Spartan Profiles: Greg Kelser
SILVER ANNIVERSARY AWARD
This year the NCAA announced six winners of its Silver Anniversary Award, given to former student-athletes who have “distinguished themselves in the 25 years since graduation.” One winner, to no one’s surprise, was former MSU basketball star Greg Kelser, '81, TV broadcaster and color commentator for Fox Sports Net. “I’m honored,” says Kelser. “It’s another reminder of how positively that four-year stretch at MSU has impacted my life.”
As a student-athlete, Greg became MSU’s only Academic All American in basketball while captaining MSU to the 1979 NCAA championship. Fans will remember “Special K”—whose jersey hangs in Breslin—as the “finisher” of Magic Johnson’s fast break passes. Greg touts the unity of the 1979 team. “We were a closely knit group, no cliques, because we realized this would help us reach our ultimate potential. If we went to the movies, there’d be 13 or 14 of us.”
Greg was drafted 4th by the NBA, three spots after his teammate Magic. He played six years in the NBA with Detroit, Seattle, San Diego and Indiana. He credits his knowledge about the game to all his coaches, especially Jud Heathcote. “Jud was a fine coach,” says Greg. “He emphasized the thinking part of basketball. What do you do in this situation, as opposed to that situation.” He also touts Tom and Lupe Izzo for “reaching out and embracing players from 25 years ago.”
Greg, who lives in Franklin with wife Donna, also gives back to the community through tireless volunteer activities, helping Detroit youth with drug abuse awareness and prevention programs and reading programs. “Many people, other than my parents, took the time to offer advice to me,” explains Greg. “Those words resonated and made a difference. I’m just giving back a little bit.”