John Eddie Long (born August 28, 1956) is an American former professional

basketball Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular Basketball court, court, compete with the primary objective of #Shooting, shooting a basketball (ball), basketball (appro ...

player.

Amateur career

Long played high school basketball at

Romulus High School Romulus Senior High School or Romulus High School is the public high school in the city of Romulus, Michigan in Metro Detroit. History In 2013 Inkster High School closed due to the closure of the Inkster School District. Students in the Inkst ...

, and signed to play for

Dick Vitale Richard "Dick" John Vitale (; born June 9, 1939), also known as "Dickie V", is an American basketball sportscaster. A former head coach in the college and professional ranks, he is well known for his 41-year tenure as a college basketball broadc ...

at the

University of Detroit The University of Detroit Mercy is a private Catholic university in Detroit, Michigan, United States. It is sponsored by both the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) and the Sisters of Mercy. The university was founded in 1877 and is the largest Catho ...

. Long established himself quickly with a Detroit program that would produce an unprecedented run during his time with the Titans (1974–1978). Vitale added future

NBA The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a professional basketball league in North America composed of 30 teams (29 in the United States and 1 in Canada). The NBA is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Ca ...

players such as

Terry Duerod Terry Duerod (July 29, 1956 – November 13, 2020) was an American professional basketball player. Ginebra San Miguel Philippines 1986 Amateur career A 6'2" guard out of Highland Park Community High School in the Detroit area, Duerod played co ...

Terry Tyler Terry Christopher Tyler (born October 30, 1956) is an American former professional basketball player. Amateur career A 6'7" forward from Northwestern High School, Tyler signed to play for Dick Vitale at the University of Detroit. Tyler ave ...

and Dennis Boyd and built a dominating independent program at the Jesuit university. Long played shooting guard for the team, averaging 23.3 ppg on a .525 shooting percentage as a senior. UD advanced to the

1977 NCAA Division I Basketball Tournament The 1977 NCAA Division I basketball tournament involved 32 American schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the National Champion of Men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on Saturday, March 12, 1977, and ended with ...

in his junior year, defeating

Middle Tennessee Middle Tennessee is one of the three Grand Divisions of Tennessee that composes roughly the central portion of the state. It is delineated according to state law as 41 of the state's 95 counties. Middle Tennessee contains the state's capital an ...

in the first round before losing to

Michigan Michigan ( ) is a peninsular U.S. state, state in the Great Lakes region, Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwest, Upper Midwestern United States. It shares water and land boundaries with Minnesota to the northwest, Wisconsin to the west, ...

in the Sweet 16 86–81 to end a stellar season, finishing #12 in the polls. The team was left out of the NCAA in Longs's senior year, 1977–78, playing in the

1978 NIT The 1978 National Invitation Tournament was the 1978 edition of the annual NCAA college basketball competition. Selected teams Below is a list of the 16 teams selected for the tournament.

, despite a 25–4 record and a #18 ranking. In four seasons at Detroit, Long scored 2,167 points, the first Titan to score more than 2000 points, and was inducted into the Detroit Mercy Titans Hall of Fame in 1993.

Professional career

After starring at the

, the

shooting guard The shooting guard (SG), also known as the two, two guard or off guard,Shooting guards are 6'3"–6'7"BBC Sports academy URL last accessed 2006-09-09. is one of the five traditional basketball positions, positions in a regulation basketball game ...

was selected by the

Detroit Pistons The Detroit Pistons are an American professional basketball team based in Detroit. The Pistons compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Central Division (NBA), Central Division of the Eastern Conference (NBA), East ...

in the second round of the

1978 NBA draft The 1978 NBA draft was the 32nd annual NBA draft, draft of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The draft was held on June 9, 1978, at the Plaza Hotel in New York City, New York, before the 1978–79 NBA season, 1978–79 season. In this dr ...

. The move was largely influenced by Pistons Head Coach

, who coached Long at UD before going to the Pistons in 1978. He played eight seasons for the Pistons, and averaged a career-high 21.9 points per game in 1981–82. Long was the original backcourt partner to point guard

Isiah Thomas Isiah Lord Thomas III ( ; born April 30, 1961), also known as "Zeke", is an American former professional basketball player who is head coach of the Saginaw Soul of the Basketball Super League, and also an analyst for NBA TV and Fox Sports. H ...

before

Joe Dumars Joe Dumars III ( ; born May 24, 1963) is an American professional basketball executive and former player who is the head of basketball operations for the New Orleans Pelicans. He could play either shooting guard or point guard on offense and was ...

was drafted. During his time with the Pistons, Long would also play alongside University of Detroit teammates Duerod, Boyd and Tyler. On December 13, 1983, Long scored 41 points, recorded eight assists, and grabbed six rebounds during a 186–184 triple overtime win over the

Denver Nuggets The Denver Nuggets are an American professional basketball team based in Denver. The Nuggets compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Northwest Division (NBA), Northwest Division of the Western Conference (NBA), W ...

. Long left Detroit to play for the

Indiana Pacers The Indiana Pacers are an American professional basketball team based in Indianapolis. The Pacers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Central Division (NBA), Central Division of the Eastern Conference (NBA), Ea ...

in 1986, where he paired with

Reggie Miller Reginald Wayne Miller (born August 24, 1965) is an American former professional basketball player who List of NBA players who have spent their entire career with one franchise, played his entire 18-year career in the National Basketball Assoc ...

, and then returned to the Pistons in the 1988-89 Detroit Pistons season, helping the team win the NBA championship. He spent the next season with the

Atlanta Hawks The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta. The Hawks compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Southeast Division (NBA), Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference (NBA), Easte ...

and then returned to Detroit in 1990-91, played in

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

, the

Continental Basketball Association The Continental Basketball Association (CBA), originally known as the Eastern Pennsylvania Basketball League, and later as the Eastern Professional Basketball League and the Eastern Basketball Association, was a men's professional basketball m ...

, and even played with a touring team for

Magic Johnson Earvin "Magic" Johnson Jr. (born August 14, 1959) is an American businessman and former professional basketball player. Often regarded as the greatest point guard of all time, Johnson List of NBA players who have spent their entire career w ...

. Not done, Long signed with the

Toronto Raptors The Toronto Raptors are a Canadian professional basketball team based in Toronto. The Raptors compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NBA), Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference (NBA), E ...

in 1996, played with the Raptors for one season, and then retired in 1997 with 12,131 career points. At the time, the 41-year-old Long was the second oldest player in the

behind Robert Parish, who was 43.

Personal life

Two of John Long's nephews, Terry Mills and

Grant Long Grant Andrew Long (born March 12, 1966) is an American former professional basketball player. He played over 1,000 games for the National Basketball Association over a 15-year career. Long had two relatives who were playing in the NBA during h ...

, also played in the NBA. The nephews were teammates in Detroit during the 1996–1997 season. All three men played two seasons or more for the Detroit Pistons. Long has worked as a radio analyst for the Pistons. Long was inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame in 2016.

NBA career statistics

Regular season

, - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",

Detroit Detroit ( , ) is the List of municipalities in Michigan, most populous city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is situated on the bank of the Detroit River across from Windsor, Ontario. It had a population of 639,111 at the 2020 United State ...

, 82 , , – , , 30.5 , , .469 , , – , , .826 , , 3.2 , , 1.5 , , 1.2 , , 0.2 , , 16.1 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",

, 69 , , – , , 34.3 , , .505 , , .083 , , .825 , , 4.9 , , 3.0 , , 1.9 , , 0.4 , , 19.4 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",

, 59 , , – , , 29.7 , , .461 , , .182 , , .870 , , 3.3 , , 1.8 , , 1.6 , , 0.4 , , 17.7 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",

, 69 , , 66 , , 32.0 , , .492 , , .133 , , .865 , , 3.7 , , 2.1 , , 0.9 , , 0.4 , , 21.9 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",

, 70 , , 30 , , 21.2 , , .451 , , .286 , , .760 , , 2.6 , , 1.5 , , 0.6 , , 0.2 , , 10.5 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",

, 82 , , 82 , , 30.7 , , .472 , , .200 , , .884 , , 3.5 , , 2.5 , , 1.1 , , 0.2 , , 16.3 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",

, 66 , , 55 , , 27.6 , , .487 , , .333 , , .862 , , 2.9 , , 2.0 , , 1.1 , , 0.2 , , 14.7 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",

, 62 , , 30 , , 19.0 , , .482 , , .188 , , .856 , , 1.6 , , 1.3 , , 0.7 , , 0.2 , , 10.0 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",

Indiana Indiana ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders Lake Michigan to the northwest, Michigan to the north and northeast, Ohio to the east, the Ohio River and Kentucky to the s ...

, 80 , , 68 , , 28.3 , , .419 , , .284 , , .890 , , 2.7 , , 3.2 , , 1.2 , , 0.1 , , 15.2 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",

, 81 , , 81 , , 25.0 , , .474 , , .442 , , .907 , , 2.8 , , 2.1 , , 1.0 , , 0.1 , , 12.8 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",

, 44 , , 1 , , 17.4 , , .401 , , .400 , , .937 , , 1.5 , , 1.5 , , 0.7 , , 0.0 , , 7.3 , - , style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;", † , style="text-align:left;",

, 24 , , 0 , , 6.3 , , .475 , , – , , .846 , , 0.5 , , 0.6 , , 0.0 , , 0.1 , , 2.0 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",

Atlanta Atlanta ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Georgia (U.S. state), most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia. It is the county seat, seat of Fulton County, Georg ...

, 48 , , 19 , , 21.5 , , .453 , , .345 , , .836 , , 1.7 , , 1.8 , , 0.9 , , 0.1 , , 8.4 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",

, 25 , , 0 , , 10.2 , , .412 , , .333 , , .960 , , 1.3 , , 0.7 , , 0.4 , , 0.1 , , 3.8 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",

Toronto Toronto ( , locally pronounced or ) is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, most populous city in Canada. It is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Ontario. With a p ...

, 32 , , 0 , , 11.6 , , .393 , , .353 , , .893 , , 1.3 , , 0.7 , , 0.3 , , 0.1 , , 4.0 , - class="sortbottom" , style="text-align:center;" colspan="2", Career , 893 , , 432 , , 25.4 , , .467 , , .322 , , .862 , , 2.8 , , 1.9 , , 1.0 , , 0.2 , , 13.6

Playoffs

, - , style="text-align:left;",

1984 Events January * January 1 – The Bornean Sultanate of Brunei gains full independence from the United Kingdom, having become a British protectorate in 1888. * January 7 – Brunei becomes the sixth member of the Association of Southeas ...

, style="text-align:left;",

, 5, , –, , 29.8, , .364, , .000, , 1.000, , 2.2, , 0.4, , 1.4, , 0.0, , 11.0 , - , style="text-align:left;",

1985 The year 1985 was designated as the International Youth Year by the United Nations. Events January * January 1 ** The Internet's Domain Name System is created. ** Greenland withdraws from the European Economic Community as a result of a n ...

, style="text-align:left;",

, 9, , 9, , 28.3, , .457, , .250, , 1.000, , 1.9, , 1.4, , 1.6, , 0.2, , 12.4 , - , style="text-align:left;",

1986 The year 1986 was designated as the International Year of Peace by the United Nations. Events January * January 1 ** Aruba gains increased autonomy from the Netherlands by separating from the Netherlands Antilles. ** Spain and Portugal en ...

, style="text-align:left;",

, 1, , 0, , 13.0, , .400, , –, , 1.000, , 1.0, , 0.0, , 1.0, , 0.0, , 7.0 , - , style="text-align:left;",

1987 Events January * January 1 – Bolivia reintroduces the Boliviano currency. * January 2 – Chadian–Libyan conflict – Battle of Fada: The Military of Chad, Chadian army destroys a Libyan armoured brigade. * January 3 – Afghan leader ...

, style="text-align:left;",

, 4, , 4, , 27.3, , .308, , .167, , .846, , 1.5, , 2.3, , 1.5, , 0.0, , 11.0 , - , style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;",

1989 1989 was a turning point in political history with the "Revolutions of 1989" which ended communism in Eastern Bloc of Europe, starting in Poland and Hungary, with experiments in power-sharing coming to a head with the opening of the Berlin W ...

† , style="text-align:left;",

, 4, , 0, , 2.0, , 1.000, , –, , 1.000, , 0.0, , 0.0, , 0.0, , 0.0, , 1.3 , - class="sortbottom" , style="text-align:center;" colspan="2", Career , 23 , , 13 , , 23.2 , , .399 , , .182 , , .959 , , 1.5 , , 1.0 , , 1.2 , , 0.1 , , 9.7

Notes

External links

Career Stats
{{DEFAULTSORT:Long, John 1956 births Living people 20th-century African-American sportsmen American expatriate basketball people in Canada American expatriate basketball people in France American men's basketball players Atlanta Hawks players Basketball players from Wayne County, Michigan Detroit Pistons announcers Detroit Pistons draft picks Detroit Pistons players Detroit Mercy Titans men's basketball players Indiana Pacers players People from Romulus, Michigan Romulus Senior High School alumni Shooting guards Sioux Falls Skyforce (CBA) players Toronto Raptors players

Amateur career

Professional career

Personal life

NBA career statistics

Regular season

Playoffs

See also

Notes

External links