Chris Webber

Mayce Edward Christopher Webber III, better known as Chris Webber (born March 1, 1973 in Detroit, Michigan), is an NBA basketball player, currently with the Philadelphia 76ers.

NBA career

In 1993, Webber was selected first in the NBA draft by the Orlando Magic, who immediately traded him to the Golden State Warriors in exchange for Anfernee Hardaway and three future first round draft picks.

Related Topics:
1993 - NBA draft - Orlando Magic - Golden State Warriors - Anfernee Hardaway

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He had an outstanding first year, averaging 17 points and nine rebounds per game and thus winning the NBA Rookie of the Year Award. He was instrumental in leading the Warriors back into the playoffs. However, he had a long-standing conflict with his coach, Don Nelson. Nelson wanted to make Webber primarily a post player, despite Webber's superb passing ability and good ball handling skills for someone his size at 6'10" (2,08m) tall. By the 1994 offseason, Nelson felt that he could no longer coach Webber.

Related Topics:
NBA Rookie of the Year Award - Playoffs - Don Nelson - 1994

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Webber was traded in his second year to the Washington Bullets, where he was reunited with his college teammate and friend, Juwan Howard. He spent the next three years with the Bullets (later renamed the Washington Wizards), although in the 1995-96 season injuries limited him to 15 games. Webber rebounded from the injury and was named to his first All Star team in 1997. In 1997, Webber lead the Bullets into the playoffs for the first time in 9 years, but they were swept by the Michael Jordan-led Chicago Bulls.

Related Topics:
Washington Bullets - Juwan Howard - 1995 - 1997 - Michael Jordan - Chicago Bulls

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On May 14, 1998, Webber was traded to the Sacramento Kings for Mitch Richmond and Otis Thorpe. Webber did not want to go to Sacramento, as they were a perennial losing team. When Webber arrived, the Kings also signed center Vlade Divac and drafted point guard Jason Williams. The Kings quickly became an exciting team, and also NBA title contenders. He was named to the All Star team in 2000 and 2001 while cementing his status as one of the premier power forwards in the NBA. Webber peaked in the 2000-01 season where he averaged a career-high 27.1 points and 10 rebounds.

Related Topics:
May 14 - 1998 - Sacramento Kings - Mitch Richmond - Otis Thorpe - Center - Vlade Divac - Point guard - Jason Williams - 2000 - 2001

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On July 27, 2001 Webber signed a $127 million, seven-year contract with the Kings. However, he drew controversy from Sacramento fans through his large salary, frequent injuries, and the team's overall good performance while he was on the bench. However, in 2002, Webber led the Kings to the Western Conference Finals, against the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers. The Kings put up a good fight against the Lakers, eventually bowing out in 7 games. It was the high point of Webber's stint in Sacramento.

Related Topics:
July 27 - 2001 - 2002 - Los Angeles Lakers

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In the third game of the 2003 Western Conference Semifinals against the Dallas Mavericks, Webber suffered a career-threatening knee injury that forced him to miss nearly a year of action. When he returned to basketball for the final 25 games of the 2003-2004 season, his ability had been visibly diminished. Nevertheless, Webber is still considered one of the better players in the league, averaging 22.1 points per game and 10.2 rebounds per game in his career.

Related Topics:
2003 - Dallas Mavericks - 2004

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In February 2005, Webber, along with Michael Bradley and Matt Barnes, was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers for power forward Kenny Thomas, forward/center Brian Skinner, and well-known former King Corliss Williamson. Webber took some time to fit in with the 76ers offense, as he was a second scoring option for the first time in his career. However, he did help catapault the Sixers to a berth in the 2005 playoffs, where the Sixers lost to the Detroit Pistons.

Related Topics:
2005 - Michael Bradley - Matt Barnes - Philadelphia 76ers - Kenny Thomas - Brian Skinner - Corliss Williamson - 2005 playoffs - Detroit Pistons

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Webber was ranked #64 in SLAM Magazine's Top 75 NBA Players of all time in 2003.

Related Topics:
SLAM Magazine - 2003

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