Sam Mack facts for kids
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | May 26, 1970 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| High school | Thornridge (Dolton, Illinois) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) |
| Listed weight | 220 lb (100 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College |
|
| NBA Draft | 1992 / Undrafted |
| Pro career | 1992–2013 |
| Career history | |
| 1992 | New Haven Skyhawks |
| 1992–1993 | San Antonio Spurs |
| 1993–1994 | Rapid City Thrillers |
| 1993–1994 | Yakima Sun Kings |
| 1994 | Fort Wayne Fury |
| 1994–1995 | Oklahoma City Cavalry |
| 1995–1996 | Rockford Lightning |
| 1995–1997 | Houston Rockets |
| 1997–1999 | Vancouver Grizzlies |
| 1999 | Houston Rockets |
| 1999–2000 | Golden State Warriors |
| 2000–2001 | Grand Rapids Hoops |
| 2001 | Marinos de Oriente |
| 2001 | Miami Heat |
| 2001–2002 | Avtodor Saratov |
| 2004–2005 | Michigan Mayhem |
| 2005 | Aguas de Calpe |
| 2007 | Gary Steelheads |
| 2008–2009 | Halifax Rainmen |
| 2009–2013 | Chicago Steam |
| Career highlights and awards | |
|
|
| Career NBA statistics | |
| Points | 2,011 |
| Rebounds | 533 |
| Assists | 336 |
Sam Mack (born May 26, 1970) is an American former professional basketball player. Standing 6 feet 7 inches tall, he played as a shooting guard. Sam Mack had a long career, playing for five different NBA teams over 10 years. He also played basketball internationally for 20 years.
Contents
Sam Mack's College Basketball Journey
Sam Mack started his college basketball career at Iowa State. As a freshman, he was a starter and scored an average of 11.8 points per game. His team, the Cyclones, even made it to the 1989 NCAA tournament.
After facing some challenges, Mack transferred to Tyler Junior College. There, he found a great fit with coach Roy Thomas. He played very well, averaging 24.6 points and 8.7 rebounds in the 1990-91 season. He was also very accurate, shooting 62% from the field and 42% from three-point range.
His strong performance at Tyler Junior College led him to the University of Houston. The coach, Pat Foster, made sure Mack was a good fit for the team. Mack's final college season was a big success. He averaged 17.5 points in 31 games for the Cougars in 1991-92. He helped lead his team to a great 25–6 record and another NCAA Tournament appearance. For his excellent play, Mack was named the SWC Newcomer of the Year.
Sam Mack's Professional Career Highlights
Even though he was not chosen in the 1992 NBA Draft, Sam Mack started his professional career in 1992 with the New Haven Skyhawks. Later that year, he signed with the San Antonio Spurs as a free agent. He played in 40 games for the Spurs during the 1992-93 season.
Playing in the CBA
After his time with the Spurs, Mack spent three years playing in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA). He was recognized for his skills and was named to the 1995–96 CBA All-League Second Team. In his CBA career, he played in 119 games, averaging 16.1 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game.
NBA Success with the Houston Rockets
In 1996, Sam Mack got a big chance to show his talent in the NBA. He was playing for the Rockford Lightning in the CBA, averaging 20.7 points. This caught the eye of the Houston Rockets, who were NBA champions at the time. The Rockets signed Mack to two short contracts in February 1996.
Mack really shined for the Rockets. He averaged 10.8 points and 3.2 rebounds in 31 games, starting in 20 of them. His first NBA start was on February 27 against Toronto, where he scored 11 points. He scored 10 points or more 13 times, and even had four games where he scored 20 points or more. His career high was an amazing 38 points against Golden State on April 2. He also shot very well from three-point range, making 40% of his shots. Mack also played in six of Houston's eight playoff games that year.
Time with the Vancouver Grizzlies
In October 1997, Mack was traded to the Vancouver Grizzlies. He became their starting shooting guard. He averaged 10.8 points per game in the 1997-98 season and 12.7 points per game in the 1998-99 season. In 1999, he was ranked among the NBA's best for three-pointers made and attempted. He even set a Grizzlies team record by making 8 three-pointers in one game on February 14, 1999. Because of his excellent shooting, Mack was invited to compete in the AT&T Shootout during the 1998 NBA All-Star Weekend in New York.
Later NBA and International Career
Mack was traded back to the Rockets in March 1999. He later played for the Golden State Warriors in 2000. After that, he played in the CBA and IBL with the Grand Rapids Hoops. In 2001, he signed with the Miami Heat, playing in 12 games for them. In total, Mack started in 105 of the 259 NBA games he played. He averaged 8 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.3 assists during his NBA career.
After his NBA career, Sam Mack continued to play professional basketball for another 10 years. He played for several teams both in the United States and in other countries. He continued to be successful even into his late 30s. Mack's last team was the ABA's Chicago Steam. He was named to the ABA's All-Star team in both 2010 and 2011, even at the age of 40.
See also
In Spanish: Sam Mack para niños
