Demetris Nichols

{{Infobox basketball biography

| name = Demetris Nichols

| image =

| position = Small forward / power forward

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 8

| weight_lb = 211

| league =

| team =

| number =

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1984|9|4}}

| birth_place = Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.

| high_school = St. Andrew's School
(Barrington, Rhode Island)

| college = Syracuse (2003–2007)

| draft_year = 2007

| draft_round = 2

| draft_pick = 53

| draft_team = Portland Trail Blazers

| career_start = 2007

| career_end = 2019

| years1 = {{nbay|2007|start}}

| team1 = Cleveland Cavaliers

| years2 = {{nbay|2007|start}}–{{nbay|2008|start}}

| team2 = Chicago Bulls

| years3 = 2007–2008

| team3 = →Iowa Energy

| years4 = {{nbay|2008|end}}

| team4 = New York Knicks

| years5 = 2009

| team5 = Iowa Energy

| years6 = 2009–2010

| team6 = BCM Gravelines

| years7 = 2010–2011

| team7 = JA Vichy

| years8 = 2011

| team8 = Cholet Basket

| years9 = 2012

| team9 = Metros de Santiago

| years10 = 2012–2013

| team10 = Sioux Falls Skyforce

| years11 = 2013

| team11 = Capitanes de Arecibo

| years12 = 2013–2014

| team12 = Krasnye Krylia

| years13 = 2014–2016

| team13 = CSKA Moscow

| years14 = 2016–2017

| team14 = Panathinaikos

| years15 = 2017–2018

| team15 = Cedevita Zagreb

| years16 = 2018–2019

| team16 = Sidigas Avellino

| highlights =

EuroLeague champion (2016)
VTB United League champion (2015)
Greek League champion (2017)
Croatian League champion (2018)
Greek Cup winner (2017)
Croatian Cup winner (2018)
ABA League Supercup winner (2017)
NBA Development League All-Star (2013)
All-NBA D-League First Team (2013)
First-team All-Big East (2007)
AP Honorable mention All-American (2007)
Third-team Parade All-American (2003)

}}

Demetris Nichols (born September 4, 1984) is an American former professional basketball player. He can play at both the small forward and power forward positions. Nichols played college basketball with the Syracuse Orange men's basketball team, and has been a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Chicago Bulls, and New York Knicks of the National Basketball Association (NBA).

High school career

Nichols was coached by Mike Hart at St. Andrew's High School, where he helped his club to a 28–8 record and won the New England Prep School Athletic Conference title, tallying 15 points and 13 rebounds in the championship game against Lawrence Academy. His senior year, he averaged 18.6 points and 8.9 rebounds a game.

He was a three-time Street & Smith's Magazine Honorable Mention All-American, a 2003 third-team Parade All-American, the 2003 Rhode Island Gatorade Player of the Year, and the EA Sports Roundball Game All-American.{{cite web |title=Demetris Nichols Profile |url=http://www.suathletics.com/roster.asp?playerid=1455&sport=176&roster=194&path=mbasket |work=SUAthletics.com |access-date=2007-08-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927191148/http://www.suathletics.com/roster.asp?playerid=1455&sport=176&roster=194&path=mbasket |archive-date=2007-09-27 |url-status=dead }} He was rated 50th overall and 14th among small forwards by ESPN.com. He was successfully recruited by Syracuse University.[https://assets.espn.go.com/recruiting/s/kruseondenic.html Recruiting priorities are changing]

College career

Nichols appeared in 26 games for the Orange during his freshman year, starting 15 of them. His best performance of the season was a seven-rebound and team-leading 17-point performance against Providence.[https://web.archive.org/web/20160915050806/http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=240382507 Friars' first win at SU in seven tries] He also scored 10 points against BYU[https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/playbyplay?gameId=244000035 Brigham Young vs. Syracuse - Play by Play - March 18, 2004] and nine points against Maryland in the NCAA Tournament,[https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/boxscore?gameId=244000037 Syracuse vs. Maryland - Box score - March 20, 2004] in which Syracuse advanced to the Sweet 16.[https://web.archive.org/web/20160915050810/http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=244000037 Warrick's 26 carries 'Cuse to Sweet 16] In his sophomore year, Nichols would start the first eight games of the season before he was forced out of the lineup with a back injury.[https://web.archive.org/web/20160915034803/http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=243630183 Syracuse has never lost to Albany] - "Demetris Nichols gave the Orange a big boost with 10 points after missing three games with a sore back" He would play in 27 games that season, averaging 3.9 points and 2.1 rebounds per game.{{cite web |title=Demetris Nichols Prospect Profile |url=http://www.nba.com/draft2007/profiles/DemetrisNichols.html |work=NBA.com |access-date=2007-08-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160329081714/http://www.nba.com/draft2007/profiles/DemetrisNichols.html |archive-date=2016-03-29 |url-status=dead }}

Nichols posted the sixth-best scoring average improvement in Syracuse history, going from 3.9 points per game as a sophomore to 13.3 points per game in 2005–06 in his junior year. He ranked second on the team in scoring and third in rebounding (5.8 rebounds per game). Nichols scored a season-high 28 points against Connecticut[https://web.archive.org/web/20160915014736/http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=260160183 Huskies put up road block, halt Orange's 12-game win streak] and averaged 13.0 points and 4.8 rebounds in the Big East Tournament.

Nichols' senior season proved to be his best one at Syracuse, as he was a unanimous selection for the All-Big East First Team. He was also a NABC and USBWA All-District First Team selection after leading the Big East in scoring (18.9 points per game) and finished third in conference play (17.9 points per game). He also set a Syracuse record in Big East games with a career-high 37 points, including seven three-pointers, to go along with 10 rebounds against St. John's.[https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/boxscore?gameId=270212599 St. John's 64, Syracuse 60 - Box score - January 21, 2007]

In March 2007, Nichols was elected to participate in the 19th Annual State Farm College Three-Point Championship. He finished second to Aaron Brooks.

Nichols finished his Syracuse career tied for 28th in career scoring (1,344), third in three-point goals (205), fourth in three-point field goals attempted (573) and 10th in three-point field goal percentage (.358).

Professional career

Nichols was taken in the second round (53rd overall) by the Portland Trail Blazers in the 2007 NBA draft, but immediately traded to the New York Knicks in exchange for the Knicks' 2008 second round draft choice.{{cite web |title=Knicks deal for Nichols |first=Mike |last=Waters |date=2007-06-30 |url=http://www.syracuse.com/articles/sports/index.ssf?/base/sports-0/118319442561580.xml&coll=1 |work=Syracuse.com |access-date=2007-08-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011102958/http://www.syracuse.com/articles/sports/index.ssf?%2Fbase%2Fsports-0%2F118319442561580.xml&coll=1 |archive-date=2007-10-11 |url-status=dead }}

Nichols participated in the July 2007 Las Vegas Summer League with the Knicks and averaged 15.6 points on 53 percent shooting, including 23 points in the final game against the Denver Nuggets. He was second on the team in scoring as the Knicks went a perfect 5–0.{{cite web |title=Running the Table, Vegas Style |first=Dennis |last=D’Agostino |date=2007-07-15 |url=http://www.nba.com/knicks/news/nykveg_070716_summerleague.html |work=NBA.com |access-date=2007-08-25}}

Following the summer league, Nichols fired his agent after the Knicks were attempting to work out a deal to send Nichols to Europe for the 2007–08 season. Originally, the Knicks had wanted Nichols to play in Italy because they had 17 contracts and only 15 roster spots. When Nichols heard of the arrangement, he fired then-agent Bill Duffy in favor of Bill Neff and refused the Knicks' request. On October 1, Nichols was signed to the Knicks roster along with four other newcomers.{{cite news |title=Knicks Add Rookie Guard |first=Howard |last=Beck |date=2007-10-01 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/01/sports/basketball/01sportsbriefs-knicks.html?adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1191298647-UZ6OxiPSCTDfd1VBubq96Q |work=New York Times |access-date=2007-10-01}} However, he was subsequently released by the Knicks on October 25, as the team needed to cut down its roster to 15 players.{{cite news|title=Knicks waive guards Jordan, Nichols, Russell|url=https://www.espn.com/espn/wire?section=nba&id=3078717|access-date=July 24, 2015|work=ESPN|date=October 25, 2007}} Then on October 29, he was signed by the Cleveland Cavaliers to fill the 15th spot on their opening day roster. Nichols sat on the bench for the first month of his time with the Cavaliers, but saw his first action on November 28, scoring 2 points in 8 minutes of playing time.[https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/boxscore;_ylt=AgzRV_OsyblmyAmXqXVWgPWQvLYF?gid=2007112808 NBA - Cleveland Cavaliers/Detroit Pistons Box Score Wednesday November 28, 2007 - Yahoo! Sports] On December 5, 2007, Nichols was waived to clear roster space after the Cavs re-signed Anderson Varejão to end a contract dispute.[https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=3142432 Varejao can opt out of new Cavs deal after second season] Updated December 5, 2007 He was subsequently claimed by the Chicago Bulls and assigned to the Iowa Energy of the D-League.{{cite web

|title = Bulls Assign Nichols to D-League

|date = 2007-12-18

|url = http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/49804/20071218/bulls_assign_nichols_to_d_league/

|work = RealGM

|access-date = 2007-12-29

|url-status = dead

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071220184859/http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/49804/20071218/bulls_assign_nichols_to_d_league/

|archive-date = 2007-12-20

}} After averaging 19.3 points per game in 14 appearances in the D-League, he was recalled to Chicago. He played his first game with the Bulls on January 23, 2008.[http://www.nba.com/games/20080123/INDCHI/boxscore.html Bulls vs. Pacers, Boxscore] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080127090109/http://www.nba.com/games/20080123/INDCHI/boxscore.html |date=2008-01-27 }}. Retrieved on January 23, 2008.

He began the 2008–09 season with the Bulls, receiving marginal minutes in two early-season games. However, he was waived November 17.{{cite web|title=Bulls waive Demetris Nichols |date=2008-11-17 |url=http://www.nba.com/bulls/news/nichols_waived_081117.html |work=Bulls.com |access-date=2009-02-28 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090115174335/http://www.nba.com/bulls/news/nichols_waived_081117.html |archive-date=January 15, 2009 }} He rejoined the Energy in January 2009, scoring 11 points in his first game back in Des Moines.{{cite web

|title=Energy: Banged-up Jeffers leads Iowa to 4th straight win

|date=2009-01-30

|url=http://m.dmregister.com/news.jsp?key=395889

|work=Des Moines Register

|access-date=2009-02-28

}}{{dead link|date=December 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

On March 6, 2009, Nichols signed a 10-day contract with the New York Knicks.[http://www.nba.com/knicks/news/10daynichols090306.html KNICKS SIGN DEMETRIS NICHOLS]

On December 1, 2009, Nichols signed with the French team BCM Gravelines.{{cite news|title=Gravelines land Demetris Nichols|url=https://www.eurobasket.com/France/basketball.aspx?NewsID=178475|access-date=July 24, 2015|work=Eurobasket.com|date=December 1, 2009}}

In the summer of 2010, Nichols played for the Portland Trail Blazers in the NBA Summer League.{{cite news|title=NBA Summer League Rosters - Vegas|url=http://www.ridiculousupside.com/2010/6/28/1540775/nba-summer-league-rosters-vegas|access-date=July 24, 2015|work=Ridiculousupside.com|date=June 28, 2010}}

In November 2010, he signed a contract with French club JA Vichy, until the end of the season.[http://www.ja-vichy.com/actualite-JA-Vichy-Demetris-Nichols-a-la-JAV--88.html Demetris Nichols à la JAV !] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713072418/http://www.ja-vichy.com/actualite-JA-Vichy-Demetris-Nichols-a-la-JAV--88.html |date=2011-07-13 }} {{in lang|fr}}

In August 2012, Nichols played for the Metros de Santiago, of the Dominican Republic.[http://viewmemories.com/other/nichols.html Viewmemories.com]{{Cite web |url=http://www.lnb.com.do/main/noticias/metros-santiago/1064-adris-del-leon-y-victor-liz-conducen-metros-a-derrotar-indios.html |title=Adris del León y Víctor Liz conducen Metros a derrotar Indios |access-date=2012-09-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120901201549/http://www.lnb.com.do/main/noticias/metros-santiago/1064-adris-del-leon-y-victor-liz-conducen-metros-a-derrotar-indios.html |archive-date=2012-09-01 |url-status=dead }} Later that year, Nichols joined the Sioux Falls Skyforce of the NBA D-League.[http://www.nba.com/dleague/siouxfalls/1213_training_camp_invitees_121031.html Skyforce Announces 2012-13 Training Camp Invitees] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407105030/http://www.nba.com/dleague/siouxfalls/1213_training_camp_invitees_121031.html |date=2014-04-07 }}

On February 4, 2013, Nichols was named to the Prospects All-Star roster for the 2013 NBA D-League All-Star Game.[http://www.nba.com/dleague/news/2013_nba_development_league_all_star_rosters_announced_2013_02_04.html 2013 NBA Development League All-Star Game Rosters Announced] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131022065410/http://www.nba.com/dleague/news/2013_nba_development_league_all_star_rosters_announced_2013_02_04.html |date=October 22, 2013 }}

In September 2013, he signed a contract with the Russian team Krasnye Krylia.{{cite web|title=Former Syracuse player Demetris Nichols signs with pro team in Russia|url=http://www.sportando.net/eng/europe/russia/62725/former-syracuse-player-demetris-nichols-signs-with-pro-team-in-russia.html|publisher=Sportando.net|access-date=4 September 2013}}

On August 18, 2014, Nichols signed a two-week tryout contract with CSKA Moscow.{{cite news|title=CSKA Moscow signs big man Nichols|url=http://www.euroleague.net/news/i/140165|access-date=18 August 2014|work=euroleague.net}} Nichols eventually extended his contract until the end of 2014–15 season. CSKA Moscow finished the season by winning the VTB United League, after eliminating Khimki with a 3–0 series sweep in the league's final playoff series.{{cite news|title=CSKA wins championship! |url=http://www.vtb-league.com/en/news/cska-wins-championship.htm |access-date=10 June 2015 |work=vtb-league.com |date=8 June 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150610135415/http://www.vtb-league.com/en/news/cska-wins-championship.htm |archive-date=10 June 2015 }}

On July 24, 2015, he re-signed with CSKA for one more season.{{cite news|title=CSKA Moscow, forward Nichols remain together|url=http://www.euroleague.net/news/i/683mgjck9lfgu8v3|access-date=July 24, 2015|work=Euroleague.net|date=July 24, 2015}} He parted ways with the team on June 18, 2016.{{cite news|title=Thank you, D!|url=http://www.cskabasket.com/news/?id=15227&lang=en|access-date=18 June 2016|work=cskabasket.com|issue=18 June 2016|archive-date=7 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160807043744/http://www.cskabasket.com/news/?id=15227&lang=en|url-status=dead}}

On September 2, 2016, Nichols signed with Greek club Panathinaikos for the 2016–17 season.{{cite news|title=Panathinaikos inks champ Nichols|url=http://www.euroleague.net/news/i/78q3wvfbcy6c5kjq|access-date=September 2, 2016|work=Euroleague.net|date=September 2, 2016}}

On July 30, 2017, Nichols signed with Croatian club Cedevita Zagreb for the 2017–18 season.{{cite news|title=Big signing for Cedevita – Demetris Nichols joins the Orange crew|url=http://www.aba-liga.com/news.php?id=38518|access-date=July 31, 2017|work=aba-liga.com|date=July 30, 2017}}

On August 5, 2018, Nichols signed a deal with the Italian club Sidigas Avellino for the 2018–19 LBA season.{{cite news|title=Scandone Avellino signs Demetris Nichols|url=https://sportando.basketball/en/italy/serie-a/284689/scandone-avellino-signs-demetris-nichols.html|work=Sportando.basketball|date=August 5, 2018|access-date=August 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180812151036/https://sportando.basketball/en/italy/serie-a/284689/scandone-avellino-signs-demetris-nichols.html|archive-date=August 12, 2018|url-status=dead}}

International career

Nichols was a member of the 2002 USA Development Festival East Team that finished 3-2 and earned the silver medal. He averaged 14.8 points and 5.6 rebounds in five games.{{cite web|title=Final Rosters Set for 2002 USA Basketball Men's Youth Development Festival |first=Brandon |last=Faber |date=2002-06-25 |url=http://www.olympic-usa.org/73_5585.htm |work=United States Olympic Committee |access-date=2007-08-23 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040705071708/http://www.olympic-usa.org/73_5585.htm |archive-date=July 5, 2004 }}

Nichols was invited to try out for the 2004 USA Basketball World Championship For Young Men's Qualifying Team. He participated in the first round of July workouts, but did not make the team.{{cite web |title=Nichols Invited to USA Basketball Tryout |date=2004-06-10 |url=http://www.suathletics.com/news/basketball/mbasket/2004/6/10/NicholsUSAhoop.asp?path=mbasket?path= |work=SUAthletics.com |access-date=2007-08-23 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930153754/http://www.suathletics.com/news/basketball/mbasket/2004/6/10/NicholsUSAhoop.asp?path=mbasket%3Fpath%3D |archive-date=2007-09-30 }}

Career statistics

=NBA=

==Regular season==

| style="text-align:left;" rowspan="2"| {{nbay|2007}}

| style="text-align:left;"| Cleveland

| 3 || 0 || 4.7 || .125 || .000 || .000 || .3 || .0 || .0 || .0 || .7

| style="text-align:left;"| Chicago

| 11 || 0 || 2.7 || .333 || .300 || .000 || .4 || .1 || .0 || .3 || 1.2

| style="text-align:left;" rowspan="2"| {{nbay|2008}}

| style="text-align:left;"| Chicago

| 2 || 0 || 2.5 || .250 || .000 || .000 || .0 || .5 || .0 || .0 || 1.0

| style="text-align:left;"| New York

| 2 || 0 || 4.5 || .400 || .000 || .500 || 1.0 || .5 || .0 || .5 || 2.5

|- class="sortbottom"

| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career

| 18 || 0 || 3.2 || .281 || .200 || .500 || .4 || .1 || .0 || .2 || 1.2

=EuroLeague=

class="wikitable"

style="background:#AFE6BA; width:3em;"|†

|Denotes season in which Nichols won the EuroLeague

style="background:#CFECEC; width:1em"|*

| Led the league

| style="text-align:left;"| 2014–15

| style="text-align:left;" rowspan="2"| CSKA Moscow

| 27 || 1 || 12.3 || .556 || style="background:#CFECEC;"|.575* || .833 || 3.2 || .3 || .6 || .4 || 4.6 || 4.5

| style="text-align:left;background:#AFE6BA;"| 2015–16†

| 23 || 3 || 12.1 || .479 || .366 || .667 || 1.4 || .7 || .5 || .5 || 4.0 || 3.7

| style="text-align:left;"| 2016–17

| style="text-align:left;"| Panathinaikos

| 32 || 19 || 15.2 || .453 || .354 || .875 || 2.3 || .3 || .3 || .3 || 3.8 || 3.6

|- class="sortbottom"

| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career

| 82 || 23 || 13.4 || .474 || .426 || .800 || 2.0 || .4 || .5 || .4 || 4.1 || 3.9

= Domestic leagues =

class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%; text-align:center;" ! Season ! Team ! League ! {{Tooltip\|GP\|Games played}} ! {{Tooltip\|MPG\|Minutes per game}} ! {{Tooltip\|FG%\|Field goal percentage}} ! {{Tooltip\|3P%\|3 point field goal percentage}} ! {{Tooltip\|FT%\|Free throw percentage}} ! {{Tooltip\|RPG\|Rebounds per game}} ! {{Tooltip\|APG\|Assists per game}} ! {{Tooltip\|SPG\|Steals per game}} ! {{Tooltip\|BPG\|Blocks per game}} ! {{Tooltip\|PPG\|Points per game}}
2007–08	rowspan="2" \| Iowa Energy	rowspan="2" \| D-League	14	37.4	.450	.333	.778	4.2	2.8	1.1	1.0	19.3
2008–09	18	39.2	.475	.417	.850	5.4	3.1	1.2	1.2	22.1
2009–10	BCM Gravelines	rowspan="3" \| LNB Pro A	27	16.6	.415	.357	.774	2.1	.6	.4	.3	6.7
2010–11	JA Vichy	21	34.6	.498	.342	.833	5.4	2.2	1.5	.9	18.2
2011–12	Cholet Basket	8	25.9	.500	.500	.889	3.5	1.5	1.0	1.0	14.9
2012	Metros de Santiago	Dominican LNB	8	27.8	.580	.267	.733	3.8	1.1	1.6	.9	11.6
2012–13	Sioux Falls Skyforce	D-League	49	36.0	.510	.362	.852	5.4	2.3	1.4	.8	18.7
2013	Capitanes de Arecibo	BSN	15	30.9	.567	.344	.822	3.9	2.6	1.1	.9	14.2
2013–14	Krasnye Krylya Samara Region	rowspan="2" \| VTB United League	22	30.5	.525	.421	.824	3.7	1.4	1.2	1.1	14.0
2014–15	CSKA Moscow	33	14.1	.433	.483	.735	2.2	.5	.5	.4	5.1