Steve Woodberry
July 23, 2020
Kelsey Weems
- Nationality: USA
- Date of Birth: 16/09/67
- Place of Birth: Atlanta, Georgia (USA)
- Position: GRD
- Height (CM): 188
- Weight (KG): 82
- Junior Assoc:
- College: North Carolina State (1985–1989)
- NBL DEBUT: 12/04/98
- AGE AT DEBUT: 30
- LAST NBL GAME: 12/03/99
- AGE AT LAST GAME: 31
- NBL History: Sydney 1998-99
- Championships: 0
- None
BIO: Born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, Kelsey Weems played high school basketball at Walker High School (now McNair High School) as a point guard. He became a key player for the team starting in his sophomore year and developed into one of the top high school prospects in the state.
As a junior, Weems averaged 13.5 points and 10 assists per game, while shooting an efficient 54% from the field. His senior season saw a significant scoring increase, as he averaged 27.8 points per game through January and finished the season with a 27.0 points per game average.
In the 4-AAA state tournament championship game against Upson, Weems delivered a near-triple-double performance, recording 32 points, 9 rebounds, and 10 assists. Despite his efforts, Walker High fell short, losing 90-63.
During his senior year, Weems was regarded as one of the top point guard prospects in Georgia and was nationally ranked among the best senior guards in the country.
NBL EXPERIENCE
Kelsey Weems made his NBL debut with the Sydney Kings at 30 years of age. He scored 23 points in his first game.
Sydney entered 1998 after a 12-18 season had left the club tenth and outside the playoffs. Bill Tomlinson replaced Alan Black as head coach, while Melvin Thomas (to Canberra), Isaac Burton (to Newcastle), Cameron Dickinson (to Wollongong) and Ben Knight (to South East Melbourne) departed. Captain Bruce Bolden, Aaron Trahair, Matthew Nielsen, Stephen Whitehead, Brad Rosen and Brad Williams remained, with Shane Heal (via Minnesota) returning from the NBA and Scott McGregor (via Newcastle), Matt Nover and Stephen Jackson joining the roster.
Heal returned despite having two years remaining on his Minnesota contract, with limited opportunities behind Stephon Marbury, the Minnesota winter and a calf injury suffered shortly before the season among the reasons behind his decision to come home. Nover had reached the NCAA Final Four with Indiana and was also known for playing ‘Ricky Roe’ in the movie Blue Chips. Jackson became the youngest import signing in NBL history after scoring 21 points in the 1996 McDonald’s All-American Game, being ruled academically ineligible at Arizona and then being selected by Phoenix in the second round of the 1997 NBA Draft. After failing to make the Suns roster, the 19-year-old began his professional career alongside Sydney’s young Australian core of Trahair, Nielsen, Whitehead and McGregor.
Nover (7.7 points and 5.6 rebounds across 7 games) and Jackson (6 points across 4 games) combined for only 36 points through Sydney’s first three games, with Jackson becoming the first import in NBL history to go scoreless on debut. The Kings nevertheless opened 3-0 with wins over Canberra, Newcastle and Melbourne before their run ended in Adelaide on February 20. Jackson (6 points and 2 rebounds) landed awkwardly while attempting to block Kevin Brooks late in the third quarter and broke his foot, ending his season as Brooks (28 points and 16 rebounds) led Adelaide to a 119-100 victory.
Another change followed after Wollongong defeated Sydney 108-99 on March 7 despite Trahair scoring 40 points on 13-of-16 shooting. Nover was released soon afterwards, with former King Dave Simmons (via Newcastle) and former Sacramento forward Evers Burns added to rebuild the frontcourt.
Simmons (6.5 points and 6.3 rebounds across 6 games) lasted only six appearances before being released specifically to make room for former NC State point guard Kelsey Weems (via Trotamundos de Carabobo). Sydney’s problems had shifted towards poor distribution and perimeter defence, and adding another genuine point guard allowed Tomlinson to use Heal and Trahair for longer stretches at shooting guard. By then the Kings had lost 10 of the 12 games following their 3-0 start, while Weems arrived having also spent part of 1998 playing in Venezuela.
Weems made his NBL debut at Beaton Park on April 12 and immediately delivered 23 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, and 1 block on 8-of-14 shooting as Sydney defeated Wollongong 106-98. Burns (23 points and 12 rebounds) and Heal (23 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 steals) shared the scoring load, while Elliot Hatcher (27 points, 3 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 steals) led the Hawks.
Weems (20 points, 4.9 rebounds, 5.1 assists, and 1.5 steals across 12 games) immediately gave the Kings the playmaking and scoring they had been searching for in the backcourt. His arrival completed an extraordinary import merry-go-round which had included Kenny Payne, who never appeared in a game, Bryan Caver, Jackson, Nover, Simmons and Burns before Weems became the seventh import used by Sydney during the campaign.
His best and highest-scoring game came only 10 days after his debut, against Melbourne at the Sydney Entertainment Centre on April 22. Weems (30 points, 7 rebounds, 11 assists, and 1 steal) played all 48 minutes, making 7-of-14 field goals, three three-pointers and all 13 of his free throws. Heal (30 points, 3 rebounds, and 6 assists) and Nielsen (21 points and 16 rebounds) helped Sydney hold off the Tigers 119-115 despite Andrew Gaze finishing with 35 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals.
Weems remained one of Sydney’s main offensive weapons at Melbourne Park on May 2, finishing with 27 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals in a 126-108 loss to South East Melbourne. Heal (21 points, 3 rebounds, and 5 assists) provided support, while Tony Ronaldson (32 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 blocks) led the Magic.
Heal (20.9 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 6.7 assists across 29 games) remained Sydney’s leading scorer, while Nielsen (16.4 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 1.3 steals across 28 games) continued his rapid development after averaging 9.9 points and 4.9 rebounds the previous season. Burns (16.5 points and 9.4 rebounds across 22 games) gave the Kings another productive frontcourt option, while Trahair (13.1 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 3 assists across 27 games) provided further scoring and playmaking. Weems impressed enough during his late-season run to be re-signed for 1998/99, while Jackson later returned to the NBA, playing 858 games and winning the 2003 championship with San Antonio.
Sydney closed the season at the Townsville Entertainment Centre on June 9, where Weems (11 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and 1 steal) helped the Kings defeat the Townsville Suns 140-131. Nielsen (38 points, 15 rebounds, and 4 assists) and Bolden (29 points and 8 rebounds) led Sydney, while Simon Kerle (29 points) was Townsville’s leading scorer. The victory was Sydney’s second in succession to finish the year, leaving the Kings eighth with a 13-17 record and outside the playoffs.
Following the season, Weems retired from professional basketball, ending his career after multiple stints across the NBA, NBL, and international leagues.
Kelsey Weems played two seasons with the Sydney Kings. He averaged 16.6 points, 4 rebounds, and 4.1 assists in 38 NBL games.
NBL TOTAL STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998-99 | 31 | Sydney | 9-17 (9) | 26 | 940 | 394 | 96 | 98 | 23 | 73 | 27 | 3 | 85 | 81 | 135 | 322 | 42% | 32 | 115 | 28% | 92 | 120 | 77% | 52% | 47% | 32 |
| 1998 | 30 | Sydney | 13-17 (8) | 12 | 472 | 240 | 59 | 61 | 11 | 48 | 18 | 2 | 42 | 35 | 80 | 161 | 50% | 27 | 72 | 38% | 53 | 71 | 75% | 62% | 58% | 30 | Totals | 38 | 1412 | 634 | 155 | 159 | 34 | 121 | 45 | 5 | 127 | 116 | 215 | 483 | 44.5% | 59 | 187 | 31.6% | 145 | 191 | 75.9% | 56% | 51% | 32 |
NBL PER GAME STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998-99 | 31 | Sydney | 9-17 (9) | 26 | 36.2 | 15.2 | 3.7 | 3.8 | 0.9 | 2.8 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 3.3 | 3.1 | 5.2 | 12.4 | 42% | 1.2 | 4.4 | 28% | 3.5 | 4.6 | 77% | 52% | 47% | 32 |
| 1998 | 30 | Sydney | 13-17 (8) | 12 | 39.3 | 20.0 | 4.9 | 5.1 | 0.9 | 4.0 | 1.5 | 0.2 | 3.5 | 2.9 | 6.7 | 13.4 | 50% | 2.3 | 6.0 | 38% | 4.4 | 5.9 | 75% | 62% | 58% | 30 | Total | 38 | 37.2 | 16.7 | 4.1 | 4.2 | 0.9 | 3.2 | 1.2 | 0.1 | 3.3 | 3.1 | 5.7 | 12.7 | 44.5% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 31.6% | 1.6 | 4.9 | 75.9% | 56% | 51% | 32 |
CAREER HIGHS
| POINTS | REBOUNDS | ASSISTS | STEALS | BLOCKS | TURNOVERS | TRIPLE DOUBLES | 32 | 9 | 11 | 5 | 1 | 8 | 0 |
|---|
FIBA EXPERIENCE
Weems represented the United States national team twice, winning a gold medal during the 1993 Tournament of the Americas and a silver medal at the 1995 Pan American Games.
Weems was selected for the United States national team for the 1993 Tournament of the Americas, a competition featuring a roster composed of CBA players. During the tournament, he played seven games, averaging 9.4 points, 1.9 rebounds, and leading the team in assists with 4.4 per game. His contributions helped Team USA secure the gold medal in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Two years later, Weems was called up again to represent Team USA at the 1995 Pan American Games in Mar del Plata, Argentina. In six games, he averaged 4.5 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 2 assists, helping the United States secure a silver medal in the competition.
Over his national team career, Weems earned a total of 13 appearances for the United States, playing a key role in both tournaments as a facilitator and contributor on both ends of the floor.
NBA EXPERIENCE
Kelsey Weems was not drafted by an NBA franchise but spent several years playing in the NBA development leagues. He was first selected by the Rockford Lightning in the fifth round of the 1989 CBA Draft (77th overall). During his time in the CBA, he participated in training camps with the Washington Bullets and the Boston Celtics but was not included in their final rosters.
Weems began his professional career with the Quad City Thunder during the 1989–90 CBA season, where he averaged 9.5 points, 4 assists, and 1 steal per game over 32 appearances. In 1990, he joined the expansion Oklahoma City Cavalry, making an immediate impact with averages of 18.3 points and 7 assists across 52 games.
Continuing his pursuit of an NBA opportunity, Weems played in preseason games with the Seattle SuperSonics in the summer of 1992 but did not make the final roster. He later joined the Chicago Bulls preseason squad but was released on October 14, 1992. Returning to the CBA, he re-signed with the Oklahoma City Cavalry, leading the team in scoring during the 1992–93 season with 17.3 points per game while also recording a career-high 8.5 assists per contest. In the summer of 1993, he was invited to a training camp with the Charlotte Hornets.
Weems split the 1993–94 season between the Cavalry and the Hartford Hellcats, finishing the season averaging 14.4 points and 6.6 assists per game. The following year, he began with the Hellcats, starting all 14 games and posting averages of 15.3 points and 7.1 assists before being traded to the Rockford Lightning in December 1994. He completed the season with Rockford, starting 21 of 31 games and appearing in seven playoff contests, where he contributed 11.3 points and 6.1 assists per game.
Weems continued his career in the CBA, playing for the Yakima SunKings in the 1995–96 season and the Omaha Racers in 1996–97. Over his time in the league, he established himself as a consistent scorer and playmaker, ranking 19th all-time in CBA history with 5,457 points scored.
Weems played games in the NBA. He averaged 0 points, 0 rebounds, and 0 assists per game over his NBA career.
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
- Canada - Calgary (1991-1992) | Venezuela - Trotamundos de Carabobo (1998)
Weems played in Canada for the Calgary 88s in the World Basketball League during the 1991 and 1992 seasons. There, he won the league’s Sixth Man of the Year Award in 1991. In the 1992 season, he posted averages of 13.4 points and 5.8 assists, leading his team to the playoffs, where he elevated his game with 18.6 points and 3 assists per contest in five postseason appearances.
In 1998, Kelsey Weems played in Venezuela for Trotamundos de Carabobo, a Valencia-based club that plays its home games at the Fórum de Valencia, and he was part of a 1998 roster that included Venezuelan guard Hermis Peñaloza (12.3 points, 1.3 rebounds, 1.6 assists in 42 games) and imported teammate Damon Jones, with the team going 22–20 that season.
During the 1998 Venezuelan Liga Profesional de Baloncesto season, Trotamundos finished as league runners-up after losing the finals series to Marinos de Oriente 4–2, with Mario Donaldson named Finals MVP for Marinos.
COLLEGE
Kelsey Weems was a highly recruited high school prospect, receiving offers from Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Georgia, Kentucky, and NC State. After narrowing his choices to Auburn and NC State, he committed to the Wolfpack on April 10, 1985.
Under head coach Jim Valvano, Weems played a limited role as a freshman, backing up Nate McMillan. He appeared in 24 games, starting four, and averaged 3.5 points, 0.9 rebounds, and 1.8 assists in 9.2 minutes per game, shooting 57.8% from the field. During the 1986 NCAA Tournament, he saw four minutes of action in NC State’s Round of 64 win against Iowa, missing his only shot attempt, and played two minutes in the Round of 32 victory over Little Rock without recording a stat.
With McMillan graduating, Vinny Del Negro became the team’s primary point guard, and Weems remained a reserve in his sophomore season. He played in all 35 games, starting once, and improved slightly to 3.9 points, 0.9 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game in 11.4 minutes, while shooting an impressive 59.1% from the field and 50.0% from three-point range. In the 1987 NCAA Tournament, he played seven minutes in the first-round loss to Florida, scoring two points on 1-of-2 shooting and grabbing one rebound.
Weems’ junior season saw his playing time decrease further with the arrival of Chris Corchiani. He played in 31 games, averaging 1.9 points, 0.4 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in just 7.0 minutes per game, posting career lows in nearly every category. His field goal percentage dropped to 51.1%, and he failed to make a three-pointer that season. In the 1988 NCAA Tournament, he logged 11 minutes in the Round of 64 loss to Murray State, recording two points, one rebound, and three assists while making his only shot attempt.
In his senior season, Weems finally saw an expanded role, appearing in 26 games with one start. He set career highs in nearly every statistical category, averaging 7.5 points, 1.2 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 0.7 steals per game in 16.5 minutes, while shooting 54.2% from the field and 45.5% from three-point range. His strongest NCAA Tournament performance came in the 1989 Round of 64 against South Carolina, where he played 17 minutes and scored 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting, while dishing out three assists. He followed that with a nine-minute appearance in the Round of 32 against Iowa, where he scored two points and recorded two assists. In NC State’s Sweet 16 loss to Georgetown, he played 13 minutes, scoring four points on 2-of-4 shooting.
Weems' college career ended in controversy in 1990, when he was implicated in a point-shaving investigation. He contacted ABC News, which aired a report on the scandal, and the incident contributed to Jim Valvano’s resignation as head coach.
Over four seasons at NC State, Weems played in 116 games, starting six, with career averages of 4.1 points, 0.8 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game in 10.9 minutes, while shooting 55.8% from the field, 42.9% from three, and 57.8% from the free-throw line.
AWARDS
- WBL Sixth Man of the Year (1991)
LIFE AFTER BASKETBALL
Kelsey Russell Weems passed away on August 20, 2019, aged 51, in Georgia, United States.
His death was announced in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution on August 23, 2019, with arrangements handled by Murray Brothers Funeral Home's Cascade Chapel.
Former teammates, classmates and friends shared tributes following his passing.
Related
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