Rony Seikaly
| Personal information | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born | May 10, 1965 Beirut, Lebanon |
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| Nationality | Lebanese / American | ||||||||||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) | ||||||||||||
| Listed weight | 253 lb (115 kg) | ||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||
| High school | American School (Athens, Greece) | ||||||||||||
| College | Syracuse (1984–1988) | ||||||||||||
| NBA draft | 1988 / Round: 1 / Pick: 9th overall | ||||||||||||
| Selected by the Miami Heat | |||||||||||||
| Playing career | 1988–2000 | ||||||||||||
| Position | Center | ||||||||||||
| Number | 4, 9, 2 | ||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||
| 1988–1994 | Miami Heat | ||||||||||||
| 1994–1996 | Golden State Warriors | ||||||||||||
| 1996–1998 | Orlando Magic | ||||||||||||
| 1998–1999 | New Jersey Nets | ||||||||||||
| 2000 | FC Barcelona (Spain) | ||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||
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| Career NBA statistics | |||||||||||||
| Points | 9,991 (14.7 ppg) | ||||||||||||
| Rebounds | 6,424 (9.5 rpg) | ||||||||||||
| Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |||||||||||||
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Medals
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Ronald Fred "Rony" Seikaly (Arabic: رونالد ﺼيقلي), known in Greece as Rony Sakalis (Greek: Ρόνι Σακαλής; born May 10, 1965) is a retired Lebanese-born American professional basketball player. Considered one of the top college players from Syracuse Orange men's basketball program, Seikaly's stellar offense and defense placed him among the school's all-time leaders in rebounds, points and blocks while earning several nationally recognized awards and honors. His number 4 has been retired and raised to the rafters of the Carrier Dome.
Drafted into the National Basketball Association (NBA) by the Miami Heat with the 9th pick of the 1988 draft and the first ever pick for the Heat, Seikaly became one of the team's earliest franchise players as he ranked among the team's top offensive and defensive contributors amassing many of the teams records of which some are still standing. He also played for the Golden State Warriors, Orlando Magic and New Jersey Nets and internationally in Spain with FC Barcelona (Spain). He was also part of the US national basketball team during the 1986 FIBA World Championship, winning gold. After his retirement from basketball, Seikaly became a real estate developer and fulfilled his passion in electronic music as a producer and DJ.
Contents
Early life
Seikaly was born in Beirut, Lebanon. As a young child, Rony moved from Beirut to Greece, where he spent the rest of his youth. He attended and graduated from the American School, also known as ACS Athens. In addition to playing basketball, he also excelled in many different sports including Volleyball, Soccer, Snow Skiing and Track & Field.
After being scouted by Panathinaikos player Takis Koroneos, Seikaly was selected to join Panathinaikos' men's senior team, and played with them in a tournament in Cyprus in 1984.
College Basketball Career
In 1984, Seikaly moved from Greece to the United States and began attending Syracuse University in central New York, where he played college basketball. He played center for the Syracuse Orange men's basketball team. He led his Syracuse team to the 1987 NCAA Tournament championship finals against the Indiana Hoosiers during his junior year,[1] after averaging 22 points and 11 rebounds per game throughout the tournament. He was an All-American, and was also named to the John R. Wooden All-American Team.[1] He graduated from Syracuse as the school's all-time leading rebounder,[1] second in school history in blocked shots, and fourth in school history in scoring. At the time, he was only the second player to record 1,000 points and rebounds during his tenure at Syracuse.[1] He was chosen on the Orange's All Century Team, and his number 4 jersey has been retired and raised to the rafters at the Carrier Dome.
NBA career
Miami Heat (1988-1994)
Seikaly was taken by the expansion team Miami Heat with the 9th pick in the first round of the 1988 NBA Draft, as well as being the franchise's first ever college draft pick, Seikaly became the first ever candidate born in Lebanon to compete in the NBA.[1] The rookie center quickly emerged not only as a pivotal player within the team, but also among the league's top young centers. [2] In his second season, he led the Heat in points (16.6), rebounds (10.4) and blocks (1.7) while placing sixth in the league in rebounding.[2] At the conclusion of the season he was awarded the 1990 NBA Most Improved Player Award.
In the 1990-1991 season, Seikaly increased his rebounding average to 11.1 boards a game while maintaining his 16 points per game average and then they acquired other young players to serve as scoring options such as Glen Rice and Steve Smith. In the 1991-1992 season, Seikaly again averaged 16 points and 11 rebounds (6th in the league) and the Heat bolstered by his play and Rice's scoring led the team to 38 wins and the first playoff berth for the franchise. Despite the breakthrough, Miami was no match for the defending champion Chicago Bulls led by Michael Jordan, who swept the Heat in three games. For the series Seikaly averaged 19.1 points with 9.2 rebounds against the Bulls.
Seikaly increased his scoring to 17.3 and once again averaged 11.8 rebounds a game (8th in the league) during the 1992-1993 season. He managed to win the NBA player of the week after averaging 30 points and 20 Rebounds for the week of March 7th. The following season featured increased scoring by Rice and Smith, and Seikaly averaged 15.1 points a game for third on the team while leading the team in rebounds with 10.3 boards a game. The Heat won 42 games, good enough to make the playoffs. Facing off against the Atlanta Hawks in the first round.
Seikaly's career with Miami saw him setting numerous team records, including blocks (8), rebounds (34) and double doubles. During his run with the Heat, he had the nickname "The Spin Doctor", due to his trademark low-post spin moves.[3] On November 2, 1994, Seikaly was traded to the Golden State Warriors for Sasha Danilovic and Billy Owens.
His career highs with the Heat are 40 points, 34 rebounds, 8 blocks, 8 assists, 5 steals
Golden State Warriors (1994-1996)
Seikaly only played in 36 games during the 1994-1995 season but started in all but one of those appearances averaging 12 points and 7 rebounds per game for the Warriors who were decimated by injuries. He would go on to start in 60 of 64 games in the 1995-1996 season, averaging 12 points and 7.8 rebounds but the Warriors once again were plagued by injuries and could not reach the post-season. In November 1996 he was once again traded, this time to the Orlando Magic.
Orlando Magic (1996-1998)
The Magic had been a dominant Eastern Conference team but lost superstar center Shaquille O'Neal, and Seikaly was brought in to fill the void. Despite playing alongside other veteran scoring options such as Horace Grant, Nick Anderson and Dennis Scott, Seikaly boosted his scoring to 17.3 points a game for second on the team behind all-star Anfernee Hardaway, and led the team in rebounds per game (9.5) and blocks (1.4). The Magic 45 games and entered the playoffs as the 7th seed in the conference, facing off against Seikaly's old team in Miami who now featured all-star center Alonzo Mourning. Despite taking a 2-0 lead in Miami, the Magic responded with two wins at home to tie the series at 2 games apiece, but injuries forced Seikaly's out of the 4th and deciding 5th game in which the Heat won to advance.
Seikaly would start in 47 games to start the 1997-1998 season, but in February he was traded to the New Jersey Nets. He averaged 16 points and 9.5 rebounds per game in his stint in Orlando.
New Jersey Nets (1998-1999)
Following his arrival in New Jersey, Seikaly had a career ending foot injury and only played in 9 games to finish the 1998 season, and would only play in 9 games of the lockout shortened 1998-1999 season before retiring from the league. He holds NBA career averages of 14.7 points per game, 9.5 rebounds per game, and 1.29 blocks per game.
Music career
| Rony Seikaly | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Ronald Seikaly |
| Born | 10 May 1965 |
| Origin | Lebanon |
| Genres | House music, deep house, tech house and techno |
| Occupation(s) | DJ / Music producer |
| Years active | 2010-present |
| Labels | Subliminal Records, Nervous Records, Stereo, Suara |
| Associated acts | Jean Claude Ades, Polina, Erick Morillo |
| Website | ronyseikaly |
Seikaly, an avid lover of music, had been DJing on and off since the age of 14. After retiring from basketball, he developed a musical career as a professional DJ and as a music producer.[4] "Sports will always be my love. But music will always be my passion," he said.[5] He also had his own studio in Florida. Seikaly has been producing and working in the genres of house, deep house, tech house and techno.[citation needed] He has played in major clubs in Ibiza, New York, LA and Miami.[4]
He has released four EPs, House Calls in 2010 East West EP in 2012 and East West EP volume 2 in 2014 and "Signs EP" in 2015.[6] In 2012, he released a full mix album titled Nervous Nitelife Presents Rony Seikaly[7] and singles released on Suara, Yoshitoshi, Nervous, Subliminal Records and many more.
He has his own radio show on Sirius/XM Electric Area called SugarFree which airs every Saturday and Monday.
Discography
Albums
| Title details | Tracklist |
|---|---|
Nervous Nitelife Presents Rony Seikaly
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EPs
| Title details | Tracklist |
|---|---|
Subiminal Essentials Presents House Calls EP
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East West EP
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Funk the Monk / MILF
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Songs
- 2010: "Come with Me" (featuring Polina) (Subliminal Records)
- 2010: "Let You Go" (featuring Polina) (Subliminal Records)
- 2010: "Let You Go Part Two" (featuring Polina). Remix by Cedric Gervais (Subliminal Records)
- 2011: "Take Me Higher" (Subliminal Records)
- 2011: "The World Is Beautiful" (Subliminal Records)
- 2011: "Personal Stereo" (Swing Records)
- 2011: "Crazy Powder" (Nervous Inc)
- 2012: "MILF" (Juicy Records)
- 2012: "Funk The Munk" (Juicy Records)
- 2012: "Mood That I Love" (Nervous Records)
- 2012: "Desert Nights" (Nervous Records)
- 2012: "Oh Yeah" (Swing Records)
- 2012: "Perfect Match" (Swing Records)
- 2012: "Illusion" (Nervous Records)
- 2012: "Le Freak" (with Antranig) (Stereo Productions)
- 2012: "Welcome to the Machine" (Nervous Inc.)
- 2012: "Happy Trees" (Nervous Inc.)
- 2013: "You Make Me Feel" (with Jean Claude Ades) (Be Crazy Music)
- 2013: "Thanks for Everything" (Perfect Driver Music)
- 2013: "Can You Hear Me" (Suara Records)
- 2013: "TATOUS" (Nervous Records)
- 2014: "Into me" (Be Crazy)
- 2014: "Devotion" (Be Crazy)
- 2014: "5htp" (Be Crazy)
- 2015: "Groove Box" (Stereo Productions)
- 2015: "Holdin On" (Yoshitoshi Records)
- 2015: "Faces" (Yoshitoshi Records)
- 2015: "Don't Do That" (Xima Records)
- 2015: "Do You Take Anything" (Xima Records)
- 2015: "U Turn" (Xima Records)
Featured
- 2011: "Fly Away" (In The Screen vs. Rony Seikaly feat. Craig David) (Erick Morillo, Harry Choo Choo Romero & José Nunez Mix)
Personal life
Seikaly owns and runs a multi-million dollar real estate investment company;[4] he is also an investor in the South Beach, Miami restaurants Quattro, Sosta, Solea, and Club Wall.
When Magic Johnson returned to the NBA HIV-positive, and there was opposition to his inclusion in the league, because of his health status, Seikaly challenged him to a game of one-on-one to show everyone that HIV is not contagious by touch. He had experience with this because his cousin had contracted HIV after being given a tainted blood transfusion and died of AIDS.
He was formerly married to Mexican model Elsa Benítez, the 2001 and 2006 cover girl for the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issues. They divorced in 2005; they have a daughter, Mila.
Since July 2015, Rony has been married to brasilian fashion blogger, model and writer Martha Graeff.
- Charity
Seikaly is involved in many charities, such as the Miami Heat's Corporate Education and "Shoot for the Stars" programs. He founded the Rony Seikaly Golf Tournament to benefit cystic fibrosis research.
Revenues from the sale of his 2012 album Nervous Nitelife Presents Rony Seikaly went to the Children's Department at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Foundation in Miami.[7]
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Encyclopedia.com: Roni Seikaly (Lebanese / Lebanon's Ex-NBA player).
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Amanda Mactas in Joonbug.com: Rony Seikaly - From NBA Star to Global DJ (June 4, 2012)
- ↑ NotableDance.com: Interview with Jean Claude Ades (August 9, 2012)
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Lesire Lab.com: Interview with Rony Seikaly (27 June 2012)
External links
- Basketball
- NBA.com Historical Player File
- Career statistics and player information from NBA.comLua error in Module:EditAtWikidata at line 29: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). and Basketball-Reference.com
- Career statistics and player information from WNBA.comLua error in Module:EditAtWikidata at line 29: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). and Basketball-Reference.comLua error in Module:EditAtWikidata at line 29: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
- Music
- Pages using infobox basketball biography with unsupported parameters
- Articles containing Arabic-language text
- Articles with hCards
- Articles with unsourced statements from September 2013
- 1965 births
- Living people
- American expatriate basketball people in Spain
- American people of Lebanese descent
- Basketball players at the 1987 NCAA Men's Division I Final Four
- Centers (basketball)
- FC Barcelona Bàsquet players
- Golden State Warriors players
- Greek expatriate basketball people in the United States
- Greek sportsmen
- Lebanese basketball players
- Lebanese emigrants to Greece
- Lebanese emigrants to the United States
- Liga ACB players
- Miami Heat draft picks
- Miami Heat players
- New Jersey Nets players
- Orlando Magic players
- Panathinaikos B.C. players
- People from Beirut
- Syracuse Orange men's basketball players
- United States men's national basketball team players
