Rick Mahorn facts for kids
Mahorn in 2007
|
|
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 21, 1958 Hartford, Connecticut, U.S. |
| High school | Weaver (Hartford, Connecticut) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 8.5 in (2.04 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 |
| 2021-2024 | Aliens |
| Career highlights and awards | |
As player:
As assistant coach:
As head coach:
|
|
| 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 former American professional basketball player. He played as a power forward and center in the National Basketball Association (NBA). His teams included the Washington Bullets, Detroit Pistons, Philadelphia 76ers, and New Jersey Nets.
Rick Mahorn was known for his strong and tough style of play. He was a key member of the Detroit Pistons teams in the late 1980s. These teams were famously called "The Bad Boys." With them, he won the 1989 NBA Championship.
After his playing days, Mahorn became an assistant coach. He worked with his former Pistons teammate, Bill Laimbeer, for the Detroit Shock in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). They won two WNBA championships together in 2006 and 2008. Later, he became the head coach of the Shock. He also coached Trilogy in the BIG3 league. In 2017, he led Trilogy to win the first-ever BIG3 Championship. This made him the only person to win a championship in the NBA, WNBA, and BIG3. Today, he works as a radio analyst for the Detroit Pistons. He is also a coach for the Aliens in the BIG3 league.
Contents
College Basketball Career
Rick Mahorn played college basketball at Hampton University. He was a very successful college player. He was named an NAIA All-American three times. He set 18 school records during his time there. Mahorn scored a total of 2,418 points for the Hampton Pirates. He averaged 20.3 points per game.
Playing in the NBA
Starting with the Washington Bullets
The Washington Bullets picked Rick Mahorn in the second round of the 1980 NBA draft. While playing for the Bullets, Mahorn and his teammate Jeff Ruland were called the "Beef Brothers." This nickname came from their strong and physical way of playing together on the court.
Joining the Detroit Pistons
Mahorn's most famous time as a player was after he joined the Detroit Pistons. At first, he was not happy about being traded to the Pistons. He even showed up to training camp out of shape. But his teammate Bill Laimbeer talked to him. Mahorn then understood his role and became a very important part of the Pistons team.
In 1989, Mahorn helped the Pistons win his only NBA championship. The Pistons' announcer, George Blaha, even called him the "Baddest Bad Boy of them all."
The Expansion Draft and After
Just two days after the Pistons won the championship in 1989, the NBA held an expansion draft. This draft was for two new teams, the Orlando Magic and Minnesota Timberwolves. Teams could only protect eight players from being picked. The Pistons decided not to protect Mahorn.
He was chosen as the second pick by the Minnesota Timberwolves. Rick was told about this during the Pistons' championship celebration. The Pistons' general manager, Jack McCloskey, tried to get Mahorn back, but he couldn't. This event upset Mahorn for many years.
Mahorn never played for Minnesota. He refused to join the Timberwolves. Instead, he was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers. There, he played with superstar Charles Barkley. Even though they had been rivals before, they formed a great rebounding duo called "Thump N' Bump."
After two seasons with the 76ers, Mahorn played in Italy for Il Messaggero Roma. He helped Roma win the 1992 FIBA Korać Cup. He returned to the NBA in 1992 and played for the New Jersey Nets for four seasons. He then went back to the Pistons for a short time. Rick Mahorn retired from playing after the 1999 season, following another short time with the 76ers.
Coaching Career
WNBA Coaching Success
After retiring as a player, Mahorn became a radio commentator for the Pistons. He also became an assistant coach for the WNBA's Detroit Shock. He worked under his former teammate, Bill Laimbeer. Laimbeer and Mahorn led the Shock to win two WNBA championships in 2006 and 2008.
In 2008, during a game, Mahorn tried to stop a fight between players. He was suspended for two games because of this. On June 15, 2009, he became the head coach of the Shock. He coached them until the team moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma, after that season.
BIG3 Coaching Champion
In 2017, Mahorn became the head coach of Trilogy in the new BIG3 basketball league. He led his team to win the very first BIG3 championship. His team included players like Al Harrington and Kenyon Martin.
Awards and Honors
- 1989 NBA Champion (as a player with the Detroit Pistons)
- Two-time WNBA Champion (2006, 2008 - as an assistant coach with the Detroit Shock)
- 2017 BIG3 Champion (as head coach of Trilogy)
- Virginia Sports Hall of Fame (inducted in 2018)
See also
In Spanish: Rick Mahorn para niños
- List of NBA career personal fouls leaders
