He played for the Cincinnati Royals (now the Sacramento Kings) from 1994 to 1998. Furthermore, his career was largely defined by his collegiate success rather than his professional accomplishments. Sustaining excellence in men's college basketball is no easy task. The Bulls celebrated their 6th championship on Utahs home floor, keeping the Jazz from a championship once again. Laettner was always willing to do the dirty work and his rebounding totals reflect that. Do you have a blog? However, Christian Laettner's NBA career was a bit underwhelming in comparison. No matter how often everyones seen it, no one seems to have found a solution to it for more than a decade. He played 13 seasons in the NBA for 6 different teams. Never one to miss an opportunity to get back at his opponent, MJ wagged his finger at the 7-foot-2 center. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Why is he considered a rising star in the NBA? Biggest rivalry in college hoops: Our starting five all-time in Duke Laettners NBA career does not carry a Hall of Fame resume, but a strong case could be made for him as a collegian. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Of the rest of the players, Chris Mullin has been nominated several times, and remains a strong candidate. 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. All information published on this website is provided in good faith and for general use only. Now, thanks to the. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. 7 Baylor fall on final Saturday of the men's basketball regular season, Tracking all 32 NCAA men's basketball conference tournaments, auto bids for 2023, 'I know in my heart hes always there': Parker Stewart perseveres after losing his father and coach, Detroit Mercy's Antoine Davis finishes career as second-leading scorer in Division I history, Men's college basketball career scoring leaders, Minnesota men's basketball stuns Rutgers at the buzzer in comeback win, 2023 NCAA printable bracket, schedule for March Madness, 2023 March Madness men's NCAA tournament schedule, Last-second shot puts Penn State on top of Northwestern in OT, The mens basketball teams with the most NCAA tournament 1 seeds, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, 1992 consensus National Player of the Year, Laettner's shot to beat Kentucky 104-103 in the 1992 Elite Eight was named the top March Madness moment of all time, Named a top-15 player in NCAA tournament history in the 75 Years of March Madness Celebration, A member of the 2,000-point, 1,000-rebound club, 1st in NCAA tournament history in career games played: 23 games, 1st in the 1989 NCAA tournament in field goal percentage: 78.8 percent, 1st in the 1991 NCAA tournament in points: 125 points, 1st in the 1992 NCAA tournament in points: 115 points, T-1st in the 1992 NCAA tournament in steals: 13 steals, 2nd in NCAA tournament history in career rebounds (after 1973): 169 rebounds, T-2nd in NCAA tournament history in free throws made in a single tournament: 49 free throws, T-3rd in NCAA tournament history in career field goals made: 128 field goals, T-5th in Final Four history with a two-game free throws made total: 21 free throws. Laettner shot an extremely efficient 17-23 from the field, including 3-5 from three-point range. For one thing, if you got the ball passed to you with that lineup, it meant you were pretty wide open.. None. Going one-on-one with Russell, Jordan drove to the middle then went with a crossover to take a jumper from the top of the key as his defender fell to the floor. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. As a result of his onslaught, the Heat fell to the Bulls 4-1. Long before he was dream-shaking, game-winning Duke legend Christian Laettner, he was just a skinny kid from Angola, New York, who loved to play basketball. He was often overshadowed by more decorated teammates like Shaquille ONeal, Alonzo Mourning, and Anfernee Hardaway. He owns the second-most career points in NBA history with 36,928. Christian Laettner Position: Center 6-11 , 235lb (211cm, 106kg) School: Duke (Men) Draft: Minnesota Timberwolves, 1st round (3rd pick, 3rd overall), 1992 NBA draft 2x NCAA Champion 2x NCAA All-Tourney 4x NCAA All-Region NCAA Tourney MOP HS Parade AA 1991-92 AP POY 2x Consensus AA Wooden Award Naismith Award Rupp Trophy SUMMARY Career G 148 PTS 16.6 He finished with 125 points for the entire tournament. By 1993, the Bulls already knew what to expect from the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. His college career for the Duke Blue Devils is widely regarded as one of the best in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) history. Player stats broken down into various categories; i.e. March 13, 2015 Christian Laettner is not a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame as an individual. Though he was a very successful college basketball player, Laettners NBA career was relatively short-lived. In 1997 he made a well-deserved All-Star appearance. 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. He scored 28 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, leading Duke to a stunning upset victory. He is best known for his time with the Detroit Pistons, where he won two NBA championships. Everyone should love Christian Laettner - FanSided Arguments against induction: Johnson and Majerle would never get the chance to play in an NBA Finals again. When it comes to championships, the two are infamous for having played the most playoff games without winning a title. Contents The Steve with 8 NBA championships The Journey to 8 NBA Championships The Legacy of Steve with 8 NBA Championships The Impact of Steve with 8 NBA Championships The Influence of Steve with 8 NBA Championships The Significance of Steve with 8 NBA championships The Significance of 8 NBA championships The Importance of Steve, Read More Steve with 8 NBA ChampionshipsContinue, Contents Why NBA Valentines Day cards are the perfect way to show your love for the game How to choose the perfect NBA Valentines Day card for your loved one The top 10 NBA Valentines Day cards to give your loved one The history of NBA Valentines Day cards How to make your own NBA, Read More NBA Valentines Day Cards: The perfect way to show your love for the gameContinue, Contents82 Games in an NBA Season Why the NBA Season is 82 Games What Happens if Theres a Tie in the NBA Season How the NBA Season is Structured How the NBA Season Ends An NBA season consists of 82 games. March Madness: Duke's Grant Hill on famous pass to Christian Laettner He played 13 seasons in the NBA, for the Wolves, Atlanta Hawks, Detroit Pistons, Dallas Mavericks, and Miami Heat. Former Duke star Christian Laettner will be inducted into the Hall of Fame next week as part of the 1992 Olympic "Dream Team. Christian Laettner won two titles at Duke. Related Read: Why are christians so judgemental? Wilkens is already enshrined as a player and coach. ", Krzyzewski: "Christian is very intelligent. He was born and raised in Angola, New York (near Buffalo and Niagara Falls). 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. However, if a team makes the playoffs, they could play up to 28 additional, Read More How Many Games Are In an NBA Season?Continue, Contents Who is Jordan Hall? 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. 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. The Bulls eliminated the Sixers easily in five games. He teamed up with Shaquille ONeal to eliminate the Bulls in the 1995 Easter Conference Semifinals at a time when Jordan had just returned from his short-lived baseball career. He was a key player on some good teams, and was named to the All-Rookie First Team. 10 Reasons to Still Love Christian Laettner | Men's Journal So while Shaquille O'Neal (LSU) and Alonzo Mourning (Georgetown) were probably better players at the time, Laettner did have star power of his own. That said, his inclusion is somewhat defensible given that the 1992 Olympics was the first year in which NBA players were allowed to compete. Down 103-102 in overtime against Kentucky with a . Overall, Christian Laettner had a very successful NBA career. In the Final Four, he went for 19 and 14 against Arkansas. He was the teams best foul shooter at the Olympics (18 for 20). 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. 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. 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. 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. Almost 30 years ago, Laettner powered Duke past Kentucky with one of the most famous shots in basketball history. Bonnie Laettner, 74, teacher, mother of basketball great Christian Laettner Laettner said the foregone conclusion of a U.S. gold medal did not dim the competitive fire of the players. Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski once told reporters that Laettner was so good, they had to get in contact with him early in the process, near the end of his sophomore year. 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. 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. The Dream Team went to Barcelona to restore the pre-eminence of U.S. basketball. The 1989 and 1991 Knicks were ill-equipped to challenge the Bulls and both teams would flame out in six and three games, respectively. Christian Laettner: College basketball stats, best moments, quotes In his NBA career, Laettner averaged 3.8 assists per game. Pandemonium ensued. Schrempf was a three-time All-Star, an All-NBA Third Team member, and was twice named Sixth Man of the Year. Christian Laettner was drafted 3rd overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 1992 NBA Draft. That didnt stop them from wanting to kill you in the game that night, he said. 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. What happened to Christian Laettner? Where is the 1992 NCAA Blue Devils One of the most controversial and productive college basketball players ever, Laettner laced up for . What are some of his most impressive accomplishments? What are the fundamentals of christianity? Throughout the game, he was visibly in pain but even at 50 percent capacity, Pippen was still better than any player the Bulls could replace him with. He . Why is he considered one of the best college basketball players of all time? Learn more and register. He knew when to score and when to pass the ball. 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. Throughout his career, he averaged 12.8 points and 6.7 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. But Michael Jordan was more than any man could handle. He played for six teams during his NBA career: the Minnesota Timberwolves, Atlanta Hawks, Detroit Pistons, Dallas Mavericks, Washington Wizards and Miami Heat. 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. Moreover, they had Larry Bird as their coach. Subscribe to Stathead Basketball: Get your first month FREEYour All-Access Ticket to the Basketball Reference Database. If I took 20 shots in the whole tournament, no one acted like (it wasnt his place). The man-child known as Kemp was one of the NBAs best dunkers and one of its most ferocious finishers on the fastbreak. But which one has the most followers on Instagram? Laettner also had seven rebounds, three assists and two steals. Laettner was also named ACC Player of the Year in 1992 and 1993, and was an All-American in 1992 and 1993. 16 16. 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. He was a productive player for 13 seasons and was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team in his first season. NBA Rumors: Ben Simmons wants Philadelphia 76ers to pay for Doc Rivers' comments on the Australian. These are solid but unspectacular numbers, especially for a player who was never named an All-Star or selected to an All-NBA team. Join us for a March Madness Webinar on Tuesday, March 7 at 8pm ET. John Laettner is not in the NBA Hall of Fame. 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. That, his college success, and his clutch shots, led one basketball writer to dub him one of the two luckiest people to ever live, along with Ringo Starr.. Was Christian Laettner's Buzzer-Beater the Greatest Shot in NCAA He made headlines in 2016 when he pledged to donate his entire Olympic gold medal winnings ($108,000) to charity. 3) How many titles did Christian Laettner win at Duke? Second, his skillset was better suited for a more up-tempo style of play, which was not as common in the NBA during his career. What Happened to Christian Laettner and Where is He Now? I was jealous," O'Neal said in a radiointerviewduring the 2012 NBA Finals. 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. 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. He's a perfectionist. He was named First Team All-ACC and First Team All-American. Barkley was the NBAs best power forward during the early 90s. Many great players deserved to win the championship as much as he did. Laettner has admitted it was a "stupid move." Kentucky fans still wish he had been ejected so he wouldn't have been in the game to attempt the winning shot. But perhaps those high expectations for Laettner got in his head and were just too lofty for him to live up to. Javascript is required for the selection of a player. Shoots: Related Read: What are the fundamentals of christianity? -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. "It was someone else.". They first met in the postseason in the 1990 Eastern Conference Semifinals. 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. Karl Malone averaged 38.8 points per game in his NBA career. If his place on the 1992 U.S. roster seems curious to some who question why even one collegian was kept (while NBA stars including Isiah Thomas were left off), his teammates recognized his value. The first time was on November 11, 1992, against the Charlotte Hornets. He was named the NCAA Tournaments Most Outstanding Player in 1992 and was a first-team All-American in both his junior and senior seasons. Asheville Citizen-Times from Asheville, North Carolina Page 19 As a freshman, he helped lead the Blue Devils to the NCAA championship game, where they lost to Danny Manning and Kansas. The undersized Sixers forward was only 6-foot-6 but was built powerfully and had the speed and quickness of a guard. 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. 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. Christian Laettner - College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com Many people believe that he should be a shoo-in for the Hall of Fame, given his impressive career stats and accomplishments. Related Read: How old is christian nodal? 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. 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. He's really a basketball purist. Starks was clueless on how to stop the rampaging Bull and he remained unshackled until the series was over. Below we take a look at some of the arguments for and against his induction into the Hall. I was definitely on the lower end of the scale, he said.