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 a former American professional basketball player. He played for eleven seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Peterson was known for his amazing skills on the court. He was a star player in college at Michigan State University. In 2000, he helped his team win the national championship! He was also named the Big Ten Player of the Year that same season.
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Morris Peterson's College 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 national title.
In his final year at Michigan State, Peterson was a top scorer. He led the team in points, field goal percentage, and free throw percentage. He scored double-digits in 30 games that season. He was voted the Big Ten Player of the Year. He was also named a First Team All-Big Ten player. Many polls also listed him as a top All-American player.
The 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. They retired his number 42 jersey. This means no other player at Michigan State will wear that number again.
Morris Peterson in the NBA
Playing for the Toronto Raptors
Morris Peterson was drafted by the Raptors in 2000. Fans loved him right away. He was known for his three-point shots. He also made amazing acrobatic shots. Peterson was a strong defender and brave when driving to the basket. He became a consistent scorer for the team.
On December 28, 2005, Peterson set a record for the Raptors. He played in 418 games, more than any other Raptor at that time. He also had a long streak of playing in 371 straight games. This streak ended on November 22, 2006. That was the first game he missed in over four years!
In the 2005–06 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. He played in all 82 games that season.
One of his most famous moments happened on March 30, 2007. The Raptors were playing the Washington Wizards. The Raptors were down by three points with only 3.8 seconds left. A Wizards player tried to throw the ball high to run out the clock. But the ball slipped. Peterson caught it and shot a "Hail Mary" three-pointer. It went in! This sent the game into overtime. The Raptors then won the game 123–118.
Moving to Other Teams
After his time with the Raptors, Peterson signed with the New Orleans Hornets. This was on July 13, 2007. He played for the Hornets for three seasons.
On July 8, 2010, the Hornets traded Peterson. He went to the Oklahoma City Thunder. He played only a few games for them.
His final NBA trade was on February 24, 2011. Peterson was traded to the Charlotte Bobcats. He was released by the Bobcats a few days later. His last NBA game was on December 12, 2010.
After Basketball: New Adventures
Becoming a Sports Analyst
After retiring from playing, Morris Peterson joined TSN. This was on January 14, 2015. He became a sports analyst. He shared his expert opinions on basketball games. He worked with other famous sports broadcasters. He also gave analysis for `SportsCentre`. He covered college basketball, including NCAA March Madness. By 2017, Peterson was no longer an analyst for TSN.
Opening a Restaurant
On January 23, 2018, Morris Peterson opened a restaurant. It's called "MoPetes Sports Retreat." It's located 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 cheese steak sandwich."
Morris Peterson's Achievements
- He scored a career-high 38 points on March 31, 2006, against the Phoenix Suns.
- 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 had a career-high 14 rebounds on April 8, 2005.
- He held the record for the longest streak of games played in the NBA, with 371 games. This streak ended in 2006.
- He holds Raptors career records for games played (542) and 3-point field goals (801).
See also
In Spanish: Morris Peterson para niños
