Athlete of the Month

Jameer Nelson


Birth Date:February 9th, 1982
Height:6' 0''
Weight:190lbs.
College:St. Joe's
Years Pro:3
Background: 2004-05: Named to the NBA's All-Rookie Second Team…Played in 79 outings during his rookie season with Orlando, averaging 8.7 ppg., 3.0 apg. and 2.4 rpg. in 20.4 minpg..Made 21 starts, averaging 15.7 ppg., 5.2 apg., 4.7 rpg. and 1.71 stlpg. in 38.0 minpg. during that span.Ranked among all NBA rookies in scoring (10th), assists (T-3rd), FG percentage (T-9th), three-point FG percentage (8th) and steals (T-4th).Led (or tied) the team in assists 15 times, including career-high 13 assists (also had 18 points for first career double-double) on Mar. 24 vs. Charlotte.Led (or tied) the team in scoring three times.Scored in double figures 35 times, including career-best 30 points (10-18 FG, 5-8 3FG, 5-7 FT) on Apr. 13 @ Detroit (also had five steals).Scored 22 points @ New Jersey on Mar. 5.Also had 22 points on Mar. 16 @ L.A. Clippers.Had at least one steal in 42 outings, including career-high and Magic rookie record seven steals on Jan. 22 vs. Philadelphia.Had two-or-more steals in 17 games...Played a career-best 46 minutes on Mar. 21 @ Charlotte.Made first NBA start on Feb. 26 @ Miami, tallying 13 points, career-high eight rebounds and game-high seven assists in 37 minutes.Had career-high-tying eight rebounds three times, the last on Apr. 6 vs. Chicago.Made his NBA regular season debut on Nov. 3 vs. Milwaukee (played eight minutes but did not score).Scored first NBA point on Nov. 5 @ New Orleans.Did not play on Mar. 30, Apr. 1 and 2 due to an intercostal tear (rib muscle, left side).

College: Played and started in 125 career games for St. Joseph's University, averaging 16.8 ppg., 5.7 apg., 4.6 rpg. and 2.05 stlpg..Consensus National Player of the Year as a senior (2003-04), earning the Associated Press, Wooden, Naismith, Rupp, Robertson and Chevrolet Player of the Year awards.Shared the NABC top player award with Connecticut's Emeka Okafor.Also chosen Player of the Year by The Sporting News, ESPN.com, SI.com and FoxSports.com.Unanimous First Team All-America selection and Atlantic 10 Player of the Year, after averaging 20.6 ppg., 5.3 apg., 4.7 rpg. and 2.97 stlpg. in 32 contests in 2003-04.Led St. Joe's to a perfect regular season (27-0), a top ranking in the national polls, the school's first #1 seed in the NCAA Tournament and a trip to the Elite Eight.Earned A-10 Player of the Week honors a record eight times and captured the Francis Pomeroy Naismith Award, given to the top player in the country 6-feet and under.As a junior (2002-03), averaged 19.7 ppg., 5.0 rpg., 4.7 apg. and 2.20 stlpg. in 30 games with the Hawks.Scored career-high 39 points vs. Dayton in the second round of the Atlantic 10 Tournament, the third-highest scoring performance in the tournament's history and tied for sixth-best in school history.In his sophomore campaign (2001-02), led the A-10 and was 16th in the country with 6.3 apg..Also led the conference in free throw percentage and ranked second in scoring (14.4 ppg.).As a freshman, led conference and was 12th nationally with 6.5 apg. and set a school single-season record with 213 assists.Had his jersey #14 retired by SJU on Apr. 23, 2004.

(Information taken from NBA.com)