Chris Webber
From Hoopedia
| Chris Webber |
|---|
 |
| Born March 1, 1973 in Detroit, Michigan |
| Position Power Forward |
| Jersey # 4 |
| Height 6 ft 10 |
| Weight 245 lbs |
| Pro Career 1993-2008 |
| Team(s) Played For Golden State Warriors (1993, 2007-08) Detroit Pistons (2006-07) Philadelphia 76ers (2004-06) Sacramento Kings (1998-03) Washington Bullets (1994-97) |
| College Michigan |
| Drafted 1st overall in 1993 by the Orlando Magic |
Contents |
High School Career
Chris Webber prepped at Detroit Country Day School and was the most recruited Michigan basketball player since Magic Johnson. Webber led Country Day to three MHSAA State championships. As a senior in high school Webber averaged 28 points and 13 rebounds per game. He was named Michigan's Mr. Basketball and the 1990-1991 National High School Player of the Year.
College Career
After graduating from Detroit Country Day School (where his number, 44, is retired) and playing for the Yellow Jackets, he went to college at the University of Michigan for two years. While a Michigan Wolverine, Webber led the "Fab Five," composed of himself, Juwan Howard, Jalen Rose, Jimmy King, and Ray Jackson. This group, all of whom entered Michigan as freshmen in the fall of 1991, took the basketball team to the NCAA finals twice. The Fab Five, sporting long, baggy shorts and black shoes, became immensely popular as they were seen as bringing a hip hop flavor to the game. Four of the Fab Five (Webber, Rose, Howard, and King) made the NBA, and three of them (Webber, Rose and Howard) are still playing today.
On April 5, 1993, at Michigan's second consecutive NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship game, losing in their first appearance to Duke 82-62, Webber infamously called a time-out with 11 seconds left in the game when his team, down 73-71, did not have any remaining, resulting in a technical foul that effectively clinched the game for North Carolina. The game marked the end of Webber's acclaimed two year collegiate basketball career. In his second season, he was a first team All-American selection and a finalist for the John R. Wooden Award and Naismith College Player of the Year.
NBA Career
In 1993, Webber was selected first in the 1993 NBA Draft by the Orlando Magic, who immediately traded him to the Golden State Warriors in exchange for Anfernee Hardaway and three future first round draft picks. In the 1993 NBA Draft, Webber became the first sophomore since Magic Johnson to be the first overall selection.
Golden State Warriors
Webber had an outstanding first year, averaging 17.5 points and 9.1 rebounds per game and winning the NBA Rookie of the Year Award. He was instrumental in leading the Warriors back into the playoffs. However, he had a long-standing conflict with his coach, Don Nelson. Nelson wanted to make Webber primarily a post player, despite Webber's superb passing ability and good ball handling skills (for someone 6'10" (2.08 m) tall). Webber also disliked playing a substantial amount of time at center, given Nelson's propensity towards smaller, faster line ups. In the 1994 offseason, the Warriors acquired Rony Seikaly so that Webber could play primarily at power forward. The differences between Webber and Nelson were irreconcilable, however. Webber exercised a one-year escape clause in his contract, stating he had no intentions of returning to the Warriors. With little alternatives, Golden State agreed to a sign and trade deal, sending Chris Webber to the Washington Bullets for forward Tom Gugliotta and three first round draft picks.
Washington Bullets/Wizards
Webber was traded in his second year to the Washington Bullets, where he was reunited with his college teammate and friend, Juwan Howard. He spent the next three years with the Bullets (later renamed the Washington Wizards), although in the 1995-96 season injuries limited him to 15 games. Webber rebounded from the injury and was named to his first All-Star team in 1997. In 1997, Webber led the Bullets into the playoffs for the first time in 9 years, but they were swept by the Michael Jordan-led Chicago Bulls. By 1998, Webber had established himself as a great power forward, but his time in Washington had also worn out.
Sacramento Kings
On May 14, 1998, Webber was traded to the Sacramento Kings for Mitch Richmond and Otis Thorpe. Webber did not want to go to Sacramento, as they were a perennial losing team. Webber even states that he almost did not get on the plane that flew him from his Detroit home to Sacramento. His father convinced him otherwise.
When Webber arrived, the Kings also signed center Vlade Divac and drafted point guard Jason Williams. In the 1999 season, The Kings almost upset the veteran Utah Jazz, led by league MVP Karl Malone. In years to come, Webber and the Kings became an exciting team, and also NBA title contenders. He was named to the All-Star team in 2000 and 2001 while cementing his status as one of the premier power forwards in the NBA. Webber peaked in the 2000-01 season where he averaged a career-high 27.1 points and 11.1 rebounds.
On July 27, 2001 Webber signed a $127 million, seven-year contract with the Kings. The deal drew controversy from Sacramento fans because of his large salary and frequent injuries, and the team's overall good performance while he was on the bench.
In 2002, however, Webber led the Kings to a franchise record 61-21. He also made his fourth All Star team. and they made it to the Western Conference Finals, against the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers. The Kings put up a good fight against the Lakers, eventually bowing out in 7 games. Despite the disappointing result, the series was the high point of Webber's stay in Sacramento.
The next season, Webber put up another superb year, averaging 23 points and 11 rebounds per game. He was cited as an MVP candidate, and made his fifth consecutive All-Star team. In a bad sign of what was to come, Webber missed the All Star game with an injured knee. Nevertheless, he returned and the Kings were among the favorites to win the NBA Championship.
In the second game of the 2003 Western Conference Semifinals against the Dallas Mavericks, Webber suffered a career-threatening knee injury that forced him to miss nearly a year of action. After microfracture surgery, he returned for the final 25 games of the 2003-04 season, but his athleticism, agility, and mobility had just started to decline.
Philadelphia 76ers
In February 2005, Webber, along with Michael Bradley and Matt Barnes, was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers for power forward Kenny Thomas, forward/center Brian Skinner, and well-known former King Corliss Williamson. Webber took some time to fit in with the 76ers offense, as he was a second scoring option for the first time in his career. He did help catapult the Sixers to a berth in the 2005 playoffs, where the Sixers lost to the Detroit Pistons. They did not reach the playoffs in 2006, despite Webber putting up a resurgent 20 points and 10 rebounds per game. As a result of the microfracture surgery on his knee, Webber lost his lateral quickness and jumping ability. With this he was seen as a defensive liability and was usually benched for the 4th quarters. This caused Webber reportedly to call for a trade.
On Tuesday, April 18, 2006, he and fellow teammate Allen Iverson were fined for skipping the Philadelphia 76ers final home game of the season, which was Fan Appreciation Night. Although both were injured, fans and the press expressed resentment over the snub. The incident was viewed as symbolic of both players' attitudes toward the fans and the team. One day later, both of them apologized for their actions.
During the 2006-07 season Webber only played 18 of 35 games for the Sixers leading the media to question his motivation. On January 11, 2007 Sixers GM Billy King announced that the Sixers and Webber had agreed to a reported $25 million contract buyout on the remaining two years left on his contract, in effect paying him not to play. Later that day, the Sixers waived Webber, making him a free agent.
Detroit Pistons
On January 16, 2007, Chris Webber signed with the Detroit Pistons. He has stated throughout his career that he always wanted to play for the Pistons. Because his usual number 4 is retired in honor of Joe Dumars, Webber wore the number 84. During the off season the Pistons did not re-sign him.
Second run with the Warriors
On January 29, 2008, the Golden State Warriors signed Webber for the rest of the season. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the San Francisco Chronicle reported that he will receive the pro-rated veteran's minimum of $1.2 million (approximately $570,000). This comes after a rejected offer by the Los Angeles Lakers who were trying to coax Webber in with two, 10-day contracts so they could decide afterwards if they wanted him the rest of the season. This has also put to rest talks of joining the Detroit Pistons, Dallas Mavericks, or retirement.
When Webber was a rookie with the Warriors in 1994, he experienced a rocky relationship with coach Don Nelson, but those grievances have since been mended, as Nelson and General Manager Chris Mullin both wanted Webber back on the team to help them make a playoff run in 2008. On March 25, 2008 Webber announced his retirement.
