Morris Peterson facts for kids
Peterson in 2007
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 26, 1977 Flint, Michigan, U.S. |
| High school | Flint Northwestern (Flint, Michigan) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) |
| Listed weight | 220 lb (100 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Michigan State (1995–2000) |
| NBA Draft | 2000 / Round: 1 / Pick: 21st overall |
| Selected by the Toronto Raptors | |
| Pro career | 2000–2011 |
| Career history | |
| 2000–2007 | Toronto Raptors |
| 2007–2010 | New Orleans Hornets |
| 2010–2011 | Oklahoma City Thunder |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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Morris Russell Peterson Jr. (born August 26, 1977) is an American former professional basketball player. He played for 11 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Before joining the NBA, he played college basketball for the Michigan State Spartans. He was named Big Ten Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year and helped his team win a national championship in 2000.
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College Basketball Journey
Morris Peterson was born in Flint, Michigan. He played college basketball at Michigan State University. He was a key player when his team won the 2000 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship. This is a huge tournament for college teams.
In his final year at Michigan State, Peterson was the team's top scorer. He also led in how well he shot from the field and from the free throw line. He scored double-digits in 30 games that season. He was voted the best player in the Big Ten Conference. He was also named an All-American by several different groups.
The Toronto Raptors picked him 21st overall in the 2000 NBA draft. He started most games for them in his first three seasons. On January 17, 2009, Michigan State honored him by retiring his jersey number 42. This means no other player at Michigan State will wear that number.
NBA Career Highlights
Playing for the Toronto Raptors
Morris Peterson was drafted by the Raptors in 2000. Fans loved him right away. He was known for his amazing three-point shots and acrobatic moves. He was also a strong defender and could score points when his team needed them most.
On December 28, 2005, Peterson set a record for the Raptors. He played in his 418th game, more than any other player at that time. He also had a long streak of playing in 371 games in a row. This streak ended on November 22, 2006.
In the 2005–06 NBA season, Peterson had his best year. He averaged 16.8 points and 4.6 rebounds per game. He also had 2.3 assists per game.
One of his most famous moments happened on March 30, 2007. The Raptors were playing the Washington Wizards. The Raptors were losing by three points with only 3.8 seconds left. A Wizards player tried to throw the ball away, but it slipped. Peterson caught the ball and shot a "Hail Mary" three-pointer. He made the shot, sending the game into overtime! The Raptors then won the game 123–118.
After the 2007 season, Peterson's contract with the Raptors ended. The team was changing, and he moved on.
Time with Other NBA Teams
On July 13, 2007, Peterson signed a four-year contract with the New Orleans Hornets. He played for them for a few seasons.
Later, on July 8, 2010, the Hornets traded Peterson to the Oklahoma City Thunder. He played a few games for the Thunder.
His final NBA team was the Charlotte Bobcats. He was traded there on February 24, 2011. However, he was waived just four days later. His last NBA game was on December 12, 2010.
After Basketball: Broadcasting
After his playing career, Morris Peterson became a basketball analyst. On January 14, 2015, TSN announced he would join their broadcast team. He provided expert analysis for Toronto Raptors games. He also appeared on their sports news show, SportsCentre. Peterson also covered the NCAA March Madness college tournament. He stopped working as an analyst for TSN in 2017.
MoPetes Sports Retreat
On January 23, 2018, Morris Peterson opened a restaurant. It's called "MoPetes Sports Retreat." He opened it with Viktor Palushaj near his hometown of Flint, Michigan. The restaurant serves dishes inspired by Michigan. Some menu items include "The Flintstones Combos" and "The National Champ Philly cheesesteak sandwich."
Career Achievements
- He scored a career-high 38 points against the Phoenix Suns on March 31, 2006.
- He was the 21st player picked in the 2000 NBA draft by the Toronto Raptors.
- He made his 800th career three-point shot on April 3, 2005.
- He grabbed a career-high 14 rebounds on April 8, 2005.
- He held the record for the longest streak of consecutive games played in the NBA, with 371 games.
- He holds Raptors team records for most games played (542) and most 3-point field goals made (801).
See also
In Spanish: Morris Peterson para niños
