Darnell Valentine facts for kids
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 3, 1959 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| High school | Wichita Heights (Wichita, Kansas) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) |
| Listed weight | 183 lb (83 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Kansas (1977–1981) |
| NBA Draft | 1981 / Round: 1 / Pick: 16th overall |
| Selected by the Portland Trail Blazers | |
| Pro career | 1981–1994 |
| Career history | |
| 1981–1986 | Portland Trail Blazers |
| 1986–1988 | Los Angeles Clippers |
| 1988–1991 | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| 1991–1992 | Marr Rimini |
| 1992–1993 | Burghy Modena |
| 1994 | Reggio Emilia |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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| Career NBA statistics | |
| Points | 5,400 (8.7 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 1,318 (2.1 rpg) |
| Assists | 3,080 (5.0 apg) |
Darnell Terrell Valentine, born on February 3, 1959, is a former American professional basketball player. He played for ten seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA).
Contents
Early Life and High School
Darnell Valentine was born in Chicago, Illinois. He finished high school at Wichita Heights High School in Wichita, Kansas in 1977. During his senior year, he was chosen for the very first McDonald's All-American team. This team played in a special game called the 1977 Capital Classic.
College Basketball Career
Valentine played college basketball at the University of Kansas. He was a great student-athlete there. He earned the title of Academic All-American three times.
Olympic Team Selection
Darnell was also chosen to be part of the 1980 Summer Olympics men's basketball team. However, the team could not compete. This was because of a political decision known as the 1980 Summer Olympics boycott. Even though he couldn't play, Darnell received a special Congressional Gold Medal. This medal was given to athletes who missed the Olympics due to the boycott.
Kansas Jayhawks Legacy
At the University of Kansas, Darnell Valentine's jersey number 14 was retired. This means no other player for the Kansas Jayhawks can wear that number. It is a big honor for a college athlete.
Professional Basketball Journey
Darnell Valentine was picked by the Portland Trail Blazers in the 1981 NBA draft. He was the 16th player chosen overall.
NBA Career Highlights
He played for the Trail Blazers for about four and a half years. In 300 games with Portland, he averaged 9.8 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game. Valentine also played for the Los Angeles Clippers and the Cleveland Cavaliers. Over his 10-year NBA career, he played 620 games. He averaged 8.7 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game.
Playing in Italy
After his time in the NBA, Valentine played basketball in the Italian Basketball League. He played there for three seasons.
After Basketball
After retiring from playing, Darnell Valentine continued to work in basketball. From 1994 to 2004, he was a Regional Representative for the National Basketball Players Association. This group helps NBA players.
Later, he worked for the Portland Trail Blazers again. From September 2004 to December 2007, he was the Director of Player Programs. In this role, he helped players with various aspects of their lives. Currently, he works for Precision Castparts Corp. in Portland, Oregon.
See also
In Spanish: Darnell Valentine para niños
