Elston Turner

Elston Turner

Memphis Grizzlies
Position	Assistant coach
League	NBA
Personal information
Born	(1959-06-10) June 10, 1959 Knoxville, Tennessee
Nationality	American
Listed height	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Listed weight	190 lb (86 kg)
Career information
High school	Austin-East (Knoxville, Tennessee)
College	Ole Miss (1977–1981)
NBA draft	1981 / Round: 2 / Pick: 43rd overall
Selected by the Dallas Mavericks
Playing career	1981–1995
Position	Shooting guard / Small forward
Number	33, 20, 21
Career history
As player:
1981–1984	Dallas Mavericks
1984–1986	Denver Nuggets
1986–1988	Chicago Bulls
1988–1989	Denver Nuggets
1989–1990	Rockford Lightning (CBA)
1990	Granollers (Spain)
1990	Scavolini Pesaro (Italy)
1990–1991	Apollon Patras (Greece)
1992–1995	Wichita Falls Texas / Chicago Rockers (CBA)
As coach:
1994–1995	Chicago Rockers
1995–1996	Quad City Thunder (assistant)
1996–2000	Portland Trail Blazers (assistant)
2000–2006	Sacramento Kings (assistant)
2007–2011	Houston Rockets (assistant)
2011–2013	Phoenix Suns (assistant)
2013–present	Memphis Grizzlies (assistant)
Career NBA statistics
Points	2,397 (4.7 ppg)
Rebounds	1,375 (2.7 rpg)
Assists	914 (1.7 apg)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com

Elston Howard Turner (born June 10, 1959) is a retired American professional basketball player who's currently and assistant head coach for the Memphis Grizzlies of the National Basketball Association (NBA).

Playing career

A 6'5" (1.96 m) guard–forward from the University of Mississippi, leading Ole Miss to its first ever NCAA Tournament in his senior year, Turner was selected in the second round (43rd overall) of the 1981 NBA Draft by the Dallas Mavericks, and went on to play in eight NBA seasons from 1981 to 1989, for the Mavericks, Denver Nuggets and the Chicago Bulls. He also coached and played in the CBA — as an assistant coach for the Quad City Thunder and as a player–coach for the Chicago Rockers. He also played professionally in Europe.

Coaching career

Turner later moved to the NBA, with the Sacramento Kings (six years) and the Portland Trail Blazers (four). In 2007, he rejoined Rick Adelman's staff at the Houston Rockets.

In May 2008, Turner was interviewed twice for the Phoenix Suns' head coaching position which had become vacant after Mike D'Antoni left. Ultimately, he was not hired.

In July 2009, Turner was interviewed for the vacant Minnesota Timberwolves head coaching position. Turner, along with Mark Jackson and Los Angeles Lakers assistant Kurt Rambis, was one of three finalists vying for the job, but Rambis was the Wolves' ultimate choice.

In May 2010, Turner was interviewed for both the Philadelphia 76ers' and the Chicago Bulls' vacant head coaching positions. They were eventually taken by Doug Collins and Tom Thibodeau, respectively. In June 2010, Turner was granted permission by the Rockets to talk to the L.A. Clippers about its vacant head coaching job.

In July 2011, Turner was interviewed for a defensive coordinator position for the Phoenix Suns along with the Milwaukee Bucks' coordinator Jim Boylan, the San Antonio Spurs' coordinator Don Newman, and current Golden State Warriors' coordinator Pete Myers. Turner signed a two-year contract, becoming the fifth assistant head coach for the Suns along with Bill Cartwright, Dan Majerle, Igor Kokoškov, and Noel Gillespie.

In July 2012, Turner was interviewed for the Portland Trail Blazers' vacant head coach position. He was one of the final four candidates, competing against Terry Stotts, Steve Clifford, and then-interim coach Kaleb Canales. Ultimately, he was not hired for the position. In January 2013, Turner resigned from his assistant coach position with Phoenix. He was named an assistant coach by the Memphis Grizzlies in September 2013.

Personal

Turner's son, Elston Jr., played guard for the University of Washington Huskies men's basketball team from 2008 through 2010. He has transferred to the Texas A&M University Aggies for his junior and senior seasons.

External links

• NBA.com coachfile
• Stats at BasketballReference
• Basketpedya career data