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Mitchell Wiggins
Personal information
Born (1959-09-28) September 28, 1959 (age 64)
Kinston, North Carolina, U.S.
High school North Lenoir
(LaGrange, North Carolina)
Listed height 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Listed weight 185 lb (84 kg)
Career information
College
  • Truett-McConnell CC (1978–1979)
  • Clemson (1979–1980)
  • Florida State (1981–1983)
NBA Draft 1983 / Round: 1 / Pick: 23rd overall
Selected by the Indiana Pacers
Pro career 1983–2003
Career history
1983–1984 Chicago Bulls
1984–1987 Houston Rockets
1987 Tampa Bay Stars
1987–1988 Mississippi Jets
1987–1988 Quad City Thunder
1988 Jacksonville Hooters
1989–1990 Houston Rockets
1991–1992 Philadelphia 76ers
1992 Fort Wayne Fury
1992–1993 Oklahoma City Cavalry
1993 Aurora Desio
1993–1994 Milon
1994 Tondeña 65 Rhummasters
1994–1996 Sporting
1996–1997 Panionios
1997–1998 Sporting
1998–1999 Limoges CSP
2002 Hickory Nutz
2002–2003 Spearfish Black Hills Heat
Career highlights and awards
  • Greek League Top Scorer (1996)
  • 3× Greek League All-Star (1994 I, 1994 II, 1996 I)
  • 2× First-team All-Metro Conference (1982, 1983)
Career statistics
Medals
Representing  United States
FIBA World Cup
Silver 1982 Colombia

Mitchell Lee Wiggins (born September 28, 1959) is an American former professional basketball player who played the shooting guard position.

College career

He played collegiately at Truett-McConnell College, Clemson University and Florida State University.

Wiggins averaged 23 points and nine rebounds per game during his two seasons at Florida State.

Professional career

Chicago Bulls (1983-1984)

Wiggins was selected by the Indiana Pacers as the 23rd overall pick of the 1983 NBA draft. He never played for the Pacers, spending his rookie year playing in all 82 regular season games while averaging twelve points, four rebounds and two assists per game for the Chicago Bulls.

Houston Rockets (1984-1987, 1989-1990)

In the 1984 off-season, the Bulls traded Wiggins with draft picks to the Houston Rockets for Caldwell Jones. .....

Both Wiggins and Lloyd were reinstated for the 1989–90 season. Wiggins appeared in 66 games and averaged 15.5 points per game but was criticized by his coach, Don Chaney, for his defense. His playing time decreased after Houston traded for Vernon Maxwell.

Philadelphia 76ers (1991-1992)

After Wiggins became a free agent, no team expressed an interest in Wiggins outside the Philadelphia 76ers. They had intended to sign Wiggins to their roster in November 1990, but backed out when he refused to take a complete physical including a drug test. Wiggins did not play the 1990-91 season, but the 76ers kept in touch with him and signed him to a one-year contract the following year.

The 1991-92 season was Wiggins's last in the NBA. He scored 3,877 points in his NBA career.

Greek League, CSP Limoges, Tondeña 65 Rhummasters, and minor leagues (1993-2003)

Wiggins then went to Europe and had a notable career in the Greek League playing for Milon Nea Smyrni, Sporting Athens, and Panionios Nea Smyrni. He also appeared for CSP Limoges in the French League, the Tondeña 65 Rhummasters in the Philippine Basketball Association, and several minor league teams in the United States.

National team career

Wiggins played for the US national basketball team at the 1982 FIBA World Championship, winning the silver medal.

Coaching career

In the 2000s Wiggins tried coaching in the lower leagues.

Personal life

Wiggins' wife, Marita Payne-Wiggins, competed for Canada in track and field at the 1984 Summer Olympics, winning two silver medals. Since 2002, their family has resided in Vaughan, Ontario, Canada. Wiggins' youngest son, Andrew was selected first overall in the 2014 NBA draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers. Wiggins' oldest son, Mitchell Jr. played for Southeastern University and his middle son Nicholas Wiggins plays professionally. Both Mitchell Jr. and Nick were drafted by the Harlem Globetrotters in 2014. Wiggins also has three daughters: Stephanie, Angelica, and Taya.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Mitchell Wiggins para niños

  • List of second-generation National Basketball Association players
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