Bucks Sign Michael Ruffin

MILWAUKEE, Sept. 22 -- The Milwaukee Bucks have signed forward Michael Ruffin (6-8, 248) to a free agent contract, General Manager Larry Harris announced today. Terms of the contracts were not disclosed.

“Michael has made a career out of being a high-character, high-energy player who does the little things to help his team,” said Harris. “He is a very good rebounder and excels on the defensive end of the court.”
A seven-year NBA veteran, Ruffin played the last three seasons with the Washington Wizards averaging 1.3 points and 3.6 rebounds in 185 games. He played in 19 post-season games with the Wizards during the last three seasons, averaging 1.4 points and 3.3 rebounds per game. In the 2004-05 season he ranked 5th in the NBA in offensive rebounds per 48 minutes (5.0), and in 2005-06 he ranked 3rd in the NBA (5.8) in the same category.

Ruffin, 30, was originally a second round draft choice (32nd overall) of Chicago in 1999 and played two seasons with the Bulls. He averaged a career-high 2.6 points and 5.8 rebounds in 45 games during the 2000-01 season. Ruffin played 15 games for the Philadelphia 76ers in 2001 before signing with Caprabo Lleida of the Spanish League. In 54 games over two seasons in the Spanish League, Ruffin recorded averages of 6.2 points and 7.7 rebounds.

The Utah Jazz signed Ruffin as a free agent prior to the 2003-04 season. In 41 games for the Jazz, Ruffin averaged 2.2 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.0 assist per contest.

In 327 career regular season NBA games, Ruffin owns averages of 1.8 points and 4.2 rebounds per game.
A native of Denver, CO, Ruffin earned his degree in chemical engineering from the University of Tulsa. Ruffin is the only player in Tulsa history to surpass 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds in his collegiate career, and set a school record by playing 128 games in his four years. In his senior year, Ruffin was named to the Academic All-America First Team.

Ruffin and his wife, Mistye, have four children.

sourec : NBA.com