Nikoloz Tskitishvili
Encyclopedia
Nikoloz Tskitishvili is a Georgian
professional basketball player. He is a 7'0", 245 lb. forward
-center
, who was selected 5th overall by the Denver Nuggets
in the 2002 NBA Draft
.
for Benetton Treviso
, winning the Italian Championship under Mike D'Antoni
. He played in 13 games, averaging 6.6 points per game (with a high of 15).
On February 25, 2005, Tskitishvili was traded by the Nuggets to the Golden State Warriors
along with Rodney White
, in exchange for Eduardo Nájera
, Luis Flores
, and a 2007 future first-round pick. After playing just 12 games for the Warriors, he signed as a free agent with the Minnesota Timberwolves
after playing on their summer league team. He was traded half way through the 2005-06 season
to the Phoenix Suns
in exchange for a second-round draft pick.
On June 30, 2006, Tskitishvili was claimed off of waivers by the Portland Trail Blazers
. He was waived five days later, after the team announced they would re-sign center Joel Przybilla
. On October 2, 2006, Tskitishvili was signed by the New York Knicks
and was waived on October 25.
With career averages of 2.9 points and 1.8 rebounds per game over his first four NBA seasons, Tskitishvili is widely considered to be a major draft bust. ESPN
writer Bill Simmons
claimed that Tskitishvili is "the worst-case scenario for any foreign pick" in the NBA. Columnist David Schoenfield of ESPN
's Page 2 ranked Tskitishvili 30th on his "100 worst draft picks ever" in 2006, and in 2008 ESPN's Adam Reisinger rated Tskitishvili the worst NBA draft lottery pick ever selected at 5th overall.
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
professional basketball player. He is a 7'0", 245 lb. forward
Power forward (basketball)
Power forward is a position in the sport of basketball. The position is referred to in playbook terms as the four position and is commonly abbreviated "PF". It has also been referred to as the "post" position. Power forwards play a role similar to that of center in what is called the "post" or "low...
-center
Center (basketball)
The center, colloquially known as the five or the post, is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. The center is normally the tallest player on the team, and often has a great deal of strength and body mass as well...
, who was selected 5th overall by the Denver Nuggets
Denver Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets are a professional basketball team based in Denver, Colorado. They play in the National Basketball Association . They were founded as the Denver Rockets in 1967 as a charter franchise of the American Basketball Association, and became one of that league's more successful teams...
in the 2002 NBA Draft
2002 NBA Draft
The 2002 NBA Draft was held on June 26, 2002 at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting 57 amateur college basketball players and other first-time eligible players, such as players from non-North...
.
Pro career
From January to July 2002 he played in ItalySerie A (basketball)
Lega Basket Serie A is the highest level club competition in Italian professional basketball where play determines the national champion. The season consists of a home-and-away schedule of 30 games, followed by an eight-team playoff round. Quarterfinals and semifinals series are best-of-five, and...
for Benetton Treviso
Pallacanestro Treviso
Pallacanestro Treviso, more often known by its sponsorship name of Benetton Basket, or Benetton Treviso, is an Italian Serie A League professional basketball club from Treviso, the headquarters city of its longtime owner Benetton Group...
, winning the Italian Championship under Mike D'Antoni
Mike D'Antoni
Michael Andrew "Mike" D'Antoni is an Italian-American former basketball player and is currently the head coach of the NBA's New York Knicks. While head coach of the Phoenix Suns, he won NBA Coach of the Year honors for the 2004–05 NBA season after the Suns posted 33 more wins than the previous...
. He played in 13 games, averaging 6.6 points per game (with a high of 15).
On February 25, 2005, Tskitishvili was traded by the Nuggets to the Golden State Warriors
Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors are an American professional basketball team based in Oakland, California. They are part of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
along with Rodney White
Rodney White
Rodney Charles White is an American professional basketball player currently playing in South Korea for the Anyang KGC Pro Basketball Club...
, in exchange for Eduardo Nájera
Eduardo Nájera
Eduardo Alonso Nájera Pérez is a Mexican professional basketball player in the NBA, currently playing for the Charlotte Bobcats.-Personal information:...
, Luis Flores
Luis Flores
Luis Alberto Flores is a professional basketball player from the Dominican Republic. He is a 6 ft 2 in and 205 lb guard. He grew up in the United States, in the predominantly Latino neighborhood of Washington Heights in New York City, and attended Norman Thomas High School...
, and a 2007 future first-round pick. After playing just 12 games for the Warriors, he signed as a free agent with the Minnesota Timberwolves
Minnesota Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves are an American professional basketball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . Founded in 1989, the team is currently owned by Glen Taylor...
after playing on their summer league team. He was traded half way through the 2005-06 season
2005-06 NBA season
The 2005–06 NBA season was the 60th season of the National Basketball Association. It began on November 1, 2005 and ran through April 19, 2006...
to the Phoenix Suns
Phoenix Suns
The Phoenix Suns are a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association and the only team in their division not to be based in California. Their home arena since 1992 has been the US...
in exchange for a second-round draft pick.
On June 30, 2006, Tskitishvili was claimed off of waivers by the Portland Trail Blazers
Portland Trail Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers, commonly known as the Blazers, are an American professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The Trail Blazers originally played their home games in the...
. He was waived five days later, after the team announced they would re-sign center Joel Przybilla
Joel Przybilla
Joel Przybilla is an American professional basketball player. A 7'1" center, he last played for the Charlotte Bobcats in the NBA.- High school career :...
. On October 2, 2006, Tskitishvili was signed by the New York Knicks
New York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
and was waived on October 25.
With career averages of 2.9 points and 1.8 rebounds per game over his first four NBA seasons, Tskitishvili is widely considered to be a major draft bust. ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
writer Bill Simmons
Bill Simmons
William J. "Bill" Simmons III is a sports columnist, author, and podcaster. He currently writes columns and hosts podcasts for Grantland.com, which is affiliated with ESPN.com. He is a former writer for ESPN The Magazine and Jimmy Kimmel Live!...
claimed that Tskitishvili is "the worst-case scenario for any foreign pick" in the NBA. Columnist David Schoenfield of ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
's Page 2 ranked Tskitishvili 30th on his "100 worst draft picks ever" in 2006, and in 2008 ESPN's Adam Reisinger rated Tskitishvili the worst NBA draft lottery pick ever selected at 5th overall.