Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf
Encyclopedia
Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf is an American
professional basketball
player.
. After a record-setting college career at Louisiana State University
, he was selected with the third pick in the 1990 NBA Draft
by the Denver Nuggets
. He changed his name in 1993, after converting to Islam
in 1991. He played with Denver until 1995, and was a key player on that team, winning the Most Improved Player award in 1993. Abdul-Rauf later went on to play for the Sacramento Kings
and later the Vancouver Grizzlies
. He led the league in free throw
percentage in 1994 and 1996, narrowly missing (by one missed free throw) the NBA
all-time record for free-throw percentage in a single season in 1993-94
(he went 219-229 from the line for a 95.6 percentage as opposed to Calvin Murphy's 95.8% (206-215) all-time record dating back to 1980-81
).
After leaving the NBA he played professional basketball in Europe
, retiring at the end of 2004-05 season. For the 2006-07 season, he came out of retirement for the third time in his career to play for Aris Thessaloniki
.
In July 2010, he signed a contract with the Kyoto Hannaryz
of the bj league
of Japan. He averaged 17.9 points in 38 games the previous season.
Abdul-Rauf overcame the challenge of Tourette syndrome
to have an athletic career.
" before games, stating that the flag was a symbol of oppression and that the United States had a long history of tyranny. He said that standing to the national anthem would therefore conflict with his Islamic beliefs. On March 12, 1996
, the NBA
suspended Abdul-Rauf for his refusal to stand, but the suspension lasted only one game. Two days later, the league was able to work out a compromise with him, whereby he would stand during the playing of the national anthem but could close his eyes and look downward. He usually silently recited a Muslim prayer during this time.
In an apparent publicity stunt
gone wrong linked to this controversy, four employees of Denver's KBPI
radio station were charged with misdemeanor offenses related to entering a Colorado
mosque and playing "The Star-Spangled Banner" on a bugle
and trumpet
, in a provocative response to Abdul-Rauf's refusal to stand for the national anthem.
| align="left" | 1990–91
| align="left" | Denver
| 67 || 19 || 22.5 || .413 || .240 || .857 || 1.8 || 3.1 || .8 || .1 || 14.1
|-
| align="left" | 1991–92
| align="left" | Denver
| 81 || 11 || 19.0 || .421 || .330 || .870 || 1.4 || 2.4 || .5 || .0 || 10.3
|-
| align="left" | 1992–93
| align="left" | Denver
| 81 || 81 || 33.5 || .450 || .355 || .935 || 2.8 || 4.2 || 1.0 || .1 || 19.2
|-
| align="left" | 1993–94
| align="left" | Denver
| 80 || 78 || 32.7 || .460 || .316 || .956 || 2.1 || 4.5 || 1.0 || .1 || 18.0
|-
| align="left" | 1994–95
| align="left" | Denver
| 73 || 43 || 28.5 || .470 || .386 || .885 || 1.9 || 3.6 || 1.1 || .1 || 16.0
|-
| align="left" | 1995–96
| align="left" | Denver
| 57 || 53 || 35.6 || .434 || .392 || .930 || 2.4 || 6.8 || 1.1 || .1 || 19.2
|-
| align="left" | 1996–97
| align="left" | Sacramento
| 75 || 51 || 28.4 || .445 || .382 || .846 || 1.6 || 2.5 || .7 || .1 || 13.7
|-
| align="left" | 1997–98
| align="left" | Sacramento
| 31 || 0 || 17.1 || .377 || .161 || 1.000 || 1.2 || 1.9 || .5 || .0 || 7.3
|-
| align="left" | 2000–01
| align="left" | Vancouver
| 41 || 0 || 11.9 || .488 || .286 || .759 || .6 || 1.9 || .2 || .0 || 6.5
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 586 || 336 || 26.7 || .442 || .354 || .905 || 1.9 || 3.5 || .8 || .1 || 14.6
|}
| align="left" | 1993–94
| align="left" | Denver
| 12 || 12 || 28.3 || .370 || .324 || .935 || 1.5 || 2.5 || .4 || .1 || 12.9
|-
| align="left" | 1994–95
| align="left" | Denver
| 3 || 2 || 25.3 || .364 || .167 || 1.000 || 1.7 || 1.7 || .7 || .0 || 13.3
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 15 || 14 || 27.7 || .369 || .286 || .956 || 1.5 || 2.3 || .1 || .1 || 13.0
|}
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.
Life and career
Abdul-Rauf was born in Gulfport, MississippiGulfport, Mississippi
Gulfport is the second largest city in Mississippi after the state capital Jackson. It is the larger of the two principal cities of the Gulfport-Biloxi, Mississippi Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Gulfport-Biloxi-Pascagoula, Mississippi Combined Statistical Area. As of the...
. After a record-setting college career at Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, most often referred to as Louisiana State University, or LSU, is a public coeducational university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The University was founded in 1853 in what is now known as Pineville, Louisiana, under the name...
, he was selected with the third pick in 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...
by 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...
. He changed his name in 1993, after converting to Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
in 1991. He played with Denver until 1995, and was a key player on that team, winning the Most Improved Player award in 1993. Abdul-Rauf later went on to play 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 later 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...
. He led the league in free throw
Free throw
In basketball, free throws or foul shots are unopposed attempts to score points from a restricted area on the court , and are generally awarded after a foul on the shooter by the opposing team...
percentage in 1994 and 1996, narrowly missing (by one missed free throw) the NBA
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...
all-time record for free-throw percentage in a single season in 1993-94
1993-94 NBA season
-Statistics leaders:-NBA awards:*Most Valuable Player: Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston Rockets*Rookie of the Year: Chris Webber, Golden State Warriors*Defensive Player of the Year: Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston Rockets...
(he went 219-229 from the line for a 95.6 percentage as opposed to Calvin Murphy's 95.8% (206-215) all-time record dating back to 1980-81
1980-81 NBA season
-Statistics leaders:-NBA awards:*Most Valuable Player: Julius Erving, Philadelphia 76ers*Rookie of the Year: Darrell Griffith, Utah Jazz*Coach of the Year: Jack McKinney, Indiana Pacers*All-NBA First Team:**Larry Bird, Boston Celtics...
).
After leaving the NBA he played professional basketball 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...
, retiring at the end of 2004-05 season. For the 2006-07 season, he came out of retirement for the third time in his career to play for Aris Thessaloniki
Aris BC
Aris Basketball Club is the professional basketball team of the Thessaloniki-based Greek sport club Aris Thessaloniki. Aris BC was founded in 1922, eight years after the founding of Aris Thessaloniki....
.
In July 2010, he signed a contract with the Kyoto Hannaryz
Kyoto Hannaryz
The Kyoto Hannaryz are a Japanese basketball team playing in Kyoto Prefecture; they are part of the Western Conference of the bj league. Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf played for the team from 2009-2011. The Hannaryz are coached by Honoo Hamaguchi....
of the bj league
Bj league
The bj league is a professional basketball league in Japan that began on November 5, 2005. The ten team league is divided into two conferences, the Eastern Conference, and the Western Conference. It had its inaugural All-Star game in 2006. One of its major sponsors is Spalding.The bj league...
of Japan. He averaged 17.9 points in 38 games the previous season.
Abdul-Rauf overcame the challenge of Tourette syndrome
Tourette syndrome
Tourette syndrome is an inherited neuropsychiatric disorder with onset in childhood, characterized by multiple physical tics and at least one vocal tic; these tics characteristically wax and wane...
to have an athletic career.
National anthem controversy
Abdul-Rauf is perhaps best known for the controversy created when he refused to stand for "The Star-Spangled BannerThe Star-Spangled Banner
"The Star-Spangled Banner" is the national anthem of the United States of America. The lyrics come from "Defence of Fort McHenry", a poem written in 1814 by the 35-year-old lawyer and amateur poet, Francis Scott Key, after witnessing the bombardment of Fort McHenry by the British Royal Navy ships...
" before games, stating that the flag was a symbol of oppression and that the United States had a long history of tyranny. He said that standing to the national anthem would therefore conflict with his Islamic beliefs. On March 12, 1996
1995-96 NBA season
The 1995–96 NBA season was the 50th season of the National Basketball Association , although the league didn't celebrate this anniversary until the following season...
, the NBA
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...
suspended Abdul-Rauf for his refusal to stand, but the suspension lasted only one game. Two days later, the league was able to work out a compromise with him, whereby he would stand during the playing of the national anthem but could close his eyes and look downward. He usually silently recited a Muslim prayer during this time.
In an apparent publicity stunt
Publicity stunt
A publicity stunt is a planned event designed to attract the public's attention to the event's organizers or their cause. Publicity stunts can be professionally organized or set up by amateurs...
gone wrong linked to this controversy, four employees of Denver's KBPI
KBPI
KBPI is an active rock radio station based in Denver, Colorado. The Clear Channel Communications outlet broadcasts with an effective radiated power of 100 kW and has a transmitter in Boulder, Colorado...
radio station were charged with misdemeanor offenses related to entering a Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
mosque and playing "The Star-Spangled Banner" on a bugle
Bugle (instrument)
The bugle is one of the simplest brass instruments, having no valves or other pitch-altering devices. All pitch control is done by varying the player's embouchure, since the bugle has no other mechanism for controlling pitch. Consequently, the bugle is limited to notes within the harmonic series...
and trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
, in a provocative response to Abdul-Rauf's refusal to stand for the national anthem.
Transactions
- 1990 - First round, #3 pick by Denver NuggetsDenver NuggetsThe 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...
in 1990 NBA Draft1990 NBA DraftThe 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...
. - 1996, June 13 - Traded with Sacramento KingsSacramento KingsThe 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...
' Sarunas MarciulionisŠarunas MarciulionisRaimondas Šarūnas Marčiulionis is a retired Lithuanian professional basketball player. He was one of the first Europeans to become a regular in the North American National Basketball Association...
and second round pick in 1996 NBA Draft1996 NBA DraftThe 1996 NBA Draft was the 50th draft in the National Basketball Association . It was held on June 26, 1996 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The draft was broadcast in the United States on the Turner Network Television...
. - 1998 June 18 - Signed a 2-year contract with FenerbahçeFenerbahçe ÜlkerFenerbahçe Ülker is the professional men's basketball department of Fenerbahçe S.K., a major multisport club based in Istanbul, Turkey. The department has been sponsored by the Ülker since 2006. In 2006 Fenerbahçe S.K...
. - 1999 June 22 - Announced his retirement.
- 2000 August 20 - Free agentFree agentIn 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....
signed by Vancouver GrizzliesMemphis GrizzliesThe 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...
.
Regular season
|-| align="left" | 1990–91
| 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...
| 67 || 19 || 22.5 || .413 || .240 || .857 || 1.8 || 3.1 || .8 || .1 || 14.1
|-
| align="left" | 1991–92
| align="left" | Denver
| 81 || 11 || 19.0 || .421 || .330 || .870 || 1.4 || 2.4 || .5 || .0 || 10.3
|-
| align="left" | 1992–93
| align="left" | Denver
| 81 || 81 || 33.5 || .450 || .355 || .935 || 2.8 || 4.2 || 1.0 || .1 || 19.2
|-
| align="left" | 1993–94
| align="left" | Denver
| 80 || 78 || 32.7 || .460 || .316 || .956 || 2.1 || 4.5 || 1.0 || .1 || 18.0
|-
| align="left" | 1994–95
| align="left" | Denver
| 73 || 43 || 28.5 || .470 || .386 || .885 || 1.9 || 3.6 || 1.1 || .1 || 16.0
|-
| align="left" | 1995–96
| align="left" | Denver
| 57 || 53 || 35.6 || .434 || .392 || .930 || 2.4 || 6.8 || 1.1 || .1 || 19.2
|-
| align="left" | 1996–97
| align="left" | Sacramento
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...
| 75 || 51 || 28.4 || .445 || .382 || .846 || 1.6 || 2.5 || .7 || .1 || 13.7
|-
| align="left" | 1997–98
| align="left" | Sacramento
| 31 || 0 || 17.1 || .377 || .161 || 1.000 || 1.2 || 1.9 || .5 || .0 || 7.3
|-
| align="left" | 2000–01
| align="left" | Vancouver
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...
| 41 || 0 || 11.9 || .488 || .286 || .759 || .6 || 1.9 || .2 || .0 || 6.5
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 586 || 336 || 26.7 || .442 || .354 || .905 || 1.9 || 3.5 || .8 || .1 || 14.6
|}
Playoffs
|-| align="left" | 1993–94
1994 NBA Playoffs
The 1994 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1993-94 season. The tournament concluded with the Western Conference champion Houston Rockets defeating the Eastern Conference champion New York Knicks 4 games to 3 in the NBA Finals...
| 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...
| 12 || 12 || 28.3 || .370 || .324 || .935 || 1.5 || 2.5 || .4 || .1 || 12.9
|-
| align="left" | 1994–95
1995 NBA Playoffs
The 1995 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1994-1995 season. The tournament concluded with the Western Conference champion Houston Rockets winning their second consecutive NBA championship by defeating the Eastern Conference champion Orlando Magic...
| align="left" | Denver
| 3 || 2 || 25.3 || .364 || .167 || 1.000 || 1.7 || 1.7 || .7 || .0 || 13.3
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 15 || 14 || 27.7 || .369 || .286 || .956 || 1.5 || 2.3 || .1 || .1 || 13.0
|}