Michael Cage facts for kids
Cage with the San Diego State Aztecs in 1982–83
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| Personal information | ||||||||||||||
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| Born | January 28, 1962 West Memphis, Arkansas, U.S. |
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| High school | West Memphis (West Memphis, Arkansas) |
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| Listed height | 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) | |||||||||||||
| Listed weight | 224 lb (102 kg) | |||||||||||||
| Career information | ||||||||||||||
| College | San Diego State (1980–1984) | |||||||||||||
| NBA Draft | 1984 / Round: 1 / Pick: 14th overall | |||||||||||||
| Selected by the San Diego Clippers | ||||||||||||||
| Pro career | 1984–2000 | |||||||||||||
| Career history | ||||||||||||||
| 1984–1988 | Los Angeles Clippers | |||||||||||||
| 1988–1994 | Seattle SuperSonics | |||||||||||||
| 1994–1996 | Cleveland Cavaliers | |||||||||||||
| 1996–1997 | Philadelphia 76ers | |||||||||||||
| 1997–2000 | New Jersey Nets | |||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | ||||||||||||||
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| Career NBA statistics | ||||||||||||||
| Points | 8,278 (7.3 ppg) | |||||||||||||
| Rebounds | 8,646 (7.6 rpg) | |||||||||||||
| Steals | 1,050 (0.9 spg) | |||||||||||||
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Michael Jerome Cage Sr. (born January 28, 1962) is a former professional basketball player from the United States. After his playing career, he became a sports announcer for the Oklahoma City Thunder basketball team.
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Michael Cage's Basketball Journey
Michael Cage was a tall basketball player, standing 6 feet 9 inches. He played as a power forward or center. Before joining the pros, he played for San Diego State. He holds the record for the most rebounds in their history. He is also their second-highest scorer.
Joining the NBA: Draft Day
In 1984, Michael Cage was chosen as the 14th pick in the 1984 NBA draft. He then began his long career in the NBA. He played for 15 seasons, from 1984 to 2000. During this time, he played for five different teams. These teams included the Los Angeles Clippers, Seattle SuperSonics, Cleveland Cavaliers, Philadelphia 76ers, and New Jersey Nets.
Key Moments in His Playing Career
On January 19, 1987, Michael Cage had an amazing game. He scored 29 points, which was his highest score ever in a single game. This happened during a game against the San Antonio Spurs.
Leading the League in Rebounds
During the 1987–88 season, while playing for the Clippers, Michael Cage showed how good he was at rebounding. He led the entire league in rebounds, grabbing 13.0 rebounds per game. He was in a close competition with Charles Oakley of the Chicago Bulls. In his final game of that season, Cage needed 28 rebounds to win the title. He ended up getting 30 rebounds, securing his spot as the league's top rebounder.
Just a few weeks later, Michael Cage was traded to the Seattle SuperSonics. This trade happened during the 1988 NBA draft. In his first season with Seattle, he made it to the playoffs for the first time. Years later, in the 1993 NBA Playoffs, Cage and the SuperSonics almost reached the NBA Finals. They lost in a very close seven-game series to the Charles Barkley-led Suns.
Nicknames and Special Skills
Michael Cage was known for his hard work on defense. He was also great at getting rebounds. Because of this, he earned two cool nicknames: "John Shaft" and "Windexman." The "Windexman" nickname came from the idea of "cleaning the glass" (the backboard) by grabbing rebounds.
A Unique Record: Three-Point Attempts
Michael Cage held a unique record for many years. He attempted 25 three-point shots in his career but never made one. This was the record for the most three-point attempts without a single make. Later, another player named Zaza Pachulia broke this record. Pachulia retired with 31 three-point attempts and no makes.
Final Game as a Player
Michael Cage's last professional game was on January 17, 2000. His team, the New Jersey Nets, lost to the Philadelphia 76ers. In that game, he recorded 3 rebounds and 1 assist.
Life After Basketball: Broadcasting
After his playing days, Michael Cage stayed involved with basketball. On September 17, 2014, the Oklahoma City Thunder announced that he would join their broadcast team. He became a sports analyst, sharing his knowledge and insights about the game.
Images for kids
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Cage with the San Diego State Aztecs in 1982–83
More About Basketball Players
- List of NBA annual rebounding leaders
- List of NBA single-game rebounding leaders
In Spanish: Michael Cage para niños
