Steve Novak

Steve Novak

Novak with the Knicks in March 2012.
No. 20, 21, 23, 16, 6
Position:	Power Forward / Small Forward
League:	NBA/NBA G League
Personal information
Full name:	Steven Michael Novak
Born:	June 13, 1983 (1983-06-13) Libertyville, Illinois
Nationality:	American
Physical stats
Listed height:	6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
Listed weight:	225 lbs (102 kg)
National Basketball Association career
Debut: 2006 for the Houston Rockets
Final game: 2017 for the Milwaukee Bucks
Career information
High school:	Brown Deer (Brown Deer, Wisconsin)
College:	Marquette (2002–2006)
NBA Draft:	2006 / Round: 2 / Pick: 32nd
Selected by the Houston Rockets
Playing career:	2006–2017 (11 years)
Career history
2006–2008	Houston Rockets
2007	→Rio Grande Valley Vipers
2008–2010	Los Angeles Clippers
2010–2011	Dallas Mavericks
2011	Reno Bighorns
2011	San Antonio Spurs
2011–2013	New York Knicks
2013–2014	Toronto Raptors
2014–2015	Utah Jazz
2015–2016	Oklahoma City Thunder
2016–2017	Milwaukee Bucks
Career highlights and awards
First–team All–Big East (2006) C–USA Sixth Man of the Year (2003) C–USA All–Freshman Team (2003) First–team Parade All–American (2002)
Career statistics
Points:	2,177 (4.7 PPG)
Rebounds:	591 (1.3 RPG)
Assists:	132 (0.3 APG)
Stats at NBA.com Stats at Basketball–Reference.com

Steven Michael Novak (born June 13, 1983) is an American former professional basketball player who is currently a television analyst for the Milwaukee Bucks of the National Basketball Association (NBA) on Fox Sports Wisconsin. He is listed as 6'10", 225 lbs. He played college basketball at Marquette University. Novak split time at both Power Forward and Small Forward. He was the NBA regular season leader in three–point percentage during the 2011–12 season.

High school career

Born in Libertyville, Illinois, Novak attended Brown Deer High School in Brown Deer, Wisconsin. As a junior, he averaged 22.2 points, 12.0 rebounds, and 3.4 blocked shots per game. During his senior season as a 6'9" 205 lbs Forward, Novak averaged 20.6 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game. Throughout his high school basketball career, he earned four letters. In 2002, Novak was named the Wisconsin High School Boys' Basketball Player of the Year.

Considered a four–star recruit by Scout.com, Novak was listed as the No. 17 Small Forward and the No. 62 player in the nation in 2002.

College career

Novak began his college basketball career at Marquette University in 2002–03. He saw action in all 33 games and averaged 6.7 points per game. He wore jersey number 20. He also shot 50.5% from the three–point line. As a freshman, Novak played in the Final Four, alongside future NBA players Dwyane Wade and Travis Diener.

Novak started 29 of the 32 games in the 2003–04 season. He averaged 12.5 points per game along with 4.6 rebounds per game. Novak also shot 91.2% from the free throw line.

During the 2004–05 season, Novak started 29 of the 31 games. He improved his average to 13.5 points per game and also was third on the team with 4.1 rebounds per game.

The 2005–06 season saw an overall improvement in Novak's game. He led the team in points per game by averaging 17.5. In addition to this, he averaged 5.9 rebounds per game and shot 97.4% from the foul line. Novak's top performances included a 41–point, 16–rebound effort in Marquette's 94–79 upset of then #2 UConn in Marquette's inaugural Big East contest, and a game-winning 18-foot jumper with 1.1 seconds left to cap a 28–point effort in a 67–65 victory over Notre Dame.

In March 2006, Novak competed and won the ESPN college three-point shooting contest at Hinkle Field House in Indianapolis, Indiana.

He graduated with a BA in Communication studies from Marquette University.

Professional career

Houston Rockets (2006–2008)

Novak with the Rockets.

On June 28, 2006, Novak was selected with the 32nd overall pick of the 2006 NBA Draft by the Houston Rockets. He ended his rookie season (2006–07) with averages of 1.5 points and 0.7 rebounds in 5.5 minutes per game. He was not active on the Houston Rockets' playoff roster.

During the 2007–08 season, Novak was assigned to the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, an NBA Development League team. On December 16, 2007, the Rockets recalled him from the Development League, where he had spent a month.

On February 13, 2008, Novak scored a game winning 3-pointer vs. the Sacramento Kings to win the game 89–87 with 2.5 seconds left, keeping the Rockets' historic 22–game winning streak alive. It was his only basket of the game.

Los Angeles Clippers (2008–2010)

Novak with the Clippers.

On August 6, 2008, the Rockets traded Novak to the Los Angeles Clippers for the option to exchange second round draft picks in the 2011 NBA Draft. On March 15, 2009, Novak hit a 3–pointer at the buzzer to beat the New Jersey Nets, 107–105.

Dallas Mavericks (2010–2011)

Novak with the Mavericks in 2010.

On September 22, 2010, Novak signed a free agent deal with the Dallas Mavericks. On January 5, 2011, he was released by the team.

San Antonio Spurs (2011)

Novak (No. 23) with the Spurs defending Andray Blatche of the Wizards in 2011.

On February 4, 2011, Novak was acquired by the Reno Bighorns of the NBA Development League, but only three days later he was called up by the San Antonio Spurs on a 10–day contract. On February 22, he was signed to a second 10–day contract and on March 4, 2011, the Spurs signed Novak for the rest of the season. Novak was released by the Spurs on December 19.

New York Knicks (2011–2013)

Novak signed with the New York Knicks for the veteran's minimum of $1.4 million on December 21, 2011. At the end of the 2011–12 season, Novak led the league in 3-point percentage at 47.2% and tied Kevin Durant for third in total 3–point shots made (133). He became an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. On July 9, 2012, Novak agreed to re-sign with New York for a four–year deal worth $15 million. While playing with New York, Steve Novak accrued a large fanbase. Walt Frazier nicknamed him "Novakaine" after the drug Novocain. Novak competed in the 2012-13 Foot Locker Three-Point Contest during All–Star Weekend. His turnover percentage of 2.63 turnovers committed per 100 plays during the 2012–13 season is the lowest single-season turnover percentage in league history. The NBA did not start recording individual turnovers until the 1977–78 season.

Toronto Raptors (2013–2014)

Novak with the Raptors in 2013.

On July 10, 2013, Novak, Marcus Camby, Quentin Richardson, a future first round draft pick, and two future second round draft picks were traded from the Knicks to the Toronto Raptors in exchange for Andrea Bargnani.

Utah Jazz (2014–2015)

Novak with the Jazz.

On July 10, 2014, Novak was traded, along with a 2017 second round pick, to the Utah Jazz in exchange for Diante Garrett.

Oklahoma City Thunder (2015–2016)

Novak with the Thunder.

On February 19, 2015, Novak was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder in a three–team deal that also involved the Detroit Pistons.

On February 18, 2016, Novak was traded, along with D.J. Augustin, two second–round picks and cash considerations, to the Denver Nuggets in exchange for Randy Foye. He was waived by the Nuggets the next day.

Milwaukee Bucks (2016–2017)

Novak with the Bucks.

On February 22, 2016, Novak signed with the Milwaukee Bucks. He appeared in three games for the Bucks before a left knee injury suffered on February 27 against the Detroit Pistons ruled him out for the rest of the season.

On August 29, 2016, Novak re–signed with the Bucks. On February 2, 2017, he was waived by the Bucks.

Post–retirement

Following the end of Novak's playing career, he attended NBPA Sportscaster U. to gauge his skill and interest in broadcasting. Shortly after completing courses at Sportscaster U., Bucks' President Peter Feigin offered Novak a role on the Bucks' broadcast team. On September 20, 2017, it was announced that Novak would be joining Fox Sports Wisconsin as a pre– and post–game analyst for Milwaukee Bucks broadcasts. On occasion, Novak also commentates Wisconsin Herd games, the Bucks' NBA G League team.

Career statistics

Legend
GP	Games played	GS	Games started	MPG	Minutes per game
FG%	Field goal percentage	3P%	3-point field-goal percentage	FT%	Free-throw percentage
RPG	Rebounds per game	APG	Assists per game	SPG	Steals per game
BPG	Blocks per game	PPG	Points per game	Bold	Career high

NBA

*	Led the league

Regular season

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
2006–07	Houston	35	1	5.5	.360	.333	1.000	.7	.2	.1	.0	1.5
2007–08	Houston	35	0	7.5	.480	.479	.750	1.0	.2	.1	.1	3.9
2008–09	L.A. Clippers	71	3	16.4	.444	.416	.913	1.8	.6	.3	.1	6.9
2009–10	L.A. Clippers	54	0	6.7	.389	.310	.778	.6	.1	.1	.0	2.1
2010–11	Dallas	7	0	2.6	.500	.750	–	.7	.0	.0	.0	1.6
2010–11	San Antonio	23	0	8.6	.525	.548	1.000	1.0	.1	.0	.2	4.0
2011–12	New York	54	0	18.9	.478	.472*	.846	1.9	.2	.3	.2	8.8
2012–13	New York	81	1	20.3	.414	.425	.909	1.9	.4	.3	.1	6.6
2013–14	Toronto	54	1	10.0	.411	.426	1.000	1.1	.2	.2	.1	3.3
2014–15	Utah	22	0	5.0	.457	.485	.000	.7	.3	.0	.0	2.2
2014–15	Oklahoma City	13	0	6.8	.286	.200	–	.5	.4	.0	.1	1.2
2015–16	Oklahoma City	7	0	3.4	.500	.556	–	.6	.0	.0	.0	2.4
2015–16	Milwaukee	3	0	6.7	.333	.333	1.000	.3	.0	.0	.0	2.3
2016–17	Milwaukee	8	0	2.8	.286	.167	–	.4	.0	.0	.0	.6
Career		467	6	12.1	.437	.430	.877	1.3	.3	.2	.1	4.7

Playoffs

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
2008	Houston	3	0	7.0	.750	.667	–	.7	.0	.0	.3	2.7
2011	San Antonio	1	0	6.0	–	–	–	1.0	.0	.0	.0	.0
2012	New York	5	1	19.0	.444	.571	–	3.0	.0	.0	.2	2.4
2013	New York	9	0	5.6	.538	.444	–	.4	.0	.1	.0	2.0
2014	Toronto	4	0	3.8	.000	.000	–	1.3	.3	.0	.0	.0
Career		22	1	8.5	.483	.455	–	1.2	.0	.0	.1	1.7

D-League

Regular season

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
2007–08	Rio Grande	9	7	39.3	.468	.450	.909	7.3	1.8	.3	.4	18.3
2010–11	Reno	2	0	29.0	.684	.643	.400	6.5	1.0	.0	.0	18.5
Career		11	7	37.5	.497	.486	.815	7.2	1.6	.3	.4	18.4

College

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
2002–03	Marquette	33	0	15.5	.504	.505	.939	2.2	.5	.2	.0	6.7
2003–04	Marquette	31	29	29.5	.407	.430	.912	4.6	1.3	.7	.1	12.5
2004–05	Marquette	31	29	29.9	.457	.461	.905	4.1	.9	.5	.1	13.5
2005–06	Marquette	31	31	33.8	.477	.467	.974	5.9	1.3	.6	.1	17.5
Career		126	89	27.0	.456	.461	.931	4.2	1.0	.5	.1	12.4

New York Knicks 2011–12 season roster
1 Amar'e Stoudemire
3 Tyson Chandler
6 Landry Fields
7 Carmelo Anthony
8 J.R. Smith
9 Jared Jeffries
16 Steve Novak
20 Mike Bibby
21 Iman Shumpert
44 Jerome Jordan
50 Dan Gadzuric
55 Josh Harrellson
67 Toney Douglas
85 Baron Davis
Head coach: Mike Woodson
Regular season
Playoffs
Finals

New York Knicks 2012–13 season roster
1 Amar'e Stoudemire
2 Raymond Felton
3 Kenyon Martin
4 James White
5 Jason Kidd
6 Tyson Chandler
7 Carmelo Anthony
8 J.R. Smith
9 Pablo Prigioni
14 Chris Copeland
16 Steve Novak
21 Iman Shumpert
45 Marcus Camby
55 Quentin Richardson
Head coach: Mike Woodson
Regular season
Playoffs
Finals