Bruce Seals: The NBA Journeyman
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Bruce Seals was a professional basketball player who played for six teams in his eleven-year NBA Career He was known for his versatility and tenacity on the court, and was an journeyman player who carved out a role for himself on each of the teams he played for.
NBA journeyman
Bruce Seals was an NBA Journeyman playing for eight teams in his eleven-year career. He was a strong rebounder and a solid Defensive Player but he never really found a home in the league. He was traded five times and released three times, but he always managed to find a way to stick around.
Seals was born in New Orleans and played his college basketball at LSU. He was drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers in the second round of the 1974 NBA draft He played three seasons with the Sixers, averaging 6.4 points and 5.1 rebounds per game He was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers in 1977 and played four seasons with them, averaging 8.6 points and 5.9 rebounds per game
In 1981, Seals was traded to the San Diego Clippers, where he had his best season as a pro, averaging 10.4 points and 7.1 rebounds per game. He spent two seasons with the Clippers before being traded to the Houston Rockets in 1983. He played two seasons with the Rockets before being released by the team in 1985.
Seals then bounced around the league for a few years, playing for the Detroit Pistons Milwaukee Bucks Indiana Pacers and Atlanta Hawks before retiring from the NBA in 1986. After his playing career ended, he returned to LSU to finish his degree and then became a successful real estate developer in New Orleans.
Bruce Seals
Bruce Seals was an American professional basketball player who had a journeyman career in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was drafted by the St. Louis Hawks in the 1974 NBA Draft and went on to play for the San Diego Clippers, New Jersey Nets Milwaukee Bucks Kansas City Kings, and Detroit Pistons
Seals was born in Baton Rouge Louisiana and attended Southern University. At Southern, he was a three-time All-American and helped lead the school to the 1973 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship game, where they lost to John Wooden’s UCLA Bruins
After his collegiate career, Seals was drafted in the 1974 NBA Draft by the St. Louis Hawks. He played two seasons for the Hawks before being traded to the San Diego Clippers prior to the 1976–77 season. He played one season for the Clippers before being released. Seals then spent time with three different teams over the next two seasons – the New Jersey Nets Milwaukee Bucks and Kansas City Kings – before settling down with the Detroit Pistons for two seasons from 1980 to 1982.
He appeared in a total of 421 games during his NBA career averaging 8.0 points and 2.6 rebounds per game. After his playing career ended, Seals became a coach and scout. He also worked as a color commentator for Pistons’ radio broadcasts during the 1990s.
Seals died of a heart attack on August 11, 2010 at age 60.
The NBA
The National Basketball Association (NBA) is the premier Professional Basketball league in the United States and Canada. Founded in 1946, the NBA is composed of 30 teams (29 in the United States and 1 in Canada). The NBA is an active member of USA Basketball (USAB), which is recognized by FIBA (also known as the National Basketball Federation) as the National Governing Body (NGB) for basketball in the United States
USA Basketball is responsible for the selection and training of the men’s and women’s national teams that represent the U.S. in international competitions, as well as for defining the rules of play for amateur basketball competition in the United States In addition, USA Basketball oversees development initiatives that seek to foster a love for the game and build leadership skills among young people through its Junior NBA/WNBA programs.
The journey
Bruce Seals was drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers in 1974 but was immediately traded to the Chicago Bulls He only played one season for the Bulls, averaging 3.4 points per game He was then traded to the Detroit Pistons where he played two seasons before being waived. Seals bounced around the league for a few years, playing for the Milwaukee Bucks Cleveland Cavaliers and San Diego Clippers. He finally found a home with the Houston Rockets where he played four seasons and won an NBA Championship in 1981-1982. After his retirement from basketball, Seals became a successful businessman.
The NBA life
Undrafted out of college, Bruce Seals had to work hard to make it into the NBA. He was cut by the Detroit Pistons after just two preseason games but he didn’t give up on his dream. Seals battled his way through the Continental Basketball Association and eventually made it back to the NBA, playing for the Seattle SuperSonics Cleveland Cavaliers and San Diego Clippers.
Despite being one of the league’s journeyman players, Seals had a successful NBA career. He was a key contributor on some very good teams and even made an All-Star appearance in 1976. After his playing days were over, Seals became a successful business man and was inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in 2018.
The ups and downs
Former NBA Journeyman Bruce Seals talks about his career ups and downs, from being drafted by the Detroit Pistons in 1974 to playing for 11 different teams over 10 seasons.
The grind
For professional basketball player Bruce Seals, the grind is everything. Seals spent 12 years bouncing around the NBA, playing for seven different teams. He was never a superstar, but he was a solid role player who built a career out of hard work and determination.
In an interview with The Players’ Tribune, Seals spoke about what it was like to grind it out in the NBA. “It’s a tough league,” he said. “You’ve gotta be tough mentally and physically to survive.”
Seals never took his place in the NBA for granted. He knew that each year could be his last, so he worked hard to stay in shape and hone his skills. “I always knew that I had to prove myself every year,” he said. “I couldn’t take anything for granted.”
Bruce Seals’ story is a reminder that hard work and determination can pay off, even in the face of obstacles. If you’re grinding it out in your own life, never give up on your dreams.
The love of the game
Bruce Seals was never the biggest, strongest or most talented player on his basketball teams but he loved the game and worked hard to improve his skills. Seals spent 14 years playing professional basketball including 11 seasons in the NBA. He was never a star, but he was a solid player who was respected by his teammates and coaches.
After retiring from the NBA, Seals became a successful business owner and philanthropist. He is now a Motivational Speaker and shares his story of determination and perseverance with groups around the world.
The fans
The fans are the ones that made me who I am today. I always appreciate the support, whether I’m playing for my home team or away.
The legacy
Bruce Seals was one of the most underrated players of his generation. A journeyman in the truest sense, he played for eight different teams in his 10-year nba career. But despite never finding a true home in the league, he left a lasting impact on the game.
A 6’5” guard/forward, Seals was a versatile player who could score, rebound, and defend. He was never the best player on his team, but he was always a valuable contributor. In an era of big names like Magic Johnson and Larry Bird Seals carved out a niche for himself as a dependable role player.
Even though he never made an All-Star team or won a championship, Seals had a successful NBA career He averaged 11 points and four rebounds per game while playing over 26 minutes per game. He also played in 997 games, which is more than all but six players in NBA history
After retiring from the NBA in 1985, Seals became a basketball coach and broadcaster. He also started working with inner-City Youth helping them to avoid the traps that he fell into as a young man Seals is proof that even though life may not go according to plan, it’s never too late to make a lasting impact on the world.