Greg Kelser

Infobox NBA Player


position = forward
nickname = Special K
height_ft = 6
height_in = 7
weight_lb = 190
team = retired
nationality = USA
birth_date = birth date and age|1957|9|17
birth_place = Panama City, Florida
college = Michigan State University
draft = 4th overall
draft_year = 1979
career_start = 1979
career_end = 1985
awards =

Gregory (Greg) Kelser (born September 17, 1957, in Panama City, Florida) is a retired American basketball player. He is a broadcaster for the NBA's Detroit Pistons as well as a College Basketball broadcaster for ESPN. Kelser played in the NBA from 1979-1986 and is best known for his stand out career at Michigan State.

College career

In his junior year (the freshman year for Earvin "Magic" Johnson and Jay Vincent) at Michigan State under coach Jud Heathcote, the Spartan squad had an impressive season, racking up a 25-5 record, the Big Ten Conference title, and a berth in the 1978 NCAA tournament, where they made it to the regional finals before losing narrowly to eventual champion Kentucky. As a senior, he along with Johnson led the Spartans to the 1979 NCAA tournament championship, the first in the school's history. His nickname at MSU was "Special K" after the popular Kellogg's cereal of the same name. Kelser was often on the receiving end of alley-oop passes from Johnson.

NBA career

He was drafted by the Pistons in 1979, but was later traded to the Seattle SuperSonics in exchange for Vinnie Johnson in 1981. Kelser also spent time with the San Diego Clippers and the Indiana Pacers.

Broadcasting

Detroit Pistons

Kelser has done games on television and radio since 1988, the past 10 seasons with Fred McLeod. Starting in the 2006–2007 season he did games with veteran Pistons announcer George Blaha.

In addition to calling game action, Kelser is featured on "Coaches Corner" segments on the pre-game show and is often used as an NBA analyst for FSN Detroit's "Sports Report".

He formerly served as the Pistons' color commentator for WWJ radio during home games.

Other duties

He also has done work on college basketball television broadcasts, including regional Big Ten telecasts on ESPN Plus, the Big Ten Network, and the NCAA Tournament.

Trivia

*In 2006, Kelser was inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame.
*He wrote a book that came out in October 2006, titled "Greg Kelser's Tales from Michigan State Basketball".

External links

* [http://www.databasebasketball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=KELSEGR01 Career NBA stats]
* [http://www.ncaasports.com/basketball/mens/story/7186729 Where Are They Now? Greg Kelser] , by Steve Grinczel, March 18, 2004