He averaged 12.8 points per game and 6.7 rebounds per game over his NBA career. After college, Laettner was drafted 3rd overall in the 1992 NBA Draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves. Initial birdie during when it . The Phoenix Suns were Americas darlings during the 1992-93 season. But MJ elevated his game beyond All-Star levels in the NBA Finals such that he was able to carry the Bulls on his back en route to a 4-2 series win (more on this later). Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. A member of the 1992 USA Olympic Dream Team, Laettner is one of only two players to have started all eight games during the teams dominant run to the gold medal. I've got to check out Duke. They had a big opportunity in 1992 when the Cavaliers reached the Eastern Conference Finals. He also played in 21 playoff games, starting in 12 of them. The next year, Ewing brought the Knicks back to the playoffs and was on a collision course with the Bulls again. Twitter: He is also third all-time in total field goals made (2,759) and sixth all-time in assists (2,157). In his NBA career, Laettner averaged 3.8 assists per game. 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. Mullin needed to win as his illustrious career was near its end by this time. Laettner was born and raised in Buffalo, New York. Laettner's best season statistically was his rookie year when he averaged 16.0 points per game and 6.9 rebounds per game. Villanova won the tournament in 1985. Later that year in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, the Hawks tied the series against the Bulls at 1-1, showing them that they had the firepower to keep up with the NBAs best team. The 1989 and 1991 Knicks were ill-equipped to challenge the Bulls and both teams would flame out in six and three games, respectively. pic.twitter.com/Pwtvqx29oJ. Christian Laettner played for the National Basketball Association (NBA) for 13 seasons from 1992 to 2005. We can not guarantee its completeness or reliability so please use caution. 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. Players who shine bright on the biggest stage of college basketball the NCAA Tournament often become household names. John Laettner was the Most Valuable Player of the NCAA mens basketball tournament in 1991 and 1992, leading Duke to back-to-back championships. did christian laettner win an nba championship devils hole missing divers. I was jealous," O'Neal said in a radiointerviewduring the 2012 NBA Finals. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). On the Jazz next possession, Jordan knew Stockton would pass to Malone on the block, so he snuck up on him as soon as the pass was delivered. Laettner was a very good shot blocker, and was especially adept at blocking shots in the post. He is also known for his clutch performances in college, most notably the jumper he scored against Kentucky in the regional final. 1. 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. It would come to be known as The Shot II, sending the Cavaliers home for the summer with another heartbreaker. Very much so. 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! He found time to talk trash to the leagues MVP and dunked on him in the waning moments of Game 2, one that has been replayed over and over again on classic NBA games and highlights. 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. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. He also chipped in with eight rebounds, four assists, and two blocks in the game. Laettner's Nichols High School (Buffalo, N.Y.) team won the tournament after Laettner had 18 points and 21 rebounds in the final game. This was the first time that the tournament moved to 64 teams and it has stayed that way ever since. The Bulls eliminated the Sixers easily in five games. He shot 49.1% from the field and 73.6% from the free throw line. ", Laettner on his game and his areas of improvement: "I have to work on my shot all the time. Christian Laettner: Center (1998-92). Laettner, Hill, Bobby Hurley, Thomas Hill, Antonio Lang, Cherokee Parks, Brian Davis, and Erik Meek were drafted into the NBA, with Laettner, Hill, Hurley, and Parks ending up as lottery picks. Everything was set for an upset. Christian Laettner hit the most famous shot in the history of college basketball. April 23, 1943 - Nov. 26, 2017 Bonnie Laettner, mother of basketball great Christian Laettner, became a celebrity in her own right during the height of her son's stellar career Even the big guys were hauling, the 6-foot-11 Laettner said. After being drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves with the 3rd pick in the 1992 draft, Laettner enjoyed a productive 13-year NBA career. Schrempf was no pushover as well as he scored 16.3 points per game while shooting 38.9 percent from the three-point line. Here are the members of the 1992 NBA Dream Team, and where they are today. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Also Read: NBA Rumors: Ben Simmons wants Philadelphia 76ers to pay for Doc Rivers' comments on the Australian, Be the first one to comment on this story. However, Laettners time in the NBA was relatively short-lived. It was the East Regional final between Duke and Kentucky. Jordan went to work once again. Christian Laettner averaged 12.8 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game. Of the rest of the players, Chris Mullin has been nominated several times, and remains a strong candidate. They were the most successful one-two punch the league had ever seen. New York employed plenty of roughhousing techniques to get under Chicagos skin much like Detroit. After his second season, his scoring and rebounding numbers both declined slightly and remained fairly consistent for the rest of his NBA career. 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. More importantly, he led the Heat to a 61-21 record and the third-best record in the league. He was a key player on some good teams, and was named to the All-Rookie First Team. He quickly became known for being a very undisciplined player, missing countless shots and not playing hard on defense. Christian Laettner weighed 235 lbs (106 kg) when playing. There were the Milwaukee Bucks, the Boston Celtics, the Detroit Pistons, and yes, even the Orlando Magic. The Christian Laettner NBA career started brightly with Minnesota Timberwolves, as he averaged 18.2 points and 6.6 rebounds per game. Majerle made a living at the three-point line and was a tough, hard-nosed defender capable of shutting down opponents. He also helped them win the NCAA title in both 1991-92, the first college team to repeat as champions since the 1970 heyday of the UCLA Bruins. Everyone expected the 1992 Eastern Conference Semifinals to be mere formalities for the 67-15 Bulls to advance to the next round. The Pacers had Jackson, an excellent playmaker, there was the tough pair of Dale Davis and Antonio Davis, and then there was 7-foot-4 Smits who had become one of the premier centers of the late 90s. He then finished them off in Game 5 with 39 points. They first met in the postseason in the 1990 Eastern Conference Semifinals. After his college career, Laettner enjoyed a successful 13-year NBA career with six different teams. Jerry Tarkanian led the Rebels to his only championship win. MJ stole the ball and raced back to the other end of the court. Here's everything you need to know about Christian Laettner's college career at Duke. Christian Laettner released the shot. 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. And we havent even talked about Gary Payton who isnt on this list because he won a championship with the Miami Heat in 2006. As a sophomore, Laettner was even better. Man for man, the Bulls didnt appear to have a chance against a powerhouse team like the Cavaliers. Dude was the best player in a team that won back to back . ", Former Duke guard Phil Henderson: "He doesn't play like a freshman, but he still has that giddiness about him. Christian Laettner's "The Shot". Amy Sancetta/AP. Malone at 193 games and Stockton at 182. Christian Laettner had a unique and dizzying career arc. Do you have a sports website? Most of all, Laettner provided was what every star-studded team needs a 12th man who knows his role. MORE: Marquette's Markus Howard picks his five most memorable moments in college. During the 1997 All-Star Game, the finger-wagging Mutombo baited Jordan by saying that MJ had never dunked on him, not even once. 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. It has been almost 30 years since Duke standout Christian Laettner was picked over to Isiah Thomas to represent America in the Olympics with the 1992 Dream Team. The Cleveland Cavaliers had a championship window between 1988 and 1993. Here are the top matchups and tournaments to watch in the non-conference portion of the NCAA softball season. First, at 611, Laettner was considered undersized for a traditional center, which limited his role on most teams. He played college basketball for the Duke Blue Devils from 1988 to 1992. Years later, Laettner understands he. But otherwise, he has largely avoided the limelight and has not been active in promoting his own Hall of Fame candidacy. He also played in all 82 games, starting in 71 of them. A versatile player, he was able to play both power forward and center. Related Read: What are the fundamentals of christianity? In context, though, his appearance on perhaps the greatest squadof all-time is somewhat defensible. Does he take the lead, or does he get everyone else involved first in the first few minutes of Game 7? Copyright 2023 Sporting News Holdings Limited. 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. One of the most controversial and productive college basketball players ever, Laettner laced up for . 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. Christian Laettner is widely regarded as one of the best college basketball players to ever play. He said he never felt big-timed or snubbed by his more glamorous teammates. Meanwhile, Alonzo Mourning (who won a championship with the Heat in 2006) was the man in the middle, the All-Star center who patrolled the paint and was the cornerstone of the franchise. After the Olympics, Laettner joined the Minnesota Timberwolves of the NBA, playing with them from 1992-96. The Duke Blue Devils definitely fall into the villain camp in college basketball and the Darth Vader in Duke's history, at least according to opposing fans, is Christian Laettner. In the Elite Eight, they played a tough Kentucky team and the game went into overtime. 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. Christian Laettner is enshrined in the Naismith Hall of Fame as a member of the fabled 'Dream Team' which also includes the likes of Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and Larry Bird. From 1991-93 and 1996-98, His Airness took on all challengers to the throne and vanquished them all. But which one has the most followers on Instagram? Christian Laettner enjoyed a successful college career with Duke, winning two National Championships. ", Laettner: "When Coach K grabbed me, I felt really special at that point. 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. Duke beat Kentucky 104-103 . The Christian Laettner NBA career then bounced around the league as he spent time . Malone is widely considered to be the second greatest power forward of all-time, next only to Tim Duncan. International Stats at Basketball-Reference.com, College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com, Scores from any date in BAA/NBA or ABA history, Frequently Asked Questions about the NBA, WNBA and Basketball, Basketball-Reference.com Blog and Articles, Subscribe to Stathead Basketball: Get your first month FREE. In his NBA career, Laettner averaged 12.8 points and 6.7 rebounds in 742 games. The bad news for this pair is that Michael Jordan and the Bulls have foiled their attempts to seize the championship trophy away. Dikembe Mutombo, Mookie Blaylock, Steve Smith, and Christian Laettner. 16 16. He played 23 out of 24 possible NCAA games during his 4-year tenure, winning 21 of them. He was then drafted 3rd overall in the 1992 NBA draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves. 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. While he did last 13 years in the league and did make an All-Star team, to Benjamin Hoffman of the New York Times. In the playoffs, he averaged 9.2 points per game and 5.4 rebounds per game. MORE: Complete roster, history behind"Dream Team". Shoots: The Indiana Pacers of 1998 had the best chance of any team to dethrone the Bulls in the 1990s. He was the teams best foul shooter at the Olympics (18 for 20). Laettner's best years statistically were his first two years in the NBA. 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. The Jazz took Game 1 on their home floor after they secured homecourt advantage with a better regular season record. Miller was in top form and had another shooter on his squad with former All-Star Mullin. He played for 6 teams total, winning an NBA championship with the Detroit Pistons in 2004. Nance and Daugherty would play one more season before retiring without a ring. In addition, Laettner was never considered one of the best players in his generation. Johnson and Majerle would never get the chance to play in an NBA Finals again. He is the only individual member of that team that is not currently in the Hall of Fame. I was at Five Star. Christian Laettner began his basketball career at an early age. Like, he'll be running down the court, clapping because we're winning, and there's like 18 minutes left in the game or something. But perhaps those high expectations for Laettner got in his head and were just too lofty for him to live up to. 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. Although he was close to filing for bankruptcy in 2016, he seemed at peace with how his basketball career had went in the 2015 documentary of his life, perfectly titled I Hate Christian Laettner. Yep, that would be Jalen Rose and the Michigan Wolverines. As a result, the forward has downplayed his participation on the historic team. In Laettner's senior year, the Blue Devils went 34-2 and 14-2 in conference play. He made 2 All-Star game appearances, in 1997 and 1998, and won an Olympic gold medal as part of the famed "Dream Team" in 1992. The late Chuck Daly was head coach; Mike Krzyzewski and Lenny Wilkens are also in, leaving only assistant P.J. 2023 NCAA | Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Full game: Duke beats Kentucky on Christian Laettner's shot, advances to 1992 Final Four, Marquette's Markus Howard picks his five most memorable moments in college, These are Payton Pritchard's 5 favorite games from his senior season, College basketball dictionary: 51 terms defined, No. A second can make such a big difference. 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 played at Nichols School in Buffalo, and then at Duke University from 1988 to 1992. 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 . Furthermore, his career was largely defined by his collegiate success rather than his professional accomplishments. 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. Laettner ultimately chose Duke over North Carolina and Virginia. But Malone and Stockton werent done yet. Very few NBA players were as worthy of an NBA title as Ewing. home/away, monthly, etc More Christian Laettner Basketball Reference pages, Compare Christian Laettner to other players. In his career, Laettner had 14 assists in a game four times. Russell Westbrook per Forbes, as of September 2019, Russell Westbrook has the most followers of any NBA player on, Read More What NBA Player Has the Most Followers on Instagram?Continue. Laettern was the only collegian chosen for the original US basketball Dream Team that dominated the opposition at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. That buzzer-beater shocked the Cavaliers, one that the team would never recover from. The highlight of his buzzer-beating shot to beat Kentucky in the 1992 East Regional final remains an annual staple of NCAA . Coach K's squad won the East Regional Final and beat Indiana in the Final Four. Click here for the full list of the greatest NBA players who failed to win a ring. We present them here for purely educational purposes. The six-game series showed that Barkley was a star that belonged on the big stage. Christian Laettner/Image: usatodayhss.com . 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. However, Christian Laettner's NBA career was a bit underwhelming in comparison. Throughout his career, he averaged 12.8 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. This was easily the best performance of Laettner's NBA career. "He's going to be great," Garfinkel said. We started toward the end of his sophomore year. The Olympic Channel original series features Olympic legends who have just one week to turn around a struggling youth team. He owns the most number of assists with 15,806 and steals with 3,265. He is also a four-time All-American, two-time National Player of the Year, and was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2003. Christian Donald Laettner ( / letnr /, LAYT-nr; born August 17, 1969) is an American former professional basketball player. Christian Laettner was selected third overall in the 1992 NBA Draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves. 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. There are very few players in the history of the game that can match his college career, said Bilas, an ESPN analyst who played at Dukeand was an assistant coach during Laettners time there. It has been almost 30 years since Duke standout Christian Laettner was picked over to Isiah Thomas to represent America in the Olympics with the 1992 Dream Team. 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. The Bulls celebrated their 6th championship on Utahs home floor, keeping the Jazz from a championship once again. Carlesimo out. -Some argue that Laettners induction would be more about his accomplishments at Duke than anything he did as a professional player. The 1989 series was more of the same. The game in which he really burst onto the national scene was in the Elite Eight his freshman year. Christian Laettner was drafted 3rd overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 1992 NBA Draft. The All-American ended one of the greatest college basketball games ever with a turnaround jumper at the overtime. Some believe that he is one of the greatest players ever to come out of Duke University, while others argue that his success was due largely to playing for one of the best college basketball programs in the country. Show More. Happy 52nd birthday to Christian Laettner! 868 GP, 12.8 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 2.6 APG 48.0 FG%, 82.0 FT% 1x (1997)A four-year starter at Duke, Laettner played in 23 out of a maximum possible 24 NCAA tournament games, winning 21. I know, I've won a few and lost a few myself. Christian Laettner was born on August 17, 1969. -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. He had an amazing National Basketball Association career. In 23 NCAA tournament games first off just, think about that; Laettner played in 23 out of a maximum 24 possible tournament games in college Laettner scored in double figures 20 times. 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. He and college teammate Brian Davis started Blue Devil Ventures (BDV), which attempted to revitalize downtown Durham. Get viral NBA graphics, memes, rumors and trending news delivered right to your inbox with the Clutch Newsletter. I've gone to a lot of camps. I was recently thinking that since college achievements are considered when selecting people for the Basketball Hall of Fame it would make sense that a guy who arguably had the greatest college basketball career ever in the modern era gets in. Although he never won an NBA Championship, Laettner was a very good rebounder throughout his career. First and foremost, his career numbers simply dont stack up compared to other Hall of Famers. Michael Jordan had to take over. Laettners NBA career ended in 2005, and he has not played professionally since. He hounded the superstar throughout the 1993 Eastern Conference Finals. The lead changed 17 times. He won almost every national player of the year award during his college career and thus recorded the best college career in . Unfortunately, the answer is no. Laettner had 14 points and four assists in that game as well. He is the only player to be a starter in four Final Fours. ", Krzyzewski: "Christian is very intelligent. Barkley submitted averages of 25.6 points, 12.2 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 1.6 steals, and 1.0 blocks per game. Weve got all the latest news and information on the sport, as well, Read More Panhandle Basketball: The Place to Be for Hoops FansContinue, Contents Brad Davis, NBA Player Stamford Native NBA Career Early Life high school Career College Career Professional Career Personal Life RetirementLegacy Brad Davis, NBA player and Stamford native, is one of the best players in the league. After compiling the franchise greatest record 14-2 in the normal time of year, the Steelers defeat Denver colorado 33-10 together with Harrisburg 34-5 in approach miami heat vs atlanta hawks live stream reddit to Very how many points did christian laettner score for the 92 men's olympic basketball team Pan XIII. Schrempf was a three-time All-Star, an All-NBA Third Team member, and was twice named Sixth Man of the Year. 7th in NCAA tournament history in career rebounds: 13th all-time in NCAA history in single-season 3-point percentage: 55.7 percent, 1992, T-17th all-time in NCAA history in career games played: 148 games, T-18th all-time in NCAA history in career free throws made: 713 free throws, 25th all-time in NCAA history in scoring: 2,460 points. He's a perfectionist. He played 23 out of 24 possible NCAA games during his 4-year tenure, winning 21 of them. He was traded again in 1999, this time to the Detroit Pistons. O'Neal said in a radiointerviewduring the 2012 NBA Finals. This one, I just couldn't believe. Christian Laettner was drafted 3rd overall in the 1992 NBA draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves. the official stats partner of the NBA, NHL and MLB. He was a prominent American basketball player of the 1990s and early 2000s who is best known for his game-winning shot against Kentucky in the 1992 tournament that helped lead Duke to the championship game, and for the hatred he received from opposing fans. Laettner was also named ACC Player of the Year in 1992 and 1993, and was an All-American in 1992 and 1993. 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. He played 13 seasons in the NBA for 6 different teams. 1 seed Georgetown and standout center Alonzo Mourning. The 6-foot-10 Laettner was the dominating force that saw the upstaters win their second straight Association of Independent Schools championship with a 73-70 victory over Our Saviour. Laettner also had seven rebounds, three assists and two steals. The Bulls were tested and hardened by the Pacers in the previous series that went to a Game 7 (see number 6 of this list). 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. He had just won the Wooden Award and back-to-back national championships at Duke. Of the 12 Dream Teamers, eight are individual Hall of Famers Charles Barkley, Larry Bird, Clyde Drexler, Patrick Ewing, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, David Robinson and John Stockton. He enjoyed a lengthy NBA career, appearing in 868 games, scoring over 11,000 points and grabbing nearly 6,000 rebounds. Hardaway and the Heat had the misfortune of going up against some of the best Bulls teams in the 1996 and 1997 NBA Playoffs. None. Kana Gum For NCAA Title DOUQ C2AD A Fitting End To Two Fine . I was pissed off. Once against the Charlotte Hornets, once against the Boston Celtics, once against the Indiana Pacers, and once against the Portland Trail Blazers. 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. His father told him to take the lead and let everyone else follow. Five years later, Christian Laettner was the winner of the NBA All-Star title ward. He led the Seattle SuperSonics to their only NBA Championship in 1979. "It was someone else.". 2 pick in the 2002 draft by the Chicago Bulls, had a short NBA career. Introduction The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a professional basketball league in North, Read More Is There an NBA Playoff Game Tonight?Continue, ContentsRussell WestbrookLeBron JamesKevin DurantKyrie IrvingStephen Curry We all know that NBA players are some of the most popular athletes in the world. I have half a brain. 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. As a result, the forward has downplayed his participation on. Arguments for induction: No matter how often everyones seen it, no one seems to have found a solution to it for more than a decade. Christian Laettner, Duke v. Kentucky, 1992 Elite Eight Arguably the most memorable play in the history of the tournament, Laettner's shot sunk Kentucky and allowed Duke to go on and win its . As a result of his onslaught, the Heat fell to the Bulls 4-1. 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.