John Gianelli

One collector is trying to find a single signature from every man who ever played for the Jazz — all 370 of them, from the 1974 New Orleans team to today. For many of them, this page is the only one on the internet. Here is John Gianelli: what he did on the floor, a few things most people never knew, and every card that carries his name. If you own something he signed — or you know who might — there is a note at the foot of this page.

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 (No. 20), Houston