Derrick McKey facts for kids
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||
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| Born | October 10, 1966 Meridian, Mississippi, U.S. |
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| High school | Meridian (Meridian, Mississippi) | |||||||||||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) | |||||||||||||
| Listed weight | 241 lb (109 kg) | |||||||||||||
| Career information | ||||||||||||||
| College | Alabama (1984–1987) | |||||||||||||
| NBA Draft | 1987 / Round: 1 / Pick: 9th overall | |||||||||||||
| Selected by the Seattle SuperSonics | ||||||||||||||
| Pro career | 1987–2002 | |||||||||||||
| Career history | ||||||||||||||
| 1987–1993 | Seattle SuperSonics | |||||||||||||
| 1993–2001 | Indiana Pacers | |||||||||||||
| 2002 | Philadelphia 76ers | |||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | ||||||||||||||
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| Career NBA statistics | ||||||||||||||
| Points | 10,266 (11.0 ppg) | |||||||||||||
| Rebounds | 4,387 (4.7 rpg) | |||||||||||||
| Assists | 2,254 (2.4 apg) | |||||||||||||
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Medals
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Derrick Wayne McKey (born October 10, 1966) is an American former professional basketball player. He played for many years in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Derrick mostly played as a small forward or power forward.
Contents
Early Life and College Basketball
High School Sports Star
Derrick McKey grew up in Meridian, Mississippi. He went to Meridian High School. There, he was a fantastic basketball player. What's cool is that he was also a shortstop on the baseball team. Imagine playing baseball at 6 feet, 10 inches tall!
College Career at Alabama
After high school, Derrick went to the University of Alabama. He played college basketball for three years. In the 1986–87 season, he helped his team, the Alabama Tide, reach the "Sweet 16" in the college playoffs. They were a very strong team that year.
Winning Gold for Team USA
Before joining the NBA, Derrick also played for the US national team. In 1986, they competed in the 1986 FIBA World Championship. Derrick and his team won the gold medal for the United States!
Derrick McKey's NBA Journey
Starting with the Seattle SuperSonics
Derrick decided to join the NBA after his junior year of college. In the 1987 NBA draft, the Seattle SuperSonics picked him as the ninth player overall. He was chosen before other famous players like Reggie Miller and Horace Grant. In the 1988–89 season, Derrick had his best scoring year. He averaged 15.9 points per game.
The "Big Mac" Team
Derrick played for the Seattle SuperSonics for six seasons. During this time, he was part of a famous trio called the "Big Mac" team. The other two players were Nate McMillan and Xavier McDaniel. They were a well-known group in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Moving to the Indiana Pacers
At the start of the 1993–94 NBA season, Derrick was traded. He and his teammate Gerald Paddio went to the Indiana Pacers. In return, the SuperSonics received Detlef Schrempf. Derrick played for the Pacers for many years.
Reaching the NBA Finals
After several years of trying, Derrick and the Indiana Pacers finally made it to the NBA Finals in 2000. This was a huge achievement for the team! They played against the Los Angeles Lakers but unfortunately lost the series.
Final Season with the 76ers
Derrick played his last professional season in 2001–2002. He finished his career with the Philadelphia 76ers.
Playing Style and Skills
A Defensive Star
Derrick McKey was 6 feet, 10 inches tall. He was especially known for his amazing defensive skills. He was great at stopping opposing players from scoring. Because of his talent, he was chosen twice for the All-NBA Second Defensive Team.
Versatile and Smart Player
Derrick was also very versatile. This means he could guard players who played different positions on the court. He was a smart player who focused on teamwork. He shot the ball wisely, with a good shooting percentage of .486 for his career. He also had a knack for passing the ball to his teammates.
See also
In Spanish: Derrick McKey para niños
