696:.
656:.
609:.
243:)
239:(
228:)
224:(
173:–
157:–
86:)
82:(
36:(
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