Isaac Austin
Encyclopedia
Isaac Edward "Ike" Austin (born August 18, 1969 in Gridley, California
) is a retired American
professional basketball
player. He is also the uncle of the top 2012 college basketball recruit, Isaiah Austin.
A 6' 10" (2.08 m) center
from Kings River Community College
and Arizona State University
, Austin was selected by the Utah Jazz
in the second round (48th overall) of the 1991 NBA Draft
. He averaged two points and 1.1 rebounds during his rookie season with the Jazz, and after two more sub-par seasons, he signed to play with Tuborg İzmir
, a Turkish
basketball team. Austin averaged 22.3 points and 13.9 rebounds during the 1995-1996 season in Turkey, and he returned to the NBA the following season as a member of the Miami Heat
.
With renewed confidence, Austin averaged 9.7 points and 5.8 rebounds for the Heat and received the NBA Most Improved Player Award
in 1997. Austin had his best season
in 1997-1998
, when he averaged 13.5 points and 7.1 rebounds while playing for the Heat and the Los Angeles Clippers
(to whom he was traded midseason for Brent Barry
). After that season, he signed a lucrative contract with the Orlando Magic
, but his play began to regress. Austin was traded to the Washington Wizards
for Ben Wallace
after one season with the Magic, and the Wizards later traded him to the Vancouver Grizzlies
, with whom he ended his NBA career in 2002 (the team moved to Memphis in 2001).
From 2004-2005, Austin was owner and head coach of the Utah Snowbears
, a team in the American Basketball Association
. He led the Snowbears to a 27-1 record in the team's first season, but feuded with league officials during the playoffs and decided to forfeit the rest of the season in protest.
Gridley, California
Gridley is a city in Butte County, California, United States. The population was 6,584 at the 2010 census, up from 5,382 at the 2000 census.-History:...
) is a retired American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player. He is also the uncle of the top 2012 college basketball recruit, Isaiah Austin.
A 6' 10" (2.08 m) center
Center (basketball)
The center, colloquially known as the five or the post, is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. The center is normally the tallest player on the team, and often has a great deal of strength and body mass as well...
from Kings River Community College
Reedley College
Reedley College often referred to as Reedley, RC, or known to locals as The College is a public community college located in Reedley, California, USA southeast of the Fresno Metropolitan Area and only a 3 hour drive south to Los Angeles or 3 hour drive north to San Francisco...
and Arizona State University
Arizona State University
Arizona State University is a public research university located in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area of the State of Arizona...
, Austin was selected by the Utah Jazz
Utah Jazz
The Utah Jazz is a professional basketball team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. They are currently a part of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
in the second round (48th overall) of 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 averaged two points and 1.1 rebounds during his rookie season with the Jazz, and after two more sub-par seasons, he signed to play with Tuborg İzmir
Izmir
Izmir is a large metropolis in the western extremity of Anatolia. The metropolitan area in the entire Izmir Province had a population of 3.35 million as of 2010, making the city third most populous in Turkey...
, a Turkish
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
basketball team. Austin averaged 22.3 points and 13.9 rebounds during the 1995-1996 season in Turkey, and he returned to the NBA the following season as a member of 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...
.
With renewed confidence, Austin averaged 9.7 points and 5.8 rebounds for the Heat and received the NBA Most Improved Player Award
NBA Most Improved Player Award
The National Basketball Association's Most Improved Player Award is an annual National Basketball Association award given since the 1985–86 NBA season, to the most improved player of the regular season. The winner is selected by a panel of sportswriters throughout the United States and Canada,...
in 1997. Austin had his best season
Contract year phenomenon
Contract year phenomenon is a term used in North American sports to describe the occurrence when athletes perform at a very high level in the season prior to their free agency eligibility...
in 1997-1998
1997-98 NBA season
The 1997–98 NBA season was the 52nd season of the National Basketball Association. The season ended with the Chicago Bulls winning their third straight championship and sixth in the last eight years, beating the Utah Jazz 4 games to 2 in the 1998 NBA Finals...
, when he averaged 13.5 points and 7.1 rebounds while playing for the Heat and the Los Angeles Clippers
Los Angeles Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers are a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, United States. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
(to whom he was traded midseason for Brent Barry
Brent Barry
Brent Robert Barry is an American former professional basketball player. The , shooting guard was selected out of Oregon State University by the Denver Nuggets with the 15th overall pick in the 1995 NBA Draft, but was traded shortly after to the Los Angeles Clippers.Barry played professionally...
). After that season, he signed a lucrative contract with 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...
, but his play began to regress. Austin was traded to the Washington Wizards
Washington Wizards
The Washington Wizards are a professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C., previously known as Washington Bullets. They play in the National Basketball Association .-Early years:...
for Ben Wallace
Ben Wallace
Ben Camey Wallace is an American basketball center for the Detroit Pistons of the NBA. A native of Alabama, Wallace attended Cuyahoga Community College and Virginia Union University and signed with the Washington Bullets as an undrafted free agent in 1996...
after one season with the Magic, and the Wizards later traded him to the Vancouver Grizzlies
Memphis Grizzlies
The Memphis Grizzlies are a professional basketball team based in Memphis, Tennessee, USA. The team is part of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . Along with the Toronto Raptors, the Grizzlies were established in 1995 as part of the NBA's...
, with whom he ended his NBA career in 2002 (the team moved to Memphis in 2001).
From 2004-2005, Austin was owner and head coach of the Utah Snowbears
Utah Snowbears
The Utah Snowbears were a basketball team in the revived American Basketball Association based in Taylorsville, Utah for the 2004-2005 season. The team played its home games in the Lifetime Activities Center on the Redwood Campus of Salt Lake Community College...
, a team in the American Basketball Association
American Basketball Association (21st century)
The American Basketball Association, often abbreviated as ABA, is a semi-professional men's basketball league that was founded in 1999. The current ABA has no affiliation with the original American Basketball Association that merged with the National Basketball Association in 1976...
. He led the Snowbears to a 27-1 record in the team's first season, but feuded with league officials during the playoffs and decided to forfeit the rest of the season in protest.