Terry Cummings facts for kids
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 15, 1961 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| High school | Carver (Chicago, Illinois) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) |
| Listed weight | 220 lb (100 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | DePaul (1979–1982) |
| NBA Draft | 1982 / Round: 1 / Pick: 2nd overall |
| Selected by the San Diego Clippers | |
| Pro career | 1982–2000 |
| Career history | |
| 1982–1984 | San Diego Clippers |
| 1984–1989 | Milwaukee Bucks |
| 1989–1995 | San Antonio Spurs |
| 1995–1996 | Milwaukee Bucks |
| 1996–1997 | Seattle SuperSonics |
| 1997–1998 | Philadelphia 76ers |
| 1998 | New York Knicks |
| 1999–2000 | Golden State Warriors |
| Career highlights and awards | |
|
|
| Career NBA statistics | |
| Points | 19,460 (16.4 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 8,630 (7.3 rpg) |
| Steals | 1,255 (1.1 spg) |
Robert Terrell Cummings (born March 15, 1961) is an American former professional basketball player. He played for 18 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Terry Cummings was named Rookie of the Year. He was also a two-time All-Star and was chosen for the All-NBA team twice. He was a key player on several teams that made it to the playoffs.
Contents
Terry Cummings: Basketball Star
Early Life and College Basketball
Terry Cummings was born in Chicago, Illinois. He went to Carver High School. After high school, he played college basketball at DePaul University from 1979 to 1982. He was a great player, averaging 16.4 points per game. After college, he decided to enter the 1982 NBA draft.
Starting in the NBA: San Diego Clippers
In the 1982 NBA draft, the San Diego Clippers chose Terry Cummings as the second player overall. This was right after James Worthy was picked by the Lakers.
In his first season (1982–83), Terry Cummings had an amazing start. He won the NBA Rookie of the Year Award. He averaged 23.7 points and 10.4 rebounds per game. These were the highest numbers of his career in those areas. During his rookie season, he once scored 39 points and grabbed 18 rebounds in a game.
Becoming a Star: Milwaukee Bucks
After his second season, Terry Cummings was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks. He continued to play very well there. For four out of his five years with the Bucks, he averaged over 20 points and 8 rebounds per game.
In the 1985 NBA playoffs, Cummings scored more points per game (29.5) than rookie Michael Jordan (29.3). The Bucks won that series. The next season, Cummings and his teammate Sidney Moncrief helped the Bucks have a great record of 57 wins and 25 losses. They made it to the Eastern Conference Finals.
Cummings had many memorable games with the Bucks. In one game, he grabbed a career-high 24 rebounds. In another, he achieved a "triple-double" with 39 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 assists. He also had a career-high 6 steals in that game. As a Milwaukee Buck, he was chosen to play in the NBA All-Star Game twice, in 1985 and 1989.
Leading the San Antonio Spurs
On May 28, 1989, Terry Cummings was traded to the San Antonio Spurs. His first season with the Spurs was incredible. With Cummings, and new teammate David Robinson, the Spurs went from winning only 21 games the year before to winning 56 games in 1990! That season, Cummings scored a career-high 52 points in a single game.
He stayed with the Spurs for six years. He continued to score and rebound well, helping his team win over 50 games for two seasons in a row. He was known as a strong power forward in the league.
In 1992, Cummings had a serious knee injury. This made him miss most of the next season. After his injury, he played a different role, often coming off the bench as a reserve player.
Later Career and Retirement
Terry Cummings returned to the Milwaukee Bucks in 1995. He then played for the Seattle SuperSonics in 1997, helping them reach the Western Conference Semi-finals. He also played for the Philadelphia 76ers and the New York Knicks.
Before the 1999 season, he was traded to the Golden State Warriors. He played two seasons for the Warriors before retiring from basketball after the 1999–2000 season. Even in his final season, at 38 years old and after injuries, he still played well.
Terry's Amazing Career
Over his 18 seasons in the NBA, Terry Cummings scored 19,460 points. This places him among the top scorers in NBA history. He averaged 16.4 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. He played in 1,183 games, showing how long and successful his career was.
Beyond Basketball: Personal Life
When Terry Cummings was young, he actually wanted to be a professional hockey player! He didn't start playing competitive basketball until he had a sudden growth spurt in high school.
Terry Cummings is also a talented musician. In 2007, he released an album called T.C. Finally. He wrote, sang, and played keyboards on the album. His music sounds like classic R&B and soul artists.
He has been a Pentecostal minister since 1977. He even performed the wedding for his former teammate, Sean Elliott. Terry Cummings has three sons: Antonio, T. J., and Shawn.
