Tree Rollins

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Wayne Monte "Tree" Rollins (born June 15, 1965, in Winter Haven, Florida)


Wayne "Tree" Rollins is one of the Clemson basketball program's most famous alumni. He dominated inside play on the hardwood for the Tigers from 1973 to 1977 and was an intimidating and prolific shot blocker and rebounder.

Behind Rollins' forceful play, the Tigers improved each year he was on the team. Over his career, Rollins averaged a double-double for four straight seasons (the only Clemson player to do so). He was a three-time second-team All-ACC selection and a third-team All-American in 1976-77 (the first Clemson basketball player to earn a spot on an AP All-American team). At the conclusion of his career, he had started in a then-record 110 straight games for Clemson.

His career numbers at Clemson easily speak for themselves. He is Clemson's career rebounding leader with 1,311 and still ranks fifth in ACC history. He is the third ranked player in ACC history with 450 blocked shots, however he is first on a per game basis. He is ranked fourth in career double-doubles at Clemson with 85 and is one of only two Clemson players in history to record a triple-double (twice doing it with blocked shots).

He is now a retired American professional basketball player who played 18 seasons in the National Basketball Association for the Atlanta Hawks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons, Houston Rockets and Orlando Magic. He was primarily known under his playing name, Tree. The 7-foot-2-inch 275 pound Clemson graduate played center, and gained high esteem for his defense, particularly his rebounding and shot-blocking ability. He finished in the top three in blocked shots six times, leading the league during the 1982-83 NBA season. At the time of his retirement in 1995, he was fourth all-time in career blocked shots, behind only Hakeem Olajuwon, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Mark Eaton. He currently holds the seventh highest total of career blocked shots, with 2,542. His 6,750 career rebounds currently place him 89th on the all-time list. During his playing career, Rollins was given the nickname "The Intimidator".[1]


During the 1994-95 season, Rollins served as both assistant coach and backup center for the Orlando Magic. He was one-time coach of the now-defunct Greenville Groove of the National Basketball Development League (NBDL).[2]. 2004 he was President and General Manager Kentucky Colonels, Louisville, KY.

In 2006, Rollins joined the WNBA's Washington Mystics in 2006 as an assistant coach. On June 1, 2007, he was named interim head coach following Richie Adubato's resignation early in the season.[1] Rollins led the Mystics to a 17-14 record.[1].


[edit] Awards=

Was the first athlete in any sport at Clemson University to have jersey number retired. Only Clemson player to average double/double four straight seasons.

  • NBA All-Defensive Second Team, 1982-1983 season[3]
  • NBA All-Defensive First Team, 1983-1984 season[3]


[edit] Notes

  1. ^ a b c Named to the SC State Athletic Hall of Fame 2002. Named to the 50th Anniversary ACC Men's Basketball Team 2003. Named to the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame 2007. Strong Roots Make Tree Rollins Excited About the Mystics in 2008. Posted October 29 2007
  2. ^ NBDL: Tree Rollins Named Greenville Head Coach
  3. ^ a b NBA.com: All-Defensive Teams

[edit] External links

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