Patrick O'Bryant

Infobox NBA Player
name = Patrick O'Bryant
profile = patrick_obryant
nickname = POB

---

caption =
nationality = USA
position = Center
height_ft = 7
height_in = 0
weight_lb = 250
league = NBA
team = Boston Celtics
number = 26
birth_date = birth date and age|1986|6|20
birth_place = Oskaloosa, Iowa
highschool = Blaine HS
(Blaine, Minnesota)
college = Bradley
draft = 9th overall
draft_year = 2006
draft_team = Golden State Warriors
career_start = 2006
former_teams = Golden State Warriors (2006–2008)
awards =

Patrick Fitzgerald O'Bryant (born June 20 1986 in Oskaloosa, Iowa) is an American professional basketball player for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association. The height|ft=7|in=0|wiki=yes, convert|250|lb|kg st|abbr=on|lk=on center was selected out of the Bradley University by the Golden State Warriors with the 9th overall pick in the 2006 NBA Draft. After two disappointing seasons, he signed with Celtics before the 2008–09 season.

College

O'Bryant attended Bradley University for two years and led the Braves to the Sweet Sixteen of the 2006 NCAA Tournament before losing to University of Memphis. His breakout performance at the tournament caught the eyes of NBA scouts.

NBA

Golden State Warriors

On June 28, 2006, O'Bryant was selected by the Golden State Warriors with the 9th overall pick in the 2006 NBA Draft. On September 6, 2006, he was diagnosed with a fracture in his right foot. He was placed in an immobilizing boot on the injured foot and missed six weeks of training camp. He played sparingly in the 2006–07 season.

O'Bryant became the first NBA Lottery pick to be sent down to the Bakersfield Jam of the D-League on December 30, 2006. On February 19, 2007, he was recalled from the Jam. Warriors head coach Don Nelson had critical words for him: "I told him if he goes down to the D-League and isn't a dominant player, there should be red flags all over the place, and he should be the first to notice. He's not only not dominating, he's not playing very well. He's a long-term project. I really liked him the first week of training camp, but I assumed there would be great progress. [...] He hasn't gotten better one bit." [cite news |first=Geoff |last=Lepper |title=Rookie stays in D-League |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4176/is_20070125/ai_n17165586 |work=Oakland Tribune|date=January 25, 2007 |accessdate=2007-12-29]

Prior to the 2007–08 season, the Warriors declined to pick up his third year option, which made him an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. [cite news |title=Warriors Decline To Exercise Third-Year Option On Contract Of Patrick O’Bryant |url=http://www.nba.com/warriors/news/Warriors_Decline_OBryant_Option.html |work=NBA.com |date=November 1, 2007 |accessdate=2007-12-29] On March 10, 2008, he was reassigned to the Bakersfield Jam, [cite news |title=Warriors’ O’Bryant sent to D-League |url=http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=AoKARZKS0i290fvbe3TjDDZ90bYF?slug=txwarriorsobryant&prov=st&type=lgns |work=Yahoo! News |date=March 10, 2008 |accessdate=2008-03-11] however, he was later recalled and rejoined the Warriors for the remainder of the season. [ [http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/teams/transactions?team=gsw Golden State Warriors Transactions] , "ESPN.com"]

Boston Celtics

On July 11, 2008, O'Bryant signed a 2-year, $3.12 million contract with the Boston Celtics.Marc J. Spears, [http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2008/07/12/celtics_get_their_big/ Celtics get their 'big'] , "The Boston Globe", July 12, 2008.] He had an impressive workout with the team a week earlier and was expected to be the backup center for Kendrick Perkins. [Steve Bulpett, [http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view/2008_07_12_C_s_make_big_move:_Agree_with_7-foot_center_O_Bryant/srvc=celt&position=1 C’s make big move] , "Boston Herald", July 12, 2008.]

NBA career statistics

Regular season

-
align="left" | 2006–07
align="left" | Golden State
16 || 0 || 7.4 || .313 || .000 || .647 || 1.3 || .6 || .4 || .5 || 1.9
-
align="left" | 2007–08
align="left" | Golden State
24 || 0 || 4.1 || .552 || .000 || .600 || 1.2 || .2 || .2 || .4 || 1.5
-
align="left" | Career
align="left" |
40 || 0 || 5.5 || .426 || .000 || .636 || 1.3 || .3 || .2 || .4 || 1.7
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Playing style

O'Bryant was a late bloomer who was not heavily recruited out of high school. He plays the center position and is known for his shot-blocking ability, as he led the Missouri Valley Conference in blocks for two straight years, and is also a solid rebounder. His offensive game also features a skyhook.

References

External links

*
*
* [http://www.nba.com/draft2006/profiles/PatrickOBryant.html Patrick O'Bryant Draft 2006 Profile] @ NBA.com
* [http://www.hoopsaction.com/?page=articles/view&AID=1161 In-Depth Scouting Report] at JustBBall.Com's HoopsAction