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Scott Skiles

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Scott Skiles
Skiles coaching the Milwaukee Bucks in 2011
Personal information
Born (1964-03-05) March 5, 1964 (age 60)
La Porte, Indiana, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
Listed height6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Listed weight180 lb (82 kg)
Career information
High schoolPlymouth (Plymouth, Indiana)
CollegeMichigan State (1982–1986)
NBA draft1986: 1st round, 22nd overall pick
Selected by the Milwaukee Bucks
Playing career1986–1997
PositionPoint guard
Number5, 3, 4
Coaching career1996–2016
Career history
As player:
1986–1987Milwaukee Bucks
1987–1989Indiana Pacers
1989–1994Orlando Magic
1994–1995Washington Bullets
1995–1996Philadelphia 76ers
1996–1997PAOK Thessaloniki
As coach:
1997PAOK Thessaloniki
1997–1999Phoenix Suns (assistant)
1999–2002Phoenix Suns
2003–2007Chicago Bulls
2008–2013Milwaukee Bucks
2015–2016Orlando Magic
Career highlights and awards
Career NBA statistics
Points6,652 (11.1 ppg)
Rebounds1,526 (2.5 rpg)
Assists3,881 (6.5 apg)
Stats at NBA.com Edit this at Wikidata
Stats at Basketball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Medals
Men's basketball
Representing  United States
FIBA U19 World Championship
Gold medal – first place 1983 Palma de Mallorca National team

Scott Allen Skiles Sr. (born March 5, 1964) is an American former basketball coach and player. He coached the Phoenix Suns, Chicago Bulls, Milwaukee Bucks and Orlando Magic. A first-round draft pick out of Michigan State University, Skiles played ten seasons as a point guard in the NBA.[1] He holds the NBA record for assists in one game with 30,[2] set in his fifth season in the league and second with Orlando, in which he also earned the 1990–91 NBA Most Improved Player Award.[1]

High school and college

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In 1982, Skiles led Plymouth High School to the Indiana State Championship, scoring 39 points to lead the Pilgrims past the Gary Roosevelt Panthers in double overtime.[3] During that season, Skiles led the state in scoring, averaging 29.3 points per game.[4] Skiles set several school records during his career there, including most points in a home game (53)[5] and most points in an away game (56).[5] He left Plymouth as the school's all-time career scoring leader (1,788 points),[6] a record that would stand until 2005. Skiles had his number 22 jersey retired at Plymouth High School in 1992.[5]

Skiles attended Michigan State University, where in his senior season he was a First Team All-America selection[6] as well as the Big Ten Conference Player of the Year[7] and scoring champion.[8] He left MSU as its all-time career scoring leader (2,145 points)[6] and still holds the Spartans' record for most points scored in a season (850).[9] While in East Lansing, he was arrested and charged with felony possession of cocaine and misdemeanor possession of marijuana. The cocaine charge was dropped, and Skiles pleaded guilty to the marijuana possession. He was arrested and charged with drunken driving a year later[10] and served 15 days in jail.[11] During his senior season, Skiles committed a parole violation on an earlier marijuana conviction, and served a brief jail sentence.[12]

NBA career

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The Milwaukee Bucks made Skiles the 22nd selection of the 1986 NBA draft.[1] In ten seasons, he played for the Bucks (1986–87), Indiana Pacers (1987–89), Orlando Magic (1989–94), Washington Bullets (1994–95), and Philadelphia 76ers (1995–96).[1]

Milwaukee Bucks

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Skiles made his NBA debut with the Bucks on November 11, 1986, against the Indiana Pacers, recording 2 rebounds and 5 assists in the 102–94 win.[13] Skiles was seldom used his rookie season with the Bucks, averaging 3.8 points and 3.5 assists in just 13 games off the bench.[1]

Indiana Pacers

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On June 21, 1987, Skiles was traded by the Bucks to the Indiana Pacers in exchange for a 1989 2nd round pick (which would later be used to select Gary Leonard).[14] With the Pacers in 1987–88, Skiles averaged even fewer minutes but played in more games, increasing his scoring marginally to 4.4 points and posting the same 3.5 assists per game in 50 games, just two of them starts.[14] He played in 80 games in 1988–89, starting just 13 and averaging 6.8 points and 4.9 assists in slightly under 20 minutes a game.[14]

Orlando Magic

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In 1989 Skiles was selected by the newly formed Orlando Magic in the NBA expansion draft.[15] Mainly a backup point guard, he scored 7.7 points and posted 4.8 assists in 20.9 minutes per game in 70 games, 48 off the bench.[1] In 1990–91 he transitioned to a starting role at the position, jumping to a career high 17.2 points and improved 8.4 assists in 34.4 minutes over 79 games and 66 starts.[15] The season was highlighted on December 30, 1990, when Skiles racked up 30 assists in Orlando's 155–116 victory over the Denver Nuggets at Orlando Arena,[16] breaking Kevin Porter's NBA single-game assists record (29).[17] His well more than doubling scoring and nearly doubling his assists marks from the previous year earned him the NBA Most Improved Player Award.[15]

The next year, 1991–92, was a bit of a reversal of form, his numbers dropping off just a bit to 14.1 points and 7.3 assists in 31.7 minutes in 75 games, with games started, field goals made, field goal percentage, 2-pointers made, 2-point percentage, 3-pointers made, 3-point percentage, free throws, free throw percentage, offensive rebounds, defensive rebounds, total rebounds, and steals all taking a hit.[1]

1992–93 saw nearly all his numbers bounce back, with scoring up to 15.4 points, a career high in assists with 9.4 a game, and career highs in shooting percentage and 2-point shooting percentage in a career high 39.6 minutes in 78 games, all starts.[1]

Skiles played in all 82 games in 1993–94 but only started 46, with major drop-offs in minutes, field goals, field goal percentage, 2-pointers made, 2-point percentage, rebounds, assists, and scoring, points falling to 9.9 a game and assists to 6.1 per. Skiles began the year as a starter but in the second half of the season, Penny Hardaway became the starter,[18] relegating Skiles to the bench. During the 1994 offseason, Skiles was traded to the Washington Bullets in the offseason to create salary cap space.[19]

Washington Bullets

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As a Washington Bullets in 1994–95 Skiles' minutes were back up to 33.5 per game in just 62 games, all starts, and both his scoring and assists also increased - to 13.0 and 7.3 respectively.[1]

Philadelphia 76ers

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Skiles spent only a single season in Washington, moving on to the Philadelphia 76ers for his final NBA campaign in 1995–96. Appearing in only 10 games Skiles stats took a tumble, to 6.3 points and 3.8 assists in 23.6 minutes per game while starting 9 of the games.[1]

Greek League

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PAOK

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Nursing a serious shoulder injury in 1996, Skiles left the U.S. for the Greek League, joining PAOK in Thessaloniki.[20] Expectations were high for the new arrival from the NBA, but midway through the season injuries and contract problems with key players threatened the season for both PAOK and French coach Michel Gomez. Still struggling with injury himself, and increasingly at odds with Gomez, Skiles asked to be released from his contract.[21] Instead, president Lakis Alexopoulos fired Gomez and offered Skiles the job.[21] Despite lacking three of their top players due to injury, Skiles led PAOK to a winning record as coach in the remainder of the '96-'97 season, and an unexpected 3rd-place finish in the Greek League, thus assuring a qualification to the following year's Euroleague.[21]

Coaching career

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As an assistant

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Skiles returned to the NBA for the 1997–98 season as an assistant coach with the Phoenix Suns,[22] being elevated to head coach in 1999.[22]

Phoenix Suns

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Under Skiles Phoenix compiled a .595 Won-Loss record and made the playoffs in two of his three years as head coach,[23] including a first-round win over the defending NBA champion San Antonio Spurs in 2000.[24]

Chicago Bulls

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After a two-year absence from the game, Skiles came to the Chicago Bulls as head coach in 2003.[23] He immediately focused on improving the young Bulls' defense and developing greater consistency in a talented but underachieving team.[25] In the first full year under his direction, Chicago limited its opposition to an NBA-best .422 field goal percentage and held their opponents to a franchise record and league high 26 straight games below 100 points. An NBA best 13–3 mark in January 2005 earned Skiles the NBA Eastern Conference Coach of the Month honor.[26]

The 2006 Bulls went 41–41, earning a 7th seed in the playoffs falling to 2nd seeded Miami Heat in six games.[23] In 2007 the Bulls improved to a 49–33 and again faced the Heat in the first round of the post-season, this time sweeping them in four games.[23] They lost the first three games of the second-round against the top-seeded Detroit Pistons, dropping the last at the United Center after holding a double-digit lead for much of the game. After a two-game rally they were eliminated in six.[23]

The Bulls had high expectations heading into the 2007–08 season. Mired in last place in the Central Division 25 games in, they were 9–16 when Skiles was fired by general manager John Paxson on December 24, 2007.[27]

Milwaukee Bucks

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On April 21, 2008, the Milwaukee Bucks signed their former player Skiles as team's new head coach.[28] He led the Bucks to a 34–48 record in the 2008–09 season. Injuries to key players Michael Redd and Andrew Bogut marred the season, but Skiles was given a show of support by general manager John Hammond.[citation needed]

The next season Skiles had success with an improving, if still young, core led by Bogut at center and Brandon Jennings at point guard. A midseason trades for John Salmons[29] and the pick-up of Jerry Stackhouse[30] gave Skiles both a reliable shooter and a veteran presence on the Bucks' bench. Most NBA prognosticators picked the Bucks to finish last in the Eastern Conference, but the team's defense helped the Bucks beat several of the top teams in the NBA. After a gruesome injury to Bogut's right arm on April 3, 2010[31] Skiles coached his team to a decisive victory over the heavily favored Phoenix Suns. Three days later Skiles and the Bucks clinched a playoff berth by beating the Chicago Bulls in Chicago.[31] They finished the regular season with a 46–36 mark, their first winning record in seven years. Skiles was frequently mentioned in NBA Coach of the Year talks, eventually finishing second to Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Scott Brooks.[32]

Skiles' five-year stint in Milwaukee ended on January 8, 2013, when he and the Bucks mutually agreed to part ways.[33]

Orlando Magic

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On May 29, 2015, former team point guard Skiles joined the Orlando Magic as the franchise's 12th head coach.[34] On May 12, 2016, after head coaching the team for one season, Skiles stepped down as head coach of the Orlando Magic, claiming he was "not the right head coach" for the Magic.[35][36]

NBA career statistics

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Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

Regular season

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Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
1986–87 Milwaukee 13 0 15.8 .290 .214 .833 2.0 3.5 0.4 0.1 3.8
1987–88 Indiana 51 2 14.9 .411 .300 .833 1.3 3.5 0.4 0.1 4.4
1988–89 Indiana 80 13 19.6 .448 .267 .903 1.9 4.9 0.8 0.0 6.8
1989–90 Orlando 70 32 20.9 .409 .394 .874 2.3 4.8 0.5 0.1 7.7
1990–91 Orlando 79 66 34.4 .445 .408 .902 3.4 8.4 1.1 0.1 17.2
1991–92 Orlando 75 63 31.7 .414 .364 .895 2.7 7.3 1.0 0.1 14.1
1992–93 Orlando 78 78 39.6 .467 .340 .892 3.7 9.4 1.1 0.0 15.4
1993–94 Orlando 82 46 28.1 .429 .412 .878 2.3 6.1 0.6 0.0 9.9
1994–95 Washington 62 62 33.5 .455 .421 .886 2.6 7.3 1.1 0.1 13.0
1995–96 Philadelphia 10 9 23.6 .351 .441 .800 1.6 3.8 0.7 0.0 6.3
Career 600 371 28.0 .435 .379 .889 2.5 6.5 0.8 0.0 11.1

Playoffs

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Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
1994 Orlando 2 0 11.5 .500 .000 1.000 0.5 1.5 0.0 0.0 4.5
Career 2 0 11.5 .500 .000 1.000 0.5 1.5 0.0 0.0 4.5

Head coaching record

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Legend
Regular season G Games coached W Games won L Games lost W–L % Win–loss %
Playoffs PG Playoff games PW Playoff wins PL Playoff losses PW–L % Playoff win–loss %
Team Year G W L W–L% Finish PG PW PL PW–L% Result
Phoenix 1999–00 62 40 22 .645 3rd in Pacific 9 4 5 .444 Lost in Conf. Semifinals
Phoenix 2000–01 82 51 31 .622 3rd in Pacific 4 1 3 .250 Lost in First round
Phoenix 2001–02 51 25 26 .490 (resigned)[37] — — — — —
Chicago 2003–04 66 19 47 .288 8th in Central — — — — Missed Playoffs
Chicago 2004–05 82 47 35 .573 2nd in Central 6 2 4 .333 Lost in First round
Chicago 2005–06 82 41 41 .500 4th in Central 6 2 4 .333 Lost in First round
Chicago 2006–07 82 49 33 .598 3rd in Central 10 6 4 .600 Lost in Conf. Semifinals
Chicago 2007–08 25 9 16 .360 (fired) — — — — —
Milwaukee 2008–09 82 34 48 .415 5th in Central — — — — Missed Playoffs
Milwaukee 2009–10 82 46 36 .561 2nd in Central 7 3 4 .429 Lost in First round
Milwaukee 2010–11 82 35 47 .427 3rd in Central — — — — Missed Playoffs
Milwaukee 2011–12 66 31 35 .470 3rd in Central — — — — Missed Playoffs
Milwaukee 2012–13 32 16 16 .500 (resigned) — — — — —
Orlando 2015–16 82 35 47 .427 5th in Southeast — — — — Missed Playoffs
Career 958 478 480 .499 42 18 24 .429

Quotes

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  • When asked by a reporter in 2003 to describe what Eddy Curry could do to improve his rebounding, Skiles responded: "Jump."[38]
  • When questioned about an encounter between Charlie Villanueva and Anderson Varejão, Skiles responded: "I hope they'll launch an investigation to find the sniper who shot Varejao. I thought there was some acting involved."[39]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Scott Skiles Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and more". Basketball Reference. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
  2. ^ "NBA Single Game Leaders and Records for Assists". Retrieved June 16, 2024.
  3. ^ "1982 IHSAA State Championship: Plymouth 75, Gary Roosevelt 74 (2OT)". Youtube. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
  4. ^ Sprouls, Gary (March 26, 2022). "40 Years Later, Plymouth's State Title Upset of Gary Roosevelt Stands as One of the Best". South Bend Tribune. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
  5. ^ a b c Robbins, Josh. "How Plymouth, Ind. shaped ex-Spartan Scott Skiles". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
  6. ^ a b c Neddenriep, Kyle (March 26, 2020). "Build-A-Team: Putting Together the Best Plymouth Basketball Team". Retrieved June 8, 2024.
  7. ^ "Men's Big Ten Conference Player of the Year Winners". Sports Reference. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
  8. ^ "Scott Skiles College Stats". Sports Reference. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
  9. ^ "Michigan State Men's Basketball Leaders & Records - Season". Sports Reference. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
  10. ^ Tribune, Chicago (November 8, 1985). "MSU's SKILES ARRESTED AGAIN". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
  11. ^ Kornheiser, Tony (June 17, 1986). "Skiles Learns a Lesson He Won't Forget". Washington Post. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
  12. ^ "Sports People: Skiles enters jail". The New York Times. May 4, 1986. Retrieved November 27, 2006.
  13. ^ "Pacers vs Bucks, November 11, 1986". Basketball References. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
  14. ^ a b c "Indiana Pacers Acquire Scott Skiles". Retrieved June 9, 2024.
  15. ^ a b c Harris, John (May 3, 1991). "Skiles gets most-improved honor". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
  16. ^ "Nuggets vs Magic, December 30, 1990". Basketball Reference. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
  17. ^ "Scott Skiles: The Game I'll Never Forget". NBA.com. December 30, 2005. Retrieved November 27, 2006.
  18. ^ Taylor, Phil (February 13, 1995). "A Touch of Magic". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
  19. ^ Justice, Richard (July 29, 1994). "Bullets Make Their Point, Acquire Skiles". Washington Post. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
  20. ^ "Greek Team Signs Skiles to 1-Year Deal". Orlando Sentinel. August 5, 1996. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
  21. ^ a b c Denton, John (November 8, 2015). "In-Depth Look at Scott Skiles' Basketball Coaching History". Retrieved June 9, 2024.
  22. ^ a b "Skiles is NBA's youngest coach". ESPN. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
  23. ^ a b c d e "Scott Skiles: Coaching Record, Awards". Basketball Reference. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
  24. ^ "Large and In Charge". Orlando Sentinel. May 8, 2000. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
  25. ^ "Skiles gets chance to turn around Bulls". November 28, 2003. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
  26. ^ "Scott Skiles tells Orlando Magic he's stepping down". May 12, 2016. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
  27. ^ "Sports People: Chicago Bulls fire coach Scott Skiles". Chicago Tribune. December 24, 2007. Archived from the original on December 28, 2007. Retrieved December 25, 2007.
  28. ^ "Skiles returns to NBA as new coach of downtrodden Bucks". ESPN. April 21, 2008. Retrieved May 13, 2016.
  29. ^ Motiff, Jesse (January 18, 2010). "NBA Trade Deadline: John Salmons Traded to the Milwaukee Bucks". Retrieved June 9, 2024.
  30. ^ Stein, Marc (January 17, 2010). "Bucks sign Stackhouse". Retrieved June 9, 2024.
  31. ^ a b Jenkins, Chris (April 3, 2010). "Bucks beat Suns, lose Bogut to ugly elbow injury". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
  32. ^ "Turnaround garners Brooks award". ESPN. April 22, 2010. Retrieved May 13, 2016.
  33. ^ "Bucks and Skiles Mutually Agree to Part Ways". NBA. January 8, 2013. Retrieved May 13, 2016.
  34. ^ Hightower, Kyle (May 29, 2015). "Magic tab Skiles as 12th coach in franchise history". National Basketball Association. Retrieved May 30, 2015.
  35. ^ "Scott Skiles Resigns as Head Coach of Orlando Magic". NBA.com. May 12, 2016. Retrieved May 15, 2016.
  36. ^ Robbins, Josh (May 12, 2016). "Scott Skiles resigns as head coach of Orlando Magic". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved May 12, 2016.
  37. ^ "ESPN.com: NBA - Skiles agrees to leave Suns after short stay". A.espncdn.com. Retrieved August 18, 2022.
  38. ^ Isola, Frank (April 11, 2007). "Skiles still not Bullish on Curry". New York Daily News. Retrieved November 25, 2007.
  39. ^ Gardner, Charles (February 21, 2009). "Varejao ready for Oscar night?". JSOnline Bucks Blog. Retrieved July 18, 2009.
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