Nate Huffman facts for kids
Huffman in 2014.
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | April 2, 1975 Battle Creek, Michigan |
| Nationality | American |
| Died | October 15, 2015 (aged 40) Battle Creek, Michigan |
| High school | Lakeview (Battle Creek, Michigan) |
| Listed height | 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) |
| Listed weight | 245 lb (111 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College |
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| NBA Draft | 1997 / Undrafted |
| Pro career | 1997–2003 |
| Career history | |
| 1997–1998 | Idaho Stampede |
| 1998–1999 | Fuenlabrada |
| 1999–2002 | Maccabi Tel Aviv |
| 2002–2003 | Toronto Raptors |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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Nathaniel Thomas Huffman (born April 2, 1975 – died October 15, 2015) was an American professional basketball player. He was known for playing most of his career with Maccabi Tel Aviv. In 2001, he was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the Israeli Basketball Premier League.
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Early Basketball Years
Nate Huffman started his basketball journey at Lakeview High School. After high school, he played for Lansing Community College from 1993 to 1995. During his second year there, he was amazing on the court. He scored nearly 30 points and grabbed over 14 rebounds per game. He was even named to the JUCO All-America team.
From 1995 to 1997, Nate played for Central Michigan University. In his final year, he continued to show his skills. He averaged 17.2 points and 11 rebounds per game. He was the top rebounder in the Mid-America Conference and was chosen for the MAC Conference 1st team.
Professional Basketball Career
After college, Nate Huffman tried to join the Los Angeles Clippers in the NBA. However, he did not make the team. He then played for the Idaho Stampede in the CBA during the 1997–98 season. He was one of the best players in the league, especially in blocking shots and getting rebounds. He was also named to the CBA All-Rookie Team.
Next, Nate moved to Europe. He played for Baloncesto Fuenlabrada in Spain's top league, the Spanish ACB League.
Success with Maccabi Tel Aviv
In 1999, Nate joined Maccabi Tel Aviv, a famous team in Israel. This was where he had his biggest successes. With Maccabi Tel Aviv, he helped the team win three Israeli Premier League championships. They also won three Israeli State Cups.
In 2001, Nate and his team won the European FIBA SuproLeague title. He played a huge role in this victory, averaging 17.5 points and 9 rebounds per game. Because of his great performance, he was named the FIBA SuproLeague Player of the Year. He was also called the "Best American Player in Europe" by Basket News.
Time in the NBA
After his success in Israel, Nate Huffman signed a contract with the Toronto Raptors in the NBA in July 2002. He played in 7 games for the Raptors. His time with the team was short because of a knee injury. The Raptors ended his contract in January 2003.
Later Life and Passing
After his basketball career ended, Nate Huffman wanted to help young players. In 2005, he started a basketball camp for children with another retired player, Constantin Popa.
In 2010, Nate was honored with the Book of Life Award by the Michigan Jewish Sports Foundation.
On September 29, 2015, Nate shared that he had bladder cancer and that his condition was very serious. He sadly passed away on October 15, 2015.
See also
In Spanish: Nate Huffman para niños
