Wes Matthews


Wesley Joel Matthews Sr. is an American former professional basketball player. He is the father of current NBA player Wesley Matthews.

Basketball career

Matthews graduated from Warren Harding High School in Bridgeport, Connecticut, in 1977. A point guard at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, he was selected by the Washington Bullets with the 14th pick of the 1980 NBA draft. He played nine seasons in the league with the Bullets, Atlanta Hawks, Philadelphia 76ers, Chicago Bulls, San Antonio Spurs and Los Angeles Lakers. Averaging eight points and four assists per game, he scored 3,654 career points and earned NBA Championship rings with the 1987 and 1988 Lakers.
Matthews retired from professional basketball in 1996. Besides his NBA stints, he also played in the United States Basketball League, in the Continental Basketball Association and in Italy, spending the 1989–90 season at Ranger Varese before being called by the Hawks for one regular season match.
He had a stint in the Philippine Basketball Association, winning the best import award in 1991 for Ginebra San Miguel.

Personal life

Matthews' son, Wesley, also a basketball guard, played for Marquette University, and has appeared professionally for the Utah Jazz, the Portland Trail Blazers, the Dallas Mavericks, the New York Knicks, Indiana Pacers and currently the Milwaukee Bucks since being undrafted in 2009.