Luc Longley
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| Position | Center |
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| Height | 7 ft 2 in (2.18 m) |
| Weight | 265 lb (120 kg) |
| Nationality |  Australia |
| Born | January 19, 1969 Melbourne |
| College | New Mexico |
| Draft | 7th overall, 1991 Minnesota Timberwolves |
| Pro career | 1991 – 2001 |
| Former teams | Minnesota Timberwolves 1991-94 Chicago Bulls 1994-98 Phoenix Suns 1998-2000 New York Knicks 2000-01 |
Lucien James "Luc" Longley (born January 19, 1969 in Melbourne, Australia) is a former professional basketball player, and also the first Australian to play in the NBA. He attended college at the University of New Mexico. Known for his passing ability and free spirit, Longley drew comparisons to fellow redhead Bill Walton upon his entry into the NBA.
Longley was drafted 7th overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves in 1991. After two plus mediocre seasons with the struggling franchise, the 7'2" (218 cm) center was traded to the Chicago Bulls for Stacey King late in the 1993-94 season.
In 1995 Michael Jordan returned to the Bulls after a nearly two year retirement and helped the team win three consecutive NBA titles. Longley meanwhile, acted as starting center in each of the championship seasons.
Following the break up of the championship Bulls in 1999, Chicago did a sign and trade with Longley, sending him to the Phoenix Suns for Mark Bryant, Martin Muursepp, Bubba Wells and a conditional first-round draft pick. Longley spent two lackluster seasons with Phoenix until he was traded to the New York Knicks prior to the 2000-2001 NBA season in what was then only the second four-team trade in NBA history. The Suns acquired Chris Dudley as part of the deal together with a first-round draft pick from New York and an undisclosed amount of cash, while New York received Longley, Glen Rice, Travis Knight, Vladimir Stepania, Lazaro Borrell, Vernon Maxwell, two first-round draft picks (from the Los Angeles Lakers and the Seattle SuperSonics) and two second-round draft picks from Seattle. Seattle received Patrick Ewing and the Lakers received Horace Grant, Greg Foster, Chuck Person and Emanual Davis. Longley spent one year with New York before retiring. Longley averaged 7.2 points and 4.9 rebounds per game in his 567 regular season game NBA career.
Some in Australia feel Longley did not appear in enough international matches with the Australian Boomers during his career. That however, may be due to the various knee injuries that eventually ended his playing days.
Longley attended Scotch College, Perth for the majority of his high schooling, was part owner of the Perth Wildcats basketball club in the Australian National Basketball League for several years (he played 2 games for the club in 1986), and is currently the #1 ticket holder of the Fremantle Football Club in the Australian Football League.
[edit] External links
| 1995-1996 Chicago Bulls - 72 wins - National Basketball Association regular season record | ||
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Randy Brown | Jud Buechler | Jason Caffey | James Edwards | Jack Haley | Ron Harper | Michael Jordan | Steve Kerr | Toni Kukoč | Luc Longley | Scottie Pippen | Dennis Rodman | John Salley | Dickey Simpkins | Bill Wennington | Coach Phil Jackson |
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Categories: 1969 births | Australian basketball players | Chicago Bulls players | Living people | Minnesota Timberwolves players | New Mexico Lobos men's basketball players | New York Knicks players | Perth Wildcats players | People from Melbourne | People from Perth, Western Australia | Phoenix Suns players | Western Australian Sports Star of the Year winners
