Christian Laettner made at least $61,485,000 playing professional basketball. He was then drafted 3rd overall in the 1992 NBA draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves. The following year, Jordan once again used his superhuman abilities to post insane averages in the semifinals, crushing the Sixers, 4-1. This was easily the best performance of Laettner's NBA career. They were the most unfortunate of any franchise to have run into the Bulls during that stretch, facing them four times in six years. 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.. Throughout his career, he averaged 12.8 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. 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. Finally, Laettner was known to be arrogant and aloof, which rubbed some people the wrong way. 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. For the 1992. Michael Jordan was adamant about not going back to Utah and finishing off the Jazz. Christian Laettner released the shot. Moreover, they had Larry Bird as their coach. -He was never named an All-Star during his time in the NBA. He is the only player to be a starter in four Final Fours. Joakim Noah, Al Horford and Corey Brewer did it at Florida in 2006 and 2007 and Christian Laettner, Bobby Hurley and Grant Hill did it at Duke in 1991 and 1992. 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. Players who shine bright on the biggest stage of college basketball the NCAA Tournament often become household names. Let it decide an NCAA championship, as did the 1979 Magic-versus-Bird NCAA final between Michigan State and Indiana State, or Texas Western's 1966 title-game victory over Kentucky, the sport's Brown v. Board of Education. The era of pace-and-space would help Laettner avoid the physicality that he couldnt quite overcome in the NBA, and his decent mid-range stroke could translate well in todays league. 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. Chicago took the next three games to take a commanding 3-1 series lead heading into Game 5. Dude was the best player in a team that won back to back . In the clinching Game 5 win, Jordan had 38 points, 19 rebounds, and 7 assists. All four of them were All-Stars at least once in their careers. First, at 611, Laettner was considered undersized for a traditional center, which limited his role on most teams. It seems that Laettner's high expectations may have gotten in his head and made him feel like he had to do more than what was required of him. After retiring from the NBA in 2005, it hasnt gotten much better for Laettner. So why isnt he in the Hall of Fame? 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. Wilkens is already enshrined as a player and coach. Sadly, Barkley would never play in the NBA Finals again and continued to be ringless until he retired. He also had a long and successful college career, winning 2 NCAA Championships with Duke University. Laettner, 47, led Duke to national championships in 1991 and '92. home/away, monthly, etc More Christian Laettner Basketball Reference pages, Compare Christian Laettner to other players. He played college basketball for the Duke Blue Devils from 1988 to 1992. The Olympic Channel original series features Olympic legends who have just one week to turn around a struggling youth team. "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. Though they were the best of friends, MJ would cut his friends heart out during the playoffs three times in four years. In his NBA career, Laettner averaged eight blocks per game. Ewing was as good as ever, averaging 25.8 points, 11.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.7 steals, and 1.8 blocks per game. Laettner spent over three seasons in Minnesota before he was dealt to the Atlanta Hawks in 1995-96. Laettern was the only collegian chosen for the original US basketball Dream Team that dominated the opposition at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. Being a top-notch shooting guard, Christian Laettner won a ton of awards. Learn more and register. Player stats broken down into various categories; i.e. He owns the second-most career points in NBA history with 36,928. 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. While he did last 13 years in the league and did make an All-Star team, to Benjamin Hoffman of the New York Times. While he will be remembered as a college basketball superstar and the perfect villian for college basketball in the late 80s and early 90s, it would be interesting to see how Laettners career would have been different if he entered the league today. 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 also made what is arguably the most famous shot in NCAA history, the half-court buzzer-beater that sank Kentucky in the 1992 East Regional finals. Johnson and Majerle would never get the chance to play in an NBA Finals again. But which one has the most followers on Instagram? Christian Laettner played for the National Basketball Association (NBA) for 13 seasons from 1992 to 2005. The biggest adjustment was the speed. Though he was a very successful college basketball player, Laettners NBA career was relatively short-lived. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. This was all about revenge for MJ who closed out the series with 45 points on 16-of-23 shooting. Stockton, meanwhile, is the best pure point guard in league history. He scored 28 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, leading Duke to a stunning upset victory. He finished with career averages of 12.8 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. 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. The Golden State Warriors finished the 2015-2016 season with a 73-9 record, one of the best . Christian Laettner enjoyed a successful college career with Duke, winning two National Championships. The Christian Laettner NBA career started brightly with Minnesota Timberwolves, as he averaged 18.2 points and 6.6 rebounds per game. His college career for the Duke Blue Devils is widely regarded as one of the best in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) history. He enjoyed a lengthy NBA career, appearing in 868 games, scoring over 11,000 points and grabbing nearly 6,000 rebounds. He is the only individual member of that team that is not currently in the Hall of Fame. There were the Milwaukee Bucks, the Boston Celtics, the Detroit Pistons, and yes, even the Orlando Magic. 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. Get this Asheville Citizen-Times page for free from Monday, April 1, 1991 ; Baseball5D Sports Fax251-0585 Monday, April 1, 1991 Dnke. As of February 2023, Christian Laettner has an estimated net worth of $12 million. The Round Mound of Rebound was named the MVP to the chagrin of Jordan who wanted to win it for the third straight season. But he was part of it. You can watch the legendary ending of the 1992 Duke-Kentucky game below. However, injuries derailed his career in his later years, and he was never able to live up to his full potential. In the playoffs, he averaged 9.2 points per game and 5.4 rebounds per game. Overall, Christian Laettner was a very good rebounder during his NBA career. He is also the only player in NCAA history to have started in four consecutive Final Fours. He was a two-time NCAA national champion and the only player to ever start in four consecutive Final Fours. Get to know him better in this blog. Christian Donald Laettner ( / letnr /, LAYT-nr; born August 17, 1969) is an American former professional basketball player. 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. He also played in all 82 games, starting in 71 of them. He's a perfectionist. History was made. No matter how often everyones seen it, no one seems to have found a solution to it for more than a decade. As a result, the forward has downplayed his participation on. Hall of Fame choices based primarily on college play were once common. Many people believe that he should be a shoo-in for the Hall of Fame, given his impressive career stats and accomplishments. 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. Even with the addition of Jordan Stopper Gerald Wilkins, Jordan merely took it as a challenge, scoring 43 points in the opening game. Malone and Stockton were their usual sensational selves, taking the middle games for the Jazz to tie the series at two games apiece. As the NBA Finals approach, everyone is wondering who will come out on top. Johnson and Majerle would never get the chance to play in an NBA Finals again. Get viral NBA graphics, memes, rumors and trending news delivered right to your inbox with the Clutch Newsletter. Laettner ranks fifth all-time in Division I scoring at 24.3 points per game and fourth in rebounds at 10.0 rebounds per game. Your login session has expired. A second can make such a big difference. However, he is eligible for induction starting in 2020. 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). Laettner's knack for hitting clutch shots started long before he arrived in Durham. 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. He wisely didnt call a timeout to keep the Jazz from setting up their defense. 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 "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. As Laettner's skills and reputation grew -- Nichols won state titles in 1985 and 1986 and reached the state semifinals in 1987 -- so did the recruiting efforts. Four NBA championships and three Finals MVP's later, O'Neal was enshrined in the basketball Hall of Fame. Plus he stayed all four years and graduated. However, Laettners time in the NBA was relatively short-lived. 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. Shoots: He later played for the Atlanta Hawks (1996-99), Detroit Pistons (1999-2000), Dallas Mavericks (2000-01), Washington Wizards (2001-04), and Miami Heat (2004-05). Lenny Wilkens had a successful career as a coach following his career as a player. Hardaway and the Heat had the misfortune of going up against some of the best Bulls teams in the 1996 and 1997 NBA Playoffs. You could tell that Miller and company gave everything they had to take down the Bulls. Once against the Charlotte Hornets, once against the Boston Celtics, once against the Indiana Pacers, and once against the Portland Trail Blazers. Christian Laettner enjoyed a successful college career with Duke, winning two National Championships. inAngola,New York Christian Laettner averaged 12.8 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game. He finished with 125 points for the entire tournament. The man-child known as Kemp was one of the NBAs best dunkers and one of its most ferocious finishers on the fastbreak. - CGAA. Hes a great scorer and an even better defender. Please logout and login again. That didnt stop them from wanting to kill you in the game that night, he said. 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! As good as Hardaway was, Jordan was far superior. Do you have a blog? Except, even at his worst, Michael Jordan would find a way to win. His role as the 12th man on the greatest team in basketball history has not diminished Christian Laettners appreciation of the experience. Malone at 193 games and Stockton at 182. He had an amazing National Basketball Association career. Or write about sports? They had a big opportunity in 1992 when the Cavaliers reached the Eastern Conference Finals. Christian Laettner was one of the most beloved and celebrated basketball players of his era. The time was ripe for them to make it to the NBA Finals. He faked right, turned over his left shoulder, double-pumped and made a miraculous . What are the fundamentals of christianity? In the first round of the 1988 NBA Playoffs, Jordan lit them up for 50 and 55 points in the first two games. Wise counsel indeed. 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 . 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 He played 13 seasons in the NBA for 6 different teams. Miller was in top form and had another shooter on his squad with former All-Star Mullin. He shot 49.1% from the field and 73.6% from the free throw line. Mar 28, 2019. The lead changed 17 times. Of the 12 Dream Teamers, only Laettner (whose 13-year NBA career began immediately after the Barcelona Games) would have had a chance to be eligible under the old rules. Christian Laettner was drafted 3rd overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 1992 NBA draft. He had just won the Wooden Award and back-to-back national championships at Duke. He was born and raised in Angola, New York (near Buffalo and Niagara Falls). When I saw the other (Dream Teamers) in the NBA, we felt we had shared something. 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. In the Elite Eight, they played a tough Kentucky team and the game went into overtime. -Laettner had a successful 13-year NBA career, averaging over 14 points per game during his time in the league. Although he never won an NBA Championship, Laettner was a very good rebounder throughout his career. He attended Duke University from 1988-1992, playing as a power forward and center for the Blue Devils. There were 16 ties. Barkley submitted averages of 25.6 points, 12.2 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 1.6 steals, and 1.0 blocks per game. I was at Five Star. Laettner left the NBA in 2005. The smaller and quicker guys give me a lot of trouble. Why is he considered a rising star in the NBA? Sustaining excellence in men's college basketball is no easy task. There are a few theories. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. He said he never felt big-timed or snubbed by his more glamorous teammates. Christian Laettner began his basketball career at an early age. In the 1992 NBA draft, Christian Laettner was selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves. ", 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. He also chipped in with eight rebounds, four assists, and two blocks in the game. It's also available for football, hockey and baseball. In three seasons with the Sixers, Laettner averaged just 8.1 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game and, in 2000, he was waived by the team after averaging only 4.9 points per game in 26 total appearances. Laettner was also named ACC Player of the Year in 1992 and 1993, and was an All-American in 1992 and 1993. As a junior, Laettners numbers dipped a bit as he shared the spotlight with fellow future NBA players Grant Hill and Bobby Hurley. Christian used to play basketball in his early years. 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). As such, it is unlikely that he will ever be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. The game in which he really burst onto the national scene was in the Elite Eight his freshman year. A story published in The Tampa Tribune in December 1987 noted how Laettner's Nichols School team competed in the Kingdom of the Sun Holiday Classic in Ocala, Florida, and Laettner scored 39 points, capped off by a jumper at the buzzer that give his team a 70-69 win. Mullin needed to win as his illustrious career was near its end by this time. After his college career, Laettner enjoyed a successful 13-year NBA career with six different teams. -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 would eventually become very successful, but not initially and Laettner and Davis lost significant amounts of money, which led several investors to sue them. 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. He scored 31 points (13-25 from the field), grabbed 18 rebounds and had an unbelievable 16 blocked shots. Almost 30 years ago, Laettner powered Duke past Kentucky with one of the most famous shots in basketball history. He was often overshadowed by more decorated teammates like Shaquille ONeal, Alonzo Mourning, and Anfernee Hardaway. It was an NCAA type game, a very intense game. Javascript is required for the selection of a player. He was traded six times in his career and never spent more than three seasons with one franchise. The first time was on November 11, 1992, against the Charlotte Hornets. Jordan went to work once again. Copyright 2023 Sporting News Holdings Limited. Johnson was a top-notch point guard, an All-Star who was superior to any of Chicagos playmakers. Duke had an out-of-bounds play with little time left on the shot clock when Laettner took a pass near the elbow. 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. Youre talking Walton, Alcindor, Elvin Hayes. It was the East Regional final between Duke and Kentucky. Christian Laettner had a unique and dizzying career arc. The second time was on December 16, 1992, against the Indiana Pacers. I just think it helped me grow as a player.. He hounded the superstar throughout the 1993 Eastern Conference Finals. Click here for the full list of the greatest NBA players who failed to win a ring. 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. Their leader, Charles Barkley, was named MVP and many had predicted that the Bulls had finally met their match in the NBA Finals. 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. I was the bag boy, the waterboy, said Laettner, a Duke University superstar and the only player without NBA experience to play on the 1992 U.S. Olympic mens basketball team. This time, Starks was more prepared to take on the task of guarding Jordan. Laettner's Nichols High School (Buffalo, N.Y.) team won the tournament after Laettner had 18 points and 21 rebounds in the final 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. He averaged at least 16 points and seven rebounds in each of his first five years in the league. In his NBA career, Laettner averaged 8.5 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game. Its been over 20 years since Christian Laettner donned a NBA uniform, yet the 46-year-old former player remains a controversial figure in the basketball world. Since he retired from the NBA in 2005, Laettner has largely stayed out of the public eye. Michael Jordan would have his revenge in the epic 1993 NBA Finals. He made the Final Four in all four years of college and playedin the national championship game three consecutive years. Join our linker program. You didn't know you were going to win until the buzzer went off.". 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. He was the teams best foul shooter at the Olympics (18 for 20). In each of these games, Laettner had at least 3 blocks and 9 rebounds. But even when His Airness couldnt take flight because of stomach flu in Game 5, he still managed to score 38 points, including the deciding three-pointer with about 25 seconds to go. Price played two more seasons for the Cavaliers before bouncing around three teams in three years as injuries shortened his career. He was a tough matchup for any team with the ability to match MJs athleticism and knack for controlling a basketball game. Im bringing my whole family to Springfield, for this is a wonderful honor.. 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. 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. Panhandle Basketball: The Place to Be for Hoops Fans, Brad Davis, NBA Player and Stamford Native. 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. ", Krzyzewski: "Christian is very intelligent. He is a graduate of Indiana University. In his NBA career, Laettner averaged 12.8 points and 6.7 rebounds in 742 games. And once again, he led Duke to the NCAA championship game; this time they faced off against Michigans Fab Five team featuring future NBA stars Chris Webber, Jalen Rose, Juwan Howard, Jimmy King, and Ray Jackson. Despite his accomplishments, Laettner is often considered one of the most polarizing figures in college basketball history. 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. 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. A story published in The Post-Star noted how a week after Syracuse was eliminated from the 1986 NCAA tournament, Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim was on hand watching Laettner, then a sophomore in high school. Overall, Laettner's career was disappointing, as he never amounted to anything more than a below-average player. Duke's Christian Laettner shoots the game-winning basket in overtime over Kentucky's Deron Feldhaus to win the NCAA East Finals in Philadelphia on March 28, 1992. 1 seed Georgetown and standout center Alonzo Mourning. What are some of his most impressive accomplishments? Related Read: What are the fundamentals of christianity? He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2010. Price, Nance, and Daugherty played great basketball and the series was tied 2-2 after four games. In 1997 he made a well-deserved All-Star appearance. 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. 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. 16 16. He was traded again in 1999, this time to the Detroit Pistons. Laettners number 32 jersey was retired by the Duke Blue Devils in 1992. Laettner had a solid NBA career, making the All-Rookie team in 1993, and the 1997 All-Star Game. How does he compare to other young players in the league? 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. Laettner was a standout high school player at Nichols School in Buffalo who was being recruited by some of the best programs in the ACC by his sophomore year. While he enjoyed a decorated career at Duke University and was a key member of the 1992 USA Olympic team, his NBA career failed to live up to expectations. He is also known for his clutch performances in college, most notably the jumper he scored against Kentucky in the regional final. The Los Angeles Lakers finished the 2000-2001 season with a 56-26 record and went on the win the NBA Finals over the 76'ers. Christian Laettner is a retired American professional basketball player. Christian Laettner played for the National Basketball Association (NBA) for 13 seasons from 1992 to 2005. 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.