Eric Piatkowski
From Hoopedia
Eric Todd Piatkowski (born September 30, 1970, in Steubenville, Ohio) is an American National Basketball Association player with the Phoenix Suns. He is the son of former ABA player, Walt Piatkowski, and grandson of the late Joe Piatkowski of the 1950's NBA, making him the only third generation Pro basketball player in game history.
Career History
After completing his eligibility at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Piatkowski was drafted by the Indiana Pacers with the 15th pick of the 1994 NBA Draft. The Pacers immediately dealt his draft rights, along with those of Pooh Richardson and Malik Sealy, to the Los Angeles Clippers for Mark Jackson and the draft rights to Greg Minor.
Piatkowski averaged 7.0 points per game in his rookie year of 1994-95 while shooting .374 from the three-point line.
He played his first nine seasons with the Clippers, then was signed as an unrestricted free agent by the Houston Rockets before the 2003-04 season. Piatkowski became a Bull on September 8, 2004, when Houston sent him, Adrian Griffin and Mike Wilks to Chicago in exchange for Dikembe Mutombo.
On July 3, 2006, Piatkowski agreed to sign with the Phoenix Suns for a two-year, $2.4 million deal, which was officially signed on July 13. Piatkowski is 19th in NBA history in three point shooting stats.
Although Piatkowski has averaged nearly eight points per game throughout his entire NBA career, only once in the 2006-07 season has he scored over three points in a game. His first points of the season were scored on February 20, 2007 against his former team, the Los Angeles Clippers.
Career Highlights
- He played for the US in the World Basketball games in 1993.
- Los Angeles Clippers all-time leader in games played for the franchise (616).
- Clippers career leader in 3-point field goals made (738) and 3-point field goal attempts (1,835).
- As of 2006, with a .399 percentage, he holds 26th place in NBA history and for career 3-point field goal percentage.
- He set the Clippers individual season record for three-point percentage at .466, and is ranked third in the NBA. (2001-02)
- On February 16, 2002, he set a career high of 36 points against the Dallas Mavericks.
- In 1997-98, he established a career high 11.3 PPG average, .452 FG%, .724 FT%, 3.5 rpg, 1.3 apg, and three-pointers made and attempted.
- In 1996-97 he made his NBA Playoffs debut, with an average of 5.3 PPG, in 12.7 mpg in three games.
- Nicknamed "Pike" for his surname and three-point shooting accuracy.
- His jersey at Nebraska (No. 52) was retired in 2006.
