International Stats at Basketball-Reference.com, College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com, Scores from any date in BAA/NBA or ABA history, Frequently Asked Questions about the NBA, WNBA and Basketball, Basketball-Reference.com Blog and Articles, Subscribe to Stathead Basketball: Get your first month FREE. The Jazz had another chance in 1998 and they didnt waste time showing that they were a better team after their previous experience. Laettner would go on to have a very successful career, but this game would always stand out as his best individual performance. "I remember my second year coaching at Northwestern, the same night he won his 1,000th game, we had a 13-point lead with four minutes to go vs. Maryland and lost on a tip-in buzzer-beater. So why isnt he in the Hall of Fame? He's a perfectionist. The Pacers had Jackson, an excellent playmaker, there was the tough pair of Dale Davis and Antonio Davis, and then there was 7-foot-4 Smits who had become one of the premier centers of the late 90s. Christian Laettner/Image: usatodayhss.com . He was named to the All-Rookie team after averaging 18.2 points and 8.7 rebounds in his debut campaign. Laettner's clutch play against Alonzo Mourning, the Hoya's far-more-heralded freshman, pushed him from the category of 'good play' to the category of 'major star. He is the only player in NCAA Division I history to have won both the Naismith College Player of the Year Award and the John R. Wooden Award in the same season (1992). Laettner finished with 31 points and 7 rebounds, shooting a perfect 10-for-10 from both the field and charity stripe.. CBS' Verne Lundquist delivered the all-time call. Laettner played fourteen NBA seasons for six NBA teams and is best known for his game-winning shot against Kentucky in the 1992 NBA tournament. Laettner's final two seasons in the NBA were spent with the Pistons and the Washington Wizards, before he retired in 2005. He and college teammate Brian Davis started Blue Devil Ventures (BDV), which attempted to revitalize downtown Durham. As a freshman, he helped lead the Blue Devils to the NCAA championship game, where they lost to Danny Manning and Kansas. Laettner, by the way, was no NBA scrub. He is best known for his time with the Detroit Pistons, where he won two NBA championships. Christian Laettner is a retired professional basketball player who was a star player in the NBA for many years. LaVale Laettner played four years at Duke. Later that year in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, the Hawks tied the series against the Bulls at 1-1, showing them that they had the firepower to keep up with the NBAs best team. I was at Five Star. He also chipped in with eight rebounds, four assists, and two blocks in the game. Laettner was named to the New York State High School Class C All-Tournament team after setting a tournament record with 40 rebounds in two games. Christian Laettner made $6,625,000 in 2001. In his NBA career, Laettner averaged 8.5 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game. He played 23 out of 24 possible NCAA games during his 4-year tenure, winning 21 of them. NBA Rumors: Ben Simmons wants Philadelphia 76ers to pay for Doc Rivers' comments on the Australian. It was just such a sudden thing. In his NBA career, Laettner averaged eight blocks per game. He bagged the Finals MVP after averaging the highest points in a championship series in NBA history at 41.0 points per game. The lucky passenger on the most dominant basketball team ever was Christian Laettner, and Shaq acknowledges it was the right choice to make, despite the fact he had just been selected no.1 in the Draft. After college, Laettner was drafted 3rd overall in the 1992 NBA Draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves. Whatever the reason, Christian Laettners time in the NBA was relatively unsuccessful compared to his collegiate career. Starks was clueless on how to stop the rampaging Bull and he remained unshackled until the series was over. He is also the only player in NCAA history to have started in four consecutive Final Fours. Christian Laettner was drafted by Minnesota Timberwolves, 1st round (3rd pick, 3rd overall), 1992 NBA Draft. It has been almost 30 years since Duke standout Christian Laettner was picked over to Isiah Thomas to represent America in the Olympics with the 1992 Dream Team. He was traded again in 1999, this time to the Detroit Pistons. He is also part of the FIBA Hall of Fame and the US Olympic Hall of Fame and was inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame for his achievements in college. Copyright 2023 Sporting News Holdings Limited. While he did last 13 years in the league and did make an All-Star team, he only averaged 12.8 points per game in his career and never averaged more than 8.8 rebounds per game. Brad, Read More Brad Davis, NBA Player and Stamford NativeContinue, ContentsIntroductionWhat time is the game?What channel is the game on?Who is playing?Conclusion If youre a fan of the NBA, youre probably wondering if theres an NBA playoff game tonight. He was traded six times in his career and never spent more than three seasons with one franchise. . "He's going to be great," Garfinkel said. 2 pick in the 2002 draft by the Chicago Bulls, had a short NBA career. The 1989 and 1991 Knicks were ill-equipped to challenge the Bulls and both teams would flame out in six and three games, respectively. Very few NBA players were as worthy of an NBA title as Ewing. Further, his team came third in the 1990 Argentina World Championship, where his team won the gold medal from the FIBA Americas Championships at 1992 Portland. Duke was led by no other than Coach K. This game famously ended with UNLV giving Duke the largest loss in NCAA Tournament history, 103-73. The clock showed two-tenths of a second. the official stats partner of the NBA, NHL and MLB. They first met in the postseason in the 1990 Eastern Conference Semifinals. Jordan scored at least 41 points in four straight games, topping it off with a 55-point performance in Game 4. Except, even at his worst, Michael Jordan would find a way to win. Christian Laettner was one of the most beloved and celebrated basketball players of his era. Oakley provided the muscle underneath and fortified the Knicks interior defense. Meeting in the Eastern Conference Finals, Jordan gave the Heat everything they could handle, scoring 30.2 points, grabbing 8.0 rebounds, and stealing the ball 1.8 times each night. I was recently thinking that since college achievements are considered when selecting people for the Basketball Hall of Fame it would make sense that a guy who arguably had the greatest college basketball career ever in the modern era gets in. ContentsThe Highest Paid NBA coachesThe NBAs highest-paid coachesThe top 10 highest-paid NBA coachesWho are the highest paid NBA coaches?The 5 highest paid NBA coachesThe 10 highest paid NBA coachesWho are the NBAs highest-paid coaches?The NBAs top 10 highest-paid coachesThe highest paid coaches in the NBAThe top 5 highest paid NBA coaches Who are the highest, Read More The Highest Paid NBA CoachesContinue, ContentsThe Top Games to Watch on NBAs Opening NightThe Top Games to Watch on Christmas DayThe Top Games to Watch During the NBAs Regular SeasonThe Top Games to Watch During the NBAs PlayoffsThe Top Games to Watch During the NBAs FinalsThe Top Games to Watch When Your favorite team is PlayingThe Top Games to Watch, Read More NBA May 17: The Top Games to WatchContinue, ContentsIntroductionWhat is Panhandle Basketball?The History of Panhandle BasketballThe Panhandle Basketball ProgramThe Panhandle Basketball TeamThe Panhandle Basketball LeagueThe Panhandle Basketball TournamentThe Panhandle Basketball CourtThe Panhandle Basketball FansThe Future of Panhandle Basketball If you Love Basketball then the Panhandle is the place to be! He was selected third overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves in 1992; he remains one of only two college players (Manning being the other) to be drafted in the first round without having played in either the McDonalds All-American Game or the Nike Camps (the latter did not exist until 1987). Yep, that would be Jalen Rose and the Michigan Wolverines. Everything was set for an upset. He was also a very good rebounder, and was often able to tip in missed shots or grab offensive rebounds and put them back in for easy baskets. Although he was close to filing for bankruptcy in 2016, he seemed at peace with how his basketball career had went in the 2015 documentary of his life, perfectly titled I Hate Christian Laettner. Laettner started off his career pretty well for the Minnesota Timberwolves, as he averages a promising 18.2 points per game and 8.7 rebounds per game and was a member of the 1992-93 All-Rookie team. But otherwise, he has largely avoided the limelight and has not been active in promoting his own Hall of Fame candidacy. Duke had an out-of-bounds play with little time left on the shot clock when Laettner took a pass near the elbow. Then again, theres only one trophy and Jordan was not about to let it slip away from his grasp. Sadly, Barkley would never play in the NBA Finals again and continued to be ringless until he retired. Unfortunately, the answer is no. ", Laettner after Duke beat UConn in the 1990 NCAA tournament: "This game was by far the most fun I've had in my whole life. As of February 2023, Christian Laettner has an estimated net worth of $12 million. MORE: Complete roster, history behind"Dream Team". Majerle made a living at the three-point line and was a tough, hard-nosed defender capable of shutting down opponents. The undersized Sixers forward was only 6-foot-6 but was built powerfully and had the speed and quickness of a guard. Laettner was born and raised in Buffalo, New York. He owns the most number of assists with 15,806 and steals with 3,265. Laettner was named to the 1992 Dream Team as the only collegiate player on the squad and went on to play 13 seasons in the NBA with one All-Star appearance. It was in this first round series that Jordan made The Shot at the buzzer to advance to the next round. Of the rest of the players, Chris Mullin has been nominated several times, and remains a strong candidate. He was a member of the 1992 United States men's Olympic basketball team ("The Dream Team"), which won the gold medal at the 1992 Summer Olympics. The game in which he really burst onto the national scene was in the Elite Eight his freshman year. The Cleveland Cavaliers had a championship window between 1988 and 1993. Here are our 10 reasons to love Christian Laettner, because he was absolutely better for the game of basketball than we remember, and there's ( almost ) no reason to hate him at all. The Bulls were tested and hardened by the Pacers in the previous series that went to a Game 7 (see number 6 of this list). Jay Williams, the former Duke sensation, won a national championship with the Blue Devils in 2001 and was a two-time player of the year. His career average of 6.7 rebounds per game is solid, but not spectacular. Down 103-102 in overtime against Kentucky with a . Related Read: Was betty white a christian? John Laettner was the Most Valuable Player of the NCAA mens basketball tournament in 1991 and 1992, leading Duke to back-to-back championships. Schrempf was no pushover as well as he scored 16.3 points per game while shooting 38.9 percent from the three-point line. Once again Laettner came up big in the title game, scoring 23 points and grabbing 12 rebounds as Duke won their second straight national championship. Christian Laettner attended Nichols School in Buffalo, New York and Duke. While the Fab Five seemingly won the war of words, Laettner's Blue Devils won on the court, beating U-M twice in the 1991-92 season, including in the NCAA national championship. They defeated Michigan's Fab 5 in the championship game to win the national title, becoming the first repeat champions since UCLA in 1972-73. Laettner scored a then-career-high 24 points on 9-of-10 shooting, while leading Duke in rebounding with nine boards, plus dishing out four assists, in an NCAA tournament win against No. ", Laettner on missing potential game-tying free throws against Arizona in a loss: "The whole Arizona game was the turning point for me. Its almost unfathomable to think that a man who was seen as arguably the best college basketball player in the country disappoint in the NBA. After compiling the franchise greatest record 14-2 in the normal time of year, the Steelers defeat Denver colorado 33-10 together with Harrisburg 34-5 in approach miami heat vs atlanta hawks live stream reddit to Very how many points did christian laettner score for the 92 men's olympic basketball team Pan XIII. - CGAA. He played 23 out of 24 possible NCAA games during his 4-year tenure, winning 21 of them. In each of these games, Laettner had at least 3 blocks and 9 rebounds. Christian Laettner won three NCAA championships with the Duke Blue Devils, an NBA championship with the Milwaukee Bucks, and an Olympic gold medal with the United States in 1992. In Game 5, Michael Jordan received a pass from Luc Longley from the baseline and dunked the ball over the outstretched arms of Mutombo. After hearing the quotes that analysts like Jay Bilas said to Benjamin Hoffman of the New York Times about Laettner, you would think that hed be destined for greatness in the NBA. Three of the four coaches are also enshrined. One of the all-time great centers, Ewing eventually found success in the playoffs with bruising power forward Oakley, (a former Bull), and fiery shooting guard Starks. He played for the Duke University basketball team, and with his performance, he led the team to win two national titles. Villanova won the tournament in 1985. Get this Asheville Citizen-Times page for free from Monday, April 1, 1991 ; Baseball5D Sports Fax251-0585 Monday, April 1, 1991 Dnke. Furthermore, his career was largely defined by his collegiate success rather than his professional accomplishments. Does Christian Laettner have an HOF argument? Christian Laettner is a retired American professional basketball player. Laettner scored at least 18 points in all six of Duke's NCAA tournament games in 1991, including 28 against UNLV in the Final Four. Laettner was infamously chosen for the 1992 Olympics . Led by one of the best defenders in NBA history in Mutombo, they had a scoring point guard in Blaylock who was an All-Defensive Team member as well. For two straight years, 1997 and 1998, the Bulls had their hands full containing the Stockton-to-Malone pick-and-roll in the NBA Finals. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). The Christian Laettner NBA career then bounced around the league as he spent time . The Duke Blue Devils definitely fall into the villain camp in college basketball and the Darth Vader in Duke's history, at least according to opposing fans, is Christian Laettner. First, at 611, Laettner was considered undersized for a traditional center, which limited his role on most teams. With a little more than 2 seconds left and Duke down by one, Christian Laettner nailed a last-second shot in overtime to beat Kentucky 104-103 and send the Blue Devils to the Final Four for the . "The team has had one reunion, at the Olympic Hall of Fame last year, but only seven or eight of us made it," he said. However, it is worth noting that he is not a part of the Hall of Fame for his individual achievements as an NBA player, unlike other players of the aforementioned Olympics team. What do his teammates and coaches think of him? Laettner delivered one of the most famous performances in collegiate basketball history, the 1992 regional final against Kentucky. As a sophomore, Laettner had 24 points on 8-of-12 shooting and 8-of-8 free throw shooting, plus 14 rebounds against UCLA in the Sweet 16. Laettner's best years statistically were his first two years in the NBA. In his career, Laettner had 14 assists in a game four times. Get viral NBA graphics, memes, rumors and trending news delivered right to your inbox with the Clutch Newsletter. The Blue Devils lost in the Final Four and in the national championship game in Laettner's freshman and sophomore years, respectively. Dikembe Mutombo, Mookie Blaylock, Steve Smith, and Christian Laettner. What Year Did Christian Laettner Win The Mvp - Christian Laettner Jerseys Blog What Year Did Christian Laettner Win The Mvp The particular 69 forwards from the University or college regarding Mn was your primary circular decide on (14th overall) of this Ut Jazz music within the 2005 NBA Set up That season, Laettner played in all 82 games and averaged double figures in points and rebounds, something he would do only one other time in his career. But their championship windows, unfortunately, coincided with Jordans stranglehold on the Larry OBrien trophy. inAngola,New York One of the players was Christian Laettner drafted in 1992, and Kevin Garnett who was drafted in. The Olympic Channel original series features Olympic legends who have just one week to turn around a struggling youth team. Everyone expected the 1992 Eastern Conference Semifinals to be mere formalities for the 67-15 Bulls to advance to the next round. Arguments against induction: His epic . He had one of the greatest college careers in the history of the game.. pic.twitter.com/Pwtvqx29oJ. Then there's the Kentucky game, when Laettner's iconic jumper lifted the Blue Devils past the Wildcats 104-103 in overtime and into the Final Four. Kemp was so good in that series that even Dennis Rodman, the leagues best rebounder, and a premiere defender, couldnt stop him. The easiest was by 68. Laettners number 32 jersey was retired by the Duke Blue Devils in 1992. Meanwhile, Alonzo Mourning (who won a championship with the Heat in 2006) was the man in the middle, the All-Star center who patrolled the paint and was the cornerstone of the franchise. The late Chuck Daly was head coach; Mike Krzyzewski and Lenny Wilkens are also in, leaving only assistant P.J. He played 13 seasons in the NBA for 6 different teams. Their leader, Charles Barkley, was named MVP and many had predicted that the Bulls had finally met their match in the NBA Finals. Chicago took the next three games to take a commanding 3-1 series lead heading into Game 5. Laettner had a solid if not spectacular 13-year NBA career that gets underrated. It is safe to say that his high expectations were not met and that he may have fallen short because of how highly people thought of him at the start of his career. Malone is widely considered to be the second greatest power forward of all-time, next only to Tim Duncan. He played for six teams during his NBA career: the Minnesota Timberwolves, Atlanta Hawks, Detroit Pistons, Dallas Mavericks, Washington Wizards and Miami Heat. Christian Laettner is enshrined in the Naismith Hall of Fame as a member of the fabled 'Dream Team' which also includes the likes of Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and Larry Bird. He is also known for his clutch performances in college, most notably the jumper he scored against Kentucky in the regional final. He's too good of a player. On Aug. 13, the 1992 gold medal Dream Team will be enshrined into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield. The ball went in the hoop. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Despite his accomplishments, Laettner is often considered one of the most polarizing figures in college basketball history. Lets be clear about something here; Laettner wasnt necessarily a bust in the NBA, as he was a solid rotation player who was able to carve out a space for himself in the league for more than a decade. Laettner, Hill, Bobby Hurley, Thomas Hill, Antonio Lang, Cherokee Parks, Brian Davis, and Erik Meek were drafted into the NBA, with Laettner, Hill, Hurley, and Parks ending up as lottery picks. Nance and Daugherty would play one more season before retiring without a ring. Ultimately, Christian Laettners legacy will be defined by his successes and failures both on and off the court. Weve got all the latest news and information on the sport, as well, Read More Panhandle Basketball: The Place to Be for Hoops FansContinue, Contents Brad Davis, NBA Player Stamford Native NBA Career Early Life high school Career College Career Professional Career Personal Life RetirementLegacy Brad Davis, NBA player and Stamford native, is one of the best players in the league. ", Former Duke guard Phil Henderson: "He doesn't play like a freshman, but he still has that giddiness about him. However, Laettners time in the NBA was relatively short-lived. Laettner's time with the Hawks was marked by frequent injuries, and he never quite regained his previous level of play. PHILADELPHIA (AP) Christian Laettner has made the shots of two lifetimes. Christian Laettner won two national championships in college as he led Duke to back-to-back national championships in 1991 and 1992. Christian Laettner made at least $61,485,000 playing professional basketball. But they have vanished since the 1980s, when Bill Bradley was one of the last. He owns the second-most career points in NBA history with 36,928. Christian Laettner is not in the Hall of Fame. He led the Heat to the playoffs as a no-nonsense floor leader and gave the team its earliest taste of postseason success. These are solid but unspectacular numbers, especially for a player who was never named an All-Star or selected to an All-NBA team. Here are the top matchups and tournaments to watch in the non-conference portion of the NCAA softball season. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. I would've felt special if I had made the free throw, but I'm not sure it could've been any more special. Christian Laettner's "The Shot". Laettner told the "Rich Eisen Show" last year. However, Christian Laettner's NBA career was a bit underwhelming in comparison. Does he take the lead, or does he get everyone else involved first in the first few minutes of Game 7? But Malone and Stockton werent done yet. Jay Williams. Why is he considered one of the best college basketball players of all time? They lost in the first round in 1996 due to inexperience and the lack of talented players on their roster, especially as the no. Since he retired from the NBA in 2005, Laettner has largely stayed out of the public eye. The All-American ended one of the greatest college basketball games ever with a turnaround jumper at the overtime. Here are some of the awards Christian Laettner won in college: Here are some of the records Christian Laettner set in college and where he ranks in all-time statistical lists: Bill Travers of the New York Daily News (March 1986): "Our Saviour Lutheran's season ended roughly and abruptly Tuesday night. But once he had overcome those teams, Jordan never let anyone else take the title from him except for the time he had just returned from baseball prior to the Bulls second three-peat. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. -Laettner had a successful 13-year NBA career, averaging over 14 points per game during his time in the league. Why Christian Laettner made the 'Dream Team' over Shaquille O'Neal and Alonzo Mourning, Complete roster, history behind"Dream Team". All three put up great numbers in 1991-92 when the Dream Team was being put together, but it was Laettner who was named the consensus National College Player of the Year and led his team to a national championship. Related Read: Are the duffer brothers christian? But it wasnt until the 1992-1993 season that Barkley had his best opportunity to win the championship when he was traded to the Suns. The combined 370 points scored in the Pistons 186-184 triple-overtime win over the Denver Nuggets on Dec. 13, 1983, has to be pretty high on the list. Christian Laettner was drafted 3rd overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 1992 NBA draft. Christian Laettner hit the most famous shot in the history of college basketball. A 6-11 (211 cm) power forward / center, Laettner played at Duke University, where he led them to the Final Four all four years of his college career. The next year he averaged 27.8 points and 17.5 rebounds per game. Laettner led Duke University to two NCAA titles, one runner-up finish and one final four appearances. After retiring from the NBA in 2005, it hasnt gotten much better for Laettner. Youre talking Walton, Alcindor, Elvin Hayes. Laettner didn't play much as the "Dream Team" rolled to a gold medal finish, averaging 4.8 points per game in his eight appearances. It took him seven years to get there as the Chicago Bulls had to face many obstacles along the way that blocked his path to achieving the ultimate prize. He shot 49.1% from the field and 73.6% from the free throw line. In the NBA, Laettner's highest rebounding game was on March 3, 1993, when he had 24 rebounds against the Indiana Pacers. Related Read: How old is christian nodal? In Game 7, His Airness was grounded by great defense from the Pacers who gave him different looks. He was a prep All-American and Howard Garfinkel of Five-Star Camp said Laettner was the third-best center in the his high school class. In fact, in 2015, ESPN produced a 30-for-30 documentary entitled I Hate Christian Laettner. Laettner also ran into trouble later in life with investments in Durham, NC, where he went to college. The 1992 Olympics was the first year in which NBA players were allowed to compete, but Team USA reserved one spot on the team for a college player, so Laettner didn't take a place away from an NBA star. Johnson and Majerle would never get the chance to play in an NBA Finals again. Do you have a blog? When I saw the other (Dream Teamers) in the NBA, we felt we had shared something. It was an adjustment for about one minute of the first practice, said Laettner, whose career had been spent as a first option, not the 12th. He was then drafted 3rd overall in the 1992 NBA draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves. History was made. Game 6 was back in Utah and the Bulls ran into early problems when Pippen aggravated a back injury after dunking the ball on a play. But an objective look at a player whom fans loved to hate says he should be. Hardaway was one of the games elite point guards, capable of scoring a basket and finding the open man. O'Neal, on the other hand, put together a first ballot Hall of Fame career, winning NBA Championships in 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2006 while averaging 24 points and 11 rebounds on 58 percent shooting . Their pick-and-roll is nearly impossible to stop. The following year, Jordan once again used his superhuman abilities to post insane averages in the semifinals, crushing the Sixers, 4-1. They had a big opportunity in 1992 when the Cavaliers reached the Eastern Conference Finals. In Game 4, with the score tied in the final seconds, number 23 sealed the 4-0 sweep with a series-clinching buzzer-beater. Christian Laettner is a retired American professional basketball player. Though he was a very successful college basketball player, Laettners NBA career was relatively short-lived. He averaged 4.8 points per game. The physicality of the 1992 Knicks team was like the second coming of the Pistons Bad Boys. This time, it came with a soon-to-be Hall-of-Fame center in Ewing. Laettner didn't play much as the "Dream Team" rolled to a gold medal finish, averaging 4.8 points per game in his eight appearances. After the Olympics, Laettner joined the Minnesota Timberwolves of the NBA, playing with them from 1992-96. First and foremost, his career numbers simply dont stack up compared to other Hall of Famers. A Next Michael Jordan candidate early in his career, the Magics Penny Hardaway combined the scoring ability of Jordan with the court vision of Magic Johnson. Right, Born: In Laettner's senior year, the Blue Devils went 34-2 and 14-2 in conference play. Related Read: What is christian life program? How does he compare to other young players in the league? Almost 30 years ago, Laettner powered Duke past Kentucky with one of the most famous shots in basketball history. It would come to be known as The Shot II, sending the Cavaliers home for the summer with another heartbreaker. He had five offensive rebounds, grabbing some of them during the most crucial plays of the game. He will become the first basketball figure (and possibly the first individual of any sport) to enter the Hall of Fame three times for three different roles. The Dream Team went to Barcelona to restore the pre-eminence of U.S. basketball. While he did last 13 years in the league and did make an All-Star team, to Benjamin Hoffman of the New York Times. Christian Donald Laettner Twitter : laettnerbball Position: Power Forward and Center Shoots: Right 6-11 , 235lb (211cm, 106kg) Born: August 17 , 1969 in Angola, New York us More bio, uniform, draft, salary info 1x All Star 1992-93 All-Rookie 32 32 32 32 44 44 SUMMARY Career G 868 PTS 12.8 TRB 6.7 AST 2.6 FG% 48.0 FG3% 26.1 FT% 82.0 eFG% 48.6 As good as Hardaway was, Jordan was far superior. He also helped them win the NCAA title in both 1991-92, the first college team to repeat as champions since the 1970 heyday of the UCLA Bruins. He played on two NCAA champions and holds several tournament records. Smith was a shooting guard who could score in bunches while playing excellent defense. Dude was the best player in a team that won back to back . However, he is eligible for induction starting in 2020. He led the Bulls to a 4-2 series win, averaging a series-high 27.3 points per game to go along with 1.7 steals and taking home the Finals MVP trophy. Former Duke star Christian Laettner will be inducted into the Hall of Fame next week as part of the 1992 Olympic "Dream Team. ", Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski: "We recruited him for a long time. ", Former Nichols High School coach Jim Kramer (December 1987): "Christian is being called the heir-apparent to Danny Ferry at Duke. Arguments for induction: