FORMER BULLDOG ELY SIGNS WITH KINGS

Fresno State’s all-time leading scorer hopes to revive his career in Sacramento.

By George Takata
VSP Senior Writer:

Melvin Ely (Fresno State) signed a non-guaranteed contract with the Sacramento Kings Monday, and is on the team’s training camp roster.

The 6′10″ 261 pound Ely, who played for Jerry Tarkanian at Fresno State, is averaging six points and three rebounds per game for his seven year NBA career. Sacramento is his fifth team going into his eighth NBA season.

Ely was the Clippers first round pick in the 2002 NBA Draft, the first senior selected that year. He can play center or power forward, and could provide depth off the bench for the Kings if he makes the team. His most productive season was with the Charlotte Bobcats in 2005-2006, when he started 22 of the 57 games he played, averaging 10 points and five rebounds a game in 24 minutes per contest.

Ely is the only former Bulldog basketball player to win an NBA title (2007 with the Spurs). He was not on San Antonio’s playoff roster, however.

Check out Ely’s interview with the Sacramento Bee at Kings Media Day here (with a Fresno reference):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XU9-NSDIeMY

For a look at Ely’s career stats, click here:
http://www.nba.com/playerfile/melvin_ely/career_stats.html

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