Chris Mullin (basketball)

Chris Mullin
St. John's Red Storm
Position Head coach
League Big East Conference
Personal information
Born (1963-07-30) July 30, 1963
Brooklyn, New York
Nationality American
Listed height 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Listed weight 200 lb (91 kg)
Career information
High school Power Memorial (New York City, New York)
Xaverian (Brooklyn, New York)
College St. John's (1981–1985)
NBA draft 1985 / Round: 1 / Pick: 7th overall
Selected by the Golden State Warriors
Playing career 1985–2001
Position Small forward / Shooting guard
Number 13, 17
Coaching career 2015–present
Career history
As player:
1985–1997 Golden State Warriors
1997–2000 Indiana Pacers
2000–2001 Golden State Warriors
As coach:
2015–present St. John's
Career highlights and awards
Career NBA statistics
Points 17,911 (18.2 ppg)
Rebounds 4,034 (4.1 rpg)
Assists 3,450 (3.5 apg)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Basketball Hall of Fame as player
College Basketball Hall of Fame
Inducted in 2011
Medals
Men's basketball
Representing the  United States
Olympic Games
1984 Los Angeles Team competition
1992 Barcelona Team competition
Pan American Games
1983 Caracas Team competition

Christopher Paul Mullin (born July 30, 1963) is an American retired basketball player and current head coach of the St. John's Red Storm. He previously served as special advisor for the Sacramento Kings and general manager of the Golden State Warriors. He is a two-time Olympic Gold medalist and a two-time Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductee (in 2010 as a member of the 1992 United States men's Olympic basketball team ("The Dream Team"), and in 2011 for his individual career).

Mullin played shooting guard and small forward in the NBA from 1985 to 2001. During his playing time at St. John's University, he was named Big East Player of the Year three times[1] and was a member of the 1984 U.S. Men's Olympic Basketball team,[2] Mullin was chosen as the seventh pick by the Golden State Warriors in the first round of the 1985 NBA draft. He returned to the Olympics in 1992 as a member of the "Dream Team", which was the first American Olympic basketball team to include professional players.

He played with the Warriors from the 1985–86 until the 1996–97 season. Thereafter, Mullin played with the Indiana Pacers from 1997 until the 1999–2000 season. He retired after the 2000–01 season, playing for his original team, the Warriors.

On March 30, 2015 he was named 20th head coach of the St. John's University men's basketball team, his alma mater.[3]

Early life and college career

Chris was born in Brooklyn, New York. As a young player in New York, Mullin studied the games of Knicks stars Walt Frazier and Earl Monroe while admiring Larry Bird and wearing #17 in honor of John Havlicek.[4] As a youth, he regularly traveled to the Bronx and Harlem, predominately African American neighborhoods, to play against the best basketball players in New York City. From a young age, he paved a path for himself to become a legend in the Diocese of Brooklyn. His name began to spread while playing CYO basketball at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish on Flatlands Avenue.[4] Along with playing CYO basketball at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, Mullin attended Lou Carnesecca's basketball camp with future Xaverian teammates Roger McCready, Gerard Shepard, Mike O'Reilly, and Joe Cannizo.[5] Mullin began his high school career at Power Memorial Academy, where he was a teammate of Mario Elie. He transferred as a junior to Xaverian High School (in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn). He also played with Ross LaCorte, current coach at Island Garden Basketball known for its Lightning Program.

After being selected as New York State's "Mr. Basketball", Mullin was recruited by the Hall of Fame coach Lou Carnesecca to play for St. John's University[5] in nearby Queens. After signing, Mullin averaged 16.6 points per game in his freshman year (also setting the school freshman record for points scored). In his subsequent three years for the Redmen (now known as the Red Storm), he was named Big East Player of the Year three times, named to the All-America team three times, played for the gold medal-winning 1984 Olympic team, and received the 1985 Wooden Award and USBWA College Player of the Year. As a senior who averaged 19.8 points per game, Mullin led St. John's to the 1985 Final Four and its first #1 ranking since 1951.[6] Mullin, who averaged 19.5 points per game, finished his career as the Redmen's all-time leading scorer with 2,440 career points.[5] He also holds the distinction of being one of only three players in history to win the Haggerty Award (given to the best college player in the New York City area) three times (1983–1985). From 1983–1985, Mullin was also named the Big East conference's player of the year, making him the only men's basketball player to receive this award three different seasons.[7]

Professional career

Playing career (1985–2001)

In the 1985 NBA draft, the Golden State Warriors selected Mullin in the first round with the seventh pick.[7] In Mullin's first three seasons with the Warriors, he was primarily a spot-up shooting guard playing in the backcourt alongside Eric "Sleepy" Floyd. In his second season, 1986–87, the Warriors advanced to the Western Conference semifinals under George Karl, where they lost to the eventual NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers. The next season, Don Nelson became the Warriors' coach and had plans to move Mullin to small forward. During his third season in the NBA, Mullin admitted to Nelson that he was an alcoholic.[7] After missing several practices, Mullin was suspended, then entered an alcohol rehabilitation program.

For five consecutive seasons, from 1988 until 1993, Mullin scored an average of 25 or more points and five rebounds. Additionally, the Warriors made five straight playoff appearances. Mullin, Mitch Richmond, and 1989 first-round draftee Tim Hardaway formed the trio "Run TMC" (the initials of the players' first names and a play on the name of the popular rap group Run DMC) that were the focal stars of this playoff run. A five-time All-Star, Mullin also won Olympic gold twice—as a member of the 1984 amateur team, and for the 1992 Dream Team. During the 1992 Summer Olympics, Mullin, who started two games, averaged 12.9 points per game, shot 61.9% from the field and 53.8% from the three-point land.[7] In 1993, Nelson traded for Chris Webber on NBA Draft day, hoping to make the Warriors stronger in the frontcourt. Mullin's body began breaking down, and he began to miss significant numbers of games. The Warriors had a successful first season with Webber, but he and Nelson began to bicker over his use as a player. This led Nelson to resign, and subsequent coaches saw Mullin as injury-prone and began to center the team around Latrell Sprewell. Mullin was traded after the 1996–97 season to the Indiana Pacers for second-year center Erick Dampier and NBA journeyman Duane Ferrell.[8]

In his first season with the Pacers, coached by Larry Bird, Mullin started all 82 games, averaged 11.3 points per game, and helped the Pacers to the Eastern Conference Finals, where they lost to the Chicago Bulls in game seven. Bird began to phase Mullin out and give more time to Jalen Rose at small forward during his second season with the team. As a member of the Indiana Pacers, Mullin, who was primarily a bench player at this time, appeared in three games of the 2000 NBA Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers and scored four points total.[7] After that season, Mullin was waived by the Pacers. He then once again signed with Warriors for the 2000–01 season, his last season as a player.

According to Jim O'Brien, Mullin was similar to NBA legend Larry Bird because both players lacked speed, had a great outside shot and had the innate ability to put their defender off guard.[9] He was on the All-NBA second team (1989 and 1991), third team (1990), and first team (1992).

Front office positions

After his playing days were over, Mullin was hired by the Warriors as a special assistant, dealing with daily business operations. On April 22, 2004, he was named Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations for the team.[10] On May 11, 2009, the team announced that Mullin's expiring contract would not be renewed.[11] He was replaced by Larry Riley as the Warriors' General Manager.

Mullin began working with the Sacramento Kings in May 2013 when Vivek Ranadive became owner.[12] In September 2013, the Sacramento Kings hired him as an advisor.[13] As an advisor, Mullin's duties were not only to provide advice to Ranadive and D'Alessandro on player transactions, but to also supervise the organization's college and overseas scouting program.[14]

Broadcasting

Mullin has worked as an NBA analyst for ESPN.[15] On October 22, 2010, Mullin made his network debut as an ESPN studio analyst on Kia NBA Countdown.[16]

In December 2011, Mullin worked with the ESPN broadcasting crew for Mark Jackson's coaching debut with the Golden State Warriors. Mullin joined his former television colleagues, Jeff Van Gundy and Mike Breen to announce the game against the Los Angeles Clippers in the season opener and Christmas finale.[17]

NCAA

Coaching

On March 30, 2015 Mullin accepted the vacant head coaching position at St. John's University.[3]

Head coaching record

Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
St. John's (Big East) (2016–present)
2015–16 St. John's 8–24 1–17 10th
St. John's Red Storm: 8–24 1–17
Total: 8–24

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

Honors

In 2010, Mullin was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as part of the "Dream Team".[18]

On February 28, 2011, Mullin was elected to the College Basketball Hall of Fame.

On April 4, 2011, Mullin was inducted again to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, this time for his individual career.

On March 19, 2012, Mullin's number was retired by the Golden State Warriors.[19]

Personal

Mullin is a devout Roman Catholic, and has stated that he relies upon his faith daily.[20] He and his wife Liz have four children: Sean, Christopher, Liam and Kiera. Mullin was very good friends with former teammate, Sudanese NBA player Manute Bol.[21][22] After Bol was badly injured in a taxi cab incident in 2004, Mullin and the Warriors offered to raise money for Bol’s medical bills by organizing a fantasy camp. On November 19, 2004, the Warriors, Mullin and his former teammates Mitch Richmond and Tim Hardaway participated in the fantasy camp named “Run With TMC”.[23]

In March 2012, PG&E joined the Golden State Warriors to restore a pair of basketball courts in Mullin's honor. Both courts were named the "Chris Mullin Basketball Courts at Arroyo Recreation Center Presented by PG&E". [24]

In July 2014, Mullin was featured at a wheelchair basketball charity and opportunity event hosted in Puerto Rico by Max International. Before the event, he was presented a jersey from Federacion de Baloncesto en Silla de Ruedas de Puerto Rico (FEBASIRU), the local wheelchair basketball team. In this event, Mullin participated in a wheelchair basketball game for the very first time with Max International Associate Hector Marcano Lopez and the local Puerto Rican wheelchair basketball team (FEBASIRU). He participated in "Max and Mullin Legends Classic Exhibition Game" with 20 local Puerto Rican basketball legends.[25]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "St. John's Basketball All-Time Honors - REDSTORMSPORTS.COM - St. John's University Official Athletic Site". Redstormsports.Com. 2007-12-06. Retrieved 2015-05-09.
  2. ↑ Archived January 24, 2012, at the Wayback Machine.
  3. 1 2 "Chris Mullin to be St. John's Red Storm head coach". Espn.go.com. 2015-01-04. Retrieved 2015-05-09.
  4. 1 2 An Issue That Follows the NBA Like a White Shadow, Washington Post, February 19, 2006
  5. 1 2 3 "Board of Trustees". Retrieved 18 November 2014.
  6. ↑ "St. John's University Celebrates Hall Of Famer Chris Mullin Oct. 19-20". Retrieved 16 November 2014.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 Jue, Nathaniel. "Golden State Warriors Retire Chris Mullin's Jersey: 17 Facts About NBA HoFer". Retrieved 16 November 2014.
  8. ↑ "Warriors Trade Mullin To Pacers". Retrieved 18 November 2014.
  9. ↑ Goldaper, Sam (February 12, 1989). "Chris Mullin: Grown Up, And an All-Star At Last". The New York Times.
  10. ↑ "St. John's Legend Chris Mullin Named Executive V.P for Golden State". Retrieved 16 November 2014.
  11. ↑ "Warriors Elect Not To Renew Chris Mullin’s Contract; Promote Larry Riley To GM | THE OFFICIAL SITE OF THE GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS". Nba.com. Retrieved 2015-05-09.
  12. ↑ Amick, Sam. "Chris Mullin named an adviser for Sacramento Kings". Retrieved 16 November 2014.
  13. ↑ "Kings Name Chris Mullin Advisor to the Chairman | Sacramento Kings". Nba.com. 2013-09-05. Retrieved 2015-05-09.
  14. ↑ Hughes, Grant. "Sacramento Kings Reportedly Hire NBA Legend Chris Mullin for Front Office Role". Retrieved 16 November 2014.
  15. ↑ Vanderberg, Marcus. "Chris Mullin Hired By ESPN As NBA Analyst". Retrieved 7 November 2014.
  16. ↑ "Chris Mullin Joins ESPN as Studio Analyst". Retrieved 16 November 2014.
  17. ↑ "Chris Mullin back at Warriors game in new TV role". Retrieved 17 December 2014.
  18. ↑ "The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame - Hall of Famers". Hoophall.com. Retrieved 2015-05-09.
  19. ↑ "Golden State Warriors retire Chris Mullin's jersey despite boos for team's new owner". Espn.go.com. 2012-03-20. Retrieved 2015-05-09.
  20. ↑ https://organiccatholics.wordpress.com/2011/09/27/shula-mullin/
  21. ↑ Araton, Harvey (August 11, 2011). "For Chris Mullin, Time to Say Thanks". The New York Times.
  22. ↑ Warriors staff, Nba.com; accessed April 10, 2014.
  23. ↑ Ortiz, Jorge. "Fellow Warriors reach out to aid a gregarious giant down on his luck/Manute Bol, the NBA's tallest player in his heyday, is broke and unable to walk after a June car crash -- old teammates rally to help". Retrieved November 16, 2014.
  24. ↑ Kligman, David. "Oakland: PG&E Helps Renovate Basketball Courts in Honor of Chris Mullin". Retrieved November 16, 2014.
  25. ↑ "NBA Hall of Famer Chris Mullin Features in Wheelchair Basketball Charity and Opportunity Event". Retrieved November 16, 2014.

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