Dwayne Schintzius facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Dwayne Schintzius

Schintzius before a Florida basketball game in 2011
Personal information
Born	(1968-10-14)October 14, 1968 Brandon, Florida, U.S.
Died	April 15, 2012(2012-04-15) (aged 43) Tampa, Florida, U.S.
High school	Brandon (Brandon, Florida)
Listed height	7 ft 2 in (2.18 m)
Listed weight	260 lb (118 kg)
Career information
College	Florida (1986–1990)
NBA Draft	1990 / Round: 1 / Pick: 24th overall
Selected by the San Antonio Spurs
Pro career	1990–2003
Career history
1990–1991	San Antonio Spurs
1991–1992	Sacramento Kings
1992–1995	New Jersey Nets
1995–1996	Indiana Pacers
1996–1997	Los Angeles Clippers
1999	Boston Celtics
2001–2002	Mobile Revelers
2003	Brevard Blue Ducks
Career highlights and awards
Fourth-team Parade All-American (1986)
Career NBA statistics
Points	587 (2.7 ppg)
Rebounds	536 (2.5 rpg)
Assists	93 (0.4 apg)
Medals Men's basketball Representing  United States FIBA U19 World Championship Silver 1987 Bormio National team

Dwayne Kenneth Schintzius (October 14, 1968 – April 15, 2012) was a tall American basketball player. He played as a center in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Dwayne was born in Brandon, Florida and went to the University of Florida. There, he helped the Florida Gators men's basketball team reach the NCAA tournament three times.

The San Antonio Spurs picked Schintzius in the first round of the 1990 NBA draft. He played for six different NBA teams over ten seasons. He was known for his unique mullet haircut, which he called "the lobster." Dwayne also appeared in the 1996 comedy movie Eddie. He passed away in 2012 after battling a serious illness.

Early Life and High School Basketball

Dwayne Schintzius was born in Brandon, Florida, near Tampa. He went to Brandon High School. Standing seven feet tall, he played for the Brandon Eagles high school basketball team.

With his teammate Toney Mack, Dwayne helped the Eagles reach the Class 4A state championship game. They finished as runner-up when he was a sophomore. The team also made it to the Final Four during his junior year. In his senior year, he scored about 21 points and grabbed 17 rebounds per game. He was named a high school All-American by McDonald's and Parade magazine in 1986.

College Basketball Career

Schintzius received many scholarship offers from top college basketball programs. He decided to stay in Florida and attend the University of Florida. He played for the Florida Gators men's basketball team from 1987 to 1990.

Dwayne quickly became the starting center for the Gators. By the end of his junior year, he led the team in scoring, rebounding, and free-throw percentage. He also set a new record for blocked shots at the university.

Before Dwayne joined, the Gators had never played in the NCAA basketball tournament. But with him, they made it to the tournament in each of his first three seasons. In 1987, they even reached the Sweet Sixteen. During his junior year, the Gators won their first-ever regular season Southeastern Conference (SEC) championship. Schintzius was named a first-team All-SEC player that season.

Dwayne's college career also had some challenges. He sometimes had disagreements with his coaches and faced suspensions for off-court issues. In one famous game in January 1989, Florida was playing Vanderbilt. With only one second left and Florida losing, a fan threw a tennis ball onto the court. The referee called a technical foul on Vanderbilt. Schintzius, who was good at free throws, made both shots. This sent the game into overtime, and Florida won! This victory helped the Gators win their first SEC regular season championship.

Dwayne left the team during his senior season due to conflicts with the new coach. Without him, the Gators struggled and missed the NCAA tournament.

Schintzius is still the only player in SEC history to get over 1,000 points, 800 rebounds, 250 assists, and 250 blocks. He holds Florida's career record for blocked shots (272). He is also sixth on the program's all-time scoring list with 1,624 points.

Professional Basketball Career

Even with his college challenges, Dwayne Schintzius was seen as a promising NBA player. The San Antonio Spurs drafted him in the first round in 1990. He injured his back during his first season.

Dwayne was traded to the Sacramento Kings in 1991. The Spurs' manager, Bob Bass, didn't like his mullet haircut and told him to cut it. Dwayne cut it and then famously sent the hair shavings to Bass in an envelope!

Injuries, especially back problems, affected Dwayne's NBA career. He had several surgeries and often missed games. He played for the New Jersey Nets for three seasons, then the Indiana Pacers, and the Los Angeles Clippers. He also played 16 games with the Boston Celtics before leaving the NBA. In eight NBA seasons, he played in 217 games.

After his NBA career, he played in minor leagues. He played for the Mobile Revelers in 2001–02 and the Brevard Blue Ducks in 2003.

Life Off the Court

Dwayne Schintzius also tried acting. He played a fictional Georgian basketball player named Ivan Radovadovitch in the 1996 comedy movie Eddie. The movie starred Whoopi Goldberg as a basketball coach. Other real NBA players were also in the film.

Illness and Passing

In November 2009, Dwayne Schintzius was diagnosed with a rare type of leukemia. His brother Travis donated bone marrow for a transplant in January 2010. The procedure was successful, and he was declared cancer-free in July 2010.

However, in early 2012, Dwayne faced more health issues. He needed a second bone marrow transplant. On April 15, 2012, Dwayne Schintzius passed away at the age of 43 due to complications from his illness.

Career Statistics

Regular season

Playoffs

See also

• List of Florida Gators in the NBA