User:Thatjoemags/Alex McLean (basketball coach)

Alex McLean (American basketball coach)

File:McClean Liberty.jpg

Alex McLean was a graduate assistant for the Liberty Flames during the 2016-'17 season

Alexander McLean (born October 20 1985) is an American basketball coach, and has been the Assistant Coach/Player Development for the Washington Wizards of the National Basketball Association (NBA) since the 2018-’19 season

Early life and education

Alexander McLean was born in Suffolk County, New York and graduated in 2003 from Bay Shore High School on Long Island. Only listed at 6-2 as a high school senior, McLean did not play varsity basketball, but instead excelled at the bass, piano and drums, earning music scholarships from Berklee College of Music and Hofstra University, as well as interest from Juilliard School.

In the summer following his senior year, however, McLean grew six inches, which finally caught his body up to his lifelong passion for basketball. Late in the recruitment process, McLean decided to play college basketball for two seasons at Suffolk Community College. An all-region and all-conference honoree in 2006, the 6-8 forward averaged 18.1 points, 13.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 2.1 blocks and 1.8 assists per game as a sophomore.

Playing Career

McLean’s two years of significant growth earned him a full athletic scholarship from Liberty University for the 2006-’07 season. Although McLean was not a Christian before enrolling at Liberty, one of the largest faith-based universities in the country, McLean discovered his faith while becoming close with his coaching staff.

McLean averaged 15.1 points and 8.8 rebounds per game in two seasons with the Flames, earning him a Big South first team all-conference selection in 2008, as well as being named to the Virginia Sports Information Directors' College Division All-State team. McLean ended his Liberty career with 954 career points, currently ranking him at 25th on the Flames' all-time scoring list. McLean also collected 557 boards, making him 13th in the program's career annals. He garnered 27 double-doubles, the third-best career total in program history. McLean completed his bachelor’s and master’s degree in Sport Management from Liberty.

After attending free-agent camp with the Charlotte Bobcats and Cleveland Cavaliers of the NBA, McLean signed with PBG Poznan in the Polish PLK, where McLean was eventually named to the PLK All-Star and All-Imports game.

In 2011, McLean played in the Chinese Basketball Association for Jin Qiang Sichuan Blue Whales in nine games, averaging 22.4 ppg and 14.6 rpg and making the Semi-Finals of the Chinese CBA in 2011.

In 2010-’11, McLean played in Egypt’s Superleague for both Al Gezira as well as Al Gharrafah Qatar’s D1. McLean won the Emir Cup in both 2010 and 2011 with Al Gharrafah, and McLean was named MVP in 2011.

In 2013-’14, McLean played for Anibal Zahle (Division A) and averaged 16 points and 10 rebounds before moving to Nift Al-Janoub.

In 2014, McLean joined the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, where he played under the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), serving as an import for the Commissioner’s Cup and averaging 22.7 points and 15.3 rebounds.

McLean also played in Poland, Greece, Argentina, and Paraguay.

Coaching Career

In 2016, McLean returned to his alma matter as a Graduate Assistant for Liberty Flames basketball.

In the 2017-’18 season, McLean worked with the Wizards’ player development staff, assisting with on-court work for Wizards players and travelling/training with players on NBA G League assignment. In 2018, he was promoted to Assistant Coach/Player Development and remained working in that capacity through the 2019-’20 season.