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. He was a 6-foot-7-inch shooting guard from Dolton, Illinois. Sam Mack played for five different NBA teams during his 10-year career. He also had a long 20-year career playing basketball around the world.
Contents
College Basketball Journey
After being a star player at Thornridge High School, Sam Mack went to Iowa State. He started playing right away and scored about 11.8 points per game in his first year. His team even made it to the 1989 NCAA tournament.
However, Sam Mack faced some challenges off the court. In March 1989, he was involved in an incident at a Burger King. He was later found not guilty, as a jury decided he was forced to be involved. After this, his scholarship was not renewed, and he moved to Arizona State.
In March 1990, Sam Mack faced more trouble. He was dismissed from the team before he could play any games for Arizona State.
After leaving Arizona State, Sam Mack got a new chance at Tyler Junior College. Here, he played for coach Roy Thomas, who was known for being strict. This new environment helped Sam Mack focus on basketball. He played very well, scoring 24.6 points and getting 8.7 rebounds per game. He also shot well from the field and from three-point range.
His success at Tyler Junior College led him to the University of Houston. The coach, Pat Foster, made sure to talk to university leaders about Sam Mack's past. Everyone agreed to give him a chance.
Sam Mack's last year in college was a big success. He scored 17.5 points per game for the Houston Cougars in the 1991-92 season. He helped his team achieve a great record of 25 wins and 6 losses. They also made it to the NCAA Tournament. For his excellent play, Sam Mack was named the SWC Newcomer of the Year.
Professional Basketball Career
Sam Mack was not chosen in the 1992 NBA Draft. But he started his professional career in 1992 with the New Haven Skyhawks in the USBL. Later that year, he signed with the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA. He played in 40 games as a reserve player during the 1992-93 season.
After his time with the Spurs, he spent the next three years playing in the CBA (Continental Basketball Association). He was recognized for his skills and was named to the 1995–96 CBA All-League Second Team. In 119 CBA games, he averaged 16.1 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game.
NBA Opportunity with Houston Rockets
Sam Mack got a big chance to show his talent in the NBA in 1996. He was playing for the Rockford Lightning in the CBA, averaging 20.7 points per game. This caught the eye of the Houston Rockets, who were NBA champions. The Rockets signed him to two short contracts in February 1996.
Sam Mack played very well for the Rockets. He averaged 10.8 points and 3.2 rebounds in 31 games. He started in 20 of those games. His first NBA start was on February 27 against Toronto, where he scored 11 points. He scored 10 or more points 13 times. He even scored a career-high 38 points against Golden State on April 2. He was also a good three-point shooter, making 40% of his shots. He helped the Rockets win against the Los Angeles Lakers in the playoffs.
Time with Vancouver Grizzlies
In October 1997, the Rockets traded Sam Mack to the Vancouver Grizzlies. He became the Grizzlies' starting shooting guard. He averaged 10.8 points per game in the 1997-98 season and 12.7 points in 1998-99. In 1999, he was one of the top players in the NBA for three-pointers made and attempted.
On February 14, 1999, he set a Grizzlies' team record by making 8 three-pointers in one game. He scored 26 points in that win against the Dallas Mavericks. In the 1997-98 season, he made a career-high 110 three-pointers. Because of his great shooting, Sam 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
In March 1999, Sam Mack was traded back to the Houston Rockets. However, he was not a regular starter in the NBA after that. He later signed with the Golden State Warriors in January 2000 but was waived a few months later.
He played in the CBA and IBL for the Grand Rapids Hoops in 2000–01. Then, he signed with the Miami Heat in September 2001. He played in 12 games for Miami and started one. In his NBA career, Sam Mack started in 105 of the 259 games he played. He averaged 8 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.3 assists.
For the next 10 years, Sam Mack played for many teams both in the United States and in other countries. He continued to play well even into his late 30s. He last played for the ABA's Chicago Steam. He was chosen for the ABA's all-star team in 2010 and 2011, even at the age of 40.
See also
In Spanish: Sam Mack para niños
