Craig Hodges facts for kids
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Hodges in 1991
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | June 27, 1960 Park Forest, Illinois, U.S. |
| High school | Rich East (Park Forest, Illinois) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
| Listed weight | 190 lb (86 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Long Beach State (1978–1982) |
| NBA Draft | 1982 / Round: 3 / Pick: 48th overall |
| Selected by the San Diego Clippers | |
| Pro career | 1982–1998 |
| Coaching career | 1994–present |
| Career history | |
| As player: | |
| 1982–1984 | San Diego Clippers |
| 1984–1988 | Milwaukee Bucks |
| 1988 | Phoenix Suns |
| 1988–1992 | Chicago Bulls |
| 1993 | Shampoo Clear Cantù |
| 1994–1995 | Galatasaray |
| 1995–1996 | Rockford Lightning |
| 1997–1998 | Jämtland Ambassadors Östersund |
| As coach: | |
| 1994–1996 | Chicago State |
| 2005–2011 | Los Angeles Lakers (assistant) |
| 2013–2014 | Halifax Rainmen |
| 2014–2015 | Westchester Knicks (assistant) |
| 2015 | Westchester Knicks (interim HC) |
| Career highlights and awards | |
As player:
As assistant coach:
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| Career NBA statistics | |
| Points | 5,940 (8.5 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 937 (1.3 rpg) |
| Assists | 1,769 (2.5 apg) |
Craig Anthony Hodges (born June 27, 1960) is an American former professional basketball player and coach. He played in the NBA for 10 seasons. Craig is famous for being one of the best 3-point shooters in NBA history. He won two NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls. He also won the NBA Three-Point Contest three times in a row, from 1990 to 1992. This is a record he shares with Larry Bird. Craig Hodges also holds the record for making 19 shots in a row in the Three-Point Contest. He also scored 25 points in a single round, which is tied for the most ever. After his playing career, he became a coach for college and professional teams.
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Playing Basketball in the NBA
Craig Hodges was born in Park Forest, Illinois. He played college basketball at Long Beach State from 1978 to 1982. Later, he played for several teams in the NBA. These teams included the San Diego Clippers, Milwaukee Bucks, Phoenix Suns, and Chicago Bulls.
In 1985, while playing for the Milwaukee Bucks, Hodges had a great game where he scored 29 points. He even made a long 3-point shot to send the game into overtime! He also helped the Bucks win a tough playoff series against the Philadelphia 76ers. He scored 24 points in the final game of that series.
Hodges joined the Chicago Bulls in 1988. He was a key player in helping the Bulls win two NBA Championships in a row, in 1991 and 1992. After the 1992 season, he left the Bulls. He then played basketball in Italy for a team called Clear Cantù.
Three-Point Contest Champion
Craig Hodges was a star in the NBA All-Star Weekend Three Point Contest. He competed in the contest eight times, from 1986 to 1993. He won the competition three times in a row: in 1990, 1991, and 1992. He also made it to the final round two other times.
Hodges set some amazing records in the Three-Point Contest. In 1991, he made 19 shots in a row, which is still the record for most consecutive shots. He also scored 25 points in a single round in 1986, which is tied for the highest score ever.
In 1993, Hodges competed in the contest even though he wasn't on an NBA team at the time. The NBA allowed him to defend his title. He wore a special "NBA" jersey for the event.
Craig Hodges' Three-Point Contest Wins:
- 1990: Winner
- 1991: Winner
- 1992: Winner
Coaching Career
After his playing days, Craig Hodges became a basketball coach. From 1994 to 1996, he coached college basketball at Chicago State University.
In 2005, Hodges joined the Los Angeles Lakers as a special assistant coach. He worked with players to help them improve their shooting skills. He worked under his former Bulls coach, Phil Jackson. Hodges helped the Lakers win two NBA championships as an assistant coach in 2009 and 2010.
He also coached the Halifax Rainmen in Canada for a short time. Craig Hodges is currently the head coach at Rich East High School in his hometown of Park Forest, Illinois.
Standing Up for What He Believed In
Craig Hodges was also known for speaking out about important social issues. When the Chicago Bulls visited the White House after winning the 1991 NBA Championship, Hodges wore a special African shirt called a dashiki. He gave a letter to President George H. W. Bush. In the letter, he shared his concerns about how the government was treating people who were poor and minorities.
Hodges also encouraged other famous athletes, like his teammate Michael Jordan, to use their fame to talk about social and political issues. He believed that athletes had a big platform to make a positive difference in the world.
In 1996, Hodges filed a lawsuit. He believed that he was not hired by NBA teams because of his strong views and his calls for athletes to help their communities. His former coach, Phil Jackson, even said it was strange that no teams called about Hodges, even though he was a great shooter.
In 2014, Hodges was invited to play basketball in North Korea as part of a "basketball diplomacy" trip. However, he was unable to make it into the country due to travel delays.
Craig Hodges has three sons: Jamaal, Noah, and Jibril. Jibril also played basketball at Long Beach State.
See also
In Spanish: Craig Hodges para niños
