Shane Battier facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Shane Battier

Battier in 2023
Miami Heat
Consultant
Personal information
Born	(1978-09-09) September 9, 1978 (age 46) Birmingham, Michigan, U.S.
High school	Detroit Country Day School (Beverly Hills, Michigan)
Listed height	6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
Listed weight	220 lb (100 kg)
Career information
College	Duke (1997–2001)
NBA Draft	2001 / Round: 1 / Pick: 6th overall
Selected by the Vancouver Grizzlies
Pro career	2001–2014
League	NBA
Career history
2001–2006	Memphis Grizzlies
2006–2011	Houston Rockets
2011	Memphis Grizzlies
2011–2014	Miami Heat
Career highlights and awards
2× NBA champion (2012, 2013) 2× NBA All-Defensive Second Team (2008, 2009) NBA All-Rookie First Team (2002) NCAA champion (2001) NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player (2001) National college player of the year (2001) Consensus first-team All-American (2001) Consensus second-team All-American (2000) 3× NABC Defensive Player of the Year (1999–2001) Chip Hilton Player of the Year (2001) ACC co-Player of the Year (2001) Academic All-American of the Year (2001) 2× First-team All-ACC (2000, 2001) No. 31 retired by Duke Blue Devils Naismith Prep Player of the Year (1997) First-team Parade All-American (1997) Second-team Parade All-American (1996) McDonald's All-American (1997) Mr. Basketball of Michigan (1997)
Career NBA statistics
Points	8,408 (8.6 ppg)
Rebounds	4,082 (4.2 rpg)
Assists	1,717 (1.8 apg)
Medals Men's basketball Representing the  United States FIBA World Championship Bronze 2006 Japan National team Goodwill Games Gold 2001 Brisbane National team

Shane Courtney Battier (pronounced BAT-ee-ay; born September 9, 1978) is an American former professional basketball player. He is well-known for his time playing for Duke in college and his 13 years in the National Basketball Association (NBA).

Battier's teams won championships at every level: college, professional, and even international. He was a key player on the U.S. national team.

Early Life and High School Basketball

Shane Battier grew up in Birmingham, Michigan. He went to Detroit Country Day School in Beverly Hills. There, he won many awards, including the 1997 Mr. Basketball award for the best high school player in Michigan.

Shane was very tall from a young age. By seventh grade, he was already 6 feet 4 inches tall. A year later, he grew to 6 feet 7 inches. He helped his high school team win three state championships in Michigan.

College Career at Duke

Shane Battier was an excellent student in high school. He went on to play basketball for four years at Duke University. His coach was the famous Mike Krzyzewski.

Battier's Defensive Skills

At Duke, Battier was known as one of the best defenders on the court. He was great at taking charges, which is when a defensive player stands still and an offensive player runs into them, causing a foul on the offense. Fans at Duke, called the "Cameron Crazies," would chant his name when he did this.

Championships and Awards

Battier led the Duke Blue Devils to the Final Four twice, in 1999 and 2001. In 2001, his team won the national championship by beating the Arizona Wildcats.

In 2001, Shane Battier was named the best college player in the country. He won many top awards, including the Naismith Award and the John R. Wooden Award. Duke University later honored him by retiring his No. 31 jersey, meaning no other Duke player will wear that number. He was also named the NABC Defensive Player of the Year three times.

NBA Career Highlights

Shane Battier was picked sixth in the 2001 NBA draft by the Vancouver Grizzlies. This team soon moved and became the Memphis Grizzlies.

Memphis Grizzlies (2001–2006)

Battier was a very flexible player. He was tall enough to play close to the basket but could also shoot well from further away, especially three-pointers from the corner. He was known for his hard work on defense. He could guard different positions like shooting guard, power forward, and small forward. He also got many blocks and steals and often dove for loose balls.

Houston Rockets (2006–2011)

In 2006, Battier was traded to the Houston Rockets. He was often called "the ultimate glue guy." This means he played smart, team-focused basketball that made his teammates better, even if his own stats weren't always huge. He used his skills with great discipline and effort.

Shane's Preparation and Strategy

Battier was famous for how much he studied his opponents. He wanted to know everything about the player he was guarding. The Rockets even gave him special access to their detailed statistics on all opposing players. He used this information to understand what players liked to do in games.

For example, in one game, he was supposed to guard Manu Ginóbili. Because Ginóbili came off the bench, Battier asked his coach to let him also come off the bench, so he could guard Ginóbili whenever he entered the game. This showed how dedicated he was to defense.

Battier also played for the U.S. national team in the 2006 FIBA World Championship, where they won a bronze medal.

Battier defending Kobe Bryant

Return to Memphis (2011)

In 2011, Battier was traded back to the Memphis Grizzlies, the team that first drafted him. On April 17, he made a game-winning three-pointer that gave Memphis its first playoff win ever.

Miami Heat (2011–2014)

Battier as a member of the Heat in 2012

Battier joined the Miami Heat in 2011. In the 2012 NBA Finals, he played a big role, scoring 58 points in five games. He made 15 of 26 three-point shots, helping the Heat win his first NBA Championship. His three-point shooting percentage in those Finals was the highest ever for a player who made 15 or more three-pointers.

Winning Streaks and Second Championship

During the 2012–13 season, Battier and the Heat had an amazing 27-game winning streak. This was the second-longest winning streak in NBA history. Battier became the only player in NBA history to be part of two different 20-game winning streaks.

In the 2013 playoffs, Battier struggled with his shooting at first. But in a tough Game 7 against the San Antonio Spurs, he scored 18 points, making 6 of 8 three-pointers. This helped the Heat win his second championship. When asked about his performance, he famously said, "it's better to be timely than good."

Battier announced he would retire after the 2013–14 season. The Heat made it to the NBA Finals again, but lost to the Spurs. Game 5 of that series was Battier's final NBA game.

Life After Playing Basketball

After retiring from playing, Shane Battier worked as a commentator for ESPN for about a year.

Working for the Miami Heat

In 2017, Battier rejoined the Miami Heat. He worked in their front office, helping with basketball development and analytics. In 2021, he became a consultant for the team.

Helping Others

In 2010, Shane Battier and his wife, Heidi, started The Battier Take Charge Foundation. This foundation helps young people who need support by providing resources for education and development. They have given out nearly $3 million in college scholarships and programs.

Personal Life

Shane Battier married his high school sweetheart, Heidi Ufer, in 2004. They have two children: a son named Zeke and a daughter named Eloise.

Sporting News once named Battier the seventh-smartest athlete in sports.

NBA Career Statistics

Regular season

Playoffs

See also

In Spanish: Shane Battier para niños