Terry Porter
From Hoopedia
Terry Porter (born April 8, 1963 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin) is a former professional basketball player and coach in the NBA. He played college ball at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, and had a 17-year career in the NBA. He is currently the head coach of the Phoenix Suns.
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Early Years
Prior to playing in the NBA, Porter was played in Wisconsin. He played prep basketball at Milwaukee’s South Division High School, and in college at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point playing with current Saint Louis University Head Coach Brad Soderberg under college coach Dick Bennett.
In four seasons at Stevens Point, Porter averaged 13.5 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game. Twice with the Pointers, as both a junior and a senior, he was named an NAIA First-Team All-American. He holds a degree in Communications and was awarded a Distinguished Alumnus Award in 1999.
NBA
In 1985, the Portland Trail Blazers selected Porter with the 24th overall pick in the NBA Draft. During his decade-long tenure in Portland, Porter went to the NBA Finals twice and continues to hold the NBA Finals single-game record for the most free throws made, none missed -- 15 (June 7, 1990 at Detroit). He was the recipient of the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award in 1993, and remains as the Trail Blazers' all-time assists leader with 5,319. Porter signed as a free agent with the Minnesota Timberwolves prior to the 1995-96 season and helped the Wolves clinch their first-ever playoff berth in 1996-97 and their first winning season the following year.
He signed with the Miami Heat before the 1998-99 campaign, and signed with the San Antonio Spurs prior to the 1999-2000 season. He retired after the 2001-02 season, having never been traded during his NBA career. Porter’s teams compiled a record of 815-547 (.598) during his career, and only once failed to make the postseason.
In 1,274 career games, Porter averaged 12.2 points, 5.6 assists and 1.24 steals during a career that included two All-Star berths (1991, 1993), two trips to the NBA Finals (1990, 1992) and 15,586 career points. He is 11th on the NBA’s all-time assist list (7,160). Porter has played for five of the top 36 coaches (games won) in NBA history: Pat Riley (1,110), Jack Ramsay (864), Rick Adelman (603), Gregg Popovich (339) and Flip Saunders (328).
NBA Coaching Career
On August 6, 2003, the Milwaukee native was hired as head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks. He was the eighth head coach in franchise history. Porter spent the 2002-03 season as an assistant coach with the Sacramento Kings, his first season in coaching. He coached the Bucks for two years, leading a team which was expected to wind up in the NBA draft lottery into the playoffs. However, the Bucks failed to make the playoffs the next season, and Porter was let go in the 2005 offseason.
Porter was an assistant coach for the Detroit Pistons for the 2006-07 NBA Season.
On June 9, 2008 Porter was named head coach of the Phoenix Suns.
Personal
Throughout his career, Porter has been active with the Boys and Girls Club and is a member of the organization’s Hall of Fame. In 1994, he created the Milwaukee Scholars Fund, which provides scholarships to minority students in Milwaukee to attend schools in the University of Wisconsin System.
Porter, the youngest of six children, is an avid golfer. He and his wife Susie have three children - Brianna, Franklin and Malcolm. He is currently an assistant with the Pistons.
