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Michael Adams (basketball)
Encyclopedia
Michael Adams is a former NBA player and basketball coach.
After starring at Boston College, the 5'10" point guard
was selected by the Sacramento Kings
in the 3rd round with the 66th pick of the 1985 NBA Draft
. He only averaged 2.2 points during his rookie season, but he would have more success later in his career while playing for other teams. In his second season he played with the Washington Bullets
, but Adams had his best season in 1990-1991, when he averaged 26.5 points (including a 54 point game) and 10.5 assists per game while playing for the Denver Nuggets
. After that breakout season, he rejoined the Bullets via a trade, during which time he appeared in his first NBA All-Star Game
in 1992.
Renowned for his "push shot", Adams retired in 1996 when playing for the Charlotte Hornets
with NBA career totals of 9,621 points and 4,209 assists, and remains among the all-time league leaders in three-point field goal
s made and attempted. Adams had a record 79 consecutive games with a 3-point field goal (from January 28, 1988 - January 23, 1989). The record has since been broken by Dana Barros
.
Adams has held coaching positions with the International Basketball League
's Richmond Rhythm, the NBA's Vancouver Grizzlies
, the WNBA's Washington Mystics
, and the University of Maryland
.
| align="left" | 1985–86
| align="left" | Sacramento
| 18 || 0 || 7.7 || .364 || .000 || .667 || .3 || 1.2 || .5 || .1 || 2.2
|-
| align="left" | 1986–87
| align="left" | Washington
| 63 || 0 || 20.7 || .407 || .275 || .847 || 2.0 || 3.9 || 1.3 || .1 || 7.2
|-
| align="left" | 1987–88
| align="left" | Denver
| 82 || 75 || 33.9 || .449 || .367 || .834 || 2.7 || 6.1 || 2.0 || .2 || 13.9
|-
| align="left" | 1988–89
| align="left" | Denver
| 77 || 77 || 36.2 || .433 || .356 || .819 || 3.7 || 6.4 || 2.2 || .1 || 18.5
|-
| align="left" | 1989–90
| align="left" | Denver
| 79 || 74 || 34.1 || .402 || .366 || .850 || 2.8 || 6.3 || 1.5 || .0 || 15.5
|-
| align="left" | 1990–91
| align="left" | Denver
| 66 || 66 || 35.5 || .394 || .296 || .879 || 3.9 || 10.5 || 2.2 || .1 || 26.5
|-
| align="left" | 1991–92
| align="left" | Washington
| 78 || 78 || 35.8 || .393 || .324 || .869 || 4.0 || 7.6 || 1.9 || .1 || 18.1
|-
| align="left" | 1992–93
| align="left" | Washington
| 70 || 70 || 35.7 || .439 || .321 || .856 || 3.4 || 7.5 || 1.4 || .1 || 14.8
|-
| align="left" | 1993–94
| align="left" | Washington
| 70 || 67 || 33.4 || .408 || .288 || .830 || 2.6 || 6.9 || 1.4 || .1 || 12.1
|-
| align="left" | 1994–95
| align="left" | Charlotte
| 29 || 0 || 15.3 || .453 || .358 || .833 || 1.0 || 3.3 || .8 || .0 || 6.5
|-
| align="left" | 1995–96
| align="left" | Charlotte
| 21 || 3 || 15.7 || .446 || .341 || .743 || 1.0 || 3.2 || 1.0 || .2 || 5.4
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 653 || 510 || 31.3 || .415 || .332 || .849 || 2.9 || 6.4 || 1.7 || .1 || 14.7
|}
| align="left" | 1986–87
| align="left" | Washington
| 3 || – || 27.3 || .320 || .222 || .333 || 2.3 || 3.3 || 2.3 || .0 || 6.3
|-
| align="left" | 1987–88
| align="left" | Denver
| 11 || – || 36.9 || .362 || .315 || .878 || 3.3 || 5.8 || 1.6 || .2 || 13.4
|-
| align="left" | 1988–89
| align="left" | Denver
| 2 || – || 37.5 || .417 || .455 || .875 || 8.5 || 4.5 || 1.5 || .0 || 23.5
|-
| align="left" | 1989–90
| align="left" | Denver
| 3 || – || 35.0 || .382 || .300 || .875 || 2.0 || 6.0 || 1.3 || .0 || 13.0
|-
| align="left" | 1994–95
| align="left" | Charlotte
| 1 || 0 || 11.0 || .400 || .000 || .000 || 1.0 || 2.0 || .0 || .0 || 4.0
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 20 || – || 34.0 || .370 || .327 || .850 || 3.4 || 5.2 || 1.6 || .1 || 12.8
|}
After starring at Boston College, the 5'10" point guard
Point guard
Point guard , also called the play maker or "the ball-handler", is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. A point guard has perhaps the most specialized role of any position – essentially, he is expected to run the team's offense by controlling the ball and making sure that...
was selected by 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...
in the 3rd round with the 66th pick of the 1985 NBA Draft
1985 NBA Draft
The 1985 NBA Draft took place on June 18, 1985. It was also the first NBA Draft of the "Lottery" era. A total of 162 players were selected over 7 rounds by the league's 23 teams. The New York Knicks were awarded the first overall pick, by winning the first-ever NBA Draft Lottery, which was held...
. He only averaged 2.2 points during his rookie season, but he would have more success later in his career while playing for other teams. In his second season he played with the Washington Bullets
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:...
, but Adams had his best season in 1990-1991, when he averaged 26.5 points (including a 54 point game) and 10.5 assists per game while playing for 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...
. After that breakout season, he rejoined the Bullets via a trade, during which time he appeared in his first NBA All-Star Game
National Basketball Association All-Star Game
The National Basketball Association staged its first All-Star Game in the Boston Garden on March 2, 1951. From that year on, the game has matched the best players in the Eastern Conference with the best players in the Western Conference....
in 1992.
Renowned for his "push shot", Adams retired in 1996 when playing for the Charlotte Hornets
New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets
The New Orleans Hornets are a professional basketball team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They play in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association. The franchise began play during the 1988–89 NBA season as the Charlotte Hornets, based in Charlotte,...
with NBA career totals of 9,621 points and 4,209 assists, and remains among the all-time league leaders in three-point field goal
Three-point field goal
A three-point field goal is a field goal in a basketball game, made from beyond the three-point line, a designated arc radiating from the basket...
s made and attempted. Adams had a record 79 consecutive games with a 3-point field goal (from January 28, 1988 - January 23, 1989). The record has since been broken by Dana Barros
Dana Barros
Dana Bruce Barros is a retired American professional basketball player from the NBA. Before the NBA he played at Boston College, finishing as one of the school's all-time leading scorers....
.
Adams has held coaching positions with the International Basketball League
International Basketball League
The International Basketball League was a short lived professional basketball league in the United States. The IBL was headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland. The league started in 1999 and ended in 2001.-History:...
's Richmond Rhythm, the NBA's Vancouver Grizzlies
Vancouver Grizzlies
The Vancouver Grizzlies were a professional basketball team based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. They were part of the Midwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1995, along with the Toronto Raptors, as part of the NBA's...
, the WNBA's Washington Mystics
Washington Mystics
The Washington Mystics is a professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C., playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded prior to the 1998 season. The team is owned by Monumental Sports & Entertainment , who also owns the Mystics'...
, and the University of Maryland
University of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
.
Regular season
|-| align="left" | 1985–86
| 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...
| 18 || 0 || 7.7 || .364 || .000 || .667 || .3 || 1.2 || .5 || .1 || 2.2
|-
| align="left" | 1986–87
| align="left" | Washington
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:...
| 63 || 0 || 20.7 || .407 || .275 || .847 || 2.0 || 3.9 || 1.3 || .1 || 7.2
|-
| align="left" | 1987–88
| 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...
| 82 || 75 || 33.9 || .449 || .367 || .834 || 2.7 || 6.1 || 2.0 || .2 || 13.9
|-
| align="left" | 1988–89
| align="left" | Denver
| 77 || 77 || 36.2 || .433 || .356 || .819 || 3.7 || 6.4 || 2.2 || .1 || 18.5
|-
| align="left" | 1989–90
| align="left" | Denver
| 79 || 74 || 34.1 || .402 || .366 || .850 || 2.8 || 6.3 || 1.5 || .0 || 15.5
|-
| align="left" | 1990–91
| align="left" | Denver
| 66 || 66 || 35.5 || .394 || .296 || .879 || 3.9 || 10.5 || 2.2 || .1 || 26.5
|-
| align="left" | 1991–92
| align="left" | Washington
| 78 || 78 || 35.8 || .393 || .324 || .869 || 4.0 || 7.6 || 1.9 || .1 || 18.1
|-
| align="left" | 1992–93
| align="left" | Washington
| 70 || 70 || 35.7 || .439 || .321 || .856 || 3.4 || 7.5 || 1.4 || .1 || 14.8
|-
| align="left" | 1993–94
| align="left" | Washington
| 70 || 67 || 33.4 || .408 || .288 || .830 || 2.6 || 6.9 || 1.4 || .1 || 12.1
|-
| align="left" | 1994–95
| align="left" | Charlotte
| 29 || 0 || 15.3 || .453 || .358 || .833 || 1.0 || 3.3 || .8 || .0 || 6.5
|-
| align="left" | 1995–96
| align="left" | Charlotte
| 21 || 3 || 15.7 || .446 || .341 || .743 || 1.0 || 3.2 || 1.0 || .2 || 5.4
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 653 || 510 || 31.3 || .415 || .332 || .849 || 2.9 || 6.4 || 1.7 || .1 || 14.7
|}
Playoffs
|-| align="left" | 1986–87
1987 NBA Playoffs
The 1987 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1986-1987 season. The tournament concluded with the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers defeating the Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics four games to two in the Finals...
| align="left" | Washington
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:...
| 3 || – || 27.3 || .320 || .222 || .333 || 2.3 || 3.3 || 2.3 || .0 || 6.3
|-
| align="left" | 1987–88
1988 NBA Playoffs
The 1988 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1987-1988 season. The tournament concluded with the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers defeating the Eastern Conference champion Detroit Pistons four games to three in the 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...
| 11 || – || 36.9 || .362 || .315 || .878 || 3.3 || 5.8 || 1.6 || .2 || 13.4
|-
| align="left" | 1988–89
1989 NBA Playoffs
The 1989 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1988-89 NBA season. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Conference champion Detroit Pistons defeating the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers, who were severely hampered by injuries, four...
| align="left" | Denver
| 2 || – || 37.5 || .417 || .455 || .875 || 8.5 || 4.5 || 1.5 || .0 || 23.5
|-
| align="left" | 1989–90
1990 NBA Playoffs
The 1990 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1989-1990 season. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Conference champion Detroit Pistons successfully defending their championship by beating the Western Conference champion Portland Trail Blazers...
| align="left" | Denver
| 3 || – || 35.0 || .382 || .300 || .875 || 2.0 || 6.0 || 1.3 || .0 || 13.0
|-
| 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" | Charlotte
| 1 || 0 || 11.0 || .400 || .000 || .000 || 1.0 || 2.0 || .0 || .0 || 4.0
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 20 || – || 34.0 || .370 || .327 || .850 || 3.4 || 5.2 || 1.6 || .1 || 12.8
|}