Bill Wennington facts for kids
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Wennington in 2008
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| Personal information | |||||||||||
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| Born | April 26, 1963 Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
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| High school | Long Island Lutheran (Brookville, New York) |
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| Listed height | 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) | ||||||||||
| Listed weight | 245 lb (111 kg) | ||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||
| College | St. John's (1981–1985) | ||||||||||
| NBA Draft | 1985 / Round: 1 / Pick: 16th overall | ||||||||||
| Selected by the Dallas Mavericks | |||||||||||
| Pro career | 1985–2000 | ||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||
| 1985–1990 | Dallas Mavericks | ||||||||||
| 1990–1991 | Sacramento Kings | ||||||||||
| 1991–1993 | Virtus Bologna | ||||||||||
| 1993–1999 | Chicago Bulls | ||||||||||
| 1999–2000 | Sacramento Kings | ||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||
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| Career NBA statistics | |||||||||||
| Points | 3,301 (4.6 ppg) | ||||||||||
| Rebounds | 2,148 (3.0 rpg) | ||||||||||
| Assists | 440 (0.6 apg) | ||||||||||
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Medals
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William Percey Wennington (born April 26, 1963) is a Canadian former professional basketball player. He is famous for winning three National Basketball Association (NBA) championships with the Chicago Bulls. Bill played as a center (a player who usually plays near the basket).
He also played for Canada's national team. He competed in the 1984 Olympics. In the 1983 World University Games, his team won a gold medal. Bill Wennington is a member of both the Quebec Basketball Hall of Fame and the Canadian Basketball Hall of Fame.
Contents
Bill Wennington's Early Basketball Days
Bill Wennington was born in Montreal, Canada. He later moved to New York for high school. He attended Long Island Lutheran Middle and High School. There, he played basketball under coach Bob McKillop. His team, the Crusaders, became one of the top teams in the country.
After high school, Bill went to St. John's University. He played for their basketball team. He even helped his team reach the NCAA Final Four tournament. This is a big achievement in college basketball.
Bill Wennington's Professional Career
Starting in the NBA
In 1985, Bill Wennington was chosen in the 1985 NBA draft. He was the 16th player picked overall. The Dallas Mavericks drafted him, and he started his NBA career there. His first NBA game was on October 29, 1985.
After playing for the Mavericks, he was traded to the Sacramento Kings in 1990. He played one season with them.
Playing in Italy
Before joining the Chicago Bulls, Bill played basketball in Italy. He played for a team called Virtus (Knorr) in Bologna. He spent a few years there, gaining more experience.
Joining the Chicago Bulls
In 1993, Bill Wennington signed with the Chicago Bulls. This was a very successful time for him. He played alongside basketball legends like Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, and Ron Harper. Bill was the backup center for Luc Longley.
With the Bulls, Bill Wennington won three NBA championships. These wins happened in 1996, 1997, and 1998. During this time, Chicago-area McDonald's restaurants even sold a special sandwich named after him, called the "Beef Wennington"!
Finishing His NBA Career
After the Bulls' championship team broke up, Bill Wennington played his final NBA season. He returned to the Sacramento Kings in 1999. He retired from playing professional basketball in 2000.
Life After Basketball
After retiring from playing, Bill Wennington stayed involved with basketball. He became a radio commentator for the Chicago Bulls. This means he helps describe the games for listeners.
In 2005, Bill Wennington was honored for his career. He was inducted into the Canadian Basketball Hall of Fame. He also appeared in "The Last Dance," a TV series from 2020. This series was about the Chicago Bulls' championship years.
Bill Wennington's Career Highlights
- Won 3 NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls (1996, 1997, 1998)
- Won the Italian League championship in 1993
- Won a gold medal with the Canadian national team at the 1983 World University Games
- Inducted into the Canadian Basketball Hall of Fame in 2005
See also
In Spanish: Bill Wennington para niños
