Wesley Person
Wesley Lavon Person (born March 28, 1971) is an American former professional basketball player and current high school basketball coach.[1][2] Person played college basketball at Auburn University, where he averaged 19.1 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game over four seasons, finishing his career with 2,066 points and 262 three-pointers made.[3] Selected 23rd overall in the 1994 NBA Draft by the Phoenix Suns, he entered the league in 1994 and went on to play 11 seasons as a shooting guard and small forward, appearing in 733 regular-season games across seven teams: the Suns (1994–1997), Cleveland Cavaliers (1997–2002), Memphis Grizzlies (2002–2004), Portland Trail Blazers (2003–2004), Atlanta Hawks (2003–2004), Miami Heat (2004–2005), and Denver Nuggets (2004–2005).[2][1] His NBA career averages included 11.2 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game, with a three-point shooting percentage of .418; notable honors include selection to the All-Rookie Second Team in 1995 and an NBA Player of the Week award during the 1997–98 season.[1][2][4] The younger brother of former NBA player and coach Chuck Person, Wesley Person transitioned to coaching after his playing days, serving in roles such as head coach for Greenville High School in Alabama (where he was named 2021 Coach of the Year), assistant coach for the women's basketball team and head coach for the men's basketball team at Enterprise State Community College, DME Academy's regional team in Florida, and Samuel W. Wolfson High School in Jacksonville.[5] In August 2025, he was appointed head coach at Wilcox Central High School in Camden, Alabama, returning to his home state to lead the program's boys' basketball team.[3]Early life and amateur career
Early life and family background
Wesley Lavon Person was born on March 28, 1971, in Crenshaw, Alabama.[2] He grew up in the small rural town of Brantley in Crenshaw County, where his family emphasized basketball as a central passion.[6] Person was the younger brother of Chuck Person, a prominent NBA player who was selected fourth overall in the 1986 NBA Draft by the Indiana Pacers and won the 1986-87 NBA Rookie of the Year award while averaging 18.8 points per game.[7] Raised by their single mother, Mae Person, alongside six siblings in a modest household, Wesley benefited from early exposure to professional basketball through Chuck's career, which began when Wesley was a teenager. Mae Person passed away in June 2014.[6] This family environment, marked by resilience and support in rural Alabama, fostered Wesley's initial involvement in youth sports, particularly basketball.[8] Mae Person's guidance instilled values of humility and hard work, shaping the brothers' approaches to the sport amid the challenges of their upbringing.[6]High school career
Wesley Person attended Brantley High School in Brantley, Alabama, where he played varsity basketball.[2] As the younger brother of Chuck Person, a standout player who had previously excelled at the same school before starring at Auburn University, Wesley drew motivation from his family's basketball heritage during his high school years.[2] Person committed to play for Auburn.[3]College career
Wesley Person committed to Auburn University in 1990, joining the Tigers' men's basketball program as a highly touted shooting guard from his Alabama high school roots.[9] Over four seasons from 1990 to 1994, he played under head coach Tommy Joe Eagles, contributing significantly to the team's perimeter offense while developing into a prolific scorer and shooter.[10] Person's college tenure marked a steady progression in his game, transitioning from a promising freshman to a senior leader who set school records and earned multiple All-SEC honors, honing the skills that would translate to professional basketball.[9] As a freshman in the 1990–91 season, Person quickly adapted to collegiate play, averaging 15.4 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game across 26 appearances, while shooting 47.1% from the field and 35.6% from three-point range.[9] His performance earned him a spot on the SEC All-Freshman Team, highlighting his immediate impact as a versatile guard who could stretch defenses with his outside shooting.[9] In his sophomore year (1991–92), Person elevated his scoring to 19.9 points per game in 27 games, boosting his three-point accuracy to a remarkable 48.9% on 2.6 makes per contest, which helped him secure third-team All-SEC recognition.[9] This improvement in efficiency underscored his growing command of the perimeter, where he became a primary offensive option for Auburn amid a 14–14 overall record. Person's junior campaign in 1992–93 saw him average 18.8 points and a career-high 7.1 rebounds per game, alongside 3.8 assists, earning second-team All-SEC honors for his all-around contributions.[9] He maintained strong shooting splits, hitting 55.6% from the field and 46.4% from beyond the arc, which aided Auburn in competitive SEC matchups despite the team's 14–13 finish. By his senior season in 1993–94, Person emerged as the team's undisputed leader, leading the SEC with 22.2 points per game in 28 outings and claiming first-team All-SEC laurels.[9] His three-point volume peaked at 3.3 makes per game on 44.3% accuracy, including standout performances in SEC play where he often carried the Tigers' scoring load.[9] Throughout his Auburn career, Person amassed 2,066 points and established the school record for career three-pointers with 262 makes on 594 attempts at 44.1% efficiency.[9][11] This development as an elite perimeter shooter, built on consistent growth in volume and accuracy, positioned him as a draft prospect known for his shooting range and scoring versatility; his No. 11 jersey was retired by Auburn in 2006 in recognition of his legacy.[11][12] His tenure helped elevate Auburn's profile in the SEC, fostering a foundation of offensive firepower even as the team navigated mid-tier conference finishes.| Season | Class | Games | MPG | PPG | RPG | APG | FG% | 3P% | 3PM | All-SEC Honor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990–91 | Fr. | 26 | 33.0 | 15.4 | 5.7 | 1.8 | .471 | .356 | 1.6 | All-Freshman Team |
| 1991–92 | So. | 27 | 35.4 | 19.9 | 6.8 | 2.0 | .506 | .489 | 2.6 | 3rd Team |
| 1992–93 | Jr. | 27 | 35.4 | 18.8 | 7.1 | 3.8 | .556 | .464 | 2.1 | 2nd Team |
| 1993–94 | Sr. | 28 | 35.9 | 22.2 | 6.4 | 2.8 | .484 | .443 | 3.3 | 1st Team; SEC PPG Leader |
Professional basketball career
NBA draft and rookie season
Person was selected by the Phoenix Suns with the 23rd overall pick in the first round of the 1994 NBA Draft. His strong college performance at Auburn, particularly his elite three-point shooting where he connected on 44.3% of attempts as a senior, positioned him as a valuable perimeter prospect.[2][13] During the 1994–95 season, Person's rookie year, he played in 78 games for the Suns, starting 56, while averaging 10.4 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in 23.1 minutes per game. He quickly emerged as a dependable shooter off the bench and in the starting lineup, draining 116 three-pointers at a 43.6% success rate to support Phoenix's high-powered offense led by Charles Barkley. Under head coach Paul Westphal, Person honed his role as a three-point specialist, providing spacing that enhanced the team's overall scoring efficiency.[2][14][15][16] Person's contributions helped the Suns secure the best record in the NBA at 59–23 and advance to the Western Conference Semifinals, where they fell to the Houston Rockets in seven games; he averaged 9.6 points and 2.1 rebounds across 10 playoff appearances, starting all of them. His solid debut campaign culminated in selection to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team, recognizing his impact as one of the league's top first-year players.[17]Phoenix Suns tenure (1994–1997)
Person joined the Phoenix Suns as a rookie in the 1994–95 season, building on his All-Rookie Second Team honors by establishing himself as a versatile shooting guard capable of starting or contributing off the bench.[2] Over his three full seasons with the team, he averaged between 10.4 and 13.5 points per game, showcasing improved long-range shooting that reached 41.3% from three-point range in 1996–97, making him a reliable perimeter threat.[2] His role evolved from a primary starter in his debut year—where he started 56 of 78 games—to a more flexible sixth man or spot starter in subsequent seasons, often providing scoring punch in the backcourt alongside veterans like Charles Barkley during the early part of his tenure.[2][18] In the 1994–95 and 1995–96 seasons, Person complemented Barkley's dominant interior play with his outside shooting, helping the Suns achieve 59 and 57 wins, respectively, and advance to the Western Conference playoffs each year.[2][19] During the 1995 Western Conference Semifinals against the Houston Rockets, he averaged 9.6 points across 10 games, starting all contests and contributing to Phoenix's competitive series that went to seven games.[2] The following year, in a first-round playoff loss to the San Antonio Spurs, Person stepped up with 14.3 points per game over four starts, including extended minutes in high-stakes matchups.[2] By 1995–96, his scoring rose to 12.7 points per game over 82 appearances, with 3.9 rebounds, underscoring his growing impact as a multi-faceted wing player in the Suns' offensive system.[2] The 1996–97 season marked Person's most productive with Phoenix, averaging 13.5 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 41.3% from three in 80 games, often as a sixth man who provided instant offense.[2] Without Barkley, who had departed to the Houston Rockets, Person adapted to a revamped Suns roster featuring Jason Kidd, helping the team secure another playoff berth with a first-round series against the Seattle SuperSonics.[2] He delivered 15.6 points per game in five playoff outings, highlighted by a 29-point performance in Game 3, including six three-pointers, though the Suns fell in five games.[2] His consistent contributions as a sharpshooter were integral to Phoenix's backcourt depth during this period of transition.[18] Person's Suns tenure concluded after the 1996–97 season when he was traded, along with Tony Dumas, to the Cleveland Cavaliers on October 1, 1997, as part of a three-team deal that sent Antonio McDyess to Phoenix from the Denver Nuggets; in return, the Suns received McDyess and a future first-round draft pick from Cleveland.[20] This move reflected Phoenix's efforts to retool around younger talent following Barkley's exit, ending Person's three-year stint where he played a key role in three consecutive Western Conference playoff appearances.[2]Cleveland Cavaliers years (1997–2002)
Wesley Person was acquired by the Cleveland Cavaliers in a three-team trade from the Phoenix Suns on October 1, 1997, which also involved the Denver Nuggets and saw the Cavaliers send point guard Terrell Brandon and a 2005 first-round draft pick to Phoenix in exchange for Person and Tony Dumas. He spent the next five seasons with Cleveland, establishing himself as a reliable scoring guard and one of the league's premier long-range shooters. During this period, Person complemented the team's frontcourt stars, including newly acquired power forward Shawn Kemp and rookie center Zydrunas Ilgauskas, by providing consistent perimeter scoring and spacing the floor for their interior play.[21][22] His shooting prowess, honed during his earlier years in Phoenix, translated effectively to the Cavaliers' system under coach Mike Fratello. In his debut season of 1997–98, Person achieved his career-high average of 14.7 points per game while leading the NBA in three-pointers made with 191, shooting 43.0 percent from beyond the arc on a league-high volume of attempts.[23] This performance earned him recognition as one of the top shooters in the league and helped anchor Cleveland's offense, which finished fifth in the Eastern Conference with a 47–35 record.[24] Over the subsequent seasons, his scoring dipped amid team struggles and roster changes—averaging 11.2 points in 1998–99, 9.2 in 1999–2000, 7.1 in 2000–01, and rebounding to 14.5 in 2001–02—but he remained a key rotational player, often starting at shooting guard and contributing efficient catch-and-shoot opportunities.[2] Person's overall Cavaliers tenure saw him average 11.5 points per game across 346 appearances, solidifying his reputation as a volume three-point specialist.[25] Person's playoff experience with Cleveland came solely in the 1997–98 postseason, where the Cavaliers faced the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference First Round. He appeared in all four games of the series, which Cleveland lost 1–3, averaging 8.0 points and 1.8 three-pointers made per game while shooting 36.8 percent from deep.[26] His contributions included timely outside shooting to support Kemp and Ilgauskas, though the team struggled against Indiana's balanced attack led by Reggie Miller and Rik Smits.[27] Person's time in Cleveland ended on June 26, 2002, when he was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for veteran guard Nick Anderson and the draft rights to Matt Barnes, allowing the Cavaliers to pursue a youth movement amid ongoing rebuilding efforts.[28]Later NBA teams (2002–2005)
Person was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies from the Cleveland Cavaliers on June 26, 2002, where he provided veteran scoring off the bench and as a starter during the 2002–03 season.[2] In 66 games, starting 44, he averaged 11.0 points per game while shooting 37.1 percent from three-point range, helping stabilize the Grizzlies' perimeter attack as they improved to 50 wins.[1] His role emphasized spot-up shooting, leveraging his career-long proficiency from beyond the arc that had been honed during his Cavaliers tenure.[2] On December 3, 2003, Person was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers along with a conditional first-round pick in exchange for Bonzi Wells, joining a roster seeking to reshape amid off-court issues. With Portland in 2003–04, he appeared in 33 games as a reserve, averaging 6.5 points per game, but his minutes were limited by the team's depth and his adjustment to a bench role.[2] The stint was brief; on February 9, 2004, Portland dealt Person and Rasheed Wallace to the Atlanta Hawks for Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Theo Ratliff, and Dan Dickau in a blockbuster move to acquire frontcourt help.[29] In Atlanta, Person played just nine games, averaging 4.4 points, as the Hawks' rebuilding phase offered little opportunity for the 32-year-old wing.[2] As a free agent that offseason, Person signed a multi-year contract with the Miami Heat on August 11, 2004, reuniting him with former Suns teammate Pat Riley as head coach and positioning him as a depth shooter behind Dwyane Wade and Eddie Jones.[30] However, injuries hampered his 2004–05 season; after averaging 3.9 points in 16 games, he was placed on the injured list in January 2005 with patella tendinitis in his right knee.[31] Waived by Miami in early March, Person quickly joined the Denver Nuggets on March 3, 2005, where he revived his scoring touch in 25 games, averaging 8.1 points per game off the bench and contributing 3.8 points in four playoff appearances as Denver reached the Western Conference semifinals.[32] At age 34, Person retired from the NBA on November 1, 2005, concluding an 11-season career in which he averaged 11.4 points over 733 regular-season games, often impacted by injuries in his later years.[2][32]Career statistics and achievements
Regular Season Statistics
Wesley Person played 11 seasons in the NBA from 1994 to 2005, appearing in 733 regular-season games across seven teams.[2] His per-game statistics are detailed below, highlighting his role as a prolific three-point shooter.| Season | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG | FGA | FG% | 3P | 3PA | 3P% | FT | FTA | FT% | ORB | DRB | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | PF | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994-95 | PHO | 78 | 56 | 23.1 | 4.0 | 8.2 | .484 | 1.5 | 3.4 | .436 | 1.0 | 1.3 | .792 | 0.9 | 1.7 | 2.6 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 1.0 | 1.9 | 10.4 |
| 1995-96 | PHO | 82 | 47 | 31.8 | 4.8 | 10.7 | .445 | 1.4 | 3.8 | .374 | 1.8 | 2.3 | .771 | 0.7 | 3.2 | 3.9 | 1.7 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 1.1 | 1.8 | 12.7 |
| 1996-97 | PHO | 80 | 42 | 29.1 | 5.1 | 11.3 | .453 | 2.1 | 5.2 | .413 | 1.1 | 1.4 | .798 | 0.9 | 2.8 | 3.7 | 1.5 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 13.5 |
| 1997-98 | CLE | 82 | 82 | 39.0 | 5.4 | 11.7 | .460 | 2.3 | 5.5 | .430 | 1.6 | 2.1 | .776 | 0.8 | 3.6 | 4.4 | 2.3 | 1.6 | 0.6 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 14.7 |
| 1998-99 | CLE | 45 | 42 | 29.8 | 4.4 | 9.7 | .453 | 1.7 | 4.4 | .375 | 0.7 | 1.2 | .604 | 0.4 | 2.7 | 3.2 | 1.8 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.9 | 1.2 | 11.2 |
| 1999-00 | CLE | 79 | 38 | 26.0 | 3.5 | 8.3 | .428 | 1.3 | 3.2 | .424 | 0.8 | 1.0 | .792 | 0.6 | 2.8 | 3.4 | 1.8 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.8 | 1.5 | 9.2 |
| 2000-01 | CLE | 44 | 22 | 21.8 | 2.9 | 6.6 | .438 | 0.8 | 1.9 | .405 | 0.5 | 0.7 | .800 | 0.3 | 2.7 | 3.0 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0.9 | 1.4 | 7.1 |
| 2001-02 | CLE | 78 | 78 | 35.8 | 6.0 | 12.1 | .495 | 1.8 | 4.1 | .444 | 1.3 | 1.6 | .798 | 0.6 | 3.1 | 3.8 | 2.2 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.9 | 1.2 | 15.1 |
| 2002-03 | MEM | 66 | 44 | 29.4 | 4.2 | 9.1 | .456 | 1.5 | 3.5 | .433 | 1.2 | 1.5 | .814 | 0.4 | 2.5 | 2.9 | 1.7 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0.8 | 1.0 | 11.0 |
| 2003-04 | 3TM | 58 | 0 | 17.9 | 2.2 | 5.4 | .401 | 0.9 | 2.4 | .399 | 0.5 | 0.7 | .795 | 0.3 | 1.7 | 2.0 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 5.8 |
| 2004-05 | 2TM | 41 | 3 | 16.3 | 2.6 | 5.5 | .473 | 1.0 | 2.2 | .461 | 0.2 | 0.3 | .692 | 0.1 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 6.4 |
Playoff Statistics
Person appeared in five NBA postseasons, playing in 27 playoff games primarily with the Phoenix Suns and Cleveland Cavaliers.[2] His per-game playoff statistics are as follows.| Season | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG | FGA | FG% | 3P | 3PA | 3P% | FT | FTA | FT% | ORB | DRB | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | PF | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994-95 | PHO | 10 | 10 | 24.7 | 3.4 | 8.3 | .410 | 1.7 | 4.5 | .378 | 1.1 | 1.2 | .917 | 0.9 | 1.2 | 2.1 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.9 | 1.9 | 9.6 |
| 1995-96 | PHO | 4 | 4 | 45.8 | 5.5 | 14.0 | .393 | 2.3 | 7.3 | .310 | 1.0 | 1.3 | .800 | 2.0 | 3.8 | 5.8 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 1.3 | 1.8 | 14.3 |
| 1996-97 | PHO | 5 | 1 | 32.6 | 5.0 | 10.6 | .472 | 2.8 | 6.6 | .424 | 2.8 | 3.6 | .778 | 1.0 | 5.6 | 6.6 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 1.0 | 15.6 |
| 1997-98 | CLE | 4 | 4 | 34.0 | 2.8 | 7.3 | .379 | 1.8 | 4.8 | .368 | 0.8 | 1.0 | .750 | 0.5 | 1.8 | 2.3 | 2.5 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 1.3 | 8.0 |
| 2004-05 | DEN | 4 | 0 | 13.5 | 1.5 | 3.5 | .429 | 0.8 | 2.0 | .375 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 3.8 |