Editing Alex English

{{short description|American basketball player/coach (born 1954)}}
{{for|the American political activist|United States Pirate Party}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox basketball biography
| name = Alex English
| image = Alex English.jpg
| caption = English in 2019
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 8
| weight_lb = 190
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1954|01|05}}
| birth_place = [[Columbia, South Carolina]], U.S.
| high_school = [[Dreher High School|Dreher]]<br />(Columbia, South Carolina)
| college = [[South Carolina Gamecocks men's basketball|South Carolina]] (1972–1976)
| draft_year = 1976
| draft_round = 2
| draft_pick = 23
| draft_team = [[Milwaukee Bucks]]
| career_start = 1976
| career_end = 1992
| coach_start = 2002
| coach_end = 2013
| career_position = [[Small forward]]
| career_number = 23, 22, 2
| years1 = {{nbay|1976|start}}–{{nbay|1977|end}}
| team1 = [[Milwaukee Bucks]]
| years2 = {{nbay|1978|start}}–{{nbay|1979|end}}
| team2 = [[Indiana Pacers]]
| years3 = {{nbay|1979|end}}–{{nbay|1989|end}}
| team3 = [[Denver Nuggets]]
| years4 = {{nbay|1990|full=y}}
| team4 = [[Dallas Mavericks]]
| years5 = 1991–1992
| team5 = [[S.S. Basket Napoli|Basket Napoli]]
| cyears1 = {{nbay|2002|full=y}}
| cteam1 = [[Atlanta Hawks]] (assistant)
| cyears2 = {{nbay|2003|full=y}}
| cteam2 = [[Philadelphia 76ers]] (assistant)
| cyears3 = {{nbay|2004|start}}–{{nbay|2010|end}}
| cteam3 = [[Toronto Raptors]] (assistant)
| cyears4 = {{nbay|2011|end}}–{{nbay|2012|end}}
| cteam4 = [[Sacramento Kings]] (assistant)
| highlights =
* 8× [[NBA All-Star]] ({{nasg|1982}}–{{nasg|1989}})
* 3× [[All-NBA Second Team]] ({{nbay|1981|end}}, {{nbay|1982|end}}, {{nbay|1985|end}})
* [[NBA annual scoring champion|NBA scoring champion]] ({{nbay|1982|end}})

* No. 2 [[Denver Nuggets#Retired numbers|retired by Denver Nuggets]]
* No. 22 [[South Carolina Gamecocks men's basketball#Retired jerseys|retired by South Carolina Gamecocks]]
| stats_league = NBA
| stat1label = [[Point (basketball)|Points]]
| stat1value = 25,613 (21.5 ppg)
| stat2label = [[Rebound (basketball)|Rebounds]]
| stat2value = 6,538 (5.5 rpg)
| stat3label = [[Assist (basketball)|Assists]]
| stat3value = 4,351 (3.6 apg)
| HOF_player = alex-english
| CBBASKHOF_year = 2006
}}
'''Alexander English''' (born January 5, 1954) is an American former professional [[basketball]] player, coach, and businessman.

A South Carolina native, English played [[college basketball]] for the [[South Carolina Gamecocks men's basketball|South Carolina Gamecocks]]. He was selected in the second round of the [[National Basketball Association]] (NBA) draft in 1976. English played the small forward position and was a star player for the [[Denver Nuggets]] in the 1980s. During his Nuggets tenure (1979–1989), the team made the NBA playoffs nine consecutive times, won two Midwest Division titles, and reached the [[1985 NBA Playoffs|1985 Western Conference Finals]]. English played 15 seasons in the NBA for four teams, averaging 21.5 points and 5.5 rebounds per game. English scored more points than any other NBA player during the 1980s. He was named to eight [[NBA All-Star]] teams and made the [[All-NBA Second Team]] three times. English led the NBA in scoring in the [[1982–83 NBA season|1982–83 season]]. His number 2 jersey was retired by the [[Denver Nuggets]] in 1992, and he was elected to the [[Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame]] in 1997.

After his playing career ended, English worked for the NBA, served as an assistant coach for several NBA teams, was involved in various business ventures, dabbled in acting, and became an NBA ambassador. He currently sits on the board of trustees at his alma mater, the University of South Carolina.

==Early life==
English was born and raised in [[Columbia, South Carolina]]. For some of his childhood, he and his siblings lived with their grandmother while their parents worked in [[New York City|New York]]. During this time, English often subsisted on a single meal per day.<ref name="Ethiopia">{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/02/03/sports/sports-of-the-times-how-ethiopia-touched-a-poet.html|title=Sports of The Times; How Ethiopia Touched a Poet|last1=Anderson|first1=Dave|date=3 February 1985|website=The New York Times|access-date=29 July 2019}}</ref>

English attended [[Dreher High School]] in Columbia.<ref>{{cite web |title=Alex English |url=https://discoversouthcarolina.com/articles/alex-english |website=discoversouthcarolina.com |access-date=29 July 2019 |language=en}}</ref>  On January 31, 2020, his number 22 jersey was retired by the high school.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Dearing |first1=Chris |title=Dreher High School in SC retires Alex English No 22 jersey |url=https://www.thestate.com/sports/high-school/prep-basketball/article239793183.html |access-date=10 April 2025 |work=The State |date=31 January 2020}}</ref>

==College career==
English attended the [[University of South Carolina]] in Columbia from 1972 to 1976. He started every game over a four-year career and was arguably the first African-American sports star at the school.  He scored a record 1,972 points and was only the third player at the school to record over 1,000 rebounds and connect on better than 50% of his field-goal attempts.  English was selected to two independent All-America teams in 1975 and 1976.  In the academic realm, English "developed interests that he still maintains in art, sculpture, literature, and, especially poetry."  He graduated with a bachelor's degree in English in 1976.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=DDO3sdV6ytsC&dq=%22developed+interests+that+he+still+maintains+in+art%2C+sculpture%2C+literature%2C+and%2C+especially+poetry%22&pg=PA134 Basketball: A Biographical Dictionary], edited by David L. Porter, an entry on Alex English by Peter C. Bjarkman, Westport, Connecticut, London: Greenwood Press, 2005.</ref>

==Professional career==

=== Milwaukee Bucks (1976–1978) ===
English was drafted by the [[Milwaukee Bucks]] in the second round of the [[1976 NBA draft]] with the 23rd pick.<ref name="nbahistory">{{cite web|title=NBA.com: Alex English Bio|url=http://www.nba.com/history/players/english_bio.html|website=Nba.com|access-date=July 22, 2017}}</ref> Playing behind notable [[wing (basketball)|wings]] such as [[Bob Dandridge]], [[Junior Bridgeman]], and [[Brian Winters]], English struggled to break into coach [[Don Nelson]]'s rotation.<ref>{{cite web | last=McGee | first=Adam | title=Milwaukee Bucks: Alex English was the missing piece of the puzzle | website=Behind the Buck Pass | date=2018-09-19 | url=https://behindthebuckpass.com/2018/09/19/milwaukee-bucks-alex-english-missing-piece-puzzle/ | access-date=2025-04-07}}</ref> Despite this, English showed promise during the [[1978 NBA Playoffs]], averaging 13.4 points per game (third highest of all Bucks players that postseason) off the bench while helping the Bucks past the Suns in the first round, before losing to the Nuggets in a seven-game western conference semifinals series.<ref>[https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/MIL/1978.html 1977-78 Milwaukee Bucks Roster and Stats]</ref>

=== Indiana Pacers (1978–1980) ===
Frustrated with a lack of playing time, English signed with the [[Indiana Pacers]] as a [[free agent]] after the [[1977-78 NBA season|1977–78 season]]. English became a starter in Indiana and began to establish a reputation as a scorer, averaging 16 points per game during the [[1978–79 NBA season|1978–79 season]] on another rebuilding team.<ref name="nbahistory"/>

=== Denver Nuggets (1980–1990) ===
English was traded to the [[Denver Nuggets]] midway through the [[1979-80 NBA season|1979–80 season]] for [[George McGinnis]], a former Pacers star from their [[American Basketball Association|ABA]] days. Though coming off of an All-Star season in 1978–79, McGinnis was only a shadow of his former self and was out of the league by 1982.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Glenesk|first1=Matthew|title=Pacers at the trade deadline: A historical mixed bag|url=http://www.indystar.com/story/sports/nba/pacers/2015/02/17/pacers-nba-trade-deadline-history/23560269/|website=Indianapolis Star|access-date=July 22, 2017 |language=en}}</ref> English went on to become a star player for the Nuggets.<ref name="auto" />

In his first full season with the Nuggets in [[1980-81 NBA season|1980–81]], English averaged a then-career high 23.8 points.<ref>{{cite web|title=ESPN Classic – NBA All-Star Profile: Alex English|url=http://www.espn.com/classic/s/NBA_All_Star_Profile_Alex_English.html|website=Espn.com|access-date=July 22, 2017}}</ref>

In the [[1981-82 NBA season|1981–82 season]], English averaged 25.4 points and the team advanced to postseason play. He earned a position on the [[NBA All-Star Game|All-Star Team]] and [[All-NBA Second Team]]. The following year, in [[1982-83 NBA season|1982–83]], English won the league scoring title with an average of 28.4 points per game, while teammate [[Kiki Vandeweghe]] placed second averaging 26.7 points. Then in [[1983-84 NBA season|1983–84]] English placed fourth in the league in scoring.<ref name="nbahistory"/>

In the [[1984-85 NBA season|1984–85 season]] English raised his scoring average to 27.9 points to pick up some of the slack from [[Kiki Vandeweghe]]'s departure. Denver won its division and secured the second seed in the Western Conference. In the [[1985 NBA Playoffs|1985 playoffs]], English averaged 30.2 points as the Nuggets defeated the [[San Antonio Spurs]] and [[Utah Jazz]] to meet the [[Los Angeles Lakers]] in the Western Conference Finals, where they would fall to the eventual NBA-champion Lakers in five games. English suffered a right thumb injury in Game 4,<ref name="si">{{cite web |last1=Newman |first1=Bruce |title=Back In The Saddle Again |url=https://www.si.com/vault/1985/05/27/622464/back-in-the-saddle-again |website=Vault |access-date=26 July 2019 |language=en}}</ref> which required surgery and rendered him unable to play for the rest of the series.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bonk |first1=Thomas |title=Alex English Is Lost to the Nuggets |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-05-21-sp-7858-story.html |website=Los Angeles Times |access-date=26 July 2019 |date=21 May 1985}}</ref> With the Nuggets already dealing with injuries to other players, English's injury was thought by some<ref name="si"/><ref>{{cite web |last1=Bonk |first1=Thomas |title=Celtics (102–100) and Lakers (153–109) Will Play It Again : Nuggets Are Routed, Setting Up Rematch for NBA Championship |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-05-23-sp-8467-story.html |website=Los Angeles Times |access-date=26 July 2019 |date=23 May 1985}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=McMANIS |first1=SAM |title=Nuggets Down, 3–1, and Feeling the Pain : Half the Roster Is Ailing, English Is Out and Even Ballboy Has a Cast |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-05-20-sp-16700-story.html |website=Los Angeles Times |access-date=26 July 2019 |date=20 May 1985}}</ref> to have nearly ensured a Laker victory in the series. English later stated in a 2006 interview that "I think that if I had not broken my thumb [...] we had a chance to beat the Lakers."<ref>{{cite web |title=Alex English: A True Basketball Artist |url=https://www.nba.com/nuggets/news/friedman_english_061206.html  |access-date=26 July 2019 |website=NBA.com/Nuggets}}</ref>

English recorded his career-best average of 29.8 points per game in the subsequent [[1985-86 NBA season|1985–86 season]], finishing third in the league behind [[Dominique Wilkins]] and [[Adrian Dantley]]. In the [[1986 NBA All-Star Game]], English set his All-Star career-high by scoring 16 points on 8-of-12 shooting in 16 minutes off the bench for the West squad.<ref name="nbahistory"/> During the [[1986 NBA playoffs]], English led the Nuggets past the Trail Blazers in the first round. In the Western Conference Semifinals, English averaged 29.2 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists in a six-game series loss to the eventual western conference champion [[1985-86 Houston Rockets season|Rockets]].<ref>[https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/1986-nba-western-conference-semifinals-nuggets-vs-rockets 1986 NBA Western Conference Semifinals Nuggets vs Rockets]</ref> In the final game of the series, on May 8, 1986, English tied his own Nuggets single-game playoff points record with 42 during a 126-122 double overtime loss.<ref>[https://www.denverpost.com/2020/08/18/nuggets-playoff-scoring-performances/ Denver Post: 4T. Alex English, 42 points vs. Rockets, May 8, 1986]</ref>

In 1988, English received the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award for his community service efforts.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://hoopshype.com/2019/08/08/denver-nuggets-nba-awards-all-the-winners-in-team-history/|title=Denver Nuggets NBA awards: All the winners in team history|date=August 8, 2019|website=hoopshype.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://southcarolina.rivals.com/news/wbb-wilson-already-in-rare-company|title=A'ja Wilson is just three years into her professional career, but she is already a rarity among former Gamecocks.|website=southcarolina.rivals.com|last=Wellbaum|first=Chris|date=September 24, 2020}}</ref> On March 10, 1989, English scored 51 points, notably without attempting any three-point shots, and recorded nine assists during a 131–130 overtime loss to the [[Miami Heat]].<ref>[https://www.nba.com/nuggets/news/daily-nugget-english-51-points-031020 Daily Nugget: Alex English's 51-point performance against Miami]</ref>

After the [[1989-90 NBA season|1989–90 season]], in which English's scoring average dipped to 17.9 and he largely struggled to maintain his level of play compared to previous seasons,<ref>{{cite web|last1=Smith|first1=Sam|title=In Plain English: Alex Not A Happy Nugget|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1989/12/05/in-plain-english-alex-not-a-happy-nugget/|website=Chicago Tribune|date=December 5, 1989 |access-date=July 22, 2017|language=en}}</ref> English became a free agent, and the Nuggets elected not to re-sign him.<ref name="nbahistory"/>

=== Dallas Mavericks (1990–1991) ===
At age 36, English signed a one-year contract with the [[Dallas Mavericks]] where he once again played off the bench, this time averaging just under 10 points per game.<ref name="nbahistory"/> He played his final NBA game in 1991 for the Mavericks.<ref name="auto" />

=== Napoli (1991–1992) ===
No other NBA team signed English for the 1991–1992 season, and after a stint in Italy with [[S.S. Basket Napoli|Basket Napoli]], English ended his playing career.<ref name="nbahistory" />

===Legacy===
When English left the [[Denver Nuggets]], he was the holder of nearly every team record, including most career points (21,645), assists (3,679), games (837) and minutes (29,893) in a Nuggets uniform, along with the highest career scoring average with the team (25.9) of any player. The Nuggets retired English's number 2 jersey in 1992. {{As of|2019|alt=As of 2019||df=}}, English's career 25,613 points place him 19th on the NBA's all-time career scoring list.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/leaders/pts_career.html|title=NBA & ABA Career Leaders and Records for Points|website=Basketball-Reference|access-date=November 26, 2019|archive-date=February 25, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110225112304/http://www.basketball-r/|url-status=dead}}</ref> While in Denver, English made the NBA All-Star Team eight times<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.denverpost.com/2020/05/08/alex-english-nuggets-legend-recognized/|title=How Nuggets legend Alex English finally got his due|website=DenverPost.com|date=May 8, 2020}}</ref> and the All-NBA Second Team three times.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.landofbasketball.com/nba_players/alex_english.htm|title=Alex English|website=landofbasketball.com|access-date=January 31, 2021}}</ref> During his Nuggets tenure, the team made the NBA playoffs nine consecutive times and won two Midwest Division titles.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://hoopshabit.com/2020/03/22/15-stars-forgot-played-denver-nuggets/|title=15 players you forgot suited up for the Denver Nuggets|website=HoopsHabit.com|date=March 22, 2020}}</ref>

English retired with NBA career averages of 21.5 points and 5.5 rebounds per game.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/e/englial01.html|title=Alex English Stats|website=Basketball-Reference.com|access-date=December 2, 2017|archive-date=March 20, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190320191257/https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/e/englial01.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
He was the first NBA player to score 2,000 points in eight consecutive seasons, and he has the distinction of being the top NBA scorer in the 1980s.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.statmuse.com/ask/nba/who-scored-the-most-points-in-the-nba-in-the-80s|title=Who Scored The Most Points In The NBA In The 80s|website=StatMuse|language=en|access-date=2019-06-29}}</ref> English was elected to the [[Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame]] in 1997.<ref name="nbahistory"/> In 2021, to commemorate the NBA's 75th Anniversary ''[[The Athletic]]'' ranked their top 75 players of all time, and named English as the 71st greatest player in NBA history.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://theathletic.com/2929199/2021/11/05/nba-75-at-no-71-alex-english-made-his-presence-felt-as-a-scorer-trendsetter-and-motivated-philanthropist/ | title=NBA 75: At No. 71, Alex English made his presence felt as a scorer, trendsetter and motivated philanthropist | last1=Jones | first1=Jason }}</ref>

==Coaching career==
[[File:Alex English, Jay Triano, Marc Iavaroni.jpg|thumb|right| English (left) on the 2009–10 [[Toronto Raptors]] coaching staff]]
English began his coaching career in the National Basketball Development League (now called the [[NBA G League]]) as the head coach of the [[North Charleston Lowgators]] in the [[2001–02 National Basketball Development League season|2001–02 season]]; this was the first season of the league. The Lowgators tied for the best record during the regular season, but they were eliminated in the championship series in the playoffs.<ref name="raptorsrelease">{{cite web |title=Alex English |url=https://www.nba.com/raptors/news/alexenglish_bio.html |website=Toronto Raptors |access-date=26 July 2019 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=NBDL 2001–02 Season Summary |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/gleague/years/2002.html |website=Basketball-Reference.com |access-date=26 July 2019 |language=en}}</ref>

Before the [[2002-03 NBA season]], English joined the coaching staff of the [[Atlanta Hawks]]. The following year, he was hired by the [[Philadelphia 76ers]] as an assistant coach.<ref name="raptorsrelease"/>

English then joined the [[Toronto Raptors]] in 2004 to serve as assistant [[coach (sport)|coach]] and director of player development.<ref name="raptorsrelease"/><ref name="hiredbykings">{{cite web |title=Alex English hired by Kings as assistant coach |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/7459667/alex-english-hired-sacramento-kings-assistant-coach |website=ESPN |access-date=26 July 2019 |language=en |date=13 January 2012}}</ref> On June 5, 2009, it was announced that English would stay with the Raptors as an assistant coach.<ref>{{cite web |title=Raptors retain English, add Iavaroni to coaching staff |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/basketball/raptors-retain-english-add-iavaroni-to-coaching-staff-1.834006 |website=CBC.ca |access-date=26 July 2019}}</ref> On July 13, 2011, with the team heading in a new direction after the hiring of new head coach [[Dwane Casey]], English was not given a new contract, and his services were not retained.<ref>{{cite web |title=New Raptors coach Casey fills out his staff – Sportsnet.ca |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/basketball/nba/raptors-coaching-staff/ |website=www.sportsnet.ca |access-date=26 July 2019}}</ref>

On January 13, 2012, English was added to the Sacramento Kings coaching staff under head coach [[Keith Smart]].<ref name="hiredbykings"/> On June 5, 2013, new Kings coach [[Michael Malone]] announced that the 2012–13 assistant coaches, including English, would not be retained for the 2013–14 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.insidehoops.com/blog/?p=13430|title=Mike Malone tells assistant Kings coaches they will not be retained|website=Insidehoops.com|access-date=August 1, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129020317/http://www.insidehoops.com/blog/?p=13430|archive-date=November 29, 2014|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

==Other work==

===Sports===
English was the first-ever director of player programs for the National Basketball Players Association.<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.abccolumbia.com/2020/01/13/dreher-high-school-to-retire-gamecock-great-alex-englishs-jersey/|title=Dreher High School to retire Gamecock great Alex English's jersey|date=January 13, 2020|website=ABCColumbia.com}}</ref>

[[SEC Network]] announced on November 11, 2014, that English had been hired as a color analyst.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Muller|first1=Brad|title=Alex English added as color analyst on SEC Network|url=http://www.secsports.com/article/11859923/alex-english-added-color-analyst-sec-network|website=Secsports.com|access-date=July 22, 2017}}</ref>

Since 2014, English has been an active participant in the [[SportsUnited|Sports Diplomacy's]] Sports Envoy program for the [[Department of State|U.S. Department of State]]. In this function, he has traveled to [[Italy]], the [[South Korea|Republic of Korea]], and [[Chile]], where he worked with [[Nykesha Sales]] and [[Candice Wiggins|Candace Wiggins]] to conduct basketball clinics and events that reached more than 1900 youth from underserved areas. In so doing, English helped contribute to Sports Diplomacy's mission to reach out to youth populations in order to promote growth and a stable democratic government.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://naples.usconsulate.gov/news-events/alex-english-naples.html|title=NBA: Once a Neapolitan, Always a Neapolitan {{!}} Naples, Italy – Consulate General of the United States|website=naples.usconsulate.gov|access-date=May 1, 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160328124943/http://naples.usconsulate.gov/news-events/alex-english-naples.html|archive-date=March 28, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/interview/2014/05/20/79/0800000000AEN20140520008300315F.html|title=(Yonhap Interview) U.S. sports envoys hope to inspire underprivileged kids to succeed|website=english.yonhapnews.co.kr|access-date=May 1, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://chile.usembassy.gov/leyendasdelbaloncesto2014.html |title=November 14 {{!}} Santiago, Chile – Embassy of the United States |website=chile.usembassy.gov |access-date=May 1, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150919014541/http://chile.usembassy.gov/leyendasdelbaloncesto2014.html |archive-date=September 19, 2015 }}</ref>

[[File:Alex English, Visitante Ilustre (14935074624) (cropped).jpg|thumb|upright|English in [[Montevideo]] in October 2014]]
English participates in Basketball Without Borders. He is an NBA ambassador and has taught at NBA academies in various countries.<ref name="auto1"/>

===Business===
English and his wife, Vanessa, owned Wendy's franchises in South Carolina.<ref name="auto1"/> English has also formed a company called GreenSmart Botanicals, which sells hemp-related products.<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=https://www.thestate.com/sports/college/university-of-south-carolina/usc-mens-basketball/article239577893.html|title=Call him Flick or basketball legend. Alex English's roots and heart are in Columbia|last=Ramspacher|first=Andrew|website=TheState.com|date=January 30, 2020|access-date=January 31, 2021}}</ref>

===Acting===
English has dabbled in acting.  His acting debut came in the 1987 motion picture ''[[Amazing Grace and Chuck]]'', playing a fictitious [[Boston Celtics]] star.<ref name="movierat">{{cite web |last1=Villela |first1=Bernardo |title=Athletes in Film Blogathon: Amazing Grace and Chuck (1987) |url=https://themovierat.com/2016/06/04/athletes-in-film-blogathon-amazing-grace-and-chuck-1987/ |website=The Movie Rat |access-date=11 May 2020 |language=en |date=4 June 2016}}</ref> He then had roles in the television series ''[[Midnight Caller]]'' in some 1989 episodes and played the head coach of the [[Cleveland Cavaliers]] in ''[[Eddie (film)|Eddie]]'' (1996). He also played a role as "The Premiere" in the 1997 film ''The Definite Maybe''.<ref name="imdb">{{cite web |title=Alex English |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0257580/ |website=IMDb |access-date=11 May 2020}}</ref> English also appeared in a 1993 film about the hazards of drug use produced by the U.S. Department of Justice; he was presented as a good example to follow as someone who consciously avoided drug use and criminality, in contrast to co-star [[Ralph Coleman (American football)|Ralph Coleman]], a former [[Dallas Cowboys]] linebacker who was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ojp.gov/ncjrs/virtual-library/abstracts/hard-choices-inside-looking-out|title=Hard Choices: Inside Looking Out|publisher=U.S. Department of Justice - Office of Justice Programs|accessdate=September 29, 2022}}</ref>

English later acted in a 2007 film called ''Lumera'' for which his son Alex Jr. was the producer and executive director.<ref name="movierat"/><ref>{{cite web |last1=Perrone |first1=Jackie |title=Locals honor "King" Donen {{!}} Columbia Star |url=http://www.thecolumbiastar.com/articles/locals-honor-king-donen/ |website=www.thecolumbiastar.com |date=May 25, 2007 |access-date=11 May 2020}}</ref> In 2013, he appeared on a half-hour TV special called ''The Nothing But Net Show'', which was also directed by his son.<ref name="imdb"/>

==Personal life==
As of 2020, English resides in Blythewood, South Carolina.<ref name="auto"/>

In 2018, following a short spout of online speculation caused by an initial comment on forum website [[Reddit]], English had to release a public statement declaring that he was not a British citizen. <ref name="Initial comment that sparked debate by user LeBronGOAT__">{{cite web |title=Who was Alex English? |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/nba/comments/7h3bql/who_was_alex_english/ |website=reddit.com |publisher=n/a |access-date=5 March 2025}}</ref><ref name="Interview in which English publically discredits any doubts">{{cite web |title=Alex English: Mister Poetry in Motion, 1989 |url=https://from-way-downtown.com/2024/06/24/alex-english-mister-poetry-in-motion-1989/ |website=From Way Downtown  Pro Basketball History Blog |access-date=5 March 2025}}</ref>

==NBA career statistics==
{{NBA player statistics legend|leader=y}}

===Regular season===

{{NBA player statistics start}}
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|1976}}
| style="text-align:left;"| [[1976–77 Milwaukee Bucks season|Milwaukee]]
| 60 || 6 || 10.8 || .477 || –  || .767 || 2.8 || .4 || .3 || .3 || 3.2
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|   {{nbay|1977}}
| style="text-align:left;"| [[1977–78 Milwaukee Bucks season|Milwaukee]]
| '''82''' || 4 || 18.9 || .542 || – || .727 || 4.8 || 1.6 || .5 || .7 || 9.6
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|1978}}
| style="text-align:left;"| [[1978–79 Indiana Pacers season|Indiana]]
| 81 || 69 || 33.3 || .511 || – || .752 || 8.1 || 3.3 || .9 || 1.0 || 16.0
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|1979}}
| style="text-align:left;"| [[1979–80 Indiana Pacers season|Indiana]]
| 54 || 15 || 28.3 || .504 || .000 || .814 || 7.0 || 2.6 || .8 || .6 || 14.9
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{Nbay|1979}}
| style="text-align:left;"| [[1979–80 Denver Nuggets season|Denver]]
| 24 || 24 || 36.5 || .485 || '''.667''' || .762 || '''9.4''' || 3.4 || 1.2 || 1.2 || 21.3
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|1980}}
| style="text-align:left;"| [[1980–81 Denver Nuggets season|Denver]]
| 81 || 81 || '''38.2''' || .494 || .600 || .850 || 8.0 || 3.6 || 1.3 || 1.2 || 23.8
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|1981}}
| style="text-align:left;"| [[1981–82 Denver Nuggets season|Denver]]
| '''82''' || '''82''' || 36.8 || '''.551''' || .000 || .840 || 6.8 || '''5.3''' || 1.1 || '''1.5''' || 25.4
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|1982}}
| style="text-align:left;"| [[1982–83 Denver Nuggets season|Denver]]
| '''82''' || '''82''' || 36.4 || .516 || .167 || .829 || 7.3 || 4.8 || '''1.4''' || '''1.5''' ||bgcolor="CFECEC"|28.4*
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|1983}}
| style="text-align:left;"| [[1983–84 Denver Nuggets season|Denver]]
| '''82''' || 77 || 35.0 || .529 || .143 || .824 || 5.7 || 5.0 || 1.0 || 1.2 ||26.4
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|1984}}
| style="text-align:left;"| [[1984–85 Denver Nuggets season|Denver]]
| 81 || 81 || 36.1 || .518 || .200 || .829 || 5.7 || 4.2 || 1.2 || .6 || 27.9
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|1985}}
| style="text-align:left;"| [[1985–86 Denver Nuggets season|Denver]]
| 81 || 81 || 37.3 || .504 || .200 || .862 || 5.0 || 4.0 || .9 || .4 || '''29.8'''
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|1986}}
| style="text-align:left;"| [[1986–87 Denver Nuggets season|Denver]]
| '''82''' || '''82''' || 37.6 || .503 || .267 || .844 || 4.2 || 5.1 || .9 || .3 || 28.6
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|1987}}
| style="text-align:left;"| [[1987–88 Denver Nuggets season|Denver]]
| 80 || 80 || 35.2 || .495 || .000 || .828 || 4.7 || 4.7 || .9 || .3 || 25.0
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|1988}}
| style="text-align:left;"| [[1988–89 Denver Nuggets season|Denver]]
| '''82''' || '''82''' || 36.5 || .491 || .250 || .858 || 4.0 || 4.7 || .8 || .1 || 26.5
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|1989}}
| style="text-align:left;"| [[1989–90 Denver Nuggets season|Denver]]
| 80 || 80 || 27.6 || .491 || .400 || '''.880''' || 3.6 || 2.8 || .6 || .3 || 17.9
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|1990}}
| style="text-align:left;"| [[1990–91 Dallas Mavericks season|Dallas]]
| 79 || 26 || 22.1 || .439 || .000 || .850 || 3.2 || 1.3 || .5 || .3 || 9.7
|- class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career
| 1,193 || 753 || 31.9 || .507 || .217{{ref label|1|a}} || .832 || 5.5 || 3.6 || .9 || .7 || 21.5
|- class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| All-Star
| 8 || 4 || 18.5 ||.500 || .000 || .500 || 2.3 || 1.9 || .8 || .5 || 9.1
{{S-end}}
*{{note label|1|a}} The NBA adopted the three-point line in the 1979–80 season.

===Playoffs===

{{NBA player statistics start}}
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[1978 NBA playoffs|1978]]
| style="text-align:left;"| [[1977–78 Milwaukee Bucks season|Milwaukee]]
| 9 || – || 23.1 || '''.615''' || – || .781 || 4.7 || 1.4 || .7 || .8 || 13.4
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[1982 NBA playoffs|1982]]
| style="text-align:left;"| [[1981–82 Denver Nuggets season|Denver]]
| 3 || – || 39.3 || .473 || .000 || .857 || 7.7 || 5.7 || 1.0 || '''1.0''' || 19.3
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[1983 NBA playoffs|1983]]
| style="text-align:left;"| [[1982–83 Denver Nuggets season|Denver]]
| 7 || – || 38.6 || .447 || .000 || .887 || 6.3 || '''6.0''' || .6 || '''1.0''' || 25.9
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[1984 NBA playoffs|1984]]
| style="text-align:left;"| [[1983–84 Denver Nuggets season|Denver]]
| 5 || – || '''40.6''' || .588 || .000 || '''.893''' || '''8.0''' || 5.6 || .6 || .4 || 29.0
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[1985 NBA playoffs|1985]]
| style="text-align:left;"| [[1984–85 Denver Nuggets season|Denver]]
| '''14''' || '''14''' || 38.3 || .536 || .000 || .890 || 6.6 || 4.5 || '''1.2''' || .4 || '''30.2'''
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[1986 NBA playoffs|1986]]
| style="text-align:left;"| [[1985–86 Denver Nuggets season|Denver]]
| 10 || 10 || 39.4 || .463 || .000 || .859 || 3.5 || 5.2 || .4 || .4 || 27.3
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[1987 NBA playoffs|1987]]
| style="text-align:left;"| [[1986–87 Denver Nuggets season|Denver]]
| 3 || 3 || 25.3 || .510 || .000 || .857 || 4.7 || 3.3 || .0 || .0 || 18.7
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[1988 NBA playoffs|1988]]
| style="text-align:left;"| [[1987–88 Denver Nuggets season|Denver]]
| 11 || 11 || 39.8 || .455 || .000 || .814 || 5.4 || 4.4 || .6 || .3 || 24.3
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[1989 NBA playoffs|1989]]
| style="text-align:left;"| [[1988–89 Denver Nuggets season|Denver]]
| 3 || 3 || 36.0 || .516 || .000 || .875 || 4.3 || 3.7 || .3 || .0 || 26.0
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[1990 NBA playoffs|1990]]
| style="text-align:left;"| [[1989–90 Denver Nuggets season|Denver]]
| 3 || 3 || 25.3 || .568 || .000 || .818 || 3.0 || 3.0 || .7 || .3 || 19.7
|- class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career
| 68 || 44{{ref label|3|b}} || 35.7 || .503 || .000{{ref label|2|a}} || .862 || 5.5 || 4.3 || .7 || .5 || 24.4
{{S-end}}

*{{note label|2|a}} The NBA adopted the three-point line in the 1979–80 season.
*{{note label|3|b}} Incomplete statistics.

==See also==
*[[List of National Basketball Association career games played leaders]]
*[[List of National Basketball Association career scoring leaders]]
*[[List of National Basketball Association franchise career scoring leaders]]
*[[List of National Basketball Association career turnovers leaders]]
*[[List of National Basketball Association annual scoring leaders]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://www.hoophall.com/hall-of-famers/alex-english Basketball Hall of Fame profile]
* [https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/e/englial01.html Alex English] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190320191257/https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/e/englial01.html |date=March 20, 2019 }} at [https://www.basketball-reference.com Basketball Reference] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110222214347/http://www.basketball-reference.com/ |date=February 22, 2011 }}
* {{IMDb name|0257580}}

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}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:English, Alex}}
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