Gene Banks facts for kids
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Banks as an assistant coach with the Washington Wizards in 2012
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | May 15, 1959 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| High school | West Philadelphia (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) |
| Listed weight | 215 lb (98 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Duke (1977–1981) |
| NBA Draft | 1981 / Round: 2 / Pick: 28th overall |
| Selected by the San Antonio Spurs | |
| Pro career | 1981–1993 |
| Coaching career | 2009–present |
| Career history | |
| As player: | |
| 1981–1985 | San Antonio Spurs |
| 1985–1987 | Chicago Bulls |
| 1988–1989 | Arimo Bologna |
| 1989–1990 | La Crosse Catbirds |
| 1990–1992 | Maccabi Rishon Lezion |
| 1992–1993 | Hapoel Herzliya |
| As coach: | |
| 2009–2012 | Washington Wizards (assistant) |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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| Career NBA statistics | |
| Points | 5,305 (11.3 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 2,718 (5.8 rpg) |
| Assists | 1,335 (2.9 apg) |
Eugene Lavon Banks (born May 15, 1959) is a former professional basketball player from the United States. He grew up in Philadelphia. Gene Banks played for several teams during his career, including the San Antonio Spurs and the Chicago Bulls. After playing, he also became a basketball coach.
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Early Life and High School Basketball
Gene Banks was born in Philadelphia. He went to West Philadelphia High School. There, he was a tall forward at 6 feet 7 inches. People called him "Tinkerbell."
Banks was a top high school player. He was named to All-American teams for three years. By his senior year, he was one of the best players in the country. Other famous players like Magic Johnson were also in his age group. Banks was the MVP (Most Valuable Player) of the 1977 Dapper Dan Roundball Classic. He was also chosen for the first-ever McDonald's All-American team. He was even the MVP of that game!
College Basketball Career at Duke
Banks chose to go to Duke University for college basketball. He played for the Duke Blue Devils. Many other big colleges wanted him to play for them too. Banks has said that a teacher helped him see how good Duke's school programs were. This made him want to visit the university.
Freshman Year Success
When Banks started at Duke, he was a freshman. He played alongside other great players like Mike Gminski. The year before, Duke's team had finished last in their conference. But with Banks, they became a top 10 team by the end of the season.
In 1978, the Blue Devils made it to the NCAA tournament championship game. They lost to Kentucky, but it was a huge step for the team. During his first year, Banks was the first Duke freshman to get a "triple-double." This means he had double-digit numbers in three different stats (like points, rebounds, and assists) in one game. He was also named the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Rookie of the Year.
Later College Years
After his freshman year, Banks' teams did not reach the Final Four again. However, they did play in the NCAA tournament in two of the next three years. Over his four years at Duke, the team won 90 games and lost 37.
Banks averaged 16.8 points and 7.9 rebounds per game during his college career. He was named the team's MVP in his last three seasons. In his senior year, playing for Coach Mike Krzyzewski, Banks won the ACC scoring title. He was also named to All-American teams in two of his seasons.
Gene Banks was very important for Duke basketball. He was the first Black All-American player for the school. This helped Coach Krzyzewski bring in many talented players later on. Banks earned his degree in English from Duke in May 1981.
Professional Basketball Career
Gene Banks played six seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played in 468 games. He played for the San Antonio Spurs and the Chicago Bulls. On average, he scored 11.3 points per game. His highest score in one game was 44 points against the Los Angeles Lakers in 1983. He also achieved his first NBA triple-double while playing for the Chicago Bulls.
Playing Overseas
After his time in the NBA, Banks played basketball in other countries. In the 1988–89 season, he played in Italy for a team called Arimo Bologna. Then, he moved to Israel to play for the Maccabi Rishon Lezion team. In 1993, he played for Hapoel Herzliya in Israel. He helped them reach the Israeli Cup Championship game.
Between his time in Italy and Israel, Banks also played in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA) in the United States. He played for the La Crosse Catbirds in the 1989–90 season. His team won the CBA title that year.
Coaching Career
In 2009, Gene Banks became an assistant coach for the Washington Wizards. He helped develop players like JaVale McGee and Andray Blatche. In 2012, he changed roles and became a scout for the Wizards. A scout helps find new talented players for the team.
Honors and Awards
Gene Banks has received many honors for his basketball career.
- In 1994, he was added to the Duke Basketball Hall of Fame.
- In 1996, he was inducted into the Duke Hall of Honors.
- In 2007, the Maccabi Rishon LeZion team in Israel named him the "best foreign player" to ever play for them.
See also
In Spanish: Gene Banks para niños
- List of NBA career field goal percentage leaders
