Derrick Coleman

Derrick Demetrius Coleman (born June 21, 1967) is an American former basketball player. Coleman was born in Mobile, Alabama, but grew up and attended high school in Detroit, and attended college at Syracuse University. He was selected first overall in the 1990 NBA draft by the New Jersey Nets.

Derrick Coleman
Coleman in 2014
Personal information
Born (1967-06-21) June 21, 1967
Mobile, Alabama
NationalityAmerican
Listed height6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
Listed weight230 lb (104 kg)
Career information
High schoolNorthern (Detroit, Michigan)
CollegeSyracuse (1986–1990)
NBA draft1990 / Round: 1 / Pick: 1st overall
Selected by the New Jersey Nets
Playing career1990–2005
PositionPower forward / Center
Number44
Career history
19901995New Jersey Nets
19951999Philadelphia 76ers
19992001Charlotte Hornets
20012004Philadelphia 76ers
2004–2005Detroit Pistons
Career highlights and awards
Career NBA statistics
Points12,884 (16.5 ppg)
Rebounds7,232 (9.3 rpg)
Blocks1,051 (1.3 bpg)
Stats  at NBA.com
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com

Throughout his career, the left-handed Coleman was an effective low post scorer, averaging 16.5 points and 9.3 rebounds. He enjoyed his best years as a member of the New Jersey Nets, where he averaged 19.8 points and 10.6 rebounds per game. When Coleman entered the NBA, he was compared to elite power forwards such as Karl Malone and Charles Barkley, and expected to put up similar numbers, only with the added ability to shoot from three-point range. Instead, his career was overshadowed by numerous injuries. Sports Illustrated once remarked that "Coleman could have been the best power forward ever; instead he played just well enough to ensure his next paycheck."[1]

Coleman's Syracuse jersey number, 44, was retired on March 5, 2006. As of 2007, he was working as a developer and entrepreneur in Detroit.[2] He has also appeared as an occasional studio analyst for NBA TV's "NBA Gametime Live" coverage.

NBA career

Coleman was the first overall pick in the 1990 NBA draft after a successful college career. He had a solid rookie season and went on to win the NBA Rookie of the Year Award in 1991.

Coleman went on to improve during the 1991–92 season, averaging close to 20 points and 10 rebounds a game. The Nets were an up-and-coming team as well, with young players like Coleman, Kenny Anderson, Chris Morris and Mookie Blaylock teaming up with solid veteran players like Sam Bowie, Chris Dudley, Terry Mills and Dražen Petrović. The addition of coach Chuck Daly, who won two NBA championships with the Detroit Pistons as head coach, was enough to get the Nets a winning record and into the playoffs during the 1992–93 season. The 1993–94 season was the peak for Coleman and the Nets during his time with the team. The Nets made it to the playoffs for the third straight season, while Coleman averaged his second straight 20 points, 10 rebounds season and was selected to represent the Nets in the All-Star game along with teammate Kenny Anderson.

He played for the US national team in the 1994 FIBA World Championship, winning the gold medal.[3]

During a 1995 game featuring Coleman's Nets and rival Karl Malone's Utah Jazz, Coleman controversially referred to Malone as an 'Uncle Tom'.[4][5]

Coleman's career ended during the 2004–05 season, when he was cut by the Pistons during the season. He was one of nine NBA players that faced suspension for his role in the infamous November 2004 Pacers–Pistons brawl.

Coleman is one of only three players in NBA history to record a five-by-five in a game with at least 20 points and 10 rebounds (the other two being Hakeem Olajuwon and Draymond Green).[6]

Post NBA

Coleman purchased a home in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey, where he resided until 2010, when he moved to Detroit.[7] After the water crisis began in Flint, Michigan, Coleman drove 65 miles daily to bring residents clean bottled water and eating utensils, which they did not have access to.[8]

NBA career statistics

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

Regular season

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
1990–91 New Jersey 746835.2.467.342.73110.32.21.01.318.4
1991–92 New Jersey 655834.0.504.303.7639.53.20.81.519.8
1992–93 New Jersey 767336.3.460.232.80811.23.61.21.720.7
1993–94 New Jersey 777736.1.447.314.77411.33.40.91.820.2
1994–95 New Jersey 565437.6.424.233.76710.63.30.61.720.5
1995–96 Philadelphia 111126.7.407.333.6256.52.80.40.911.2
1996–97 Philadelphia 575436.9.435.269.74510.13.40.91.318.1
1997–98 Philadelphia 595836.2.411.265.7729.92.50.81.217.6
1998–99 Charlotte 372931.8.414.212.7538.92.10.61.113.1
1999–2000 Charlotte 746431.7.456.362.7858.52.40.51.816.7
2000–01 Charlotte 34320.1.380.392.6855.41.10.30.68.1
2001–02 Philadelphia 585835.9.450.337.8158.81.70.70.915.1
2002–03 Philadelphia 643527.2.448.328.7847.01.40.81.19.4
2003–04 Philadelphia 343024.8.413.222.7545.61.40.70.88.0
2004–05 Detroit 5010.0.214.0001.0003.00.00.00.01.8
Career 78167233.2.447.295.7699.32.50.81.316.5
All-Star 1118.0.167.0003.01.01.01.02.0

Playoffs

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
1992 New Jersey 4440.5.486.167.76211.35.31.81.022.3
1993 New Jersey 5545.0.532.417.80613.44.61.22.626.8
1994 New Jersey 4443.3.397.556.78014.32.50.51.324.5
2000 Charlotte 4442.3.474.313.78612.53.50.83.020.3
2001 Charlotte 5017.6.265.250.7785.01.20.80.45.4
2002 Philadelphia 5538.2.524.308.8009.22.00.21.412.8
2003 Philadelphia 121237.4.500.400.8728.02.00.61.313.6
Career 393437.4.472.351.8069.92.80.81.516.8

See also

References

  1. SI.com, NBA Draft Busts #17
  2. Hoop hopes: Ex-NBA star aids neglected neighborhood Detroit Free Press
  3. "1994 USA Basketball". Archived from the original on June 29, 2008. Retrieved May 26, 2008.
  4. This article is unavailable - HighBeam Research
  5. PRO BASKETBALL; Coleman Speaks, And Beard Cringes - New York Times
  6. http://nbahoopsonline.com/History/Records/5x5.html
  7. Staff. "Score big at the Derrick Coleman Estate sale", The Detroit News, January 15, 2009. Accessed January 28, 2011. "We're selling the entire contents of Derrick's Franklin Lakes NJ home at 75 percent off says Coleman's longtime interior designer Mark Morganroth."
  8. How former NBA bust Derrick Coleman became a hero
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