Chris Gatling
Encyclopedia
Chris Raymond Gatling is a retired American
professional basketball player, having played for numerous NBA teams from 1991 to 2002. He played for the US national team in the 1990 FIBA World Championship
, winning the bronze medal.
Gatling scored 36 points in a game against UNC Charlotte in 1991 and against Alabama-Birmingham in March 1989. He earned honorable mention All-American honors in 1990 and 1991. Gatling was named sophomore of the year in 1988, junior of the year in 1990 and senior of the year in 1991 by the Sun Belt Conference. In 1991, he was named the Sun Belt Conference tournament MVP as he led the then seventh seeded Monarchs to the finals before losing to South Alabama.
by the Golden State Warriors
in the 1991 NBA Draft
. He spent the first four years of his career with the Warriors, and averaged 13.7 points and 7.6 rebounds per game in his final full season with the Warriors, 1994–95. That same year, Gatling led the NBA in field goal percentage at 0.633-one of the ten highest percentages in NBA history.
Gatling was traded, along with Tim Hardaway
, to the Miami Heat
halfway through the 1995–96 season, and also played for the Dallas Mavericks
and New Jersey Nets
during the 1996–97 season (representing the Mavericks in the 1997 NBA All-Star Game
only a few days before being traded to the Nets).
He played 78 games in slightly more than two seasons with the Nets before requesting a trade. He played next with the Milwaukee Bucks
for the final thirty games of the lockout-shortened 1998–99 season. He split the 1999–2000 season with the Denver Nuggets
and the Orlando Magic
. His final two NBA seasons saw him with the Cleveland Cavaliers
and again, the Heat. Gatling retired from professional basketball following the 2001–02 season with career averages of 10.3 points and 5.3 rebounds per game, and a .513 field goal
percentage.
After his NBA career ended in 2002, he played one season in Russian League
with CSKA Moscow
.
as an accessory to his NBA uniform
. In 2001, he claimed to have started the practice as a reminder that he is lucky to be alive after suffering a serious head injury as a teenager.
| align="left" | 1991–92
| align="left" | Golden State
| 54 || 1 || 11.3 || .568 || .000 || .661 || 3.4 || .3 || .6 || .7 || 5.7
|-
| align="left" | 1992–93
| align="left" | Golden State
| 70 || 11 || 17.8 || .539 || .000 || .725 || 4.6 || .6 || .6 || .8 || 9.3
|-
| align="left" | 1993–94
| align="left" | Golden State
| 82 || 23 || 15.8 || .588 || .000 || .620 || 4.8 || .5 || .5 || .8 || 8.2
|-
| align="left" | 1994-95
| align="left" | Golden State
| 58 || 22 || 25.3 || .633 || .000 || .592 || 7.6 || .9 || .7 || .9 || 13.7
|-
| align="left" | 1995-96
| align="left" | Golden State
| 47 || 2 || 18.3 || .555 || .000 || .636 || 5.1 || .6 || .4 || .6 || 9.1
|-
| align="left" | 1995-96
| align="left" | Miami
| 24 || 0 || 23.5 || .598 || .000 || .733 || 7.3 || .7 || .7 || .5 || 15.2
|-
| align="left" | 1996-97
| align="left" | Dallas
| 44 || 1 || 27.1 || .533 || .167 || .706 || 7.9 || .6 || .8 || .7 || 19.1
|-
| align="left" | 1996-97
| align="left" | New Jersey
| 3 || 0 || 30.7 || .419 || .000 || .938 || 7.3 || 1.0 || 1.3 || .0 || 17.0
|-
| align="left" | 1997-98
| align="left" | New Jersey
| 57 || 16 || 23.8 || .455 || .250 || .600 || 5.9 || .9 || .9 || .5 || 11.5
|-
| align="left" | 1998-99
| align="left" | New Jersey
| 18 || 2 || 15.6 || .371 || .000 || .500 || 3.6 || .7 || .4 || .2 || 4.7
|-
| align="left" | 1998-99
| align="left" | Milwaukee
| 30 || 1 || 16.5 || .482 || .143 || .362 || 3.8 || .7 || .8 || .2 || 6.3
|-
| align="left" | 1999-00
| align="left" | Orlando
| 45 || 0 || 23.1 || .455 || .304 || .698 || 6.6 || .9 || 1.1 || .2 || 13.3
|-
| align="left" | 1999-00
| align="left" | Denver
| 40 || 0 || 19.3 || .456 || .234 || .742 || 5.1 || .8 || .8 || .3 || 10.4
|-
| align="left" | 2000-01
| align="left" | Cleveland
| 74 || 6 || 22.6 || .449 || .304 || .684 || 5.3 || .8 || .7 || .4 || 11.4
|-
| align="left" | 2001-02
| align="left" | Miami
| 54 || 1 || 15.0 || .447 || .125 || .701 || 3.8 || .5 || .3 || .2 || 6.4
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 700 || 86 || 19.7 || .513 || .249 || .660 || 5.3 || .7 || .7 || .5 || 10.3
|-
| align="left" | All-Star
| align="left" |
| 1 || 0 || 12.0 || .125 || .000 || .000 || 2.0 || .0 || 1.0 || .0 || 2.0
| align="left" | 1991–92
| align="left" | Golden State
| 4 || 0 || 20.3 || .621 || .000 || .636 || 6.3 || .0 || .5 || 2.5 || 12.5
|-
| align="left" | 1993–94
| align="left" | Golden State
| 3 || 1 || 18.0 || .615 || .000 || .769 || 5.7 || 1.3 || .7 || .3 || 8.7
|-
| align="left" | 1995–96
| align="left" | Miami
| 3 || 0 || 22.7 || .273 || .000 || .500 || 8.0 || 0.3 || .7 || .0 || 6.0
|-
| align="left" | 1997–98
| align="left" | New Jersey
| 3 || 1 || 27.0 || .500 || .000 || .667 || 3.3 || .7 || .7 || .7 || 15.3
|-
| align="left" | 1998–99
| align="left" | Milwaukee
| 2 || 0 || 6.0 || .000 || .000 || .000 || 1.5 || .0 || .5 || .0 || .0
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 15 || 2 || 19.7 || .490 || .000 || .623 || 5.3 || .5 || .6 || .9 || 9.3
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional basketball player, having played for numerous NBA teams from 1991 to 2002. He played for the US national team in the 1990 FIBA World Championship
1990 FIBA World Championship
The 1990 FIBA World Championship was an international basketball competition hosted by Argentina from August 8 to August 20, 1990.The competition final phase was held at the Luna Park, Buenos Aires.Yugoslavia emerged as the tournament winner...
, winning the bronze medal.
College career
Chris Gatling played three years at Old Dominion University after transferring from the University of Pittsburgh. He is ODU's sixth all-time scorer with 1,811 points. He also hauled down 859 career rebounds which rank him ninth all-time. Gatling is the school's all-time field goal percentage leader at .606 (697-1150), and is second all-time at ODU with (12) 30-point games. He shot .620 (251-405) from the field in 1991.Gatling scored 36 points in a game against UNC Charlotte in 1991 and against Alabama-Birmingham in March 1989. He earned honorable mention All-American honors in 1990 and 1991. Gatling was named sophomore of the year in 1988, junior of the year in 1990 and senior of the year in 1991 by the Sun Belt Conference. In 1991, he was named the Sun Belt Conference tournament MVP as he led the then seventh seeded Monarchs to the finals before losing to South Alabama.
Professional career
Gatling was drafted 16th overall out of Old Dominion UniversityOld Dominion University
Old Dominion University is a state university located in Norfolk, Virginia, United States, and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools...
by the Golden State Warriors
Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors are an American professional basketball team based in Oakland, California. They are part of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
in the 1991 NBA Draft
1991 NBA Draft
The 1991 NBA Draft took place on June 26, 1991 in New York City, New York. Dikembe Mutombo is regarded as the best overall pick in this draft, becoming one of the greatest defensive centers in the history of the league. He was a four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year award winner and an eight...
. He spent the first four years of his career with the Warriors, and averaged 13.7 points and 7.6 rebounds per game in his final full season with the Warriors, 1994–95. That same year, Gatling led the NBA in field goal percentage at 0.633-one of the ten highest percentages in NBA history.
Gatling was traded, along with Tim Hardaway
Tim Hardaway
Timothy Duane "Tim" Hardaway is a retired American basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association and who in his prime was one of the league's best point guards...
, to the Miami Heat
Miami Heat
The Miami Heat is a professional basketball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. The team is a member of the Southeast Division in the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . They play their home games at American Airlines Arena in Downtown Miami...
halfway through the 1995–96 season, and also played for the Dallas Mavericks
Dallas Mavericks
The Dallas Mavericks are a professional basketball team based in Dallas, Texas. They are members of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association , and the reigning NBA champions, having defeated the Miami Heat in the 2011 NBA Finals.According to a 2011...
and New Jersey Nets
New Jersey Nets
The New Jersey Nets are a professional basketball team based in Newark, New Jersey. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
during the 1996–97 season (representing the Mavericks in the 1997 NBA All-Star Game
1997 NBA All-Star Game
The 1997 NBA All-Star Game was the 47th edition of the All-Star Game and commemorated the 50th anniversary of NBA. The game was played on February 9, 1997, at Gund Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, United States...
only a few days before being traded to the Nets).
He played 78 games in slightly more than two seasons with the Nets before requesting a trade. He played next with the Milwaukee Bucks
Milwaukee Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks are a professional basketball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. They are part of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1968 as an expansion team, and currently plays at the Bradley Center....
for the final thirty games of the lockout-shortened 1998–99 season. He split the 1999–2000 season with 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 the Orlando Magic
Orlando Magic
The Orlando Magic is a professional basketball team based in Orlando, Florida. They play in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association and are currently coached by Stan Van Gundy...
. His final two NBA seasons saw him with the Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers are a professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They began playing in the National Basketball Association in 1970 as an expansion team...
and again, the Heat. Gatling retired from professional basketball following the 2001–02 season with career averages of 10.3 points and 5.3 rebounds per game, and a .513 field goal
Field goal (basketball)
In basketball, the term field goal refers to a basket scored on any shot or tap other than a free throw, worth two or three points depending on the distance of the attempt from the basket. "Field Goal" is the official terminology used by the National Basketball Association in their rule book,...
percentage.
After his NBA career ended in 2002, he played one season in Russian League
Russian Basketball Super League
The Russian Basketball SuperLeague is a men's professional basketball league that was the pre-eminent league of Russian professional basketball until 2010...
with CSKA Moscow
PBC CSKA Moscow
PBC CSKA Moscow is a Russian professional basketball team that is based in Moscow, Russia. The club is a member of the VTB United League. It is often referred to in the West as "Red Army" for its past affiliation with the Soviet Army. CSKA has won two titles between 2006 and 2009 in Europe's...
.
Personal life
Gatling is known for his frequent use of the headbandHeadband
A headband is a clothing accessory worn in the hair or around the forehead, usually to hold hair away from the face or eyes. Headbands generally consist of a loop of elastic material or a horseshoe-shaped piece of flexible plastic or metal...
as an accessory to his NBA uniform
Uniform
A uniform is a set of standard clothing worn by members of an organization while participating in that organization's activity. Modern uniforms are worn by armed forces and paramilitary organizations such as police, emergency services, security guards, in some workplaces and schools and by inmates...
. In 2001, he claimed to have started the practice as a reminder that he is lucky to be alive after suffering a serious head injury as a teenager.
Regular season
|-| align="left" | 1991–92
| align="left" | Golden State
Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors are an American professional basketball team based in Oakland, California. They are part of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
| 54 || 1 || 11.3 || .568 || .000 || .661 || 3.4 || .3 || .6 || .7 || 5.7
|-
| align="left" | 1992–93
| align="left" | Golden State
| 70 || 11 || 17.8 || .539 || .000 || .725 || 4.6 || .6 || .6 || .8 || 9.3
|-
| align="left" | 1993–94
| align="left" | Golden State
| 82 || 23 || 15.8 || .588 || .000 || .620 || 4.8 || .5 || .5 || .8 || 8.2
|-
| align="left" | 1994-95
| align="left" | Golden State
| 58 || 22 || 25.3 || .633 || .000 || .592 || 7.6 || .9 || .7 || .9 || 13.7
|-
| align="left" | 1995-96
| align="left" | Golden State
| 47 || 2 || 18.3 || .555 || .000 || .636 || 5.1 || .6 || .4 || .6 || 9.1
|-
| align="left" | 1995-96
| align="left" | Miami
Miami Heat
The Miami Heat is a professional basketball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. The team is a member of the Southeast Division in the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . They play their home games at American Airlines Arena in Downtown Miami...
| 24 || 0 || 23.5 || .598 || .000 || .733 || 7.3 || .7 || .7 || .5 || 15.2
|-
| align="left" | 1996-97
| align="left" | Dallas
Dallas Mavericks
The Dallas Mavericks are a professional basketball team based in Dallas, Texas. They are members of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association , and the reigning NBA champions, having defeated the Miami Heat in the 2011 NBA Finals.According to a 2011...
| 44 || 1 || 27.1 || .533 || .167 || .706 || 7.9 || .6 || .8 || .7 || 19.1
|-
| align="left" | 1996-97
| align="left" | New Jersey
New Jersey Nets
The New Jersey Nets are a professional basketball team based in Newark, New Jersey. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
| 3 || 0 || 30.7 || .419 || .000 || .938 || 7.3 || 1.0 || 1.3 || .0 || 17.0
|-
| align="left" | 1997-98
| align="left" | New Jersey
| 57 || 16 || 23.8 || .455 || .250 || .600 || 5.9 || .9 || .9 || .5 || 11.5
|-
| align="left" | 1998-99
| align="left" | New Jersey
| 18 || 2 || 15.6 || .371 || .000 || .500 || 3.6 || .7 || .4 || .2 || 4.7
|-
| align="left" | 1998-99
| align="left" | Milwaukee
Milwaukee Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks are a professional basketball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. They are part of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1968 as an expansion team, and currently plays at the Bradley Center....
| 30 || 1 || 16.5 || .482 || .143 || .362 || 3.8 || .7 || .8 || .2 || 6.3
|-
| align="left" | 1999-00
| align="left" | Orlando
Orlando Magic
The Orlando Magic is a professional basketball team based in Orlando, Florida. They play in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association and are currently coached by Stan Van Gundy...
| 45 || 0 || 23.1 || .455 || .304 || .698 || 6.6 || .9 || 1.1 || .2 || 13.3
|-
| align="left" | 1999-00
| align="left" | Denver
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...
| 40 || 0 || 19.3 || .456 || .234 || .742 || 5.1 || .8 || .8 || .3 || 10.4
|-
| align="left" | 2000-01
| align="left" | Cleveland
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers are a professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They began playing in the National Basketball Association in 1970 as an expansion team...
| 74 || 6 || 22.6 || .449 || .304 || .684 || 5.3 || .8 || .7 || .4 || 11.4
|-
| align="left" | 2001-02
| align="left" | Miami
Miami Heat
The Miami Heat is a professional basketball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. The team is a member of the Southeast Division in the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . They play their home games at American Airlines Arena in Downtown Miami...
| 54 || 1 || 15.0 || .447 || .125 || .701 || 3.8 || .5 || .3 || .2 || 6.4
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 700 || 86 || 19.7 || .513 || .249 || .660 || 5.3 || .7 || .7 || .5 || 10.3
|-
| align="left" | All-Star
| align="left" |
| 1 || 0 || 12.0 || .125 || .000 || .000 || 2.0 || .0 || 1.0 || .0 || 2.0
Playoffs
|-| align="left" | 1991–92
| align="left" | Golden State
Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors are an American professional basketball team based in Oakland, California. They are part of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
| 4 || 0 || 20.3 || .621 || .000 || .636 || 6.3 || .0 || .5 || 2.5 || 12.5
|-
| align="left" | 1993–94
| align="left" | Golden State
| 3 || 1 || 18.0 || .615 || .000 || .769 || 5.7 || 1.3 || .7 || .3 || 8.7
|-
| align="left" | 1995–96
| align="left" | Miami
Miami Heat
The Miami Heat is a professional basketball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. The team is a member of the Southeast Division in the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . They play their home games at American Airlines Arena in Downtown Miami...
| 3 || 0 || 22.7 || .273 || .000 || .500 || 8.0 || 0.3 || .7 || .0 || 6.0
|-
| align="left" | 1997–98
| align="left" | New Jersey
New Jersey Nets
The New Jersey Nets are a professional basketball team based in Newark, New Jersey. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
| 3 || 1 || 27.0 || .500 || .000 || .667 || 3.3 || .7 || .7 || .7 || 15.3
|-
| align="left" | 1998–99
| align="left" | Milwaukee
Milwaukee Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks are a professional basketball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. They are part of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1968 as an expansion team, and currently plays at the Bradley Center....
| 2 || 0 || 6.0 || .000 || .000 || .000 || 1.5 || .0 || .5 || .0 || .0
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 15 || 2 || 19.7 || .490 || .000 || .623 || 5.3 || .5 || .6 || .9 || 9.3