Chuck Person
Encyclopedia
Chuck Connors Person is a retired American
National Basketball Association
player and current assistant coach for the Los Angeles Lakers
.
and wasn't heavily recruited, but Auburn took a chance on him in 1982. Person was mostly a reserve forward his freshman year, but saw more playing time as the year progressed. In his sophomore season, Person was a full-time starter at forward and teamed with junior Charles Barkley
to form a potent inside-outside combination. Person's superb outside shooting skills (unusual for a big man) and Barkley's inside play helped Auburn University
to its first ever NCAA tournament appearance in 1984. Person averaged 19.1 points per game that season.
After Barkley left for the NBA, Person became the unquestioned leader of a young Auburn team that wasn't expected to do much in 1984-85. He averaged 22.5 points per game and set the Auburn single-season record for total points scored (747). Auburn was a seventh seed (out of 10) in the SEC Tournament that season, but Person and freshmen Chris Morris
, Jeff Moore, and Terrence Howard helped Auburn to become the first team to win four games in four days in the tournament and to win its first-ever SEC Tournament championship. Person was an Honorable Mention All-America selection that season. In the NCAA tournament, Auburn upset Kansas and Purdue before bowing out in the Sweet 16 to North Carolina.
Person returned better than ever for his senior season and averaged 21.5 points per game and led the Tigers back to the NCAAs. Auburn upset No. 1-ranked St. John's University on its way to an Elite Eight appearance before losing to eventual champion Louisville. Person earned his second straight All-America Team selection.
out of Auburn University
by the Indiana Pacers
, the small forward
won the Rookie of the Year award
in 1987 and played six seasons with Indiana. During this time, Person established a reputation as a brash, trash talking antagonist who, for better or worse, brought a competitive spirit to a floundering Pacers franchise. This culminated during the 1991 and 1992 playoffs when Person had an ongoing rivalry with Hall of Famer and future Pacers President Larry Bird
.
Person was traded in 1992, along with Micheal Williams
, to the Minnesota Timberwolves
in exchange for Sam Mitchell
and Pooh Richardson
. After his contract expired in 1994, he signed free agent
contracts with the San Antonio Spurs
, Charlotte Hornets and Seattle SuperSonics
. He was traded by the Spurs with a conditional first-round draft pick and other considerations to the Chicago Bulls
for Steve Kerr
on January 22, 1999 but was immediately waived.
Person was nicknamed as "The Rifleman" not only for his prolific long-range shooting but because he was named after the American actor Chuck Connors
, star of the TV series The Rifleman
. Over his career, Person played in 943 games, with averages of 14.7 points per game, 5.1 rebounds per game, a 45.8 field goal percentage, and 36.2 three point shooting percentage.
Person retired in 2000. He is the older brother of former NBA player, Wesley Person
, and a former assistant coach for the Indiana Pacers.
Person has since served as an assistant coach for the Sacramento Kings
and Los Angeles Lakers
.
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...
player and current assistant coach for the Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
.
High school and college
Person attended Brantley High School in Brantley, AlabamaBrantley, Alabama
Brantley is a town in Crenshaw County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 920. It is the home of former NBA stars Chuck Person and Wesley Person.Brantley is located at 31°35'4" North, 86°15'24" West ....
and wasn't heavily recruited, but Auburn took a chance on him in 1982. Person was mostly a reserve forward his freshman year, but saw more playing time as the year progressed. In his sophomore season, Person was a full-time starter at forward and teamed with junior Charles Barkley
Charles Barkley
Charles Wade Barkley is a former American professional basketball player. Nicknamed "Sir Charles" and "The Round Mound of Rebound", Barkley established himself as one of the National Basketball Association's most dominating power forwards...
to form a potent inside-outside combination. Person's superb outside shooting skills (unusual for a big man) and Barkley's inside play helped Auburn University
Auburn University
Auburn University is a public university located in Auburn, Alabama, United States. With more than 25,000 students and 1,200 faculty members, it is one of the largest universities in the state. Auburn was chartered on February 7, 1856, as the East Alabama Male College, a private liberal arts...
to its first ever NCAA tournament appearance in 1984. Person averaged 19.1 points per game that season.
After Barkley left for the NBA, Person became the unquestioned leader of a young Auburn team that wasn't expected to do much in 1984-85. He averaged 22.5 points per game and set the Auburn single-season record for total points scored (747). Auburn was a seventh seed (out of 10) in the SEC Tournament that season, but Person and freshmen Chris Morris
Chris Morris (basketball)
Christopher Vernard Morris is a retired American professional basketball player. In his 11 season NBA career, the 6' 8" small forward played for the New Jersey Nets, Utah Jazz, and Phoenix Suns. He is a graduate of Atlanta's Douglass High School where his jersey has been retired and played for...
, Jeff Moore, and Terrence Howard helped Auburn to become the first team to win four games in four days in the tournament and to win its first-ever SEC Tournament championship. Person was an Honorable Mention All-America selection that season. In the NCAA tournament, Auburn upset Kansas and Purdue before bowing out in the Sweet 16 to North Carolina.
Person returned better than ever for his senior season and averaged 21.5 points per game and led the Tigers back to the NCAAs. Auburn upset No. 1-ranked St. John's University on its way to an Elite Eight appearance before losing to eventual champion Louisville. Person earned his second straight All-America Team selection.
Pro career
Selected fourth in the 1986 NBA Draft1986 NBA Draft
-Drug and health issues involving drafted players:There were various drug-related problems that plagued players in the 1986 NBA draft. Most notable was the death of highly-touted Len Bias. Bias died less than two days after being selected second overall by the defending champion Boston Celtics. His...
out of Auburn University
Auburn University
Auburn University is a public university located in Auburn, Alabama, United States. With more than 25,000 students and 1,200 faculty members, it is one of the largest universities in the state. Auburn was chartered on February 7, 1856, as the East Alabama Male College, a private liberal arts...
by the Indiana Pacers
Indiana 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...
, the small forward
Small forward
The small forward, or colloquially known as three, is one of the five positions in a regulation basketball game. Small forwards are typically somewhat shorter, quicker, and leaner than power forwards and centers, but on occasion are just as tall...
won the Rookie of the Year award
NBA Rookie of the Year Award
The National Basketball Association's Rookie of the Year Award is an annual National Basketball Association award given since the 1952–53 NBA season, to the top rookie of the regular season. The winner receives the Eddie Gottlieb Trophy, which is named in honor of the Philadelphia Warriors head...
in 1987 and played six seasons with Indiana. During this time, Person established a reputation as a brash, trash talking antagonist who, for better or worse, brought a competitive spirit to a floundering Pacers franchise. This culminated during the 1991 and 1992 playoffs when Person had an ongoing rivalry with Hall of Famer and future Pacers President Larry Bird
Larry Bird
Larry Joe Bird is a former American NBA basketball player and coach. Drafted into the NBA sixth overall by the Boston Celtics in 1978, Bird started at small forward and power forward for thirteen seasons, spearheading one of the NBA's most formidable frontcourts that included center Robert Parish...
.
Person was traded in 1992, along with Micheal Williams
Micheal Williams
Micheal Douglas Williams is a retired American professional basketball player at the point guard position in the National Basketball Association ....
, to the Minnesota Timberwolves
Minnesota Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves are an American professional basketball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . Founded in 1989, the team is currently owned by Glen Taylor...
in exchange for Sam Mitchell
Sam Mitchell (basketball)
Samuel "Sam" E. Mitchell, Jr. is a retired American professional basketball player and a former head coach in the National Basketball Association . He is currently an assistant coach with the New Jersey Nets....
and Pooh Richardson
Pooh Richardson
Jerome "Pooh" Richardson is an American former National Basketball Association player. he was selected in the first round of the 1989 NBA Draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves, their first draft pick in franchise history...
. After his contract expired in 1994, he signed 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....
contracts with the San Antonio Spurs
San Antonio Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs are an American professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas. They are part of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association ....
, Charlotte Hornets and Seattle SuperSonics
Seattle SuperSonics
The Seattle SuperSonics were an American professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington that played in the Pacific and Northwest Divisions of the National Basketball Association from 1967 until 2008. Following the 2007–08 season, the team relocated to Oklahoma City, and now plays as...
. He was traded by the Spurs with a conditional first-round draft pick and other considerations 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...
for Steve Kerr
Steve Kerr
Stephen Douglas "Steve" Kerr is a retired American professional basketball player. He shot .454 from three point range over his career and currently holds the record as the most accurate three-point shooter in NBA history...
on January 22, 1999 but was immediately waived.
Person was nicknamed as "The Rifleman" not only for his prolific long-range shooting but because he was named after the American actor Chuck Connors
Chuck Connors
Chuck Connors was an American actor, writer, and professional basketball and baseball player. His best known role from his forty-year film career was Lucas McCain in the 1960s ABC hit Western series The Rifleman....
, star of the TV series The Rifleman
The Rifleman
The Rifleman is an American Western television program that starred Chuck Connors as homesteader Lucas McCain and Johnny Crawford as his son, Mark McCain. It was set in the 1880s in the town of North Fork, New Mexico Territory. The show, filmed in black-and-white with a half hour running time, ran...
. Over his career, Person played in 943 games, with averages of 14.7 points per game, 5.1 rebounds per game, a 45.8 field goal percentage, and 36.2 three point shooting percentage.
Person retired in 2000. He is the older brother of former NBA player, Wesley Person
Wesley Person
Wesley Lavon Person is a retired American professional basketball player in the NBA.Selected by the Phoenix Suns 23rd overall in the 1994 NBA Draft out of Auburn University, he played three seasons for the Suns, five for the Cleveland Cavaliers, 82 games over two seasons for the Memphis Grizzlies,...
, and a former assistant coach for the Indiana Pacers.
Person has since served as an assistant coach for the Sacramento Kings
Sacramento Kings
The Sacramento Kings are a professional basketball team based in Sacramento, California, United States. They are currently members of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
and Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
.