Harold Miner facts for kids
Miner in 2012
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | May 5, 1971 Inglewood, California, U.S. |
| High school | Inglewood (Inglewood, California) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
| Listed weight | 222 lb (101 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | USC (1989–1992) |
| NBA Draft | 1992 / Round: 1 / Pick: 12th overall |
| Selected by the Miami Heat | |
| Pro career | 1992–1996 |
| Career history | |
| 1992–1995 | Miami Heat |
| 1995–1996 | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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| Career NBA statistics | |
| Points | 1,801 (9.0 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 432 (2.2 rpg) |
| Assists | 245 (1.2 apg) |
Harold David Miner, born on May 5, 1971, is a former American professional basketball player. He was famous for winning the National Basketball Association (NBA) Slam Dunk Contest twice! Harold played college basketball at the University of Southern California (USC). He was a star player there. In 1992, he left college to become a professional player. He played in the NBA for the Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers. Even though people compared him to Michael Jordan, Harold Miner's NBA career lasted only four years.
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Early Life and College Basketball
Harold Miner grew up in Inglewood, California. He first became well-known as a high school player. He was a standout on his team at Inglewood High School. Harold's amazing dunking skills earned him the nickname "Baby Jordan." This was because he reminded people of the famous NBA player Michael Jordan.
In his junior year of high school, Harold scored about 27 points per game. In his senior year, he averaged 28 points. He even scored 48 points and grabbed 17 rebounds in one game!
Harold attended USC from 1989 to 1992. In his junior year, which was his last season, he was chosen as the college basketball player of the year by Sports Illustrated magazine. This was a huge honor, as he was picked over other great players like Christian Laettner and Shaquille O'Neal.
Harold led the USC Trojans men's basketball team to a high seed in the 1992 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament. However, his team lost in the second round. They were defeated by Georgia Tech on a last-second shot. This shot is known as the "Miracle in Milwaukee."
Professional Basketball Career
After the 1991–92 college season, Harold Miner decided to join the NBA. He was picked by the Miami Heat as the 12th player overall in the 1992 NBA draft.
Harold Miner won the NBA's Slam Dunk Contest two times. He won in 1993 and again in 1995. In the 1995 contest, he beat Isaiah Rider, who had won the year before. This showed everyone that Miner was one of the best dunkers in the game.
However, his overall playing career in the NBA was not as successful as many hoped. Even with his amazing dunking skills, he did not get a lot of playing time from his coaches at the Heat. His college coach, George Raveling, once said that the "Baby Jordan" nickname might have put too much pressure on Harold.
After the 1994–95 season, Harold was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers. He played only a few minutes per game for them. He tried out for the Toronto Raptors later but was cut from the team.
Harold Miner played his last NBA game on February 20, 1996. He decided to retire from basketball instead of playing overseas. He later explained that he had many knee injuries during his career. These injuries made him decide to stop playing.
Life After Basketball
As of 2011, Harold Miner lived in Las Vegas, Nevada. He was married and had two children. He said that he had invested the money he earned from basketball wisely. This allowed him to be a stay-at-home dad.
For a long time after retiring, Harold preferred to stay private. He did not give many interviews or make public appearances. However, in 2010, he agreed to an interview. He said he wanted to reconnect with the University of Southern California. He also wanted to get back in touch with some of his old teammates.
In 2011, Harold Miner attended the Pacific-10 men's basketball tournament. He was inducted into the conference's Hall of Honor. He also planned to attend the ceremony where USC retired his jersey. This special event happened on January 15, 2012, during a game against UCLA.
See also
In Spanish: Harold Miner para niños
