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Michael Young (basketball, born 1961) facts for kids

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Michael Young
Michael Young playing for Houston.jpg
Young with the Houston Cougars in the 1980s
Personal information
Born (1961-01-02) January 2, 1961 (age 64)
Houston, Texas, U.S.
High school Yates (Houston, Texas)
Listed height 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
Listed weight 220 lb (100 kg)
Career information
College Houston (1980–1984)
NBA Draft 1984 / Round: 1 / Pick: 24th overall
Selected by the Boston Celtics
Pro career 1984–1996
Coaching career 2003–2004
Career history
As player:
1984 Phoenix Suns
1984–1986 Detroit Spirits
1986 Philadelphia 76ers
1986 Manila Beer Brewmasters
1987 Great Taste Coffee Makers
1987–1989 Valladolid
1989 Fantoni Udine
1989–1990 Los Angeles Clippers
1990 Sioux Falls Skyforce
1990–1992 Panasonic Reggio Calabria
1992–1995 Limoges
1995–1996 Faber Fabriano
1996 CRO Lyon
As coach:
2003–2004 Houston (assistant)
Career highlights and awards
  • EuroLeague champion (1993)
  • Spanish All-Star Game MVP (1988)
  • Italian League Top Scorer (1991)
  • 2× French League Foreign MVP (1993, 1994)
  • CBA Most Valuable Player (1986)
  • All-CBA First Team (1986)
  • Third-team All-American – AP, NABC, UPI (1984)
  • 2× First-team All-SWC (1983, 1984)
  • No. 42 retired by Houston Cougars

Michael Wayne Young, born on January 2, 1961, is a former American professional basketball player. People called him "the Silent Assassin" because of his skills. He played basketball for 12 years in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and in other countries. After retiring from playing, he worked at the University of Houston, his old college. He was in charge of basketball operations and helping players improve.

College Basketball Career

Michael Young grew up in Houston, Texas. He played basketball at Yates High School. Later, he went to the University of Houston. There, he joined the Houston Cougars basketball team. This team was famous for its exciting, high-flying style of play called "Phi Slama Jama".

Young was a star player for the Cougars. He was chosen for the Southwest Conference First Team twice. He helped his team reach the NCAA Final game two years in a row. In 1983, they lost to the North Carolina State Wolfpack. In 1984, they lost to the Georgetown Hoyas.

Michael Young UH retired number
Young's #42 was retired at Hofheinz Pavilion on December 18, 2007.

Professional Basketball Journey

Playing in the NBA and CBA

In 1984, Michael Young was picked by the Boston Celtics in the NBA draft. He was the 24th player chosen overall. He played in the NBA for three seasons. He played for the Phoenix Suns in the 1984–85 season. Then, he played for the Philadelphia 76ers in 1985–86. His last NBA season was 1989–90 with the Los Angeles Clippers.

Young also played for the Detroit Spirit in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA). In 1986, he was named the CBA's Player of the Year. He averaged 26 points per game that season.

Playing Overseas

Michael Young also had a long career playing basketball in other countries. He played in the Philippines, Spain, Italy, and France.

In 1986, he played for the Manila Beer team in the Philippines. He led them to the finals, but they lost. Even so, he won the "Best Import" award. He returned to the Philippines in 1987 with the Great Taste Coffee Makers. He led them to another second-place finish.

While playing for Limoges in France, he achieved a big win. His team won the 1993 European Club Championship, known as the EuroLeague. This is one of the biggest basketball championships in Europe.

After Playing Basketball

Michael Young stopped playing professional basketball in 1998. He then went back to the University of Houston. He worked as an assistant coach for one season. For five years, he was the strength and conditioning coach for the team. Later, he became the director of basketball operations. He also helped with player performance.

Michael Young's Family Life

Michael Young earned his college degree from the University of Houston in 2002. He is married to Tina, and they have five children. Their names are Michael Jr., Joe, Mayorca, Jacob, and Milan Maria.

Two of his sons followed in his footsteps and became basketball players. Joe played college basketball for Houston and Oregon. He then joined the NBA in 2015, playing for the Indiana Pacers. His youngest son, Jacob, played college basketball for the University of Texas and Rutgers. He also later transferred to Oregon.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Michael Young (baloncestista) para niños

  • List of NBA players whose parents also played
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