Robert Michael Archibald (29 March 1980 – 23 January 2020) was a Scottish professional basketball player. A 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) power forward / center from the University of Illinois, he was selected by the Memphis Grizzlies in the 2002 NBA draft[2] with the third pick of the second round (32nd overall).

Robert Archibald
Archibald in 2009
Personal information
Born(1980-03-29)29 March 1980
Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland
Died23 January 2020(2020-01-23) (aged 39)
Barrington, Illinois, U.S.[1]
Listed height6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
Listed weight250 lb (113 kg)
Career information
High school
CollegeIllinois (1998–2002)
NBA draft2002: 2nd round, 32nd overall pick
Selected by the Memphis Grizzlies
Playing career2002–2012
PositionPower forward / center
Number21, 34
Career history
2002–2003Memphis Grizzlies
2003Phoenix Suns
2003–2004Orlando Magic
2004Toronto Raptors
2004Valencia
2004–2005Scavolini Pesaro
2005–2007Joventut Badalona
2007–2008Azovmash Mariupol
2008–2011Unicaja Málaga
2011–2012CAI Zaragoza
Career highlights and awards
Stats at NBA.com Edit this at Wikidata
Stats at Basketball Reference

Career

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Archibald graduated from Lafayette High School in 1998, along with MLB player Ryan Howard. Archibald's father Bobby was a player for Murray BC in Scotland and was capped several times for Scotland and Great Britain's national teams.[3]

After drafting him in the second round, the Memphis Grizzlies signed Archibald to a 2-year contract. After one season with the team, in which he played only 12 games, Archibald was traded with Brevin Knight and Cezary Trybański to the Phoenix Suns in exchange for Bo Outlaw and Jake Tsakalidis.[4] On 26 December 2003 Archibald was traded again, this time to the Orlando Magic.[5] A week later he was traded, for the third time that season, to the Toronto Raptors in exchange for Mengke Bateer and Remon van de Hare.[6] He played 30 games with the Raptors.

Archibald's final NBA game was on April 9, 2004, in a 66–74 loss to the Detroit Pistons where he recorded four rebounds but no points.

Archibald holds NBA career averages of 1.2 points and 1.6 rebounds per game. He is the only Scotsman to play in the NBA.[1]

Europe

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Archibald played four seasons in the Euroleague with Scavolini Pesaro, Joventut Badalona and two seasons with Unicaja Málaga.[7] In July 2011 he signed a one-year contract with CAI Zaragoza.[8] Archibald retired after the 2012 Summer Olympics in which he represented Great Britain.[9]

International

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Archibald represented the Scottish national basketball team at junior level. He joined the Great Britain national team as it formed in 2007. He represented Great Britain 46 times[10] including EuroBasket 2009, EuroBasket 2011, and at the 2012 Summer Olympics.[11]

Death

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Archibald died aged 39 in Barrington, Illinois.[12][13]

Career statistics

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Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

Regular season

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Source[14]

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2002–03 Memphis 12 0 6.0 .300 .389 1.4 0.3 0.0 0.3 1.6
2003–04 Phoenix 1 0 6.0 .000 .500 1.0 1.0 0.0 0.0 1.0
2003–04 Orlando 1 0 4.0 .500 .000 1.0 0.0 1.0 0.0 2.0
2003–04 Toronto 30 3 8.2 .267 .481 1.7 0.4 0.4 0.1 1.0
Career 44 3 7.5 .283 .429 1.6 0.4 0.3 0.1 1.2

References

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  1. ^ a b P. A. Media (25 January 2020). "Robert Archibald, former NBA and Team GB basketball player, dies aged 39". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
  2. ^ "Robert Archibald: Former GB and Scotland basketball player dies at 39". BBC News Online. 25 January 2020. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
  3. ^ Scot's pair Make GB Euro Basket Cut[permanent dead link]
  4. ^ "Suns acquire Knight, Archibald, Trybanski in Memphis trade". ESPN.com.
  5. ^ "Suns Trade Archibald to Orlando - RealGM Wiretap".
  6. ^ "Raptors trade Bateer to Orlando for Archibald - RealGM Wiretap".
  7. ^ "Unicaja adds size with Robert Archibald". Welcome to EUROLEAGUE BASKETBALL. 31 August 2023.
  8. ^ "CAI, firmato Robert Archibald". Sportando. 9 July 2011.
  9. ^ "Robert Archibald will retire after London 2012". MVP. 15 May 2012.
  10. ^ Hay, Katharine (25 January 2020). "'Our hearts are broken': Tributes pour in for Scottish NBA Robert Archibald who died aged 39". The Scotsman. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  11. ^ Riordan, Conor (25 January 2020). "Tributes as Paisley man and NBA star Robert Archibald dies aged 39". GlasgowLive. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  12. ^ "Robert Archibald, dies, aged 39". MVP. 24 January 2020.
  13. ^ "Obituary: Robert Archibald, basketball star who was the only Scot to play in the NBA". HeraldScotland. 16 February 2020.
  14. ^ "Robert Archibald". Basketball Reference. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
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