Christian Laettner

Early life

Christian Laettner was born and raised in Angola, New York, near Buffalo and Niagara Falls, to a blue-collar Roman Catholic family. His father George, a newspaper press plant printer, was of Polish descent and his grandparents spoke Polish as their first language while his mother Bonnie was a teacher. Christian's older brother Christopher was a strong influence, often bullying young Christian, which helped instill a stern competitive drive. Both boys also frequently worked as farm laborers to supplement their allowance.

Laettner attended the private Nichols School. Although he received a financial aid package that paid a substantial part of his tuition, his family had to sacrifice to send him there and he also did janitorial work at the school to defray some of the cost. During his career he scored over 2,000 points, breaking the school record set by teammate Ron Torgalski, and the team won two state titles and reached another semifinal. He was the second player from Western New York to reach 2,000 points, falling short of Curtis Aiken's total of 2,162 set five years earlier. He was a much sought-after college recruit.

In 2009 as The Buffalo News celebrated 50 years of All-Western New York (WNY) basketball selections, Laettner, who was twice an All-WNY first team selection was named to the 1980s All-WNY first team along with Aiken, Gary Bossert, Keith Robinson and Ritchie Campbell He was a first team selection for the All-time All-WNY team along with Aiken, Paul Harris, Bob Lanier and Mel Montgomery.

College career

Laettner attended Duke University and played for the basketball team from 1988 to 1992 under coach Mike Krzyzewski. As the team's star player his final two seasons, he led the Blue Devils to the first two national titles in school history. A four-year starter, he also contributed to their runner-up finish his sophomore year and Final Four appearance in his freshman year. Thus, in total, he played 23 out of a maximum possible 24 NCAA tournament games, winning 21; both are records.

For his career, Laettner averaged 16.6 points and 7.8 rebounds per game while making almost half of his three-pointers. He scored 21.5 points per game his senior season, garnering every major national player of the year award; Duke retired his No. 32 jersey later that year. His career is widely regarded as among the best in college history, and he is enshrined in the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame.

NCAA tournament records

• Most points scored: 407
• Most free throws made: 142
• Most free throw attempts: 167
• Most games won: 21
• Most games played: 23

Clutch performances

Laettner had several clutch performances in the NCAA tournament. His most famous was the 1992 regional final against Kentucky, which was foreshadowed by the 1990 regional final against UConn; in both games Duke trailed by one point with two seconds remaining in overtime before Laettner made a jumper as time expired. He also swished the game-winning free throws against undefeated and heavily favored UNLV in the 1991 semifinal, which avenged UNLV's 30-point victory in the 1990 final. He then led Duke to its first championship, defeating Kansas in the final, and was selected as the tournament's most outstanding player.

In the 1992 East Regional Final, a game many critics rate among the greatest in college basketball history, Laettner hit a game-winning, buzzer-beating turn-around jumper that has since become known as simply The Shot. Over the course of the game, he shot a perfect ten of ten field goals and ten of ten free throws for 31 points. He then finished his college career by leading Duke to its second consecutive national title. The following year ESPN awarded him both "Outstanding Performance Under Pressure" and "College Basketball Play of the Year" for the Kentucky game, also awarding him "Outstanding College Basketball Performer of the Year".

The game-winning shot against Kentucky became a cultural icon, having been frequently televised in college basketball montages. Several companies have also featured it in their commercials. In 2006 The Best Damn Sports Show Period ranked it the fifth most memorable moment in sports history.

Widely reviled

Laettner was widely reviled by opposing fans throughout his career, to the extent that more than 20 years after graduating from Duke, he was voted the most hated college basketball player in history in an ESPN online poll. This led to ESPN's creation of the 30 for 30 documentary I Hate Christian Laettner that explored five factors that the filmmakers believe explain this widespread and persistent hatred: race, privilege, bullying, greatness, and physical appearance. He was particularly resented for stepping on the chest of Kentucky player Aminu Timberlake during the 1992 regional final, which the referees deemed a technical foul; Laettner expressed regret for his misconduct but believed that ejection would have been too harsh a consequence.

Professional career

Selected third overall in 1992 NBA draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves, Laettner played 13 years in the NBA, from 1992 to 2005, scoring 11,121 points and grabbing 5,806 rebounds. He played for the Minnesota Timberwolves, Atlanta Hawks, Detroit Pistons, Dallas Mavericks, Washington Wizards, and Miami Heat. His first six seasons were his best, averaging 16.6 points and 7.9 rebounds per game while starting almost all of them. He also was selected to the All-Rookie First Team in 1993 and the All-Star Game in 1997 while with the Atlanta Hawks, having been traded to Atlanta in 1996 alongside Sean Rooks in exchange for Spud Webb and Andrew Lang. His time on the Hawks was his most successful NBA team experience, twice reaching the second round of the playoffs.

Despite his achievements, Laettner's NBA career was characterized by relative transience. He played for six different teams, was traded six times, and never spent more than four full seasons anywhere. In 2004, he was suspended for several games for using marijuana.

He appeared in a total of 868 regular-season games, averaging 12.8 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game through the entirety of his career.

National team career

As the national player of the year, Laettner was the only collegian selected for the prestigious "Dream Team" that won the 1992 Olympic gold medal in a dominant fashion. He averaged 4.8 points per game. The team is considered one of the greatest in sports history and was inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame, FIBA Hall of Fame, and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Post-NBA basketball

Laettner maintains a close friendship with Duke teammate Brian Davis. They have pursued several business ventures together, including real-estate development in Durham, a Major League Soccer team, and an unsuccessful attempt to purchase the Memphis Grizzlies. Some legal problems, primarily regarding unpaid debts, have also occurred. In 2010, Laettner was enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a member of the 1992 Dream Team. Laettner is the only player of the team who has not been inducted into the Hall of Fame individually.

Since 2011 he has operated numerous youth basketball training camps. He also played one season in a semi-pro league and briefly served as an assistant coach in the NBA Development League. For The Z Team, an Olympic Channel reality show that has former Olympic athletes help struggling sports teams, he worked with the Garinger High School boys basketball team for a week.

Personal life

Laettner lives in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, and is an avid muskellunge fisherman.

He is divorced with three children.

He has donated large sums to his alma maters.

Career statistics

NBA

Regular season

|- | 81 || 81 || 34.9 || .474 || .100 || .835 || 8.7 || 2.8 || 1.3 || 1.0 || 18.2 |- | 70 || 67 || 34.7 || .448 || .240 || .783 || 8.6 || 4.4 || 1.2 || 1.2 || 16.8 |- | 81 || 80 || 34.2 || .489 || .325 || .818 || 7.6 || 2.9 || 1.2 || 1.1 || 16.3 |- | 44 || 44 || 34.5 || .486 || .290 || .816 || 6.9 || 2.9 || .9 || 1.0 || 18.0 |- | 30 || 27 || 32.6 || .489 || .000 || .823 || 7.9 || 2.3 || 1.0 || .9 || 14.2 |- | 82 || style="background:#cfecec;"| 82* || 38.3 || .486 || .352 || .816 || 8.8 || 2.7 || 1.2 || .8 || 18.1 |- | 74 || 49 || 30.8 || .485 || .222 || .864 || 6.6 || 2.6 || 1.0 || 1.0 || 13.8 |- | 16 || 0 || 21.1 || .358 || .333 || .772 || 3.4 || 1.5 || .9 || .8 || 7.6 |- | 82 || style="background:#cfecec;"| 82* || 29.8 || .473 || .292 || .812 || 6.7 || 2.3 || 1.0 || .5 || 12.2 |- | 53 || 35 || 17.5 || .511 || .333 || .817 || 4.0 || 1.3 || .8 || .5 || 7.5 |- | 25 || 13 || 29.3 || .491 || .300 || .844 || 6.1 || 2.3 || 1.2 || .8 || 13.2 |- | 57 || 48 || 25.3 || .464 || .200 || .868 || 5.3 || 2.6 || 1.1 || .4 || 7.1 |- | 76 || 66 || 29.1 || .494 || .125 || .833 || 6.6 || 3.1 || 1.1 || .5 || 8.3 |- | 48 || 18 || 20.5 || .465 || .286 || .800 || 4.8 || 1.9 || .8 || .6 || 5.9 |- | 49 || 0 || 15.1 || .582 || .143 || .763 || 2.7 || .8 || .7 || .3 || 5.3 |- class="sortbottom" | 868 || 692 || 29.7 || .480 || .261 || .820 || 6.7 || 2.6 || 1.1 || .8 || 12.8 |- class="sortbottom" | 1 || 0 || 24.0 || .600 || || 1.000 || 11.0 || 2.0 || 1.0 || 1.0 || 7.0

Playoffs

|- | 10 || 10 || 33.4 || .484 || .333 || .704 || 6.9 ||1.5 || 1.2 || 1.0 || 15.7 |- | 10 || 10 || 40.3 || .418 || .190 || .857 || 7.2 || 2.6 || 1.0 || .8 || 17.6 |- | 4 || 0 || 21.8 || .343 || .000 || .882 || 4.3 || 1.0 || 1.5 || .3 || 9.8 |- | 5 || 0 || 24.6 || .426 || || .786 || 2.8 || 2.2 || .8 || .2 || 10.2 |- | 3 || 3 || 25.0 || .412 || || .750 || 5.0 || 2.0 || .0 || .3 || 6.7 |- | 13 || 0 || 10.5 || .500 || .000 || .833 || 1.9 || .5 || .3 || .0 || 2.2 |- class="sortbottom" | 45 || 23 || 25.7 || .432 || .179 || .794 || 4.7 || 1.5 || .8 || .5 || 10.5

College

|- | 36 || 16 || 16.9 || .723 || 1.000 || .727 || 4.7 || 1.2 || 1.0 || .8 || 8.9 |- | 38 || 38 || 29.9 || .511 || .500 || .836 || 9.6 || 2.2 || 1.6 || 1.1 || 16.3 |- | 39 || 39 || 30.2 || .575 || .340 || .802 || 8.7 || 1.9 || 1.9 || 1.1 || 19.8 |- | 35 || 35 || 32.2 || .575 || .557 || .815 || 7.9 || 2.0 || 2.1 || .9 || 21.5 |- class="sortbottom" | 148 || 128 || 27.4 || .574 || .485 || .806 || 7.8 || 1.8 || 1.6 || 1.0 || 16.6

Awards and honors

;NBA

• NBA All-Star ()
• NBA All-Rookie First Team () ;USA Basketball
• Summer Olympics gold medal winner (1992)
• Pan American Games bronze medal winner (1991)
• FIBA World Championship bronze medal winner (1990)
• Tournament of the Americas gold medal winner (1992)
• Tournament of the Americas silver medal winner (1989)
• Goodwill Games silver medal winner (1990) ;NCAA
• 2× NCAA champion (1991, 1992)
• NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player (1991)
• Consensus National College Player of the Year (1992)
• Consensus first-team All-American (1992)
• Consensus second-team All-American (1991)
• 2× NCAA final Four All-Tournament Team) (1991, 1992)
• ACC Player of the Year (1992)
• ACC Player of the Year (1992)
• 2× ACC Athlete of the Year (1991, 1992)
• 2× First-team All-ACC (1991, 1992)
• Second-team All-ACC (1990)
• ACC tournament MVP 1992
• Oscar Robertson Trophy (1992)
• NABC Player of the Year (1992)
• NABC Player of the Year (1992)
• John R. Wooden Award (1992)
• Naismith College Player of the Year (1992)
• No. 32 jersey retired by Duke in 1992 ;Media
• Sporting News College Player of the Year (1992)
• AP College Basketball Player of the Year (1992) ;Halls of Fame
• Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (class of 2010 as a member of the "Dream Team")
• U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame (class of 2009 as a member of the "Dream Team")
• FIBA Hall of Fame (class of 2017 as a member of the "Dream Team")
• College Basketball Hall of Fame (class of 2010)
• National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame (class of 2008)

Notes

References

References

1. [https://web.archive.org/web/20150429204708/http://www.usab.com/history/national-team-mens/mens-tournament-of-the-americas-1992.aspx Men's Tournament of the Americas – 1992], USA Basketball. Retrieved December 6, 2018.
2. [https://web.archive.org/web/20150218023958/http://www.collegebasketballexperience.com/inductees-search-page/111-l/552-christian-laettner Christian Laettner] at the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame
3. Wojciechowski, Gene. (January 10, 2012). "How can you be that confident?". ESPN.com.
4. (December 19, 2007). "Ron Torgalski '89 Inducted into Athletic Hall of Fame". [[Hamilton College (New York).
5. Harrington, Mike. (February 19, 1989). "WHITFIELD SCORES 45 POINTS FOR WNY-RECORD 2,189". [[The Buffalo News]].
6. Dicesare, Bob. (February 14, 2009). "Talent overflowed in Eighties". [[McClatchy]]-[[Tribune Content Agency.
7. McShea, Keith. (March 7, 2009). "All-time All-WNY team: How'd we do?". [[The Buffalo News]].
8. McShea, Keith. (March 7, 2009). "WNY's all-time high school basketball team". [[McClatchy]]-[[Tribune Content Agency.
9. [https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/l/laettch01.html Laettner's Duke and NBA statistics] at basketball-reference.com
10. "Duke Legends". Dukeupdate.com.
11. ESPN's [[30 for 30]] documentary [https://www.espn.com/watch/film/fdcfa10f-762a-4077-8a1d-ca5f8a502c0a/i-hate-christian-laettner ''I Hate Christian Laettner'']
12. "WashingtonWizards.com Mailbox: Christian Laettner". Nba.com.
13. "Kentucky vs. Duke (March 28, 1992)".
14. "SI on Campus: 16 Greatest Games". Sportsillustrated.cnn.com.
15. "The 2002 ESPY Awards – ESPY Awards past winners". Espn.go.com.
16. (February 4, 2009). "Best Damn's Top 50 Unforgettable Sports Moments".
17. Titus, Mark. (March 19, 2013). "Most Hated College Basketball Player, Day 7: There Can Only Be One".
18. (October 5, 2011). "Christian Laettner tries to make amends for infamous stomp". Rivals.yahoo.com.
19. "Christian Laettner Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and more".
20. CBC Sports. [https://www.cbc.ca/sports/basketball/nba-suspends-wizards-laettner-1.473977 "NBA suspends Wizards' Laettner"] January 15, 2004. Accessed February 6, 2008.
21. "Christian Laettner Career Stats - NBA".
22. "USA Olympic Basketball Team Rosters and Stats - Basketball-Reference.com".
23. (August 8, 1992). "The Original Dream Team". NBA.com.
24. "The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame – Hall of Famers". Hoophall.com.
25. "Duke buys property in West Village from failed Davis-Laettner venture".
26. "MacFarlane leads group in purchase of Major League Soccer's D.C. United".
27. (April 17, 2007). "Owner sets May 1 deadline to take team off market".
28. (March 18, 2012). "Ex-Timberwolves Laettner, Davis again avoid jail time over Dawkins debt". Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal.
29. "The CLBA".
30. (November 2011). "Getting to Know ... Christian Laettner". Jacksonvillemag.com.
31. J.E. Miller. (January 20, 2012). "Christian Laettner Joins NBA Mad Ants". Milleronsports.com.
32. (28 January 2018). "Would you dare put Christian Laettner in charge of a high school basketball team?". Charlotte Observer.
33. [https://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/29/sports/ncaabasketball/29seconds.html?ref=sports 30 Seconds with Christian Laettner], nytimes.com, March 29, 2009.
34. Smits, Garry. (February 12, 2012). "Christian Laettner never lost his taste for the game". The Florida Times-Union.
35. Best, Neil. [http://www.newsday.com/sports/college/college-basketball/christian-laettner-doesn-t-hate-the-film-i-hate-christian-laettner-1.10059455 Christian Laettner doesn't hate the film ‘I Hate Christian Laettner’]. ''Newsday''. Retrieved March 15, 2015.
36. [http://www.indyweek.com/indyweek/christian-laettner-sued-his-own-business-for-10-million-now-some-former-partners-are-suing-him/Content?oid=5002440 Christian Laettner Sued His Own Business for $10 Million. Now Some Former Partners Are Suing Him.] David Hudnall, ''Indy Week'' March 9, 2016
37. (July 16, 2006). "NBA.com: Christian Laettner Bio".
38. (July 28, 2005). "Laettner, Davis Give $2 Million to Legacy Fund, New Athletic Facility". Dukenews.duke.edu.
39. link. (April 19, 2015 at the Polish Sports HOF)