Theo Ratliff facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Theo Ratliff

Ratliff with the Pistons in 2008
Personal information
Born	(1973-04-17) April 17, 1973 (age 52) Demopolis, Alabama, U.S.
High school	Demopolis (Demopolis, Alabama)
Listed height	6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
Listed weight	235 lb (107 kg)
Career information
College	Wyoming (1991–1995)
NBA Draft	1995 / Round: 1 / Pick: 18th overall
Selected by the Detroit Pistons
Pro career	1995–2011
Career history
1995–1997	Detroit Pistons
1997–2001	Philadelphia 76ers
2001–2004	Atlanta Hawks
2004–2006	Portland Trail Blazers
2006–2007	Boston Celtics
2007–2008	Minnesota Timberwolves
2008	Detroit Pistons
2008–2009	Philadelphia 76ers
2009–2010	San Antonio Spurs
2010	Charlotte Bobcats
2010–2011	Los Angeles Lakers
Career highlights and awards
As player: NBA All-Star (2001) 2× NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1999, 2004) 3× NBA blocks leader (2001, 2003, 2004) 2× First-team All-WAC (1994, 1995) NCAA blocks leader (1993) As owner: 2× WBA champion (2005, 2006)
Career statistics
Points	5,809 (7.2 ppg)
Rebounds	4,596 (5.7 rpg)
Block	1,968 (2.4 bpg)
Medals Men's Basketball Representing  United States FIBA U21 World Championship Gold 1993 Valladolid National team

Theophalus Curtis Ratliff (born April 17, 1973) is an American former professional basketball player. He played for 16 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA).

Theo Ratliff was born in Alabama. He played college basketball at the University of Wyoming. After college, the Detroit Pistons chose him in the 1995 NBA draft. He played for many teams, including the Philadelphia 76ers and the Atlanta Hawks. Ratliff was known as an excellent shot-blocker. He led the league in blocks per game three times. As of 2024, he ranks among the top 20 players in career blocks.

College Basketball Career

Theo Ratliff joined the Wyoming Cowboys in 1991. He did not play much in his first year. This was because older players were already on the team. After those players graduated, Ratliff got more playing time. He became Wyoming's main center during his junior and senior years.

In his senior year, Ratliff made 144 blocks in 28 games. This means he averaged over 5 blocks per game. He finished his college career with 425 blocked shots. This is still the most in Wyoming school history. In 2005, Ratliff was honored by being added to the University of Wyoming Athletics Hall of Fame.

NBA Professional Career

Ratliff after being traded to Minnesota in 2007

The Detroit Pistons picked Ratliff 18th overall in the 1995 NBA draft. He played for the Pistons for two and a half seasons. In December 1997, he was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers. In Detroit, Ratliff usually played as a substitute. But with the Sixers, he became a starter right away. His playing time and performance improved a lot.

Playing for the Philadelphia 76ers

In his first full season with Philadelphia, Ratliff averaged 11.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 3.0 blocks per game. He was also named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team. He helped the Sixers reach the playoffs for the first time in eight years. They won their first series but lost in the next round.

The next season, Ratliff played only 57 games due to an injury. Still, he averaged 11.9 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 3.0 blocks. He helped the Sixers return to the playoffs, where they again lost in the second round.

Ratliff was chosen for his first All-Star Game in 2001. He was averaging 12.4 points, 8.3 rebounds, and a league-leading 3.7 blocks per game. However, he got injured before the All-Star game and needed surgery. This ended his season. In February, Ratliff was traded to the Atlanta Hawks.

Time with the Atlanta Hawks and Portland Trail Blazers

After his injury, Ratliff played only three games in the next season. But he came back strong in the 2002–03 season. He averaged 8.7 points, 7.5 rebounds, and a league-leading 3.2 blocks in 81 games.

During the 2003–04 season, he was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers. Because of the trade timing, Ratliff played an unusual 85 games that season. He also made 307 blocks, which was the most by any player since 1996. For the third time in four seasons, he led the NBA in blocks. He was also named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team again.

After this great season, he signed a new contract with the Blazers. However, Ratliff missed games in the next two seasons due to injuries. He eventually lost his starting position.

Later Career Teams

In June 2006, the Boston Celtics acquired Ratliff. In July 2007, he was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves. In February 2008, the Timberwolves released him. He then rejoined the Detroit Pistons in March. With the Pistons, Ratliff returned to the playoffs for the first time since 2000. The Pistons reached the Eastern Conference Finals.

Ratliff signed with the Philadelphia 76ers again for the 2008–09 season. As an experienced player on a young team, he was named a team captain.

In 2009, he signed with the San Antonio Spurs. In February 2010, he was traded to the Charlotte Bobcats. This reunited him with his former coach, Larry Brown. Ratliff and his teammates helped the Bobcats have the best defense in the NBA. They also achieved their first winning record and first playoff appearance in team history.

Ratliff signed with the Los Angeles Lakers in July 2010. He played one more season before announcing his retirement before the 2011-12 season.

Awards and Achievements

Theo Ratliff earned many awards during his basketball career. Here are some of his college achievements:

• First Team All-Western Athletic Conference (1994, 1995)
• Inducted into the University of Wyoming Athletics Hall of Fame (2005)

Life Outside Basketball

Theo Ratliff played basketball at Demopolis High School in his hometown of Demopolis, Alabama. He later graduated from the University of Wyoming. He created The Theo Ratliff Center in Demopolis, Alabama. This is a recreation center with a basketball court for the community.

Ratliff also owned a basketball team called the Rome Gladiators. In 2020, Ratliff wrote a children's book called Theo The Hero. The book teaches kids how to deal with bullying.

NBA Career Statistics

Regular Season

Playoffs

More About Blocks in Basketball

• List of NBA career blocks leaders
• List of NBA annual blocks leaders
• List of NBA single-season blocks per game leaders
• List of NCAA Division I men's basketball career blocks leaders
• List of NCAA Division I men's basketball season blocks leaders

See also

In Spanish: Theo Ratliff para niños