Renaldo gets Major role
Former Bulldogs standout gets his day
Photo courtesy of Fresno State AMR
Former Fresno State basketball player Renaldo Major has gone on to sign an NBA contract with the Golden State Warriors. Major, who was dismissed from the Bulldogs’ 2002-03 squad for unspecified reasons, played 28 minutes in last night'’s game. |
By Darrell Copeland III
The Collegian
Former Fresno State basketball player Renaldo Major was called up to make his NBA debut Wednesday, after a flurry of roster transactions by the Golden State Warriors.
In an exclusive interview with The Collegian, Warriors head coach Don Nelson cited Major as a player that could have an impact with the team, even if only for a single game.
“We [needed] a body for [Wednesday’s] game and he was a good looking player, highly recommended and I knew he wouldn’t embarrass me,” Nelson said.
The earthquake that started the avalanche of moves began with the trade of the Warriors’ Troy Murphy and Mike Dunleavy, who were shipped to the Indiana Pacers for Steven Jackson and Al Harrington as part of an eight-player deal.
With the immediate impact of the trade, the Warriors were forced to seek help for Wednesday night’s game with the Los Angeles Clippers, and found Major to be conveniently available.
Nelson admitted prior to the Warriors’ 115-109 defeat to the Clippers that winning the game would be very unlikely, but his undermanned team proved to be a tougher than expected challenge.
Major wasn’t forced to wait too long for his first playing time, as he entered the game in the first quarter and continued to see action through the duration of the game, scoring five points while shooting 2 of 10 in more than 27 minutes.
With Major traveling to all day to meet up with the Warriors in Los Angeles, the first order of business for Nelson was to finally meet Major, a player he had only heard good things about.
“I haven’t met him yet, but a former assistant coach of mine in Dallas saw him play a couple nights ago and said that he has NBA potential. He has a nice in-between shot and is athletic,” Nelson said hours before the match-up. “He’s a good guy for the short term.”
Major signed a 10-day contract with the Warriors after playing 17 games with the NBA Developmental League’s Dakota Wizards. In his 17 games with the Wizards, Major averaged 18.5 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game.
It is still to be determined whether or not Major will continue to see significant minutes, but Nelson hinted that last night’s loss would most likely be his lone opportunity to make an impression.
Many Bulldogs fans will remember Major for the unspecified suspension he and teammate Jonathan Woods were handed down during the 2002-03 basketball season.
Shortly after the suspension, a report in The Fresno Bee quoted Major’s father as saying his son had been suspended for failing a drug test.
Major was voted as a member of the Western Athletic Conference’s All-Newcomer team for his efforts for the Bulldogs during the 2001-02 season.
Major joins Melvin Ely and Rafer Alston as one of three former Fresno State basketball players currently in the NBA. Ely plays for the Charlotte Bobcats, while Alston plays for the Houston Rockets.
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