Frédéric Weis

Frédéric Weis (born 22 June 1977) is a French retired professional basketball player.

Frédéric Weis
Fred Weis
Personal information
Born (1977-06-22) 22 June 1977
Thionville, France
NationalityFrench
Listed height7 ft 2 in (2.18 m)
Listed weight260 lb (118 kg)
Career information
NBA draft1999 / Round: 1 / Pick: 15th overall
Selected by the New York Knicks
Playing career1995–2011
PositionCenter
Career history
1995–2000CSP Limoges
2000PAOK Thessaloniki
2000–2004Unicaja Málaga
2004–2009Iurbentia Bilbao
2009ViveMenorca
2010–2011CSP Limoges
Career highlights and awards
Medals
Men's Basketball
Representing  France
Summer Olympics
2000 Sydney
EuroBasket
2005 Serbia & Montenegro

Professional career

During his pro career, Weis played with Unicaja Málaga and Iurbentia Bilbao of the Spanish ACB League, PAOK Thessaloniki in the Greek League, and Limoges in the French League. On 28 January 2009 Iurbentia Bilbao waived him, after he missed 3 games in a row, due to his health,[1] and on 13 February he signed with ViveMenorca.[2]

He was drafted by the New York Knicks, with the 15th pick in the first round, of the 1999 NBA draft, but he did not sign with them, and never played in the NBA. The draft pick angered many Knicks fans, because Ron Artest, who had grown up in Queens, New York, and played for St. John's University, was still available. Artest was taken with the next pick by the Chicago Bulls. Weis took part in the NBA Summer League, and then declined to sign a rookie contract, being convinced by his agent - who was also a minority owner of Weis's team, Limoges - to return to France. Weis ended up never playing in an NBA game, later stating that in spite of his interest in going to North America, the Knicks never directly contacted him about returning.[3] On 29 August 2008 Weis's draft rights were traded from the New York Knicks, to the Houston Rockets, for Patrick Ewing Jr.[4] In March 2011 he announced his retirement.[5]

National team career

Weis won the silver medal at the 2000 Summer Olympic Games, with the senior French national basketball team. With France's national team he played at the following EuroBaskets: the 1999 EuroBasket, the 2001 EuroBasket, the 2005 EuroBasket, and the 2007 EuroBasket.

At the 2005 EuroBasket, Weis won the bronze medal with his national team. He also played with France's national team at the 2006 FIBA World Championship.[6]

"Le dunk de la mort"

Weis is known for having been posterized by the United States' Vince Carter, during a basketball game between the U.S. and France at the 2000 Summer Olympic Games on 25 September 2000. After getting the ball off a steal, the 6'6" (1.98 m) Carter drove to the basket and spread his legs as he jumped over the 7'2" (2.18 m) Weis before dunking the ball ferociously. The French media dubbed the slam "le dunk de la mort": "the dunk of death". The U.S. won the game 106–94. In an ESPN story published on the 15th anniversary of the dunk, Weis said that Carter "deserves to make history. Sadly for me, I was on the video, too. I learned people can fly."[7]

Personal life

In 2002, Weis' wife, Celia, gave birth to a son, Enzo, while Weis was playing in Spain. After Enzo was diagnosed with autism as a toddler, Weis spiraled into alcoholism and depression, and Celia took their son and returned to France. In 2008, Weis drove to a rest stop in Biarritz, and attempted suicide, by intentionally overdosing on sleeping pills. After surviving the attempt, Weis eventually quit drinking and reconciled with his wife. Following his retirement from basketball, Weis and Celia began operating a tobacco shop and bar in Limoges.[3] He is also a television analyst for French league games.[7]

Weis is working with Bobby Blotzer to produce a musical based on the life of Tony Mills. Weis has said that Mills' music saved his life.[8]

References
  1. "El iurbentia Bilbao Basket y Fred Weis acuerdan rescindir el contrato" (in Spanish). ACB.com. January 29, 2009.
  2. "El ViveMenorca firma a Weis y da de baja a Vladimir Boisa" (in Spanish). ACB.com. February 13, 2009.
  3. Borden, Sam (July 14, 2015). "For Frédéric Weis, Knicks' Infamous Pick, Boos Began a Greater Struggle". The New York Times. Retrieved July 14, 2015.
  4. Beck, Howard (October 28, 2008). "The Knicks Let Go of Another Ewing, for Now". The New York Times. Retrieved May 2, 2010.
  5. "Entretien avec Frédéric Weis" (in French). Archived from the original on March 10, 2011. Retrieved March 10, 2011.
  6. Frédéric WEIS (FRA) participated in 13 FIBA / FIBA Zones events.
  7. Wallace, Michael; Peterson, Rob (September 25, 2015). "In a Single Bound". ESPN. Retrieved September 25, 2015.
  8. https://sports.yahoo.com/infamous-vince-carter-combatant-frederic-weis-attempted-suicide-in-2008-205714909.html?y20=1
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