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Highlights:
In 2000-01 among Eastern Conference starting
shooting guards he ranked fifth in scoring, behind
Allen Iverson (31.1 - 1st in the NBA), Jerry
Stackhouse (29.8 - 2nd), Vince Carter (27.6 - 5th),
Ray Allen (22.0) and Jason Terry (19.7)
Selected to the 1997-98 Schick All-Rookie First Team
Among rookies in 1997-98 he ranked 2ndin steals
(1.56 spg), 3rd in scoring (15.3 ppg), 4th in
free-throw percentage (.839), 8th in field-goal
percentage (.450) and 9th in assists (2.2 apg)
On the Celtics in 1997-98 ranked 2nd in scoring and
steals
As a rookie he posted a season-high 31 points, 6
steals, 4 rebounds and 3 assists against the Houston
Rockets on 3/19/98
In the 1998 NBA All-Star Weekend in New York he
totaled 8 points and 4 rebounds in the Schick Rookie
Game
In his NBA Debut against the Chicago Bulls, on
10/31/97scored 11 points and 5 rebounds.
Unanimously chosen as the 1996-97 SEC Player of the
Year and awarded First Team All-America by The AP,
after his sophomore year at Kentucky
In the NCAA Final Four in both of his seasons at
Kentucky earned all-tournament team at the NCAA
Final Four.
A member of the 1996 NCAA Champion Kentucky Wildcats
as a freshman
After leading the University of Kentucky to an NCAA
championship as a freshman and scoring over 1,000
points in two seasons, Ron Mercer elected to turn
pro and was picked by the Boston Celtics on the
first round of the 1997 NBA Draft, the sixth player
chosen overall. Traded by the Celtics along with
Popeye Jones and Dwayne Schintzius to the Denver
Nuggets in exchange for Danny Fortson, Eric
Williams, Eric Washington and a future draft choice
on 8/3/99. Signed as a free agent with the Chicago
Bulls on 8/1/00.
2000-01:
Ron appeared in 61 games, making 61 starts. He
averaged career highs of 19.7 points, 3.9 rebounds
and 3.3 assists and a career-best 41.6 minutes which
was fourth best in the NBA. His Scoring average
would have ranked 27th the NBA if he would of played
in enough games to qualify. He led the Bulls in
scoring 26 times and assists in 14 games. Scored 20
or more points on 26 occasions and 30 or more eight
times. Scored a career-high 39 points (16-25 FG, 2-2
3-pt. FG, 5-5 FT) to accompany 7 rebounds, 7 assists
and 5 steals versus Portland. Ron also recorded two
double-doubles, both versus his former team the
Orlando Magic (23 points, 10 rebounds on November 9
and 18 points, 10 assists on March 20). He scored 33
points (13-22 FG, 7-8 FT) on December 28 against the
Spurs. He was named Chicago Bulls Player of the
Month for December after starting 14 games,
averaging 43.1 minutes, a team-high 22.7 points,
2.36 steals, 3.9 rebounds and 2.9 assists, shooting
.450 from the floor and .803 from the free throw
line. In January he averaged 21.0 points, 3.1
assists and 3.5 rebounds. He played a career-high 58
minutes, scoring 27 points (12-32 FG, 3-4 FT) and
grabbed 6 rebounds, in triple-OT contest at
Charlotte on January 9. Against another former team,
the Boston Celtics (the team that drafted him out of
Kentucky) Mercer averaged a team-high 24.3 points,
shooting 57% from the floor, with 5.3 rebounds and
5.3 assists. He ended up as fifth among Eastern
Conference starting shooting guards in scoring,
behind Allen Iverson (31.1 - 1st in the NBA), Jerry
Stackhouse (29.8 - 2nd), Vince Carter (27.6 - 5th),
Ray Allen (22.0) and Jason Terry (19.7). In 47 games
prior to the All-Star break, averaged 42.1 minutes,
20.0 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.47 steals.
He ended up missing one game with the flu, missed 10
games with a left ankle sprain and missed another 10
games with right ankle tendonitis (Apr. 3-18).In the
month of December named CDW Chicago Bulls Player of
the Month. After starting 14 games, averaging 43.1
minutes, a team-high 22.7 points, 2.36 steals, 3.9
rebounds and 2.9 assists, shooting .450 from the
floor and .803 from the free throw line.
1999-2000:
Ron netted 27 points in a 106-100 win over Toronto,
and he than scored a game-high 22 points in a 103-97
win over New Jersey. Ron contributed 26 points in an
89-85 loss at Philadelphia. He dropped in 27 points
in a 103-94 win over Seattle and than was than
traded to the Orlando Magic on 2/1, along with
Chauncey Billups and Johnny Taylor, in exchange for
Tariq Abdul-Wahad, Chris Gatling and a
lottery-protected, future first round draft pick .
He than recorded 25 points and 6 assists in a 103-93
loss to Seattle as a Magic. Than went on to score 20
points and 6 rebounds in a 128-105 win over the
Clippers, 25 points and snared 8 rebounds in an
86-84 win over San Antonio, and registered 25 points
and 6 rebounds in a 116-106 win over Sacramento.
Scored 26 points in a 106-87 loss in San Antonio,
and scored a game-high 27 points in a 114-105
victory over Minnesota. Dropped in another game-high
by recording 30 points and snaring 7 boards in a
102-95 loss to New York. Scored another 31 points
(11-17 FG, 5-8 3 FG, 4-4 FT) in a 109-94 loss in
Vancouver. He than signed as a free agent by the
Bulls on August 2, 2000.
1998-99:
As a rookie Mercer stats improved dramatically in
1998-99 season, when he was Boston's second-leading
scorer and its leader in minutes per game. A
careering he registered 23 points, and a team-high
10 rebounds and 4 assists against the Charlotte
Hornets on 5/5 ... Posted a game-high 24 points, 3
rebounds and 3 steals in a 103-89 victory over the
Cleveland Cavaliers on 4/12 ... Totaled a game-high
29 points (13-25 FG), 7 assists, 6 steals and 3
rebounds against the Orlando Magic on 4/5 ...
Recorded a game-high 24 points, 3 rebounds and 3
steals against the Indiana Pacers on 3/28 ...
Registered a game-high 26 points, 5 rebounds and 3
assists against the Chicago Bulls on 3/21 ... Posted
22 points (8-15 FG, 5-6 FT), 7 rebounds, 4 assists
and 4 steals against the Toronto Raptors on 3/7 ...
Totaled a career-high 35 points (15-24 FG, 5-6 FT)
and 6 rebounds in a 102-94 victory over the Denver
Nuggets on 3/5 ... Recorded a game-high 22 points
(9-16 FG, 4-4 FT) and 4 assists against the
Cleveland Cavaliers on 3/2 ... Registered a
game-high 24 points and 8 rebounds against the
Sacramento Kings on 2/16. On August 3, 1999, Mercer
was part of a major trading deal along side with
forward Popeye Jones and center Dwayne Schintzius to
the Denver Nuggets for forwards Danny Fortson and
Eric Williams, guard Eric Washington and a future
draft choice.
1997-98:
Mercer reunited with his former Kentucky Wildcats
coach, Rick Pitino, when Mercer made the move to the
Boston Celtics. Mercer made a huge contribution to
the Celtics and NBA as a starter and finished second
among all rookies in total points. The second of
Boston s first-round picks in 1997 (Chauncey Billups
was taken third overall), Mercer played in 80 games
for the Celtics in his rookie year and started 61 of
them. He got better as the season wore on, scoring
in double figures in 31 of 35 games following the
All-Star break and the final 14 games of the season.
For the season he averaged 15.3 points per game and
was voted to the NBA All-Rookie First Team. ...
Posted 22 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals
against the Cleveland Cavaliers on 4/14 ... Totaled
21 points, 4 rebounds and 3 steals in a 102-92
victory over the New York Knicks on 4/5 ... Scored a
team-high 23 points in an 82-76 victory over the New
Jersey Nets on 3/27 ... Mercer connected with 24
points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists against the Miami
Heat on 3/25 ... Recorded 24 points, 4 rebounds, 3
assists and 3 steals in a 108-90 victory over the
Philadelphia 76ers on 3/22 ... Posted a season-high
31 points, 6 steals, 4 rebounds and 3 assists
against the Houston Rockets on 3/19 ... Totaled 24
points, 5 rebounds and 4 steals in a 108-98 victory
over the Washington Wizards on 3/6 ... Registered a
game-high 24 points, 6 assists and 4 rebounds in a
120-88 victory over the Golden Warriors on 2/27 ...
Scored a game-high 28 points and grabbed 3 rebounds
against the Portland Trail Blazers on 2/22 ...
Recorded 20 points, 6 rebounds, 5 steals and 4
assists against the Golden State Warriors on 2/15
... Posted a team-high 24 points and 5 rebounds
against the Utah Jazz on 2/12 ... Totaled 8 points
and 4 rebounds in the Schick Rookie Game during the
1998 NBA All-Star Weekend in New York ... Registered
a team-high 21 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists
against the Indiana Pacers on 1/18 ... Recorded a
game-high 28 points (13-21 FG), 8 rebounds and 3
steals in a 102-96 win over the Charlotte Hornets on
12/23 ... Posted 26 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists
against the Phoenix Suns on 11/28 ... Totaled a
team-high 23 points (9-14 FG, 4-5 FT), 4 rebounds
and 3 steals against the Orlando Magic on 11/2 ...
Registered 11 points and 5 rebounds, in his NBA
debut, in a 92-85 victory over the Chicago Bulls on
10/31
In the 1997 NBA Draft the Boston Celtics selected
Mercer in the first round (6th pick overall). Traded
by the Celtics along with Popeye Jones and Dwayne
Schintzius to the Denver Nuggets in exchange for
Danny Fortson, Eric Williams, Eric Washington and a
future draft choice on 8/3/99. Signed as a free
agent with the Chicago Bulls on 8/1/00.
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