Antonio Davis
Encyclopedia
Antonio Lee Davis is a retired American
National Basketball Association
(NBA) player. Davis is also the former president of the NBA Players Association (NBPA).
at UTEP
under coach Don Haskins
from 1986 to 1990.
in the second round, 45th overall of the 1990 NBA Draft
. Davis initially went on to play with professional teams in Europe
, rather than play in the NBA. He played with Panathinaikos in the Greek League
from 1990-92 and with Philips Milano
of the Italian League
during the 1992-93 season.
as a free agent
. Antonio was part of the "Davis Brothers" tandem of power forwards
on the Pacers, alongside Dale Davis
. Despite being the team's 6th man, Antonio was paid starter's money and he provided a lot of scoring and rebounding punch off the bench, resulting in popularity with the Pacers' fans and coaches.
During the 1999 off-season, Davis was traded to the Toronto Raptors
on draft day for the 5th pick of the 1999 NBA Draft
, which the Pacers used to draft Jonathan Bender
. In the 2000–01 NBA season, Davis was elected to the NBA All-Star Team
for the only time in his career. During the 2003–04 NBA season, he was traded to the Chicago Bulls
, where he fit in well as a veteran influence on a young team. Just before the start of the training camp of the 2005–06 NBA season, Davis was traded along with Eddy Curry
to the New York Knicks
for Michael Sweetney
, Tim Thomas
and Jermaine Jackson
.
Davis was elected the President of the NBA Players' Association at the union's annual convention on June 28, 2005.
-Bulls
game for going into the stands and confronting a fan he alleges was intoxicated and abusive. He said he was concerned about his wife, whom he thought he had seen falling back and being touched by the fan. His wife claims that the fan was using inappropriate language around the Davises' child, and that she had asked him to stop, which then prompted harassment from the fan. Though public opinion allegedly swung in Davis' favor, the NBA suspended him for five games on January 19. The fan in question, Michael Axelrod, the son of David Axelrod
, the 2008 campaign manager for Barack Obama
, has stated that he was attacked by Davis' wife, and his lawyer revealed plans to sue for roughly a million dollars and a public apology by the Davises. Mr. Davis responded by stating, "I'm not apologizing to anybody for anything." On January 23, Davis and Axelrod settled their disputes outside of court, issuing the following joint statement.
"It's clear that the episode at the United Center
last week, and its aftermath, evolved from some misunderstandings. This has produced regrets from all parties involved. Common sense strongly suggests that we collectively put this episode behind us and move on. That's what the Davis' and Michael Axelrod plan to do, and we hope everyone else will, as well."
On February 3, 2006, the Toronto Raptors
traded Jalen Rose
, a first round draft pick (from the Denver Nuggets
), and an undisclosed sum of cash (believed to be around $3 million) to the New York Knicks
for Antonio Davis. Davis went on to start eight games for the Raptors before missing the next twelve with an ailing back injury. On March 23, 2006, Davis was released by the Raptors after his injury was diagnosed by the team's doctors as being season ending.
and 2002 FIBA World Championship
, winning the silver medal in the 1989 event.
In 2010 he was inducted into the African-American Ethnic Sports Hall of Fame
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
National Basketball Association
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
(NBA) player. Davis is also the former president of the NBA Players Association (NBPA).
College career
Davis played college basketballCollege basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
at UTEP
University of Texas at El Paso
The University of Texas at El Paso is a four-year state university, and is a component institution of the University of Texas System. Its campus is located on the bank of the Rio Grande in El Paso, Texas. The school was founded in 1914 as The Texas State School of Mines and Metallurgy,...
under coach Don Haskins
Don Haskins
Donald Lee Haskins, nicknamed "The Bear" , was an American collegiate basketball coach and player. He played for three years under legendary coach Henry Iba at Oklahoma A&M...
from 1986 to 1990.
Europe
He was drafted by the Indiana PacersIndiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers are a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They are members of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association...
in the second round, 45th overall of the 1990 NBA Draft
1990 NBA Draft
The 1990 NBA Draft took place on June 27, 1990, in New York City, New York. This draft produced only one perennial All-Star,Gary Payton. Among the 54 picks, Payton is considered by far the best pick of the draft. Payton went on to be considered one of the greatest point guards of all time...
. Davis initially went on to play with professional teams in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, rather than play in the NBA. He played with Panathinaikos in the Greek League
A1 Ethniki
The Greek Basket League , commonly referred to as the Greek Basketball League or Greek Basketball Championship, is the highest professional basketball league in Greece. It is run by HEBA...
from 1990-92 and with Philips Milano
Olimpia Milano
Olimpia Milano is a Lega Basket Italian professional basketball team, based in Milan, Italy, founded in 1936 by Milan businessman Adolfo Bogoncelli. Its colors are red and white, and the team is sometimes referred as "Scarpette Rosse" because team officials imported from the United States red...
of the Italian League
Serie A (basketball)
Lega Basket Serie A is the highest level club competition in Italian professional basketball where play determines the national champion. The season consists of a home-and-away schedule of 30 games, followed by an eight-team playoff round. Quarterfinals and semifinals series are best-of-five, and...
during the 1992-93 season.
NBA
In 1993, Davis returned to the United States to play in the NBA when he signed with the PacersIndiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers are a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They are members of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association...
as a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
. Antonio was part of the "Davis Brothers" tandem of power forwards
Power forward (basketball)
Power forward is a position in the sport of basketball. The position is referred to in playbook terms as the four position and is commonly abbreviated "PF". It has also been referred to as the "post" position. Power forwards play a role similar to that of center in what is called the "post" or "low...
on the Pacers, alongside Dale Davis
Dale Davis (basketball)
Elliott Lydell Davis is a former American professional basketball player who played center and power forward. He is 6'11" and weighs 252 pounds....
. Despite being the team's 6th man, Antonio was paid starter's money and he provided a lot of scoring and rebounding punch off the bench, resulting in popularity with the Pacers' fans and coaches.
During the 1999 off-season, Davis was traded to the Toronto Raptors
Toronto Raptors
The Toronto Raptors are a professional basketball team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1995, along with the Vancouver Grizzlies, as part of the NBA's re-expansion...
on draft day for the 5th pick of the 1999 NBA Draft
1999 NBA Draft
The 1999 NBA Draft was held on June 30, 1999 at the MCI Center in Washington, D.C. It was the first draft in which four players from the same college were picked in the first round, with Elton Brand , Trajan Langdon , Corey Maggette and William Avery being selected out of Duke University...
, which the Pacers used to draft Jonathan Bender
Jonathan Bender
Jonathan Rene Bender is an American professional basketball player who most recently played for the New York Knicks in the National Basketball Association .-Career:...
. In the 2000–01 NBA season, Davis was elected to the NBA All-Star Team
2001 NBA All-Star Game
The 2001 NBA All-Star Game was a basketball matchup between the Eastern and Western Conference All-Stars of the NBA. It was held in front of a sellout crowd at the MCI Center in Washington, D.C. This was the 50th edition of the annual event....
for the only time in his career. During the 2003–04 NBA season, he was traded to the Chicago Bulls
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1966. They play their home games at the United Center...
, where he fit in well as a veteran influence on a young team. Just before the start of the training camp of the 2005–06 NBA season, Davis was traded along with Eddy Curry
Eddy Curry
Eddy Curry is an American professional basketball player who is currently a free agent. He was born in Harvey, Illinois...
to the New York Knicks
New York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
for Michael Sweetney
Michael Sweetney
Michael 'Mike' Damien Sweetney is an American professional basketball player, in the power forward/center position.-High school/college career:...
, Tim Thomas
Tim Thomas (basketball)
Timothy Mark "Tim" Thomas is an American professional basketball player, in the small forward position.-High school / College:...
and Jermaine Jackson
Jermaine Jackson (basketball)
Jermaine Jackson is an American professional basketball player, formerly in the NBA.Jackson was undrafted in 1999 following a college career at the University of Detroit Mercy and began his professional career with the Detroit Pistons , going on to play for the Toronto Raptors , Atlanta Hawks and...
.
Davis was elected the President of the NBA Players' Association at the union's annual convention on June 28, 2005.
Fan incident
On January 18, 2006, Davis was ejected from a KnicksNew York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
-Bulls
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1966. They play their home games at the United Center...
game for going into the stands and confronting a fan he alleges was intoxicated and abusive. He said he was concerned about his wife, whom he thought he had seen falling back and being touched by the fan. His wife claims that the fan was using inappropriate language around the Davises' child, and that she had asked him to stop, which then prompted harassment from the fan. Though public opinion allegedly swung in Davis' favor, the NBA suspended him for five games on January 19. The fan in question, Michael Axelrod, the son of David Axelrod
David Axelrod (political consultant)
David M. Axelrod is an American political consultant based in Chicago, Illinois. He is best known as the top political advisor to President Barack Obama, first in Obama's 2004 campaign for the U.S. Senate in Illinois and later as chief strategist for Obama's 2008 presidential campaign. Following...
, the 2008 campaign manager for Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
, has stated that he was attacked by Davis' wife, and his lawyer revealed plans to sue for roughly a million dollars and a public apology by the Davises. Mr. Davis responded by stating, "I'm not apologizing to anybody for anything." On January 23, Davis and Axelrod settled their disputes outside of court, issuing the following joint statement.
"It's clear that the episode at the United Center
United Center
The United Center is an indoor sports arena located in Chicago. It is named after its corporate sponsor, United Airlines. The United Center is home to both the Chicago Bulls of the National Basketball Association and the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League...
last week, and its aftermath, evolved from some misunderstandings. This has produced regrets from all parties involved. Common sense strongly suggests that we collectively put this episode behind us and move on. That's what the Davis' and Michael Axelrod plan to do, and we hope everyone else will, as well."
On February 3, 2006, the Toronto Raptors
Toronto Raptors
The Toronto Raptors are a professional basketball team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1995, along with the Vancouver Grizzlies, as part of the NBA's re-expansion...
traded Jalen Rose
Jalen Rose
Jalen Anthony Rose is a retired American professional basketball player, who currently works as a sports analyst for the sports television network ESPN...
, a first round draft pick (from the Denver Nuggets
Denver Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets are a professional basketball team based in Denver, Colorado. They play in the National Basketball Association . They were founded as the Denver Rockets in 1967 as a charter franchise of the American Basketball Association, and became one of that league's more successful teams...
), and an undisclosed sum of cash (believed to be around $3 million) to the New York Knicks
New York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
for Antonio Davis. Davis went on to start eight games for the Raptors before missing the next twelve with an ailing back injury. On March 23, 2006, Davis was released by the Raptors after his injury was diagnosed by the team's doctors as being season ending.
United States national basketball team
Davis played for Team USA at the 19891989 Tournament of the Americas
The 1989 Tournament of the Americas, known now as the FIBA Americas Championship, was a basketball championship hosted by Mexico from June 8 to June 18, 1989. The games were played in Mexico City. This FIBA Americas Championship was to earn the five berths allocated to the Americas for the 1990...
and 2002 FIBA World Championship
2002 FIBA World Championship
The 2002 FIBA World Championship was an international basketball tournament held by the International Basketball Federation in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA from August 29 to September 8, 2002.-Venues:-Squads:...
, winning the silver medal in the 1989 event.
In 2010 he was inducted into the African-American Ethnic Sports Hall of Fame