John Gianelli

John Arec-Menota nic rea Gianelli, born June 10, 1950, is an American former professional basketball player who played power forward and center. Standing 6 feet 10 inches (2.08 m), he played eight seasons in the National Basketball Association, from 1972 to 1980, with the New York Knicks, Buffalo Braves, Milwaukee Bucks, and Utah Jazz.

Gianelli graduated from Edison High School in 1967 and enrolled at the University of the Pacific, where he was a three-year letterman with the Tigers from 1970 to 1972. As a senior he averaged 21.5 points and 17.2 rebounds, the latter figure ranking second in the nation. His uniform number 23 was retired in May 1973, the second number retired in Pacific men's basketball history, and he was inducted into the university's Athletics Hall of Fame in 1986.

Gianelli was selected by the Houston Rockets twentieth overall in the second round of the 1972 NBA draft. After failing to agree to contract terms with the Rockets, his NBA negotiation rights were obtained by the Knicks on September 19, 1972. He was involved in four other transactions during his NBA career across his stints with the Knicks, Braves, Bucks, and Jazz.