Chris Porter (basketball) facts for kids

Christopher Bernard Porter (born May 9, 1978) is an American former professional basketball player. He was known for his big afro hairstyle and amazing vertical leap. Early in his career, he excited fans with his dunking and rebounding skills. Even though he was a bit small for an NBA power forward, his playing style fit perfectly with coach Cliff Ellis's team at Auburn University.

Early Life and High School Basketball

Chris Porter grew up in Abbeville, Alabama, a small town. He went to Abbeville High School. As a senior, he helped his school win the 4A State Championship. He was also named the 4A State Player of the Year for his great performance.

College Basketball Career

Playing for Chipola and Auburn

From 1996 to 1998, Porter played college basketball for Chipola College. There, he earned honors as a JUCO All-American. He then moved to Auburn University for two years. In his junior year (1998–99), he helped the Auburn Tigers reach the NCAA Sweet Sixteen.

Awards and Challenges at Auburn

That same season, Chris Porter was named the SEC Player of the Year. He was also chosen for the All-America team. The next year, he was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated. The Auburn Tigers were expected to win the national title. However, the team faced difficulties. Porter was suspended for the last eight games of the season. This was because he had accepted money while still in college. He said he took the money to help his mother avoid eviction.

Professional Basketball Journey

Starting in the NBA

The Golden State Warriors picked Chris Porter in the 2000 NBA draft. He was the 55th player chosen overall. In his first year (2000–01), he played 51 games. He averaged 8.6 points and 3.7 rebounds per game. A sprained left ankle made his season harder.

Moving On from the NBA

After his first season, Porter faced some challenges. He was late to the Warriors' summer camp. He was then traded to the Charlotte Hornets in October 2001. However, he missed his flight to join the Hornets. Because of this, the Hornets decided to let him go. Chris Porter did not play in the NBA after the 2000–01 season. His last NBA game was on April 18, 2001. In that game, he scored 14 points and grabbed 11 rebounds.

Playing in Other Leagues

After the NBA, Porter played for many different teams around the world.

• CBA and USBL: In January 2002, he joined the Dakota Wizards in the Continental Basketball Association. He helped them win the 2002 CBA championship. He also played for the Oklahoma Storm in the United States Basketball League, winning the 2002 USBL championship.
• Europe and Puerto Rico: He played in Italy for Carifac Fabriano in 2002. In 2003, he returned to the Dakota Wizards. He also played in Puerto Rico for Gigantes de Carolina. For the 2003–04 season, he played in Portugal for Oliveirense Simoldes.
• Return to Dakota Wizards: He played for the Dakota Wizards again in 2004 and during the 2004–05 season.

Playing in Asia

Chris Porter also played basketball in Asia.

• South Korea: In 2004–05, he played for the Korean team Daegu Orions.
• China: For the 2005–06 season, he joined Fujian Xunxing in China. He played for them again from 2006 to 2010. In 2007, he played in an exhibition series for the CBA All-Stars.
• Philippines: In December 2005, he joined the Barangay Ginebra Kings in the Philippine Basketball Association. In June 2011, he played for the Powerade Tigers.

NBA D-League and Other Leagues

After playing in the ABA for the Las Vegas Aces in 2011–12, Porter had a successful time with the Fort Wayne Mad Ants. He played for them in the NBA Development League from 2012 to 2015. He won a championship with the team in the 2013–14 season. In June 2014, he also played one game for the Texas Lone Star Strikers.

Playing in New Zealand

On January 19, 2016, Chris Porter signed with the Hawke's Bay Hawks for the 2016 New Zealand NBL season. He was named co-captain of the team. He played his first game for the Hawks on March 13, scoring 21 points. He had two games where he scored over 20 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. Unfortunately, he had a hamstring injury in April 2016. This injury ended his season early. In his four games for the Hawks, he averaged 18.3 points and 8.0 rebounds per game.

Career Statistics

NBA Statistics

College Statistics

Video Game Appearances

Chris Porter has been a playable character in several basketball video games. These include ESPN NBA 2Night, NBA 2K1, NBA Hoopz, NBA Live 2001, NBA Live 2002, NBA ShootOut 2001, and NBA ShootOut 2002.

See also

In Spanish: Chris Porter para niños