Forward Ryan Gomes signed as a free agent with the Los Angeles Clippers in July 2010, where he was a teammate of Blake Griffin, Rookie of the Year. Under Coach Vinny Del Negro, Gomes (No. 15) started for 62 games, with highs of 18 or more points on four occasions, and a season high of 22 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists against his former team, the Timberwolves. On July 31. 2007, Gomes was acquired by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the largest trade for a single player in NBA history, when Gomes and four other players were traded by the Celtics to Minnesota for Kevin Garnett. During his first Timberwolves season, Gomes played under the coaching expertise of Kevin McHale. Gomes played in all 82 games (74 starts), averaging 12.6 points and 5.8 rebounds, while shooting 45.7% from the floor, with a career-high 83.0% from the free throw line, while logging 29.7 minutes per game. He wrapped up his second season with Minnesota as the only Wolves player to again appear in all 82 contests, extending his ironman streak to |79 games (dating back to March 2007 in Boston.) He led the Wolves in minutes played (a career-best 2,6l4), and his 106 made treys are the second-most ever by a Wolves forward. Gomes began his NBA career when he was drafted by the Boston Celtics with the 50” selection in the 2005 NBA Draft. During his rookie campaign, under the tutelage of Doc Rivers, he recorded 8 double-doubles, and grabbed 10+ rebounds nine times, leading the- team in rebounding in 13 games. He was honored for his outstanding freshman season when he was named a member of the NBA's All-Rookie Second Team, and was named to the Toshiba Vegas Summer League First Team during the 2006 off-season. In his second season with the Boston Celtics, Gomes averaged 12.1 points and 5.6 rebounds over 31.2 minutes per game, appearing in 73 games with 60 starts. He is a graduate of Providence College, where he majored in Social Science. As an All-American power forward , he was named First Team All-American for the 2003-2004 season, and competed in the NCAA Tournament; during the 2004-2005 season, he was named Second Team All-American. Gomes finished his college career as the Friar-‘s all-time leading scorer with 2,138 points, fifth in career rebounds (1,028) and sixth in double-doubles (40). A graduate of Wilby High School in Waterbury, CT, Gomes captained the basketball squad during his junior and senior seasons. He earned the Billy Finn Award as the top player in Waterbury, as well as the league's Most Valuable Player award. A strong supporter of the community, Gomes was named the recipient of the first annual Boston Celtics Shamrock Foundation Community All-Star Award. While a member of the Boston Celtics, he was an active participant in the Celtics' Read to Achieve program, worked on the WCVB-TV Extreme Makeover - Boston Edition, participated in the RE/MAX of New England Home Court, and volunteered at the Celtics’ Summer Basketball Camps. Gomes continues to support his hometown, hosting free basketball clinics in Waterbury, CT, and distributing winter coats and hot meals during the holiday season. Upon hearing of the death of a close friend and young athlete due to Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA), Gomes created his own non-profit foundation - Hoops for Heart Health. Its goal is to raise awareness about SCA among athletes, and the importance of placing Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) in public venues such as schools, recreation centers, gymnasiums and athletic facilities. Since Gomes began his professional career in 2005, Hoops for Heart Health has donated countless AEDs in every NBA city across the country. Gomes is the son of Teresa Gomes and John Brooks, and has one younger brother, Marcellus. He and and his wife, Danielle, have a daughter, Ryelle. |
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