Joseph S. Spinks (born June 20, 1972[1]) is an American-Dutch retired basketball player and coach. He played eight seasons for ABC Amsterdam in the Netherlands and is considered one of the best players to have played in the Eredivisie.[2] Spinks also was head coach and assistant coach for Amsterdam for two years.[3] Spink's nickname during his playing career was "The Bull".[4]

Joe Spinks
Personal information
Born (1972-06-20) June 20, 1972 (age 52)
Asheboro, North Carolina
NationalityAmerican / Dutch
Listed height6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Career information
High schoolAsheboro
(Asheboro, North Carolina)
CollegeCampbell (1990–1994)
NBA draft1994: undrafted
Playing career1994–2006
PositionSmall forward
Number34, 8
Coaching career2006–present
Career history
As player:
1994–1995Södertälje
1995–1996Lahti
1996–1997Vilvoorde
1997–1998Illiabum
1998–2006Ricoh Astronauts Amsterdam
As coach:
2006MyGuide Amsterdam (interim head coach)
2006–2008Amsterdam (assistant coach)
2011–presentEastern Guilford HS
Career highlights and awards

College career

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Spinks played for Campbell from 1990 to 1994, and helped the Fighting Camels to their first-ever NCAA tournament berth in 1994.[5] In 2010, he was inducted into the Campbell Sports Hall of Fame.[5]

Professional career

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Spinks started his career in 1994 with Södertälje BBK of the Swedish Basketligan. In the following season, he played with Namika Lahti in the Finnish Korisliiga.

In 1996, Spinks had the opportunity to play work out for the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association (NBA), however, after a torn achilles.[6]

After stints in Belgium and Portugal, he arrived to the Amsterdam Astronauts in 1998. He would stay on the team for 12 seasons, becoming a star player and helping the team win as much as six Dutch national championships. Spinks retired from playing at age 33 due to a knee injury.[6]

Coaching career

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In 2006, Spinks took over as interim head coach of the Amsterdam Astronauts and guided them to the league semifinals.[6] In the following two years, he was an assistant coach on the Amsterdam team that won two more Eredivisie titles.[5] Spinks returned with his family to the United States in 2009.[7]

Honors

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Professional

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Astronauts Amsterdam

College

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Personal

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Spinks is married to Dawn Gibson and has a son, Jonathan.[5] Spinks is a Christian.[6]

References

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  1. ^ "DraftExpress NBA Draft Prospect Profile: Joe Spinks, Stats, Comparisons, and Outlook". Draftexpress.com. Archived from the original on April 26, 2014. Retrieved April 26, 2014.
  2. ^ "Afscheid van basketballegende Spinks". www.nhnieuws.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved July 6, 2022.
  3. ^ "Joe Spinks na 11 jaar weg bij A'dam". At5.nl. Retrieved April 26, 2014.
  4. ^ "The Bull schreeuwt Astronauts naar zege". NRC (in Dutch). Retrieved July 6, 2022.
  5. ^ a b c d "Joe Spinks inducted into Campbell Sports Hall of Fame". Gocamels.com. April 9, 2010. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved April 26, 2014.
  6. ^ a b c d Bromet, Charles (October 5, 2006). "Meer vaderfiguur dan drilinstructeur". de Volkskrant (in Dutch). Retrieved July 6, 2022.
  7. ^ "Joe Spinks na 11 jaar weg bij A'dam". www.at5.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved July 6, 2022.
  8. ^ "MVP Play-offs | Basketballhistorie". J-dus.com. April 3, 2014. Archived from the original on April 26, 2014. Retrieved April 26, 2014.
  9. ^ "MVP FEB Cup | Basketballhistorie". J-dus.com. April 3, 2014. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved April 26, 2014.
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