Rick Mahorn facts for kids
Mahorn in 2007
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 21, 1958 Hartford, Connecticut, U.S. |
| High school | Weaver (Hartford, Connecticut) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) |
| Listed weight | 240 lb (109 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Hampton (1976–1980) |
| NBA Draft | 1980 / Round: 2 / Pick: 35th overall |
| Selected by the Washington Bullets | |
| Pro career | 1980–1999 |
| Coaching career | 1999–2009 |
| Career history | |
| As player: | |
| 1980–1985 | Washington Bullets |
| 1985–1989 | Detroit Pistons |
| 1989–1991 | Philadelphia 76ers |
| 1991–1992 | Virtus Roma |
| 1992–1996 | New Jersey Nets |
| 1996–1998 | Detroit Pistons |
| 1999 | Philadelphia 76ers |
| As coach: | |
| 1999–2000 | Rockford Lightning |
| 2000–2002 | Atlanta Hawks (assistant) |
| 2005–2009 | Detroit Shock (assistant) |
| 2009 | Detroit Shock (interim) |
| 2017-2018 | Trilogy |
| 2019 | Enemies |
| 2021-present | Aliens |
| Career highlights and awards | |
As player:
As assistant coach:
As head coach:
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| Career statistics | |
| Points | 7,763 (6.9 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 6,957 (6.2 rpg) |
| Blocks | 1,007 (0.9 bpg) |
Derrick Allen Mahorn (born September 21, 1958) is a famous American former professional basketball player. He played as a power forward and center in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for teams like the Washington Bullets, Detroit Pistons, Philadelphia 76ers, and New Jersey Nets.
Rick Mahorn was known for his strong and physical way of playing. He was a key member of the late 1980s Detroit Pistons teams, which were famously called "The Bad Boys." With them, he won the 1989 NBA Championship. After his playing days, Mahorn became an assistant coach for the Detroit Shock in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). He helped them win two WNBA Championships in 2006 and 2008. Later, he became a head coach for Trilogy in the BIG3 league, leading them to win the first-ever BIG3 Championship in 2017. This made him the only person in history to win a championship in the NBA, WNBA, and BIG3! Today, he works as a radio analyst for the Detroit Pistons and coaches the Aliens in the BIG3 during the summer.
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College Career
Rick Mahorn played college basketball at Hampton University. He was a fantastic player there, earning the title of NAIA All-American three times. He set 18 school records and scored a total of 2,418 points for the Hampton Pirates. That's an average of 20.3 points per game!
Playing in the NBA
The "Bad Boys" Era
A big moment in Mahorn's career was when he was traded from the Washington Bullets to the Detroit Pistons. At first, he wasn't happy about the move. He even showed up to training camp not in his best shape. But his new teammate, Bill Laimbeer, talked to him about what the team needed. Mahorn listened and became a very important part of the Pistons.
In 1989, Mahorn, who was called the "Baddest Bad Boy of them all" by the Pistons' announcer, won his only NBA championship with the team.
A Surprising Trade
Just two days after the Pistons won the championship in 1989, the NBA held a special draft for new teams, the Orlando Magic and Minnesota Timberwolves. Teams could only protect eight players from being picked. The Pistons decided not to protect Mahorn. This meant he was chosen by the Minnesota Timberwolves as their first pick.
The Pistons were celebrating their victory when Mahorn was told the news. The team's manager, Jack McCloskey, tried to get him back, but it didn't work. Years later, Mahorn still felt sad about it, even shedding tears when talking about it in a documentary.
After the Pistons
Rick Mahorn never actually played for Minnesota. He refused to join the Timberwolves and was instead traded to the Philadelphia 76ers. There, he teamed up with superstar Charles Barkley. Even though they used to be rivals, they formed a strong duo known for their rebounding, called "Thump N' Bump."
After two seasons, Mahorn went to play in Italy for a team called Il Messaggero Roma. He helped them win the 1992 FIBA Korać Cup. He later returned to the NBA and played for the New Jersey Nets for four seasons. He then went back to the Pistons for a short time before ending his playing career in 1999 with a second time playing for the 76ers.
Coaching Career
WNBA Coaching
After retiring as a player, Mahorn became a radio commentator for the Pistons. He also worked as an assistant coach for the WNBA's Detroit Shock. His former teammate, Bill Laimbeer, was the head coach. Together, Laimbeer and Mahorn led the Shock to win two WNBA championships in 2006 and 2008.
In 2009, Rick Mahorn became the head coach of the Detroit Shock. He stayed in that role until the team moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma, after that season.
BIG3 Coaching
In 2017, Mahorn took on a new challenge as the head coach of Trilogy in the BIG3 basketball league. This was the league's very first season, and Mahorn led his team, which included players like Al Harrington and Kenyon Martin, to become the first-ever BIG3 champions!
Awards and Achievements
Rick Mahorn has achieved many great things in his basketball career:
- NBA Champion (1989) as a player with the Detroit Pistons.
- FIBA Korać Cup (1992) as a player in Italy.
- NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1989) for his great defense.
- CIAA Player of the Year (1979) in college.
- 3-time NAIA All-American (1977–1980) in college.
- 2-time WNBA Champion (2006, 2008) as an assistant coach with the Detroit Shock.
- BIG3 Champion (2017) as head coach of Trilogy.
- Inducted into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame in 2018.
See also
In Spanish: Rick Mahorn para niños
- List of NBA career personal fouls leaders
