Terry Porter

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Terry Porter (born April 8, 1963 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin) is a former professional basketball player and coach in the NBA. He played college ball at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, and had a distinguished 17-year career in the NBA.

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[edit] Early years

Prior to excelling on the NBA’s national stage, Porter was no secret to basketball fans in Wisconsin. He played prep basketball at Milwaukee’s South Division High School, and was a standout collegian at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point playing with current Saint Louis University Head Coach Brad Soderberg under legendary college coach Dick Bennett.

In four seasons at Stevens Point, Porter averaged 13.5 points and shot an astounding 58.9 percent from the field. Twice with the Pointers, as both a junior and a senior, he was named an NAIA First-Team All-American. He holds a degree in Communications and was honored with a Distinguished Alumnus Award in 1999.

[edit] NBA playing career

In 1985, the Portland Trail Blazers selected Porter with the 24th overall pick in the NBA Draft. During his decade-long tenure in Portland, Porter helped lead the Trail Blazers to the NBA Finals twice and continues to hold the NBA Finals single-game record for the most free throws made, none missed -- 15 (June 7, 1990 at Detroit). He was the recipient of the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award in 1993, and remains as the Trail Blazers' all-time assists leader with 5,319. Porter signed as a free agent with the Minnesota Timberwolves prior to the 1995-96 season and helped the Wolves clinch their first-ever playoff berth in 1996-97 and their first winning season the following year.

He signed with the Miami Heat before the 1998-99 campaign, and signed with the San Antonio Spurs prior to the 1999-2000 season. He retired after the 2001-02 season with the rare distinction of having never been traded during his NBA career. Porter’s teams compiled a remarkable record of 815-547 (.598) during his career, and only once failed to make the postseason.

In 1,274 career games, Porter averaged 12.2 points, 5.6 assists and 1.24 steals during a stellar career that included two All-Star berths (1991, 1993), two trips to the NBA Finals (1990, 1992) and 15,586 career points. He is 10th on the NBA’s all-time assist list (7,160). Porter has played for five of the top 36 coaches (games won) in NBA history: Pat Riley (1,110), Jack Ramsay (864), Rick Adelman (603), Gregg Popovich (339) and Flip Saunders (328).

[edit] NBA coaching career

On August 6, 2003, the Milwaukee native was hired as head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks. He was the eighth head coach in franchise history. Porter spent the 2002-03 season as an assistant coach with the Sacramento Kings, his first season in coaching. He coached the Bucks for two years, leading a team which was expected to wind up in the NBA draft lottery into the playoffs. However, the Bucks failed to make the playoffs the next season, and Porter was let go in the 2005 offseason.

Throughout his career, Porter has been active with the Boys and Girls Club and is a member of the organization’s Hall of Fame. In 1994, he created the Milwaukee Scholars Fund, which provides scholarships to minority students in Milwaukee to attend schools in the University of Wisconsin System. Porter, the youngest of six children, is an avid golfer. He and his wife Susie have three children - Brianna, Franklin and Malcolm.

[edit] External links

Preceded by
George Karl		 Milwaukee Bucks Head Coach
2003–2005		 Succeeded by
Terry Stotts
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