Travis Best

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Travis Eric Best (born 12 July 1972 in Springfield, Massachusetts) is an American professional basketball player, formerly in the NBA and now with Virtus Bologna in the Italian League, after the experience with UNICS Kazan, in the Russian League.

After playing for Springfield Central High School and college at Georgia Tech, Best was drafted 23rd overall in the 1995 NBA draft by the Indiana Pacers. He has played for the Pacers, the Chicago Bulls, the Miami Heat, the Dallas Mavericks and the New Jersey Nets, averaging 7.6 points and 3.5 assists per game.

Best had a small role in Spike Lee's 1998 basketball-themed movie He Got Game. He was also seen in the documentary Hoop Dreams.

Travis Best was a vital back-up on the 1999-2000 Indiana Pacers team that went to the NBA Finals. Best hit the game winning 3-pointer in the decisive fifth game against the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round of the playoffs. During Best's last half season with the Pacers he was very unhappy that he was passed over as starting point guard (Jamaal Tinsley got the spot). During that season Best requested a trade and was granted a trade to the Chicago Bulls. In the trade the Bulls sent Ron Artest, Brad Miller, Ron Mercer and Kevin Ollie to the Pacers for Best, Jalen Rose and Norman Richardson, as well as a future second-round pick.