Walter McCarty
Encyclopedia
Walter Lee McCarty is an American
former basketball
player who played for the NBA's New York Knicks
, Boston Celtics
, Phoenix Suns
, and the Los Angeles Clippers
.
Born in Evansville, Indiana
, the 6-foot, 10-inch (2.08 m) McCarty played college basketball
at the University of Kentucky
where he was a part of the team that won the NCAA championship
in 1996. In 1994, Walter's made three pointer completed Kentucky's 31 point comeback over LSU—the biggest second-half rally in NCAA history. He was selected by the Knicks with the 19th pick in the 1996 NBA Draft
.
McCarty played for the Knicks until October 1997, when he was traded to the Celtics. McCarty played in all 82 games that season, starting 64 of them. He also established career highs in virtually every category during this season. Over the next few years, he was one of Boston's top options off the bench, often making a key defensive
play or three point shot. He became a fan favorite in Boston for his gutsy play, hustle, and penchant for making the big shot. He was also a favorite of former Hall of Fame
player and current announcer Tommy Heinsohn, who often exclaimed "I love Walter!" after some of McCarty's plays.
In February 2005, McCarty was traded, along with an undisclosed amount of cash, to the Suns for a second round pick as a result of the Celtics' youth movement. Walter McCarty signed with the Clippers in the offseason of 2005.
In June 2007, McCarty accepted an assistant coach job at the University of Louisville
under head men's basketball coach Rick Pitino
, under whom he played at Kentucky and with the Celtics.
He appeared in the 1998 film He Got Game
as the character "Mance". In 2003, McCarty released the CD "Moment for Love", an R&B/soul
album to generally positive reviews. He sang the National Anthem
prior to All-Star Saturday Night on the eve of the 2006 NBA All-Star Game
.
In June 2010, McCarty was named as an assistant coach for the Indiana Pacers
under Jim O'Brien, replacing Lester Conner
. Walter also played for Jim during his tenure with the Celtics. In 2011 McCarty was let go by the Pacers.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
former 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 for the NBA's New York Knicks
New York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
, Boston Celtics
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
, Phoenix Suns
Phoenix Suns
The Phoenix Suns are a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association and the only team in their division not to be based in California. Their home arena since 1992 has been the US...
, 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...
.
Born in Evansville, Indiana
Evansville, Indiana
Evansville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Indiana and the largest city in Southern Indiana. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 117,429. It is the county seat of Vanderburgh County and the regional hub for both Southwestern Indiana and the...
, the 6-foot, 10-inch (2.08 m) McCarty played college basketball
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
at the University of Kentucky
University of Kentucky
The University of Kentucky, also known as UK, is a public co-educational university and is one of the state's two land-grant universities, located in Lexington, Kentucky...
where he was a part of the team that won the NCAA championship
NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
The NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship is a single-elimination tournament held each spring in the United States, featuring 68 college basketball teams, to determine the national championship in the top tier of college basketball...
in 1996. In 1994, Walter's made three pointer completed Kentucky's 31 point comeback over LSU—the biggest second-half rally in NCAA history. He was selected by the Knicks with the 19th pick in the 1996 NBA Draft
1996 NBA Draft
The 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...
.
McCarty played for the Knicks until October 1997, when he was traded to the Celtics. McCarty played in all 82 games that season, starting 64 of them. He also established career highs in virtually every category during this season. Over the next few years, he was one of Boston's top options off the bench, often making a key defensive
Defense (sport)
In many team sports, defense or defence is the action of preventing an opponent from scoring. The term may also refer to the tactics involved in defense, or a sub-team whose primary responsibility is defense...
play or three point shot. He became a fan favorite in Boston for his gutsy play, hustle, and penchant for making the big shot. He was also a favorite of former Hall of Fame
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...
player and current announcer Tommy Heinsohn, who often exclaimed "I love Walter!" after some of McCarty's plays.
In February 2005, McCarty was traded, along with an undisclosed amount of cash, to the Suns for a second round pick as a result of the Celtics' youth movement. Walter McCarty signed with the Clippers in the offseason of 2005.
In June 2007, McCarty accepted an assistant coach job at the University of Louisville
University of Louisville
The University of Louisville is a public university in Louisville, Kentucky. When founded in 1798, it was the first city-owned public university in the United States and one of the first universities chartered west of the Allegheny Mountains. The university is mandated by the Kentucky General...
under head men's basketball coach Rick Pitino
Rick Pitino
Rick Pitino is an American basketball coach. Since 2001, he has been the head coach at the University of Louisville. He has also served as head coach at Boston University, Providence College and the University of Kentucky, leading that program to the NCAA championship in 1996...
, under whom he played at Kentucky and with the Celtics.
He appeared in the 1998 film He Got Game
He Got Game
He Got Game is a 1998 American sports-drama film written and directed by Spike Lee. It stars Denzel Washington as Jake Shuttlesworth, a prison inmate convicted for killing his wife...
as the character "Mance". In 2003, McCarty released the CD "Moment for Love", an R&B/soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
album to generally positive reviews. He sang the National Anthem
National anthem
A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions and struggles of its people, recognized either by a nation's government as the official national song, or by convention through use by the people.- History :Anthems rose to prominence...
prior to All-Star Saturday Night on the eve of the 2006 NBA All-Star Game
2006 NBA All-Star Game
The 2006 NBA All-Star Game was played on Sunday, February 19, 2006 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas, home of the Houston Rockets. The game was the 55th annual All-Star game...
.
In June 2010, McCarty was named as an assistant coach for the Indiana Pacers
Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers are a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They are members of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association...
under Jim O'Brien, replacing Lester Conner
Lester Conner
Lester Allen Conner is a former assistant coach for the NBA Indiana Pacers, and is a former American professional basketball player, who played for numerous NBA teams...
. Walter also played for Jim during his tenure with the Celtics. In 2011 McCarty was let go by the Pacers.