Richard Melzer
Encyclopedia
Richard Melzer is an American
professional basketball
player who has played in the Australian National Basketball League
, the German Bundesliga, NBA D-League
, Continental Basketball Association
, as well as stints in France and Israel. He primarily plays power forward
.
Melzer was named NCAA
Division III Player of the Year by the National Association of Basketball Coaches
(NABC) and the D-III News as a senior at Wisconsin–River Falls. He earned First Team All-America honours from the NABC his junior and senior seasons. He was named All-WIAC
his last three seasons and was named league MVP his final two years and finished his career as the school's second all time leading scorer with 2, 363 points, the third all-time leading rebounder with 821 boards, and the all-time leading shot-blocker with 186 rejections.
Melzer has spent time trying out with the NBA's Washington Wizards
, Chicago Bulls
and the Orlando Magic
in the last two years. He also earned a spot on the San Antonio Spurs
but was not named to the teams final roster. He led the Sioux Falls Skyforce
to the Continental Basketball Association
Championship in 2005. He also won a title with San Carlos in the Dominican Republic
League and was voted MVP of the National Finals.
Melzer spent the 2005-06 season with the New Zealand Breakers
of the NBL
, earning NBL Player of the Week in Week 20.
Melzer signed a two-year contract with the San Antonio Spurs
in the summer of 2006 and appeared in four preseason games, averaging 2.8 points in 7.8 minutes. He was released by the Spurs on October 20, 2006.
Melzer signed a month contract with ASVEL Villeurbanne of France
, before moving to play in Hapoel Gilboa/Afula
of Israel
in January, 2007.
Melzer is a 1999 graduate of River Falls High School in Wisconsin. His brother Michael Grinnell is also a basketball prospect. Grinnell is playing for Carleton College in Minnesota since the Fall of 2008.
Melzer also played for Artland Dragons Quakenbrueck in the German Bundesliga.
In July, 2009, it was announced that Melzer would return to Australia
, to play for the Cairns Taipans
. He again won a Player of the Week award, but his form declined during the year and he returned to the United States to play for Rio Grande Valley Vipers
in the NBA Development League
.
Prior to the 2010/2011 season Melzer returned to Israel, and signed with Hapoel Holon
, which is coached by Dani Franco (who coach him when he played for Hapoel Gilboa/Afula).
In June 2011 signed a two-year contract with the New Yorker Phantoms in the German Bundesliga.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player who has played in the Australian National Basketball League
National Basketball League (Australia)
The National Basketball League, also known as the iiNet NBL Championship for sponsorship reasons, is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in Australasia....
, the German Bundesliga, NBA D-League
NBA Development League
The NBA Development League, or NBA D-League, is the National Basketball Association's official minor league basketball organization. Known until summer 2005 as the National Basketball Development League , the NBA D-League started with eight teams in the fall of 2001...
, Continental Basketball Association
Continental Basketball Association
The Continental Basketball Association was a professional men's basketball league in the United States, which has been on hiatus since the 2009 season.- History :...
, as well as stints in France and Israel. He primarily plays power 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...
.
Melzer was named NCAA
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
Division III Player of the Year by the National Association of Basketball Coaches
National Association of Basketball Coaches
The National Association of Basketball Coaches , headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, is an American organization of college men's basketball coaches...
(NABC) and the D-III News as a senior at Wisconsin–River Falls. He earned First Team All-America honours from the NABC his junior and senior seasons. He was named All-WIAC
Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
The Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference is a college athletic conference that competes in the NCAA's Division III. As the name implies, member teams are located in the state of Wisconsin, although there are three associate members from Minnesota and one from Michigan...
his last three seasons and was named league MVP his final two years and finished his career as the school's second all time leading scorer with 2, 363 points, the third all-time leading rebounder with 821 boards, and the all-time leading shot-blocker with 186 rejections.
Melzer has spent time trying out with the NBA's Washington Wizards
Washington Wizards
The Washington Wizards are a professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C., previously known as Washington Bullets. They play in the National Basketball Association .-Early years:...
, Chicago Bulls
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1966. They play their home games at the United Center...
and the Orlando Magic
Orlando Magic
The Orlando Magic is a professional basketball team based in Orlando, Florida. They play in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association and are currently coached by Stan Van Gundy...
in the last two years. He also earned a spot on the San Antonio Spurs
San Antonio Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs are an American professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas. They are part of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association ....
but was not named to the teams final roster. He led the Sioux Falls Skyforce
Sioux Falls Skyforce
The Sioux Falls Skyforce is a professional basketball team that plays in the NBA Development League. They are based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States. The team plays at the Sioux Falls Arena. The Skyforce began in the CBA in 1989...
to the Continental Basketball Association
Continental Basketball Association
The Continental Basketball Association was a professional men's basketball league in the United States, which has been on hiatus since the 2009 season.- History :...
Championship in 2005. He also won a title with San Carlos in the Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
League and was voted MVP of the National Finals.
Melzer spent the 2005-06 season with the New Zealand Breakers
New Zealand Breakers
The New Zealand Breakers are a professional basketball team competing in the Australasian National Basketball League. The Breakers joined the NBL for the 2003/04 season as one of two expansion clubs. The club is based in the city of Auckland, New Zealand and play their home games at the North...
of the NBL
National Basketball League (Australia)
The National Basketball League, also known as the iiNet NBL Championship for sponsorship reasons, is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in Australasia....
, earning NBL Player of the Week in Week 20.
Melzer signed a two-year contract with the San Antonio Spurs
San Antonio Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs are an American professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas. They are part of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association ....
in the summer of 2006 and appeared in four preseason games, averaging 2.8 points in 7.8 minutes. He was released by the Spurs on October 20, 2006.
Melzer signed a month contract with ASVEL Villeurbanne of France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, before moving to play in Hapoel Gilboa/Afula
Hapoel Gilboa/Afula
Hapoel Afula was a basketball club in Israel. The club had been formed by a merger of Hapoel Gilboa and Hapoel Afula.The club played in Ligat HaAl until 2008 when it was relegated after finishing bottom in the 2007-08 season...
of Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
in January, 2007.
Melzer is a 1999 graduate of River Falls High School in Wisconsin. His brother Michael Grinnell is also a basketball prospect. Grinnell is playing for Carleton College in Minnesota since the Fall of 2008.
Melzer also played for Artland Dragons Quakenbrueck in the German Bundesliga.
In July, 2009, it was announced that Melzer would return to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, to play for the Cairns Taipans
Cairns Taipans
The Cairns Taipans are an Australian professional basketball team competing in the Australasian National Basketball League. The club is based in the northern Queensland city of Cairns. The Taipans, named after a species of venomous snake native to Australia, entered the NBL in the 1999/2000 season...
. He again won a Player of the Week award, but his form declined during the year and he returned to the United States to play for Rio Grande Valley Vipers
Rio Grande Valley Vipers
The Rio Grande Valley Vipers are a 2007-08 expansion team in the NBA Development League. They play their home games at the State Farm Arena, in Hidalgo, Texas....
in the NBA Development League
NBA Development League
The NBA Development League, or NBA D-League, is the National Basketball Association's official minor league basketball organization. Known until summer 2005 as the National Basketball Development League , the NBA D-League started with eight teams in the fall of 2001...
.
Prior to the 2010/2011 season Melzer returned to Israel, and signed with Hapoel Holon
Hapoel Holon
-External links:* * *...
, which is coached by Dani Franco (who coach him when he played for Hapoel Gilboa/Afula).
In June 2011 signed a two-year contract with the New Yorker Phantoms in the German Bundesliga.