Dexter Pittman
Encyclopedia
Dexter Jerome Pittman is an American
professional basketball player with the Miami Heat
of the National Basketball Association
.
, where he averaged 15 points and 8.5 rebounds per game over his career. In his senior season, he was named the Most Valuable Player for District 24-4A. He verbally committed to the University of Texas in October 2005, over scholarship offers from Texas A&M
and Arizona State. He was ranked as the 16th best center prospect out of high school, as well as one of the top 150 high school players in the nation.
.
. After receiving weight loss tips from Texas' Strength and Conditioning coach Todd Wright, he was able to drop his weight to 366 lbs before enrolling at Texas. His weight still prevented him from doing basic drills in practice, which caused various back and knee aches. Pittman then dedicated himself to a workout program with Wright, which included 5:30 AM workouts and a complete revamp of his diet. Pittman agreed to call Todd Wright before every meal to evaluate his choices. He later characterized the workout regimen as so tough that "I wanted to cry and say, 'Man, I want to give up'". Since losing almost 100 pounds, he has become an icon for admirers, like Hall of Famer
Charles Barkley
, who heard about his weight loss.
, 32nd overall, by the Miami Heat
.
Pittman signed a 3 year deal on July 16, 2010. On November 26, Pittman was sent to the Sioux Falls Skyforce
to play to help develop his basketball skills. On December 18, Pittman was recalled back to Miami. On January 6, 2011 he was once again re-assigned to the Sioux Falls Skyforce.
Dexter Pittman was selected to the 2011 NBA D-League All-Star game along with Sioux Falls Skyforce teammate Patrick Ewing Jr..
Pittman played in his first NBA game for the Miami Heat on April 1, 2011 against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional basketball player with 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...
of the 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...
.
High school
Pittman was a three-year starter at B. F. Terry High SchoolB. F. Terry High School
B. F. Terry High School is located in Rosenberg, Texas, United States and is part of the Lamar Consolidated Independent School District.Terry serves all of Pleak and Beasley...
, where he averaged 15 points and 8.5 rebounds per game over his career. In his senior season, he was named the Most Valuable Player for District 24-4A. He verbally committed to the University of Texas in October 2005, over scholarship offers from Texas A&M
Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University is a coeducational public research university located in College Station, Texas . It is the flagship institution of the Texas A&M University System. The sixth-largest university in the United States, A&M's enrollment for Fall 2011 was over 50,000 for the first time in school...
and Arizona State. He was ranked as the 16th best center prospect out of high school, as well as one of the top 150 high school players in the nation.
College
Pittman was used sparingly in his first two seasons at Texas, averaging less than 3 points per game with just one start. As a junior, he started 24 games–averaging 10 points and 5.5 rebounds per game–and became one of the most dominant centers in the Big 12 conferenceBig 12 Conference
The Big 12 Conference is a college athletic conference of ten schools located in the Central United States, with its headquarters located in Las Colinas, a community in the Dallas, Texas suburb of Irving...
.
Weight loss
Pittman weighed 388 lbs as a senior at Terry High SchoolB. F. Terry High School
B. F. Terry High School is located in Rosenberg, Texas, United States and is part of the Lamar Consolidated Independent School District.Terry serves all of Pleak and Beasley...
. After receiving weight loss tips from Texas' Strength and Conditioning coach Todd Wright, he was able to drop his weight to 366 lbs before enrolling at Texas. His weight still prevented him from doing basic drills in practice, which caused various back and knee aches. Pittman then dedicated himself to a workout program with Wright, which included 5:30 AM workouts and a complete revamp of his diet. Pittman agreed to call Todd Wright before every meal to evaluate his choices. He later characterized the workout regimen as so tough that "I wanted to cry and say, 'Man, I want to give up'". Since losing almost 100 pounds, he has become an icon for admirers, like Hall of Famer
Basketball Hall of Fame
The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, located in Springfield, Massachusetts, United States, honors exceptional basketball players, coaches, referees, executives, and other major contributors to the game of basketball worldwide...
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...
, who heard about his weight loss.
Professional career
Pittman was selected in the second round of the 2010 NBA Draft2010 NBA Draft
The 2010 NBA Draft was held on June 24, 2010 at the Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. The draft, which started at 7:00 pm Eastern Daylight Time , was broadcast in the United States on ESPN. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur...
, 32nd overall, by 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...
.
Pittman signed a 3 year deal on July 16, 2010. On November 26, Pittman was sent to the Sioux Falls Skyforce
Sioux Falls Skyforce
The Sioux Falls Skyforce is a professional basketball team that plays in the NBA Development League. They are based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States. The team plays at the Sioux Falls Arena. The Skyforce began in the CBA in 1989...
to play to help develop his basketball skills. On December 18, Pittman was recalled back to Miami. On January 6, 2011 he was once again re-assigned to the Sioux Falls Skyforce.
Dexter Pittman was selected to the 2011 NBA D-League All-Star game along with Sioux Falls Skyforce teammate Patrick Ewing Jr..
Pittman played in his first NBA game for the Miami Heat on April 1, 2011 against the Minnesota Timberwolves.