Nate Huffman
Encyclopedia
Nathaniel Thomas Huffman (born April 2, 1975 in Battle Creek, Michigan
, USA) is a 7'1" American former professional basketball
player, who played most of his career outside of the United States with Maccabi Tel Aviv.
(where in '94–'95 he averaged 29.8 points, 14.5 rebounds, and 6 blocks per game while shooting 66.8% from the field, and was named to the JUCO All America team). He then played for Central Michigan University
from 1995 until 1997 (where in '96–'97 he averaged 17.2 points, 11 rebounds (leading the Mid-America Conference in rebounding), and 1.8 blocks per game, and was named to the MAC Conference 1st team). Huffman averaged 15.8 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 2.0 blocked shots in his two seasons at CMU. He holds the CMU career record for field goal percentage (.581), ranks 4th in career blocked shots (92), and 7th in career rebounding average (9.4).
following his college career, but did not make the team. He then in the 1997–98 season played for the Idaho Stampede
of the CBA
, where he was 2nd in the league in blocked shots per game (1.8), 6th in field goal percentage (.553), 8th in rebounds per game (7.6), 10th in free throw percentage (.801), and runner-up for the rookie of the year award.
He then moved to Europe and played for Baloncesto Fuenlabrada
of Spain.
In the 1999–00 season he was signed by Maccabi Tel Aviv
. During his time in Israel he won three national championships and state cups, and one European SuproLeague
title (2001; when he averaged 17.9 points and 9 rebounds while playing 30 minutes per game as the team was 21–3). He was named the MVP of the Israeli Basketball League
, and the SuproLeague MVP, as well as the "Best American Player in Europe" by Basket News, in 2001.
After the success in Israel, he was signed in July 2002, by the Toronto Raptors
of the NBA to a 3-year, $5.2 million contract (the third year being a team option), and appeared in 7 games, averaging 3.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and 10.9 minutes. Shortly after, Huffman was released by Toronto which terminated his contract in January 2003, because team management charged that he hid a knee injury from them when he signed the contract. Huffman responded by suing them in 2003. In February 2004, however, an arbitrator ruled that the Raptors were responsible for Huffman’s contract.
.
Battle Creek, Michigan
Battle Creek is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan, in northwest Calhoun County, at the confluence of the Kalamazoo and Battle Creek Rivers. It is the principal city of the Battle Creek, Michigan Metropolitan Statistical Area , which encompasses all of Calhoun county...
, USA) is a 7'1" American former 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, who played most of his career outside of the United States with Maccabi Tel Aviv.
High school and college career
Huffman played for Lakeview High School and then for Lansing Community CollegeLansing Community College
Lansing Community College is a two-year public college founded in 1957. The college's main campus is located on an urban, 42-acre site in downtown Lansing, Michigan spanning seven city blocks approximately two blocks from the state capital...
(where in '94–'95 he averaged 29.8 points, 14.5 rebounds, and 6 blocks per game while shooting 66.8% from the field, and was named to the JUCO All America team). He then played for Central Michigan University
Central Michigan University
Central Michigan University is a public research university located in Mount Pleasant in the U.S. state of Michigan...
from 1995 until 1997 (where in '96–'97 he averaged 17.2 points, 11 rebounds (leading the Mid-America Conference in rebounding), and 1.8 blocks per game, and was named to the MAC Conference 1st team). Huffman averaged 15.8 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 2.0 blocked shots in his two seasons at CMU. He holds the CMU career record for field goal percentage (.581), ranks 4th in career blocked shots (92), and 7th in career rebounding average (9.4).
Pro career
Huffman signed a free agent deal with the Los Angeles ClippersLos 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...
following his college career, but did not make the team. He then in the 1997–98 season played for the Idaho Stampede
Idaho Stampede
The Idaho Stampede is an American basketball team that plays in the NBA Development League. The team is based in the Boise, Idaho, area and as of 2005 plays at the CenturyLink Arena in Boise. The team was founded as a member of the Continental Basketball Association in 1997 and was league runner-up...
of the CBA
Continental Basketball Association
The Continental Basketball Association was a professional men's basketball league in the United States, which has been on hiatus since the 2009 season.- History :...
, where he was 2nd in the league in blocked shots per game (1.8), 6th in field goal percentage (.553), 8th in rebounds per game (7.6), 10th in free throw percentage (.801), and runner-up for the rookie of the year award.
He then moved to Europe and played for Baloncesto Fuenlabrada
Baloncesto Fuenlabrada
Baloncesto Fuenlabrada, S.A.D. is a professional basketball team based in Fuenlabrada, Madrid, Spain, currently playing in the Liga ACB. The club was founded in 1981 as C.B. Fuenlabrada, and promoted to the Spanish Top Division in 1996...
of Spain.
In the 1999–00 season he was signed by Maccabi Tel Aviv
Maccabi Tel Aviv (basketball)
Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv B.C. is a professional Israeli basketball club based in Tel Aviv. The team plays in three leagues: the Euroleague, the Israeli Basketball Super League, and the Adriatic League....
. During his time in Israel he won three national championships and state cups, and one European SuproLeague
Suproleague
FIBA SuproLeague was the FIBA professional club basketball Champions' Cup for the 2000-01 season. Up until that season, there was one cup, the FIBA European Champions' Cup , though in this season of 2000-01, the leading European teams split into two competitions: the FIBA SuproLeague and the ULEB's...
title (2001; when he averaged 17.9 points and 9 rebounds while playing 30 minutes per game as the team was 21–3). He was named the MVP of the Israeli Basketball League
Ligat Winner
Ligat HaAl , or the Israeli Basketball Super League, is the top tier of league basketball competition in Israeli basketball, making it Israel's primary basketball competition. For sponsorship reasons, the league is also referred to as Ligat Loto , lit...
, and the SuproLeague MVP, as well as the "Best American Player in Europe" by Basket News, in 2001.
After the success in Israel, he was signed in July 2002, by the Toronto Raptors
Toronto Raptors
The Toronto Raptors are a professional basketball team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1995, along with the Vancouver Grizzlies, as part of the NBA's re-expansion...
of the NBA to a 3-year, $5.2 million contract (the third year being a team option), and appeared in 7 games, averaging 3.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and 10.9 minutes. Shortly after, Huffman was released by Toronto which terminated his contract in January 2003, because team management charged that he hid a knee injury from them when he signed the contract. Huffman responded by suing them in 2003. In February 2004, however, an arbitrator ruled that the Raptors were responsible for Huffman’s contract.
After retirement from pro basketball
After getting his money from the Toronto Raptors, he decided to fund a basketball camp for children in 2005, with retired Romanian-Israeli basketball player Constantin PopaConstantin Popa
Constantin Popa is a 2.22 m retired Romanian-Israeli professional basketball player.Popa played for Dinamo Bucureşti in his native Romania before going overseas to play college basketball in the United States for the University of Miami...
.