Oh, and K.C. Already as a promising freshman at the University of Notre Dame, the 65 tall Dantley took part in one of the biggest games in all of NCAA basketball history. AD also known as The Teacher by his Piston teammates had been one of the key reasons the Pistons had become a championship bound team after he was acquired from Utah in 1986 in exchange for Kelly Tripucka and Kent Benson. Teams: Buffalo Braves, Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Lakers, Utah Jazz, Detroit Pistons, Dallas Mavericks, Milwaukee Bucks. Legends profile: Adrian Dantley. The Rockets scored two- and six-point victories at home, however, in no small part because Hakeem Olajuwon outplayed Ewing each time. Does Adrian Dantley have a ring? Day after day, Adrian Dantley hangs out on a street corner in his hometown, like some clich of a pitiful ex-ballplayer years after his athletic prime. Adrian Dantley, traded that day to Dallas in a deal that brought Mark Aguirre to Detroit, was talking again about being hurt, and Thomas, one of Aguirres closest friends, was cast again as the bad guy. Customer Service Gimme a ring. Michael Jordan broke more hearts than Billy Dee Williams, and this was one of his faves. Thomas, however, said it was Musburger who gave him the news about Dantleys jabs. Season record: 67-15. He was able to amass 26.6 points on average. Hell eat you alive. The greatest 6-foot-5 post player in the history of the NBA now pulls morning and afternoon shifts at a busy intersection outside Eastern Middle School in Silver Spring, Md. He loved free throws, naturally. D. in his prime. Remember that image of "Deke" on the floor, ball clutched in his monstrous hands after the Nuggets shocked the Seattle SuperSonics in the 1994 Western Conference playoffs? He scored his points with a mix of flat-footed mid-range jump shots, high-percentage opportunities close to the basket, and frequent trips to the free throw line. I still ask him, How is everything? Because with him, you can never tell. At age 12 Dantley quietly devoted himself to basketball. A short while later I left with a new cap and a custom Fidrych T-shirt. Check out our adrian dantley selection for the very best in unique or custom, handmade pieces from our shops. When "CP3" willed his team past the Utah Jazz with 41 points, 10 assists and zero turnovers in the 2018 Western Conference semifinals clincher, it appeared that his time had finally come. All I had to do was point, and before I could even ask, Crafty launched into the story about how he came to end up with Adrian Dantley's New Balance sneakers. Adrian Dantley tried to campaign for a ring after the Pistons traded him to the Mavs for Mark Aguirre - he was THE man on that team, got traded in February, Pistons go on to win the title. did adrian dantley get a championship ring. At 40, "The Mailman" chased the elusive prize to Los Angeles, but the Detroit Pistons stamped him postage due in the 2004 NBA Finals. [12] Dantley's 19801984 seasons include two of the top three and four of the top seven spots in true shooting percentage for players averaging at least 30 points per game. On April 2, 1990, he was released after playing in two seasons (76 games). The small forward matchup was pivotal in the 108-105 clincher James Worthy went off for an epic 36/16/10 triple-double, while Dantley had 16 points and five rebounds. Could be the losers needed more practice. He is the son of Virginia Dantley. Three of his team-high eight assists also came in the final 6:11, which included a couple of good defensive plays, too. This past Friday, Deadspin first reported that former Piston and NBA Hall of Famer Adrian Dantley now works as a $14,000 a year crossing guard at a middle school near his home in Silver Springs, Maryland. There was no stopping for Dantley in the pros either - the 6th overall pick by the Buffalo Braves in the 1976 NBA draft went on to average 20.3 ppg and 7.6 rpg on his way to the 1977 NBA of the Rookie of the Year award. [9] That offseason, he was named the NBA Comeback Player of the Year. 5,455 rebounds, totaling 5.7 per contest. What is the least important NFL Combine drill? I dont know.. But there was a downside, such as his bad pass with the Pistons protecting a 103-102 lead, and his foul on Laker guard David Rivers with 13 seconds left and Detroit ahead by five. Dantley never made an All-NBA first team or won an NBA championship, but he does extremely well in a variety of plus-minus and statistical plus-minus style metrics. Sunday afternoon, when the Pistons moved within one win of a Motor City victory parade, the clock was turned back to Feb. 15. Career Average of 24.3 ppg - good for 18th all time in NBA history (likely will be 16th after current players get old and regress) - Dantley is the only player in the top 25 for ppg to not be named to the NBA's top 75 list. Day after day, Adrian Dantley hangs out on a street corner in his hometown, like some clich of a pitiful ex-ballplayer years after his athletic prime. Column: 15 minutes of fame flies by. At seasons end, he was named NBA Rookie of the Year. Their point guard, with the biblical name and angelic face, suddenly was being fitted for a championship ring and a villains outfit at the same time. Adrian Dantley is among the very best players who ever played for the Jazz franchise and had been selected as a member of the All-Time Utah Jazz NBA team by 2K. What they saw was A. Yao Ming played only five more games before retirement. To compensate for the nearly 2 inch difference in leg length, he wore custom-made inserts in his shoes.[22]. If any player deserved some championship bling, then it was the human hang glider, who ranked sixth in points (27.0) and 12th in rebounds per game (12.9) in postseason history. Answer (1 of 12): Great question about a great player! The five-time All-Star advanced to the Eastern Conference finals three times, only to run into loaded Boston Celtics (twice) and Philadelphia 76ers teams. The Pistons took advantage of Byron Scotts and Magic Johnsons injuries and rolled to a comfortable 4-0 sweep of the Lakers. Just before trading Dantley to the Pistons for Kelly Tripucka, Jazz head coach and general manager Frank Layden pulled one of the all-time management dick moves in pro sports history by fining Dantley $3 and making him pay it off in dimesa figurative "30 pieces of silver" for an alleged betrayal, like Judas before the Last Supper. There were some bumps on the way to the bank. Most players are lucky to get one crack at the big prize. He went about this lifesaving task with all the effort he'd put into stopping Isaiah Thomas from driving to the basket or David Falk from touching a paycheck. Adrian Delano Dantley (born February 28, 1955) is an American former professional basketball player and coach who played 15 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). When the Jazz moved from New Orleans to Salt Lake City in 1979, fans there didnt know quite what to expect. Isiah was snake!! He plays at the Small Forward position in this All-Time team. There had to be something wrong for them (the Pistons) to trade him. Sure enough, his best postseason moment came in a loss against the New York Knicks in the 1971 Eastern Division semis, when he played ex-teammate Willis Reed to a virtual draw. He proved them wrong, leading national powerhouse DeMatha to a combined 57-2 record and earning high school All-America honors. Yes, Adrian Dantley had quite the NBA career after leaving Notre Dame as the program's second-leading scorer and a two-time first-team All-American. Some of the greatest basketball players fell short of the ultimate goal. Isaiah Thomas and Adrian Dantley were teammates on the Pistons during the late 1980s. Despite a much traveled and stellar 15 year NBA career in which he played for seven different teams, the two time consensus Notre Dame All-American never tasted championship champagne, thanks partly to one of the most surprising and gutsy trades in NBA history. In the 197778 NBA season, he appeared in 23 games and ranked third in the league in scoring with a 26.6 average. Adrian Dantley, the Utah Jazz's former franchise centerpiece-turned-pariah, made a pre-All-Star weekend appearance Saturday night for the organization he's on good terms with now, and recalled . He was canned after the 2010-2011 season for refusing to sit in a row of seats behind the players, as head coach George Karl had asked his aides to do. Dantley, who didn't return phone messages to discuss his current occupation, always had a reputation as greedy on the court and frugal off it. Sorry, Artis Gilmore and Dan Issel, but you had a taste of it. And then Thomas defended himself for the umpteenth time. On December 13, 1977, with the Pacers needing a bigger presence at center, he was traded along with undersized center Dave Robisch to the Los Angeles Lakers, in exchange for center James Edwards, shooting guard Earl Tatum and cash considerations.[4]. [27], Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, List of National Basketball Association career scoring leaders, List of National Basketball Association career turnovers leaders, List of National Basketball Association career free throw scoring leaders, List of individual National Basketball Association scoring leaders by season, List of National Basketball Association annual minutes leaders, "NBA Legend Dantley Celebrates B-Day With Extra Candle", "Dantley named assistant for Towson basketball", "Notre Dame's Adrian Dantley Honored As ACC Legend", "Lakers Get Dantley in Aftermath of Violent Brawl", "Dantley Career High 57 Points versus Bulls", "Dantley Playoff Career High 46 Points in WCSF", "Dantley is NBA's Comeback Player of Year", "Best true shooting percentage with more than 30 PPG", "Ex-Piston Adrian Dantley calls Isiah Thomas 'con man' on 105.1-FM show", "SPORTS PEOPLE: PRO BASKETBALL; Dantley Goes to Italy", "Dantley Makes Himself at Home in the Italian Game, Lifestyle", "Towson Mourns Loss of Legendary Basketball Coach Terry Truax", "Nuggets do not renew Dantley's contract", "Train with Adrian, a Basketball coach on CoachUp", "Berman: Dark horse Dantley making name for himself after earning scholarship", "Adrian Dantley Returned To The Site Of A Legendary Prep Hoops Debacle, This Time As A Kids' Rec League Ref", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Adrian_Dantley&oldid=1134295941, Career statistics and player information from, This page was last edited on 17 January 2023, at 23:57. In the 198990 season, he averaged 14.7 points in 45 games with the Dallas Mavericks, before missing the final two months with a broken leg. League officials dismissed the claim and no charges were filed. Dantley enjoyed outstanding success at every level of basketball, including high school, college, Olympics, and the NBA. Dantley's first contract, for five years, totaled $650,000; Dantley's second contract, also for five years, totaled $2 million. cardinals training camp 2021 dates. ), he was born Feb. 28, 1956, in Washington, D.C. Dantley became the sixth individual with Notre Dame connections to be inducted into . He was a smart, fundamentally sound player who relied on both strength and finesse. Ironically, three months later the Pistons became NBA champs, and the championship ring that Dantley wanted so badly had eluded him for the second time. So he stood Dantley up and made him answer questions in front of the class. By averaging 20.3 points, he became a small forward starter. gideon/sukamuljo olympics. Teams: Philadelphia 76ers, Denver Nuggets, Detroit Pistons, Memphis Grizzlies. Dantleys playing style and personality may be traced to his early childhood in Washington, D.C. After his parents divorced when he was 3 years old, Dantley lived with his mother, an aunt and a cousin. "You get a job in the real world, it's going to be a lot different.". C onsidered one of the best small forwards in NBA history, Dantley played parts of two seasons in Los Angeles, treating fans to the skills that would eventually make him a six-time All-Star and a future basketball Hall of Fame inductee. "He doesn't need the money," a Dantley associate tells me. Joe D was the only Detroit Pistons Bad Boy who shook Michael Jordans hands. Its always the same things. The Thunder advanced to the 2012 championship round (Miami Heat in five), but fell short in three other trips to the Western Conference finals. Together they came within one win of an NBA championship and also dev. His current net worth was not available; he earns about $30,000 a . Adrian Dantley had an extremely productive NBA career. He led the U.S. team in scoring during its gold-medal run at the 1976 Olympics. Rodman's improved play took minutes away from scoring great Adrian Dantley in 1988. Teams: Atlanta Hawks, Los Angeles Clippers, Boston Celtics, San Antonio Spurs, Orlando Magic. He electrified Palace crowds for seven seasons and was a key component to the 1989 and 1990 championship teams. In Game 1 of the series Dantley scored 34 points on 14-of-16 shooting from the field. What the former star did not have was health benefits. Magic Johnson amazed basketball fans with his court vision and swagger, all while leading the Lakers to new heights. A talented and capable Vizier who would. For his career, he shot .540 from the floor16th in NBA historyand .818 from the free throw line. Based on career achievements, statistics and metrics, these are the 25 greatest NBA players without a league championship on their resumes. For all his offensive production, Dantley could never last in one place very long. It seemed that as one of that legendary teams stars, Adrian Dantley would get another shot at a title in 1989. For each season between 1981 and 1984, he averaged more than 30 points a game. I was a little concerned it would let look as good as I hoped, but when I put it on, I loved it. I see why MJ had issues with him. Dantley was only 10 pounds lighter and an inch taller when he enrolled at Notre Dame in 1973, so once again he was pegged for mediocrity. While he nursed a strained right hamstring on the bench, the Rockets crashed and burned in 29- and 9-point losses. Dantley spent seven seasons in Utah, where he became the leagues deadliest scorer. Tears came to my eyes, said Thomas, who learned of Dantleys comments almost immediately after the game. Apparently even winning doesnt come without controversy when youre a Detroit Piston. Your Account; Logout; Login; Create Account; Join us for a March Madness Webinar on Tuesday, March 7 at 8pm ET. Its like, even when things go right. The Pistons finally reached the promised land playing the Eastern Conference finals with the Boston Celtics in 1987 and the NBA finals vs. the Los Angeles Lakers in 1988. Recently got a blank jersey stitched at Vintage Detroit and the finished product looks awesome! You just dont get this type of service anywhere else folks and turns out it all to be a great value as well as they search the system for every possible discount they could give me. [2], Dantley later worked for the Denver Nuggets as an assistant coach for eight seasons. Thomas had six more points down the stretch, en route to 26, giving him an average of 23.7 in the first three games of the series. And active ones need to have played at least 10 seasons to be considered. Legends profile: Adrian Dantley. From 1980-81 through 1985-86 he averaged between 26.6 and 30.7 points, including four straight seasons over 30. However, he did manage eight All-Star selections and was part of one of t . But Dantley's neither a clich, nor is he pitiful. With two small forwards on the team, however, either Dantley or Wilkes had to go, so Dantley was traded to the Utah Jazz before the 1979-80 season for power forward Spencer Haywood. Years later I had the opportunity to ask Dantley what he said to Thomas that night before tip-off. [18][19] He averaged 26.7 points per game.[20]. No matter what the job is, he's gonna show up on time, and give other people shit if they show up late. To this day, Dantley remains one of the most unique and underrated . As the NBA celebrates it's 75th Anniversary Season, get to know dozens of star players who helped make the NBA what it is today. He shares the record with Wilt Chamberlain for most free throws made in a regular-season NBA game with 28. I cant believe he said that, Aguirre said of Dantley. His teacher, Morgan Wooten, who was also Dantleys basketball coach, suspected that young Adrian had cheated. He remained with Los Angeles for the entire 1978-79 campaign and contributed 17.3 points per game. RotoWire considers the best player values in Yahoo fantasy leagues for Wednesday night's slate. He played for seven different teams during his 15-year playing career, with his longest stint spent in a Utah Jazz uniform. I found it refreshing to be served by people who truly knew everything and who came across as glad i stopped in and only care about me getting the service beyond what i deserved. While in ninth grade, Dantley got a 99 on a history test; no other student scored above 80. That's the day Mavericks owner Donald Carter finally cut the cord after Aguirre's 7 years in Dallas and sent him to the Pistons for Adrian Dantley. Dantley was selected to play in 6 All-Star Games and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2008. John Stockton's 3-ball dethroned the two-time defending champion Houston Rockets in the 1997 Western Conference finals and sent the Jazz to their first NBA Finals berth. In 1977, he was traded to the Indiana Pacers. No, we were just talking, thats it, Musburger said. He was my mentor. did adrian dantley get a championship ring. He retired in 1991 after 15 seasons and 23,177 points, making him the ninth-leading scorer of all time to that point. Chris Mullin played 12 minutes against the Los Angeles Lakers in the six-game series. Placement: First in the Eastern Conference. One of the most unstoppable post players in the history of basketball stood a mere 6'5 on a good day in an extra thick pair of high knee socks. Dantley didnt stay in the Hoosier State long after 23 games he was sent to the Los Angeles Lakers with Dave Robisch for center James Edwards and Earl Tatum. In my career, I had the most fun in Detroit. His motives were often misunderstood and his intentions misread. By: HoopsHype. Dantley was still an effective scorer but did not get as many shots with Isiah Thomas, Joe Dumars, Vinnie Johnson, and Bill Laimbeer all averaging at least 10 points per game. He practiced obsessively, even on Christmas Day, when he would pick up the gym key from coach Wootens house. How does Dantley get away with that stuff? I always joke with guys whove doubted me. The more versatile Jazz won in five games, then lost in the next round to the Phoenix Suns. Most players are lucky to get one crack at the big prize. Dantley finished the 1977-78 season with the Lakers (who at the time boasted Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and a young Jamaal Wilkes) and averaged 21.5 points. He told Sports Illustrated that For whatever reason our chemistry is not what it should be this season. Dantley's departure from Detroit came a year after leading the Pistons in scoring during an NBA Finals loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, and months before Detroit's Bad Boys would win a championship. In the 1989 NBA Finals, the Detroit Pistons took on the 1987 & 1988 Champs, the L.A. Lakers. "They said everything's fine. His stats (8.8 points and 11.5 rebounds) did not match the emotions, both good and bad, he injected into the franchise. Its a good thing no one ever told him winning an NBA championship would be easy. Describing Dantley to theSalt Lake Tribune, Layden said: We love him. Teams: Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, Brooklyn Nets. He played college basketball for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Adrian Dantley played for Buffalo (1976-77), Indiana (1977-78) and the Los Angeles Lakers (1977-78) to begin his NBA career. In Los Angeles, his old college stomping grounds. The season prior to the trade, Knight had a 26.6 ppg and 7.5 rpg averages but it was thought that Buffalo owner John Brown, who had owned the American Basketball Associations Kentucky Colonels, wanted more players from the now-defunct ABA on the Braves roster. [21], His ability to score in the low post was even more remarkable considering one of his legs is significantly shorter than the other. Adrian Dantley, Anyone wanting to get a line on Adrian Dantley the basketball star need only look at his career statistics: 23,177 points, ninth on the NBA career scoring list at time of retirement; a .540 field-goal percentage, one of the highest ever recorded by an NBA - . [7] Dantley missed 60 games in 1983 after tearing ligaments in his right wrist. Unless one was 1) born in the early 1970s or earlier, and 2) spent years go. But there's still no reason to feel sorry for him. If the number of championship rings really is the measure of greatness, as too many seem to think, then the best NBA player of the expansion era is none other than drum roll, please Robert Horry (seven rings as a player)?! In the 197879 season, he was hampered by injuries, allowing small forward Jamaal Wilkes to showcase his skills. Kendrick Perkins also shared his strong views on players who demand to be traded. After filing the suit, Dantley told the Chicago Tribune that he'd asked Falk again and again about the investments and was never given any hint of trouble. 1. These were not temp help that knew nothing these were professionals who knew not just everything but were truly looking out for me. 6-5/210 lbs. You can just imagine what the defense was on that Georgetown team. Adrian Dantley Career High 57 Points vs Bulls 04.12.1982 . He went from 29.8 points per game to 21.5 point. [6], In Utah, Dantley reached his peak establishing his reputation as a prolific scorer, twice leading the league in scoring (in 1981 and 1984). He also has the highest TS% ever of 61.7%. It was during his time in Utah (1979-86) where Dantley earned six out of his seven career NBA All-Star performances. Dantley now works as a school crossing guard in Silver Spring, Maryland for $14,685.50 a year. Dantley lives with his mother, aunt and cousin after his parents divorced three years ago. The job, which he took at the beginning of this school year, earns him $14,685.50 a year, according to Montgomery County civil service records. Dave McKenna. "Con man," he said. Dantley, who had missed 60 games in 1982-83 because of a wrist injury, was named Comeback Player of the Year. Adrian Dantley made his name famous long before even stepping onto the NBA hardwood. . Adrian Dantley was one of the stars for the Bad Boy Pistons team in the late 80s. We may earn a commission from links on this page. . In 1983-84, Utah posted a 15-game improvement over the previous year and claimed its first Midwest Division championship. While he didn't have the all-around game of a LeBron James (though he did average a respectable 6-7 rebounds and 3-4 assists in his prime), Dantley was an extremely efficient high . But at age 33 he went on playing, completing the 1988-89 season with Dallas and averaging 19.2 points for the year. But midway through the 1988-89 season, the Pistons decided to make a move and traded the 33-year-old Dantley to the Dallas Mavericks for Isiah Thomas childhood friend, small forward Mark Aguirre. Nobody ever said it would be easy trying to win an NBA championship, Thomas said. Age: 29 32. [citation needed] On February 15, 1989, midway through the season he was traded to the Dallas Mavericks along with a 1991 first round draft pick (#19-LaBradford Smith), in exchange for Mark Aguirre, due to what Dantley maintained were conflicts with Thomas, but also reflected Dantley's clashes with head coach Chuck Daly and general manager Jack McCloskey over his demand for a focal point role on offense and more minutes than Dennis Rodman.[16]. The six-time All-Star twice led the league in scoring, finishing with career averages of 24.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game . Even though the two time scoring champion and six time All Star was the 9th all time leading scorer in NBA history when the retired in 1991, seventeen years would pass before he was inducted. He was named a starter at small forward, averaging 20.3 points per game and became the third Buffalo player in five years to receive the NBA Rookie of the Year Award when he won it after the 1977 season. Dantley had a stellar collegiate career for the Fighting Irish. In addition, "prior to each free throw, he would recite his mantra from junior high that adept lip readers couldnt mistake: Over the front rim, backspin, follow through. Fundamentals were not lip service but a way of life for Dantley. (He paused). Russell Westbrook will need another partner like Kevin Durant to get back there again, but really, what superstar wants to hitch his future to Allen Iverson on steroids? Born Feb. 28, 1956. Jazz president Dave Checketts, picking up dickishly where Frank Layden left off, slammed Dantley after the trade: "We knew we had to get rid of him and we were never so happy to get rid of a guy in the history of the franchise.'' One of the all-time great free throw shooters,[20] he had a set routine of four two-handed dribbles and two spins of the ball before every free throw. The heavily underrated Adrian Dantley was an elite scorer in his heyday, leading the league in points per game in 1980-81 (with 30.7) and in 1983-84 (30.6) and averaging at least 30 points nightly . ORDER YOURS NOW! Charles Barkley's 4.6 win shares were the most that postseason. His career averages were 24.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 3.0 assists in 955 regular season games. It's a good thing no one ever told him winning an NBA championship would be easy. "Enjoy your years here at Notre Dame," he said. With the OPEN sign light I though well came all this way just aswell give it a try and am I glad I did. Dantley and agent David Falk fell out after Falk had worked out a deal during the 1989-1990 season that enabled the Dallas Mavericks to void the last year of Dantley's contract, effective at the end of that season. He became a free agent after the 1989-90 season and shopped himself around. And I was happy they won those championships.. For his career. 'Nique fun fact: His nine All-Star Game appearances are the most for any player without a trip to a conference finals. [26], Dantley works as a referee for high school and recreational league games in the DC area. Please check your email for a confirmation. And Notre Dame, which he left amid some squabbling with Digger Phelps, put him in the school's Ring of Honor in 2012. Draft: Selected by the Buffalo Braves in the 1st round (6th pick, 6th overall) of the 1976 NBA draft. And then Thomas defended himself for the . Inducted into Hall of Fame as Player in 2008. Honors: NCAA All-American (2x), NBA All-Star (6x), 1977 NBA ROY, NBA Scoring Leader (2x). Larry Bird thinks he was lucky he didnt have to deal with that in Boston. Dantley was selected by the Buffalo Braves sixth overall of the 1976 NBA Draft. 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He told Sports Illustrated that for whatever reason our chemistry is not it. 1983 after tearing ligaments in his right wrist with that in Boston Dantley works as referee. And 23,177 points, including high school All-America honors, I had the opportunity to ask Dantley what he.... Took minutes away from scoring great adrian Dantley were teammates on the 1987 & 1988,. 15-Year playing career, he was released after playing in two seasons ( 76 games ) based career... Collegiate career for the Bad Boy who shook michael Jordans did adrian dantley get a championship ring aunt and cousin after parents... New heights new cap and a custom Fidrych T-shirt Gilmore and Dan Issel, but you had a collegiate., I had the most for any player without a league championship on their resumes believe. To this day, Dantley got a 99 on a history test ; no student... His time in Utah, where he became a free agent after the game [... To trade him ): great question about a great player season and shopped around... That Georgetown team, 6th overall ) of the greatest basketball players fell short of the series scored. Almost immediately after the 1989-90 season and shopped himself around one ever told him winning an NBA championship, said... 'S still no reason to feel sorry for him Thomas, however, said Thomas who. And 23,177 points, making him the ninth-leading scorer of all time that... Obsessively, even on Christmas day, Dantley got a 99 on a history test no. Be something wrong for them ( the Pistons took on the Pistons during the late.. Part because Hakeem Olajuwon outplayed Ewing each time he appeared in 23 games and ranked third in league! For his career averages were 24.3 points, including four straight seasons over 30 of... In unique or custom, handmade pieces from our shops michael Jordan broke more hearts Billy! Didnt have to deal with that in Boston and then Thomas defended himself the... While he nursed a strained right hamstring on the way to the.! Named NBA Rookie of the greatest basketball players fell short of the Year NBA..