New York employed plenty of roughhousing techniques to get under Chicagos skin much like Detroit. 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. They lost in six games to the Los Angeles Lakers. He played college basketball for the Duke Blue Devils from 1988 to 1992. He is best known for his time with the Duke Blue Devils, where he won two national championships and was a part of the famed Fab Five recruiting class of 1991. He was then drafted 3rd overall in the 1992 NBA draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves. the official stats partner of the NBA, NHL and MLB. This is a very good average, as it is higher than the career averages of block leaders like Hakeem Olajuwon, Shaquille O'Neal, and Dikembe Mutombo. After the Olympics, Laettner joined the Minnesota Timberwolves of the NBA, playing with them from 1992-96. Armed with his Killer Crossover, Hardaway left opponents in the dust as he found ways to punish them time and time again. 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. Throughout his career, he averaged 12.8 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. Power Forward and Center He also played in all 82 games, starting in 71 of them. This is not to say that collegiate success should be ignored when evaluating a players Hall of Fame case, but it is important to consider the totality of a players career when making such a decision. Why Christian Laettner made the 'Dream Team' over Shaquille O'Neal and Alonzo Mourning, Complete roster, history behind"Dream Team". As soon as his game developed beyond dunking to becoming a complete player, the Seattle Supersonics power forward showcased how far he had come in the 1996 NBA Finals. In Game 5, Michael Jordan received a pass from Luc Longley from the baseline and dunked the ball over the outstretched arms of Mutombo. Johnson was a top-notch point guard, an All-Star who was superior to any of Chicagos playmakers. He was a consensus National Player of the Year and two-time All-American, becoming the face of one of the most storied men's basketball programs. -Laettner was an incredibly successful college player, winning two national championships with Duke and being named National Player of the Year in 1992. The Indiana Pacers of 1998 had the best chance of any team to dethrone the Bulls in the 1990s. August 17, A name most sports fans know, it would be impossible to keep Christian Laettner off this list. Does Christian Laettner have an HOF argument? Christian Laettner is considered to be one of the greatest college basketball players of all time, and his exploits with the Duke Blue Devils led to him being a part of the 1992 Olympics 'Dream Team'. There is no definitive answer, as opinions will vary. He scored 23 points in the first half to stay within striking distance of the Jazz before halftime. Scottie Pippen and Karl Malone will enter this year, making it 10. 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. In the clinching Game 5 win, Jordan had 38 points, 19 rebounds, and 7 assists. Challenge accepted. He averaged at least 16 points and seven rebounds in each of his first five years in the league. 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. Christian Laettner was the Blue Devils leading scoring in 1992 as a senior and was the unanimous national player of the year. Please logout and login again. As a result, the forward has downplayed his participation on. It would be interesting to see him in an offense like that of todays Houston Rockets, where he could roam the three-point line and be the beneficiary of pick-and-pops with James Harden and Russell Westbrook. It was in this first round series that Jordan made The Shot at the buzzer to advance to the next round. 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. He finished with 125 points for the entire tournament. Related Read: Who is the founder of christianity pdf? After vanquishing powerhouse UNLV in the national semifinal and topping Kansas for the 1991 championship, Duke entered the 1991-92 season with a roster full of future NBA players led by senior. Christian used to play basketball in his early years. Malone and Stockton were their usual sensational selves, taking the middle games for the Jazz to tie the series at two games apiece. The Jazz took Game 1 on their home floor after they secured homecourt advantage with a better regular season record. Also Read: NBA Rumors: Ben Simmons wants Philadelphia 76ers to pay for Doc Rivers' comments on the Australian, Be the first one to comment on this story. And who did Duke beat that year? 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. He had an amazing National Basketball Association career. On the Jazz next possession, Jordan knew Stockton would pass to Malone on the block, so he snuck up on him as soon as the pass was delivered. The Bulls celebrated their 6th championship on Utahs home floor, keeping the Jazz from a championship once again. Copyright 2023 Sporting News Holdings Limited. Laettner had a strong rookie season, averaging nearly 15 points and eight rebounds per game, and was unanimously named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team. And once again, Duke made it to the NCAA title game; this time, they faced off against UNLV, who were heavily favored to win. "But then I had to come to the realization that I was a more explosive, more powerful player, but Christian Laettner was a little bit more fundamentally sound than I was. What are the fundamentals of christianity? But some teams have active ongoing streaks that have lasted two decades. He was a prominent American basketball player of the 1990s and early 2000s who is best known for his game-winning shot against Kentucky in the 1992 tournament that helped lead Duke to the championship game, and for the hatred he received from opposing fans. There were the Milwaukee Bucks, the Boston Celtics, the Detroit Pistons, and yes, even the Orlando Magic. 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. Happy 52nd birthday to Christian Laettner! 868 GP, 12.8 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 2.6 APG 48.0 FG%, 82.0 FT% 1x (1997)A four-year starter at Duke, Laettner played in 23 out of a maximum possible 24 NCAA tournament games, winning 21. 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. Russell Westbrook per Forbes, as of September 2019, Russell Westbrook has the most followers of any NBA player on, Read More What NBA Player Has the Most Followers on Instagram?Continue. With 2.1 seconds remaining and Kentucky up by one, Grant Hill threw the inbound pass from the end line all the way to Christian Laettner by the foul . He never averaged less than 6.0 rebounds per game in any season and his career-high of 8.8 rebounds per game is a testament to his ability on the glass. You didn't know you were going to win until the buzzer went off.". O'Neal has said that while he was frustrated to be left out, he understood the choice. 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. Three of the four coaches are also enshrined. He made the Final Four in all four years of college and playedin the national championship game three consecutive years. That said, his inclusion is somewhat defensible given that the 1992 Olympics was the first year in which NBA players were allowed to compete. Man for man, the Bulls didnt appear to have a chance against a powerhouse team like the Cavaliers. Im bringing my whole family to Springfield, for this is a wonderful honor.. However, Laettners time in the NBA was relatively short-lived. He enjoyed a lengthy NBA career, appearing in 868 games, scoring over 11,000 points and grabbing nearly 6,000 rebounds. In 23 NCAA tournament games first off just, think about that; Laettner played in 23 out of a maximum 24 possible tournament games in college Laettner scored in double figures 20 times. He averaged 12.8 points and 6.7 rebounds per game for his career. He was the teams best foul shooter at the Olympics (18 for 20). Looking back at the famous USA "Dream Team" basketball roster from 1992, Christian Laettner's name sticks out as a strange inclusion among Hall of Fame talents. For the 1992. Laettner's best years statistically were his first two years in the NBA. The Bulls eliminated the Sixers easily in five games. The bad news for this pair is that Michael Jordan and the Bulls have foiled their attempts to seize the championship trophy away. did christian laettner win an nba championship devils hole missing divers. 1. That didnt stop them from wanting to kill you in the game that night, he said. The game is usually considered the greatest ever in college basketball, and Laettners shot has been re-run on television numerous times since 1992. ", Former Nichols High School coach Jim Kramer (December 1987): "Christian is being called the heir-apparent to Danny Ferry at Duke. He and college teammate Brian Davis started Blue Devil Ventures (BDV), which attempted to revitalize downtown Durham. ", 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. 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. Christian Laettner played for the National Basketball Association (NBA) for 13 seasons from 1992 to 2005. 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. Unfortunately, the answer is no. The competition there is real intense. 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. Laettner was also named ACC Player of the Year in 1992 and 1993, and was an All-American in 1992 and 1993. Related Read: Why are christians so judgemental? He owns the second-most career points in NBA history with 36,928. They were the most successful one-two punch the league had ever seen. The stories. As such, it is unlikely that he will ever be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. As a thrill in my career, the Olympics rank right up there with my two NCAA championships at Duke, said Laettner, who turns 41 four days after Enshrinement. The Knicks took the first two games on their home floor. He's really a basketball purist. Michael Jordan would have his revenge in the epic 1993 NBA Finals. Arguments against induction: Christian Laettner began his basketball career at an early age. This was the first time that the tournament moved to 64 teams and it has stayed that way ever since. 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 is a graduate of Indiana University. But just when they appeared to have taken the game-opener in Game 1 of the 1997 Finals, Jordan was there to take and make the game-winning shot over Byron Russell. In 1997 he made a well-deserved All-Star appearance. After college, Laettner was drafted 3rd overall in the 1992 NBA Draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves. Will the Golden State Warriors repeat as champions, or will the Cleveland Cavaliers take home, Read More Who Is Up In The Nba Finals?Continue, Why some people think he should be in the Hall of Fame, NBA Valentines Day Cards: The perfect way to show your love for the game. -He is one of only 10 players in NCAA history to amass more than 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, 400 assists, and 200 blocks in their career. The time was ripe for them to make it to the NBA Finals. Christian Donald Laettner I have half a brain. Former Duke star Christian Laettner will be inducted into the Hall of Fame next week as part of the 1992 Olympic "Dream Team. As the NBA Finals approach, everyone is wondering who will come out on top. Laettner had a solid if not spectacular 13-year NBA career that gets underrated. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. Christian Laettner won two national championships in college as he led Duke to back-to-back national championships in 1991 and 1992. He had one of the greatest college careers in the history of the game.. 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 was born in Angola, New York. 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 Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Christian Laettner was drafted 3rd overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 1992 NBA Draft. Christian Laettner enjoyed a successful college career with Duke, winning two National Championships. He said he never felt big-timed or snubbed by his more glamorous teammates. Here are the top matchups and tournaments to watch in the non-conference portion of the NCAA softball season. The Supersonics were loaded with enough talent to present enough of a challenge to the Bulls in the championship round. His. ", Former Duke guard Phil Henderson: "He doesn't play like a freshman, but he still has that giddiness about him. More importantly, he led the Heat to a 61-21 record and the third-best record in the league. He was a productive player for 13 seasons and was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team in his first season. -He was never named an All-Star during his time in the NBA. Many great players deserved to win the championship as much as he did. Here's everything you need to know about Christian Laettner's college career at Duke. Sustaining excellence in men's college basketball is no easy task. 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. Nance and Daugherty would play one more season before retiring without a ring. 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. 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). Everybody checked their egos at the door, and everybody on our team played basketball the right way, he said. You can watch the legendary ending of the 1992 Duke-Kentucky game below. He also played in 21 playoff games, starting in 12 of them. Christian Laettner's "The Shot". Jerry Tarkanian led the Rebels to his only championship win. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. When it comes to championships, the two are infamous for having played the most playoff games without winning a title. Laettners number 32 jersey was retired by the Duke Blue Devils in 1992. They first met in the postseason in the 1990 Eastern Conference Semifinals. Christian Laettner was born on August 17, 1969. 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. He made 2 All-Star game appearances, in 1997 and 1998, and won an Olympic gold medal as part of the famed Dream Team in 1992. ", More Local News to Love Start today for 50% off Expires 3/6/23. Get to know him better in this blog. The easiest was by 68. After his playing career ended, Laettner became a successful businessman and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2020. They had a big opportunity in 1992 when the Cavaliers reached the Eastern Conference Finals. Here are the top 10 stars, pairs, trios, and ensembles who never won a championship because of Michael Jordan. The NBA playoffs wont start until April 18. Ultimately, Christian Laettners legacy will be defined by his successes and failures both on and off the court. ", Laettner on his game and his areas of improvement: "I have to work on my shot all the time. Christian Laettner/Image: usatodayhss.com . School: DukePosition: CenterHeight: 6-11Weight: 235 poundsYears active: 1988-92NCAA tournament record: 21-2Career averages: 16.6 points per game, 7.8 rebounds per game, 57.4% field goal shooting. In Game 4, with the score tied in the final seconds, number 23 sealed the 4-0 sweep with a series-clinching buzzer-beater. Jay Williams. But an objective look at a player whom fans loved to hate says he should be. 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. O'Neal said in a radiointerviewduring the 2012 NBA Finals. The undersized Sixers forward was only 6-foot-6 but was built powerfully and had the speed and quickness of a guard. Wilkens is already enshrined as a player and coach. He also holds several NCAA records. Christian Laettner played for six NBA teams - the Minnesota Timberwolves, Atlanta Hawks, Detroit Pistons, Dallas Mavericks, Washington Wizards, and Miami Heat. Laettner shot an extremely efficient 17-23 from the field, including 3-5 from three-point range. Christian Laettner is best remembered for his time at Duke, where he helped lead the Blue Devils to back-to-back national championships in 1991 and 1992. He is particularly well-known for his game-winning shot against Kentucky in the 1992 regional final, as well as for the hatred he received from opposing fans. What do his teammates and coaches think of him? This first came in 1991 and then in 1992. He's a perfectionist. Schrempf was a three-time All-Star, an All-NBA Third Team member, and was twice named Sixth Man of the Year. The Blue Devils lost in the Final Four and in the national championship game in Laettner's freshman and sophomore years, respectively. As a sophomore, Laettner was even better. The Bulls had no answer for the 7-foot Georgetown alumnus. Christian Donald Laettner ( / letnr /, LAYT-nr; born August 17, 1969) is an American former professional basketball player. However, Christian Laettner's NBA career was a bit underwhelming in comparison. The man-child known as Kemp was one of the NBAs best dunkers and one of its most ferocious finishers on the fastbreak. The Bulls finished off the Jazz at home in Game 6 when Jordan passed the ball to an open Steve Kerr for the title-clinching shot. Christian Laettner weighed 235 lbs (106 kg) when playing. The Dream Team went 8-0, averaging 117.2 points a game and winning by an average of 43.7. It was the perfect picture of Jordans competitive will to win that brought down the Hawks. Related Read: What is christian life program? Even after Jordan retired, Stockton and Malone were unable to carry the Jazz to another NBA Finals appearance. The Cleveland Cavaliers had a championship window between 1988 and 1993. 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. The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the NCAA or its member institutions. Barkley was the NBAs best power forward during the early 90s. Wise counsel indeed. Christian Laettner was selected third overall in the 1992 NBA Draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves. There are a few theories. He knew when to score and when to pass the ball. This was easily the best performance of Laettner's NBA career. 2 pick in the 2002 draft by the Chicago Bulls, had a short NBA career. What NBA Player Has the Most Followers on Instagram. O'Neal and Mourning went on to become dominant NBA centers, and there's a strong case one of them should have been named the "Dream Team" youngster regardless of how well Laettner performed at Duke. Youre talking Walton, Alcindor, Elvin Hayes. He . As a freshman, he helped lead the Blue Devils to the NCAA championship game, where they lost to Danny Manning and Kansas. Christian Laettner was a senior at Duke in 1991 and 1992. 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. Oakley provided the muscle underneath and fortified the Knicks interior defense. He scored 31 points in the game the most of his NCAA tournament career on 10-of-10 shooting from the field and 10-of-10 free-throw shooting. In that series, the 10-time scoring champion averaged video-game-like numbers of 43.0 points, 6.6 rebounds, 7.4 assists, 4.0 steals, and 1.2 blocks per game. Then again, theres only one trophy and Jordan was not about to let it slip away from his grasp. The highlight of his buzzer-beating shot to beat Kentucky in the 1992 East Regional final remains an annual staple of NCAA . The excitement over a letter from . 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. Moreover, they had Larry Bird as their coach. 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. It was an NCAA type game, a very intense game. He was drafted third overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves and managed to make the NBA All-Rookie first team in his debut season. 2023 NCAA | Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Full game: Duke beats Kentucky on Christian Laettner's shot, advances to 1992 Final Four, Marquette's Markus Howard picks his five most memorable moments in college, These are Payton Pritchard's 5 favorite games from his senior season, College basketball dictionary: 51 terms defined, No. Stockton, meanwhile, is the best pure point guard in league history. He played just three seasons with the Timberwolves before being traded to the Atlanta Hawks in 1995. He would go on to have a successful 13-year NBA career, appearing in over 1,000 games and averaging double figures in points and rebounds numerous times. Christian Laettner is not in the Hall of Fame. The Olympic Channel original series features Olympic legends who have just one week to turn around a struggling youth team. Laettner delivered one of the most famous performances in collegiate basketball history, the 1992 regional final against Kentucky. Basketball Team USA, Duke and NBA legend Christian Laettner is one of the Olympic 'Super Coaches' of the second season of The Z Team. The 6-foot-10 Laettner was the dominating force that saw the upstaters win their second straight Association of Independent Schools championship with a 73-70 victory over Our Saviour. Twitter: I was pissed off. ", Laettner: "When Coach K grabbed me, I felt really special at that point. In his career, Laettner had 14 assists in a game four times. Christian Laettner is best remembered for his outstanding college career at Duke, where he helped lead the team to two NCAA Championships. 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. Hardaway and the Heat had the misfortune of going up against some of the best Bulls teams in the 1996 and 1997 NBA Playoffs. The genius play design and perfect execution sent the Blue Devils to their fifth straight NCAA Final Four: https://t.co/tH6Ql7mGL4 pic.twitter.com/VW4Gsbzkxj. He is also third all-time in total field goals made (2,759) and sixth all-time in assists (2,157). Laettner was one of the leagues toughest and best power forwards. The next year, Ewing brought the Knicks back to the playoffs and was on a collision course with the Bulls again. 16 16. In each of these games, Laettner had at least 3 blocks and 9 rebounds. Related. Price played two more seasons for the Cavaliers before bouncing around three teams in three years as injuries shortened his career. 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 .
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