Every NBA career has a different beginning.
Some start as top draft picks. Others take the long road through junior college, overseas leagues, or years of proving they belong.
San Joaquin County has produced examples of nearly every path imaginable.
The list includes a three-time NBA champion who started alongside Michael Jordan during the Chicago Bulls’ second three-peat, an NBA champion who later coached Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden to the NBA Finals, a guard who reached two NBA Finals after going undrafted and another player who won an NBA title as a rookie.
Here’s a closer look at San Joaquin County’s six NBA players.
Note: Players who reached the NBA through the University of the Pacific are not included in this list. They will be featured in a separate story.
Gabe Vincent (St. Mary’s)
Position: Point guard
College: UC Santa Barbara
NBA career: 2019-present (seven seasons)
Teams: Miami Heat, Los Angeles Lakers, Atlanta Hawks
High school notable: Averaged 22.8 points, 6.1 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 3.1 steals per game as a senior at St. Mary’s. Scored a career-high 47 points in an 87-76 win over Campolindo on Jan. 18, 2014.
Pro notable: 331 career games • 2,221 career points • 487 rebounds • 645 assists • Reached the NBA Finals with the Miami Heat in 2020 and 2023 • Undrafted in 2018
Fun facts: Represented Nigeria’s national team, the D’Tigers, at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Played four seasons at UC Santa Barbara from 2014-18, setting a school record with 243 career 3-pointers.
James Nunnally (Weston Ranch)
Position: Forward
College: UC Santa Barbara
NBA career: 2013-21 (three NBA seasons)
Teams: Atlanta Hawks, Philadelphia 76ers, Minnesota Timberwolves
High school notable: Averaged 19.0 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists as a junior and 22.1 points, 8.3 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.9 steals and 1.2 blocks as a senior. Named Stockton Record Player of the Year in 2007 and 2008. As a senior, he earned All-State, All-CIF Sac-Joaquin Section, Valley Oak League MVP, first-team All-Valley Oak League honors and was a McDonald’s All-American nominee.
Pro notable: 37 career games • 95 career points • 33 rebounds • 18 assists • 20 3-pointers • 2012 second-round pick (No. 56 overall)
Fun facts: Helped UC Santa Barbara win back-to-back Big West Tournament championships and NCAA Tournament berths in 2010 and 2011. He finished his career with 1,690 points, fifth-most in school history.
Scott Brooks (East Union)
Position: Point guard
College: TCU, San Joaquin Delta College, UC Irvine
NBA career: 1988-98 (10 seasons)
Teams: Philadelphia 76ers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Houston Rockets, Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers
High school notable: Graduated from East Union High School in 1983. Brooks stood just 4-foot-11 as a freshman before growing into an NBA player, and his jersey now hangs in the East Union gymnasium.
Pro notable: 680 career games • 3,327 points • 696 rebounds • 1,597 assists • 742 steals • 1994 NBA champion • Undrafted in 1987
Fun facts: Brooks played at San Joaquin Delta College from 1984-85 before winning the 2010 NBA Coach of the Year Award. He later coached Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden to the 2012 NBA Finals and finished his NBA head coaching career with a 521-414 record.
Andre Spencer (Born in Stockton)
Position: Small forward
College: Bakersfield College, Northern Arizona
NBA career: 1992-94 (two seasons)
Teams: Golden State Warriors, Atlanta Hawks, Sacramento Kings
High school notable: Although born in Stockton, Spencer starred at Manual Arts High School in Los Angeles before playing at Bakersfield College from 1982-84. He transferred to Northern Arizona, where he earned first-team All-Big Sky honors as a senior in 1986.
Pro notable: 48 career games • 346 career points • 154 rebounds • 46 assists • 36 steals • 14 blocks • Undrafted in 1986
Fun facts: After going undrafted in 1986, Spencer spent three seasons in the Continental Basketball Association from 1987-90 and two seasons with Maccabi Rishon LeZion in Israel from 1990-92 before making his NBA debut. He went on to play professionally for 16 seasons.
Bill Cartwright (Born in Lodi)
Position: Center
College: San Francisco
NBA career: 1979-95 (15 seasons)
Teams: New York Knicks, Chicago Bulls, Seattle SuperSonics
High school notable: Although born in Lodi, Cartwright starred at Elk Grove High School before signing with the University of San Francisco. He finished his collegiate career as the Dons’ all-time leading scorer with 2,547 points and was a two-time Consensus All-American.
Pro notable: 963 career games • 12,713 career points • 6,106 rebounds • 1,390 assists • Three-time NBA champion (1991-93) • NBA All-Star (1980) • 1979 first-round pick (No. 3 overall)
Fun facts: Cartwright won three NBA championships as the Chicago Bulls’ starting center alongside Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen from 1991-93, then returned as an assistant coach to help the franchise win two more titles under Phil Jackson in 1997 and 1998.
John Gianelli (Edison)
Position: Center
College: Pacific
NBA career: 1972-80 (eight seasons)
Teams: New York Knicks, Buffalo Braves, Milwaukee Bucks, Utah Jazz
High school notable: Graduated from Edison High School before starring at Pacific, where he was the 1971 West Coast Athletic Conference Player of the Year after averaging 21.4 points and 18.2 rebounds as a junior. As a senior, he averaged 21.5 points and 17.9 rebounds, finishing second nationally in rebounding.
Pro notable: 541 career games • 4,210 career points • 3,188 rebounds • 832 assists • 1973 NBA champion • 1972 second-round pick (No. 20 overall)
Fun facts: Drafted by the Houston Rockets with the 20th overall pick in 1972, Gianelli never played for the franchise after failing to reach a contract agreement. His rights were acquired by the New York Knicks, where he won an NBA championship as a rookie in 1973. That same year, Pacific retired his No. 23 jersey, and he was inducted into the school’s Athletics Hall of Fame in 1986.
This article originally appeared on The Record: Every San Joaquin County basketball player who reached the NBA
Reporting by Dylan Ackermann, The Stockton Record / The Record
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Dylan Ackermann, The Stockton Record | USA TODAY Network
