Chris Webber facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Chris Webber

Webber in 2010
Personal information
Born	(1973-03-01) March 1, 1973 (age 52) Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
High school	Detroit Country Day (Beverly Hills, Michigan)
Listed height	6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
Listed weight	245 lb (111 kg)
Career information
College	Michigan (1991–1993)
NBA Draft	1993 / Round: 1 / Pick: 1st overall
Selected by the Orlando Magic
Pro career	1993–2008
Career history
1993–1994	Golden State Warriors
1994–1998	Washington Bullets / Wizards
1998–2005	Sacramento Kings
2005–2007	Philadelphia 76ers
2007	Detroit Pistons
2008	Golden State Warriors
Career highlights and awards
5× NBA All-Star (1997, 2000–2003) All-NBA First Team (2001) 3× All-NBA Second Team (1999, 2002, 2003) All-NBA Third Team (2000) NBA Rookie of the Year (1994) NBA All-Rookie First Team (1994) NBA rebounding leader (1999) No. 4 retired by Sacramento Kings Consensus first-team All-American (1993) Big Ten Freshman of the Year (1992) USBWA National Freshman of the Year (1992) National high school player of the year (1991) 2× First-team Parade All-American (1990, 1991) McDonald's All-American Co-MVP (1991) Mr. Basketball of Michigan (1991)
Career NBA statistics
Points	17,182 (20.7 ppg)
Rebounds	8,124 (9.8 rpg)
Assists	3,526 (4.2 apg)

Mayce Edward Christopher Webber III (born March 1, 1973), known as "C-Web", is an American former professional basketball player. Webber played for 15 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He spent most of his career with the Sacramento Kings.

Webber was the first player picked in the 1993 NBA draft. He became a 5-time NBA All-Star and was named NBA Rookie of the Year. He also played for the Golden State Warriors, Washington Bullets, Philadelphia 76ers, and Detroit Pistons.

Before the NBA, Webber was a top high school player. He led his high school team to three Michigan State Championships. In college, he was part of the famous Fab Five at the University of Michigan. This group reached the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship games in 1992 and 1993. However, some of Webber's college honors were later removed by the NCAA due to rules violations.

After retiring from playing, Webber became a basketball commentator. He has also taught at Wake Forest University and Morehouse College. In 2021, he was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.

High School Career

Webber went to Detroit Country Day School from 1987 to 1991. He was one of the most sought-after high school basketball players in Michigan. He led his school to three state championships. As a senior, Webber averaged 29.4 points and 13 rebounds per game.

He was named Michigan's Mr. Basketball and the National High School Player of the Year in 1990–1991. He also won MVP awards in the McDonald's and Dapper Dan All-Star games.

College Career

Michigan's Fab Five (left to right) Jimmy King, Jalen Rose, Webber, Ray Jackson and Juwan Howard

After high school, Webber played for the University of Michigan for two years. He was a key player in the famous Fab Five. This group included Webber, Juwan Howard, Jalen Rose, Jimmy King, and Ray Jackson. All five started as freshmen in 1991.

The Fab Five became very popular. They were known for their long, baggy shorts and black socks, bringing a new style to the game. They led Michigan to the NCAA finals twice, but lost both times. Four of the Fab Five players, including Webber, went on to play in the NBA.

In their first season, the Fab Five made history. They were the first team in NCAA history to reach the championship game with five freshmen as starters.

The Infamous Timeout

On April 5, 1993, Michigan played in its second straight NCAA Championship game. With only 11 seconds left, Michigan was down 73–71. Webber brought the ball up the court and tried to call a timeout. However, his team had no timeouts left. This mistake led to a technical foul and helped North Carolina win the game.

Webber's timeout error is still remembered today. When he joined Inside the NBA as a commentator, he was jokingly asked how many timeouts a team gets in college basketball. He replied, "I still don't know the answer!" His father even has a license plate that says "timeout."

This game marked the end of Webber's college career. He was named an All-American in his second season. However, these awards were later removed by the NCAA. This was due to rules violations where Webber received money from a local booster. He was not allowed to be involved with the Michigan program until 2013.

Despite the ban, Webber attended the 2013 NCAA Championship game between Michigan and Louisville. He watched from a private suite to support his former team.

Professional Career

Golden State Warriors (1993–1994)

The 1993 NBA draft saw Webber picked first overall by the Orlando Magic. He was the first sophomore since Magic Johnson to be the top pick. The Magic immediately traded him to the Golden State Warriors for Penny Hardaway and future draft picks. Over his 15-year NBA career, Webber earned $178 million.

Webber had a great first year, averaging 17.5 points and 9.1 rebounds. He won the NBA Rookie of the Year Award. He helped the Warriors reach the playoffs, where they lost to the Phoenix Suns. However, Webber had disagreements with his coach, Don Nelson. Webber did not like playing center or being limited to only post-up plays. Because of these issues, Webber left the Warriors after one season. Golden State traded him to the Washington Bullets.

Washington Bullets / Wizards (1994–1998)

In Washington, Webber rejoined his college teammate, Juwan Howard. He played for the Bullets (who later became the Washington Wizards) for three years. In the 1995–96 season, injuries limited him to only 15 games. The next year, Webber recovered and was named to his first All-Star team in 1997. He led the Bullets to the playoffs for the first time in nine years. They were swept by the Michael Jordan-led Chicago Bulls. By 1998, Webber was a top power forward, but his time in Washington was coming to an end.

Sacramento Kings (1998–2005)

On May 14, 1998, Webber was traded to the Sacramento Kings. He didn't want to go to the Kings at first, as they were a team that often lost. But he had his best years in Sacramento and nearly led them to the NBA Finals.

With Webber, the Kings also added Peja Stojaković, Vlade Divac, and Jason Williams. In his first year with the Kings (the 1998–99 season), Webber led the league in rebounding, averaging 13.0 rebounds per game. This ended Dennis Rodman's seven-year streak as the NBA's rebounding leader. The Kings made the playoffs but lost to the Utah Jazz.

In the following years, Webber and the Kings became one of the NBA's best teams. They were seen as contenders for the NBA title. Webber was named an All-Star again in 2000 and 2001. He showed he was one of the best power forwards in the league. For the 1999–2000 season, Webber was on the cover of NBA Jam 2000. That season, he led the Kings to 44 wins and into the playoffs. They faced the Los Angeles Lakers and lost in five games. The Lakers went on to win the championship that year.

Webber had his best season in 2000–01, averaging a career-high 27.1 points. He also averaged 11.1 rebounds and was fourth in MVP voting. In the 2001 Playoffs, the Kings beat the Phoenix Suns. They then faced the Los Angeles Lakers again, losing in four games.

On July 27, 2001, Webber signed a big contract with the Kings. In the 2001–02 season, he led the Kings to a franchise-record 61 wins. He also made his fourth All-Star team. In the 2002 Playoffs, the Kings reached the Western Conference Finals. They played against the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers in a very close and memorable series. The series went to a deciding Game 7 in Sacramento. Webber played well, but the Kings lost in overtime. This was the closest Webber ever came to winning an NBA championship.

In the next season, Webber averaged 23 points and 11 rebounds. He was considered for the MVP award and made his fifth straight All-Star team. However, in the 2003 Western Conference Semifinals, Webber suffered a serious knee injury. This injury forced him to miss almost a year of playing. The Kings lost the series without him.

After surgery, he returned for the last 24 games of the 2003–04 season. He helped the Kings reach the playoffs. They beat the Dallas Mavericks but then lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves in a tough Game 7. This was the last chance for Webber's Kings team to win a championship. He was traded the next season.

Philadelphia 76ers (2005–2007)

In February 2005, Webber was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers. It took him some time to get used to playing with Allen Iverson, who was the main scorer. He helped the Sixers reach the 2005 playoffs, where they lost to the Detroit Pistons. In 2006, he averaged 20 points and 10 rebounds, but the team did not make the playoffs. Due to his knee surgery, Webber had lost some of his quickness. He was still good offensively but was sometimes benched in the fourth quarter.

Webber was not happy with his role. In January 2007, the Sixers and Webber agreed to end his contract early. He became a free agent.

Detroit Pistons (2007)

On January 16, 2007, Webber signed with the Detroit Pistons. He had always wanted to play for his hometown team. His usual number 4 was retired for Joe Dumars, so Webber wore number 84. The Pistons improved with Webber and became the top team in the Eastern Conference. However, they lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals. This meant Webber still had not reached the NBA Finals. He played well in the playoffs despite limited minutes. The Pistons did not re-sign Webber after the season.

Return to Golden State (2008)

Webber (right) playing for the Warriors in 2008

On January 29, 2008, the Golden State Warriors signed Webber for the rest of the season. He played in only nine games, averaging 3.9 points and 3.6 rebounds.

On March 25, 2008, Webber officially retired from basketball. This was due to ongoing problems with his knee. Two days later, he made his first appearance as a commentator on NBA on TNT.

On February 6, 2009, Webber returned to the ARCO Arena, home of the Sacramento Kings. His number 4 jersey was retired in a special ceremony.

Legacy

Chris Webber is considered one of the best power forwards in NBA history. He was ranked highly by SLAM Magazine and ESPN.com.

The Sacramento Kings retired Webber's number 4 jersey on February 6, 2009. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2021.

Post-Basketball Life

After retiring, Webber became an analyst for NBA TV's NBA Gametime Live. He also worked as a guest analyst on TNT's Inside the NBA. He was a regular panelist on Players Only, a show featuring only former NBA players. In 2021, Webber left TNT. He has said he is interested in becoming a general manager or owner of a team.

In August 2010, Webber played in the NBA Asia Challenge 2010 in the Philippines. This was an exhibition game with NBA legends.

Webber used to own a restaurant in Sacramento, California, called Center Court With C-Webb. It opened in 2006 but closed in 2009.

Webber married Erika Dates in 2009. He has also worked as an executive producer for a film called Somewhere in the Middle. He has produced hip hop music for rapper Nas.

In 2016, Webber started hosting a podcast called Fearless or Insane. In 2018, he played the role of Preacher in the film Uncle Drew.

Webber has also taught at universities. In 2016, he became a professor at Wake Forest University, teaching a class on sports storytelling. In 2021, he began teaching an online course on athlete activism at Morehouse College.

Personal Life

African-American Artifacts

Webber has a personal collection of African-American artifacts. He started collecting them in 1994, beginning with two slave records. He sees these items as a reflection of his beliefs. He initially collected them to inspire himself. His collection includes an original 1901 autobiography by Booker T. Washington. It also has documents and letters signed by Frederick Douglass, Martin Luther King Jr., and Malcolm X.

When not on display, the artifacts are kept at the Sacramento Public Library. The Chris Webber Collection has been shown at the Crocker Art Museum and Wayne State University.

On June 28, 2007, Webber showed his collection at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in Detroit. He said he hopes children can learn from these artifacts. "Hopefully, when children see them they will see there is no excuse for us not to be successful," he said.

Charity Work

Webber is involved in many charities. He created The Timeout Foundation in 1993. This foundation helps young people by providing positive educational and recreational opportunities.

In 1999, Webber started C-Webb's Crew. Through this program, tickets to every Kings home game were given to at-risk youth and their families. Over 3,000 young people and their families have attended games through C-Webb's Crew.

Webber has won several awards for his community work. These include the Sacramento Kings/Oscar Robertson Triple Double Award and the NBA Community Assist Award. He also won the Wish Maker of the Year award from the Make a Wish Foundation in 2003.

Webber hosted a celebrity weekend called Bada Bling! in Las Vegas. The event included an auction and a celebrity poker tournament. Many NBA players and entertainers attended. All the money raised went to The Timeout Foundation.

Discography

Webber has also produced hip hop music. He produced two songs for rapper Nas: "Blunt Ashes" and "Surviving the Times". He also appeared on a skit from Naughty by Nature's album Poverty's Paradise.

Awards

• 5-time All-Star
• 5-time All-NBA selection:
  • 2001 First Team
  • 1999, 2002, & 2003 Second Team
  • 2000 Third Team
• NBA Rookie of the Year (1994)
• NBA All-Rookie First Team (1994)
• 1990–1991 National High School Player of the Year
• Jerseys retired: #44 Detroit Country Day School, #4 Sacramento Kings
• 1999 NBA rebounding champion (13.0 rpg)
• 2021 Inductee to Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame

Career Statistics

Regular season

Playoffs

See also

In Spanish: Chris Webber para niños

• List of NBA annual rebounding leaders
• List of NBA career triple-double leaders
• List of people banned or suspended by the NBA