Kevin Magee (basketball)
Kevin Dornell Magee (January 24, 1959 – October 23, 2003), was an American basketball player who played most of his professional career for Maccabi Tel Aviv. 2.03m tall and weighing 104 kg, he played at the power forward and center positions. In 1993-94 he was the top rebounder in the Israel Basketball Premier League.
Magee, in 1990. | |
Personal information | |
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Born | January 24, 1959 Gary, Indiana |
Died | October 23, 2003 44) | (aged
Nationality | American |
Listed height | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) |
Listed weight | 230 lb (104 kg) |
Career information | |
High school | South Pike (Magnolia, Mississippi) |
College |
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NBA draft | 1982 / Round: 2 / Pick: 39th overall |
Selected by the Phoenix Suns | |
Playing career | 1982–1994 |
Position | Power forward / center |
Number | 13 |
Career history | |
1982–1983 | Cagiva Varèse |
1983–1984 | CAI Zaragoza |
1984–1990 | Maccabi Tel Aviv |
1990–1991 | CAI Zaragoza |
1991–1992 | Auxilium Torino |
1992–1993 | Racing Paris |
1993–1994 | Maccabi Rishon LeZion |
Career highlights and awards | |
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Career statistics | |
Points | 2,081 |
He died in a car accident on Interstate 55, south of Amite, Louisiana, in October 2003.[1]
College career
He played collegiately for two years for the Anteaters of the University of California, Irvine. A two-time All-American basketball player in the early 1980s, Magee was also the Pacific Coast Athletic Association player of the year in 1980–81 and 1981–82. In those two seasons he averaged 26.3 points, 12.3 rebounds, and shot 66% from the field, was a first-team Associated Press All-American, first-team All-West Coast, and first-team All-District 8 both seasons, was the Pacific Coast Athletic Association (now Big West) Player of the Year each season, was named District 8 Most Valuable Player in 1982, and was ranked in the nation's top 10 in scoring, rebounding, and field-goal percentage both seasons.[2] His was the only number retired in UCI history, and he was inducted into the UCI Hall of Fame in 1997, until Scott Brooks had his number retired in 2019 .[2]
Professional career
Magee was selected by the Phoenix Suns, in the 2nd round (39th overall) of the 1982 NBA Draft; however he never played in the NBA.
He played in Europe, for Spanish side CAI Zaragoza, with whom he won Spanish King's Cup in 1984, and with them, he was also a FIBA Korać Cup semifinalist.
Later, he played for Maccabi Tel Aviv, winning with them 6 Israeli League championships (1985–1990), and 5 Israeli State Cups (1985–1987, 1989, 1990). He was also a two-time EuroLeague semifinalist (1985, 1986), and a three-time Finalist (1987, 1988, 1989). At the peak of his career in Israel, he became a national sensation, being one of the first celebrities featured in advertisements. Most notable was his commercial for Telma peanut butter.
He rejoined CAI Zaragoza in 1991, and was a FIBA European Cup Winner's Cup Finalist, in the 1990-91 season.
While playing with Auxilium Torino of the Italian Lega Basket Serie A, he led the league in rebounding, in the 1991-92 season.
In 1993-94 he was the top rebounder in the Israel Basketball Premier League.
Awards and accomplishments
- 6× Israeli League Champion: 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990 (Maccabi Tel Aviv)
- 5× Israeli State Cup Winner: 1985, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1990 (Maccabi Tel Aviv)
- Spanish King's Cup Winner: 1984 (CAI Zaragoza)
- 3× EuroLeague Finalist: 1987, 1988, 1989 (Maccabi Tel Aviv)
- 2× EuroLeague Semifinalist: 1985, 1986 (Maccabi Tel Aviv)
- FIBA European Cup Winner's Cup (FIBA Saporta Cup) Finalist: 1991 (CAI Zaragoza)
- FIBA Korać Cup Semifinalist: 1984 (CAI Zaragoza)
References
- "Former UCI Player Is Killed". Los Angeles Times. October 24, 2003.
- "Magee dies in crash". Daily Pilot. Newport Beach, Calif.: Tribune Publishing. 2003-10-24. Retrieved 2017-02-11.
External links
- Italian League Profile Retrieved 15 June 2015 (in Italian)
- EuroLeague official website
- 1982 NBA Draft Review
- Spanish League Profile (in Spanish)