Ed Nealy was one of those unsung heroes on a championship team.
The former NBA player enjoyed three separate spells at the Chicago Bulls in the late 1980s and early 90s, making his most notable impression during his second and third stints.
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Nealy took an unusual career turn after hanging up his sneakersCredit: @Red McCombs Toyota via X/GETTY
Phil Jackson was his coach and Michael Jordan was the league’s best player, not bad company to be keeping.
Nealy was highly rated by Phil Jackson
After joining the Bulls in 1988 and being sent to the Phoenix Suns in that same year, Nealy rejoined the Chicago in 1989 and made a lasting impact.
So much so that he was praised by head coach Jackson and became a highly valued member of a Bulls team on the rise.
“Ed is intuitive, focuses in on practices and has become an adviser to our rookies,” Jackson told the New York Times in 1990.
”He uses the weight room a lot, and since our rookies are in our strength program, he gets a chance to work with and advise them.”
Both Jackson and Bulls general manager Jerry Krause described Nealy as a future head coach.
“And when I’m down in my crouch on the bench, I’ll look up and say, ‘Ed, what’s the other team doing?’ and he gives me a response of what he thinks they’ll be coming back with and what to watch for,” Jackson added.
“He’s like another coach for us. He’s a great example for our bench. It’s guys like that who make coaching a pleasure.”
After leaving the Bulls in 1990, it wasn’t long before the journeyman returned for a third spell in 1993.
And this time, he got a piece of success as Nealy – averaging 2.1 points and 1.5 rebounds in 7.2 minutes – picked up his first NBA championship, in what was the Bulls’ third consecutive title.
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Nealy was part of the 1993 championship-winning Bulls teamCredit: GETTY
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Nealy played for seven different teams during his ten-year career and shared the court with the likes of Larry BirdCredit: GETTY
Nealy decided to retire that season, and many expected him to go on and become a successful NBA coach.
After all, he was labelled as Jackson’s “favorite player, smartest player on the team” in Sam Smith’s book ‘The Jordan Rules’.
Ed Nealy opted for a career in cars, not coaching
However, instead of a career on the benches and sidelines of the league, a professional detour awaited him.
Nealy entered the world of care sales at Alamo Toyota in San Antonio, Texas.
But why did such a valued mind in ‘The Association’ take such a wild career turn?
He revealed all in an interview with the Chicago Sun-Times in 2016.
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Nealy had three stints at the Bulls, with his last one coming in 1993Credit: GETTY
‘‘I wanted to get into coaching,’’ said Nealy.
“I did try one time to get into it. It didn’t work out. Then we started having kids, and I started coaching them in football, basketball and baseball. That took up all my time.’’
When pressed about why he didn’t pursue the big league, he revealed that it wasn’t as straightforward as it seemed.
‘‘Maybe I didn’t pursue it as hard as I should have,’’ he added. “I thought it would be easy to get a coaching position, but it didn’t pan out.”
Nevertheless, Nealy enjoyed an NBA career most would dream of.
Along with his NBA championship, he played 540 regular-season games and enjoyed five playoff campaigns.
He finished his career, which began after being drafted as the 166th overall pick of the 1982 NBA Draft by the Sacramento Kings, with 1,451 career points and 1,799 rebounds.
Also, Nealy isn’t the only Jordan teammate to switch from basketball shorts to smart pants.
Joe Courtney, who was part of the Bulls’ 1993 team, went on to build a building firm after his playing days that is now worth over $40 million.
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