Hindsight certainly makes the decision look strange. Very much so. 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. Here are the top 10 stars, pairs, trios, and ensembles who never won a championship because of Michael Jordan. 8 seed going up against the Bulls who held the best record ever in NBA history at that time with a 72-10 win-loss card. We started toward the end of his sophomore year. None. 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. Panhandle Basketball: The Place to Be for Hoops Fans, Brad Davis, NBA Player and Stamford Native. 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. Abruptly, because of a sensational sophomore named Christian Laettner. Plus he stayed all four years and graduated. ", Krzyzewski: "Christian is very intelligent. His epic . Laettner left the NBA in 2005. Since he retired from the NBA in 2005, Laettner has largely stayed out of the public eye. He's too good of a player. 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. What does the future hold for Jordan Hall? The easiest was by 68. 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. It would come to be known as The Shot II, sending the Cavaliers home for the summer with another heartbreaker. 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. Given Laettner's skills and remarkable athletic capabilities, it's hard to argue that he shouldn't be included on a team that features stars like Magic Johnson, Jordan, Karl Malone and Chris Mullin. 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. Laettners number 32 jersey was retired by the Duke Blue Devils in 1992. Duke called time-out, however, and on the inbounds play, Grant Hill threw a near court-length pass to Laettner, who caught it at the top of the key, dribbled twice, turned, and hit an 18-foot turn-around jumper as time expired, giving the Blue Devils the victory, 103-102. Wise counsel indeed. 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. 2 pick in the 2002 draft by the Chicago Bulls, had a short NBA career. Related Read: Why are christians so judgemental? 3) How many titles did Christian Laettner win at Duke? 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. 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. 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. Oakley provided the muscle underneath and fortified the Knicks interior defense. His Elite Eight buzzer beater against Kentucky that year remains iconic. 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 was the teams best foul shooter at the Olympics (18 for 20). Furthermore, his career was largely defined by his collegiate success rather than his professional accomplishments. First and foremost, his career numbers simply dont stack up compared to other Hall of Famers. Their leader, Charles Barkley, was named MVP and many had predicted that the Bulls had finally met their match in the NBA Finals. The Olympic Channel original series features Olympic legends who have just one week to turn around a struggling youth team. 1 seed Georgetown and standout center Alonzo Mourning. Or write about sports? In 1996, with last seasons loss still fresh on his mind, Jordan and the Bulls never let go of the gas pedal as they swept the Magic 4-0 in the Eastern Conference Finals. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. PAYTON'S PLACE:These are Payton Pritchard's 5 favorite games from his senior season. He was a productive player for 13 seasons and was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team in his first season. I was pissed off. Arguments against induction: He had five offensive rebounds, grabbing some of them during the most crucial plays of the game. I was definitely on the lower end of the scale, he said. 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. In Game 4, with the score tied in the final seconds, number 23 sealed the 4-0 sweep with a series-clinching buzzer-beater. Every March Madness montage features his 15-foot turnaround jumper that capped off a historic game in NCAA Tournament history. The late Chuck Daly was head coach; Mike Krzyzewski and Lenny Wilkens are also in, leaving only assistant P.J. Christian used to play basketball in his early years. 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. But Michael Jordan was more than any man could handle. 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. But Malone and Stockton werent done yet. ", Laettner on missing potential game-tying free throws against Arizona in a loss: "The whole Arizona game was the turning point for me. Majerle made a living at the three-point line and was a tough, hard-nosed defender capable of shutting down opponents. 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. 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 . Mar 28, 2019. Mourning had 11 points and five rebounds. The Blue Devils lost in the Final Four and in the. 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. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. He played 23 out of 24 possible NCAA games during his 4-year tenure, winning 21 of them. His father told him to take the lead and let everyone else follow. The series was 2-0 in Chicagos favor days later. He led the Seattle SuperSonics to their only NBA Championship in 1979. 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. 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. Related Read: What are the fundamentals of christianity? Christian Laettner is one of the most accomplished college basketball players in the history of the sport. Amy Sancetta/AP. 32 jersey was retired by Duke and was also awarded the USA Male Basketball Athlete of the Year award in 1991. Christian Laettner was drafted 3rd overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 1992 NBA Draft. He was born and raised in Angola, New York (near Buffalo and Niagara Falls). Malone is widely considered to be the second greatest power forward of all-time, next only to Tim Duncan. After his college career, Laettner enjoyed a successful 13-year NBA career with six different teams. O'Neal has said that while he was frustrated to be left out, he understood the choice. Christian Laettner attended Nichols School in Buffalo, New York and Duke. Related Read: Who is christian in after we fell? He was then drafted 3rd overall in the 1992 NBA draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves. He was often overshadowed by more decorated teammates like Shaquille ONeal, Alonzo Mourning, and Anfernee Hardaway. Christian Laettner: Center (1998-92). However, Christian Laettner's NBA career was a bit underwhelming in comparison. Dude was the best player in a team that won back to back . The third time was on January 14, 1993, against the Los Angeles Clippers. Four NBA championships and three Finals MVP's later, O'Neal was enshrined in the basketball Hall of Fame. After college, Laettner was drafted 3rd overall in the 1992 NBA Draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves. And once again, Duke made it to the NCAA title game; this time, they faced off against UNLV, who were heavily favored to win. The highlight of his buzzer-beating shot to beat Kentucky in the 1992 East Regional final remains an annual staple of NCAA . 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. Players who shine bright on the biggest stage of college basketball the NCAA Tournament often become household names. 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. did christian laettner win an nba championship devils hole missing divers. Here are the top matchups and tournaments to watch in the non-conference portion of the NCAA softball season. Coach K's squad won the East Regional Final and beat Indiana in the Final Four. Laettner, of course, went on to hit famous NCAA tournament buzzer-beaters against UConn and Kentucky, the latter later named the best moment in NCAA tournament history during the 75 Years of March Madness celebration. Christian Donald Laettner When I saw the other (Dream Teamers) in the NBA, we felt we had shared something. Laettner and the Dream Team went on to win the Olympics by bulldozing their way through the group stage and the knockouts, and the Duke star was the only college player on that team. Former Duke star Christian Laettner will be inducted into the Hall of Fame next week as part of the 1992 Olympic "Dream Team. 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. He enjoyed a lengthy NBA career, appearing in 868 games, scoring over 11,000 points and grabbing nearly 6,000 rebounds.