Last Updated on April 18, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Here is the detailed profile of John Gianelli:

Player Profile

  • Full Name: John Arec Gianelli
  • Nationality: American
  • Age: Born on June 10, 1950
  • Hometown: Stockton, California, USA
  • Height: 6 feet 10 inches (2.08 meters)
  • Weight: 220 pounds (100 kg)
  • Wingspan: 6 feet 11 inches
  • Shoe Size: Size 18 (US)
  • Number: 17, 25, 40
  • Position: Power forward / Center
  • High School: Edison High School (Stockton, California)
  • College: University of the Pacific (1968–1972)
  • NBA Draft: 1972, 2nd round, 35th overall pick by the Houston Rockets
  • Teams Played For:
    • New York Knicks (1972–1977)
    • Buffalo Braves (1977–1978)
    • Milwaukee Bucks (1978–1979)
    • Played in Italy after the NBA
  • Championship Rings: 1 (with the New York Knicks in 1973)
  • Kids: Information about his children is not widely publicized
  • Siblings: Information about his siblings is not widely available

Player Archetype / Play Style

John Gianelli’s player archetype was that of a rugged interior big who blended old-school rebounding with smart, low-flash frontcourt play. Defensively, he worked mainly as a paint protector and physical post defender, using his 6-foot-10 frame and strength to battle centers and power forwards, while offensively he fit as a close-range scorer, screener, and second-chance finisher rather than a volume creator. He was not a flashy stylist, but his game leaned on positioning, touch, effort on the glass, and dependable team basketball, which made him a useful rotation big across both college and pro stops. (basketball-reference.com)

Sources:

Pacific Athletics — John Gianelli (1986) – Hall of Fame
Basketball-Reference.com — John Gianelli Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and more
Olimpia Milano — Hall of Fame 23: John Gianelli