John Gianelli

A 6-foot-10 big man from Stockton, Gianelli averaged 21.5 points and 17.2 rebounds as a senior at the University of the Pacific, which retired his number 23 in 1973. He won an NBA title as a rookie with the 1973 Knicks and played eight league seasons, once traded along with 3.3 million dollars for Bob McAdoo. His last NBA stop came with the Jazz, who acquired him in the Bernard King deal that sent Rich Kelley the other way.

Gianelli then played three seasons in Italy with Olimpia Milano, starting at center on the 1981-82 Italian championship team beside point guard Mike D'Antoni. Pacific inducted him into its athletics hall of fame in 1986.

HOW HE CAME & WENTNew Jersey sent him to Utah with Bernard King and Jim Boylan on October 2, 1979 for Rich Kelley and cash, and the Jazz waived him less than two months later.

Full name

John Arec Gianelli

Utah Jazz tenure

1979–80

Position

Center

Born

1950, Stockton, California

Height

6′10″ (208 cm)

Weight

220 lb (100 kg)

College

Pacific

Drafted

1972, 2nd round, New York

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