Michael Brooks (basketball)

Michael Anthony Brooks (August 17, 1958 – August 22, 2016) was an American professional basketball player.[1] He also held French citizenship.[2] At 6 feet 7 inches (2.01 m), he played as a forward.

Michael Brooks
Brooks as a sophomore at La Salle
Personal information
Born(1958-08-17)August 17, 1958
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
DiedAugust 22, 2016(2016-08-22) (aged 58)
Switzerland
NationalityAmerican / French
Listed height6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
Listed weight220 lb (100 kg)
Career information
High schoolWest Philadelphia Catholic
(Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
CollegeLa Salle (1976–1980)
NBA draft1980 / Round: 1 / Pick: 9th overall
Selected by the San Diego Clippers
Playing career1980–1996
PositionSmall forward
Number7, 35
Career history
1980–1984San Diego Clippers
1987Indiana Pacers
1987Philadelphia Aces
1987–1988Albany Patroons
1988Philadelphia Aces
1988Denver Nuggets
1988–1992Limoges
1992–1995Levallois
1995–1996Strasbourg IG
2006–2008Chêne
Career highlights and awards
Career NBA statistics
Points4,086 (12.8 ppg)
Rebounds2,001 (6.3 rpg)
Assists818 (2.6 apg)
Stats  at NBA.com
Stats  at Basketball-Reference.com
Medals
Representing  United States
Men's basketball
Pan American Games
1979 San Juan

College career

At La Salle University, Brooks racked up 2,628 points and 1,372 rebounds as an Explorer, leading La Salle to the NCAA Tournament in 1978 and 1980 and earning Big 5 MVP honors during those same years. He was named College Player of the Year in 1980. He is currently the 28th leading scorer in the history of the NCAA. He was inducted into the La Salle Hall of Athletes in 1985 and the Big 5 Hall of Fame in 1986.

Professional career

NBA

Brooks was selected by the San Diego Clippers with the 9th overall pick of the 1980 NBA Draft. In the NBA, Brooks played for the Clippers (1980–84), Indiana Pacers (1986–87) and Denver Nuggets (1987–88) in altogether 319 games over six seasons.

France

He played in France for Limoges CSP from 1988 to 1992, winning the French national championship in 1989 and 1990. He was named Foreign Player MVP of the French league in 1991 and 1992.[2] After leaving Limoges, Brooks had stints with other French teams, Levallois and Strasbourg. His best stats in the French league came in the 1990–91 season, when he averaged 21.4 points and 10.3 rebounds a game for Limoges.[3]

National team career

Brooks played with Team USA at the Pan American Games's 1979 tournament. Brooks was chosen to be the team captain of the USA's 1980 Summer Olympics team, but he was unable to compete, due to the 1980 Summer Olympics boycott. In 2007, he received one of 461 Congressional Gold Medals, created especially for the spurned athletes.[4]

Personal life

Michael Brooks moved to Switzerland in 2005, where he worked as a basketball coach.[5]

He had five children, Michael Johnson-Brooks, Athena Brooks, Julien Brooks, Jasper Brooks, and Sacha Brooks. He died on August 22, 2016, at the age of 58, after suffering a massive stroke. Michael was also survived by his mother and 2 younger sisters.

See also

References
  1. Sielski, Mike. "Michael Brooks, former La Salle great, dies at 58". inquirer.com.
  2. "Michael Brooks : disparition d'une légende du Limoges CSP". France 3 Nouvelle-Aquitaine (in French). Retrieved 2020-06-14.
  3. "BROOKS Michael | LNB.fr". LNB (in French). Retrieved 2020-06-14.
  4. Caroccioli, Tom; Caroccioli, Jerry. Boycott: Stolen Dreams of the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games. Highland Park, IL: New Chapter Press. pp. 243–253. ISBN 978-0942257403.
  5. "Carnet noir : Michael Brooks s'est éteint". Retrieved 2020-06-14.
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