B. J. Armstrong

Benjamin Roy "B. J." Armstrong, Jr. (born September 9, 1967) is a retired American professional basketball player. As a starting point guard, he was an integral part of the NBA's Chicago Bulls dynasty of the 1990s.

His playing career left him with several distinctions, including being the last Chicago Bull to wear the number 10 jersey. The jersey was retired in honor of Bob Love after Armstrong left the team following the 1994–1995 season. Armstrong was also the first player selected to play for the Toronto Raptors in 1996.

Early life

Armstrong was born in Detroit, Michigan and attended Birmingham Brother Rice High School in Bloomfield Township, Michigan. He graduated in 1985.

Playing career

Armstrong had an illustrious career at the University of Iowa as the Hawkeyes' all-time leader in assists with 517 upon graduation; and is currently ranked fourth all-time. He also ranked sixth on the school's all-time steals list (178) and fourth in total points (1,705). The 6-foot-2 guard shot .443 (136-of-307) from three-point range over his four-year career and averaged 18.6 points and 5.4 assists as a senior. Armstrong received his bachelor's degree from Iowa in May 1989.

Selected by the Chicago Bulls in the first round of the 1989 NBA Draft,^[1] the 6'2" (1.88 m) Armstrong helped the team return to the Eastern Conference Finals after compiling a 55–27 regular season win-loss total in 1989–90.^[2]

The following season 1990–91 he helped them win their first NBA title against the Los Angeles Lakers after winning 61 regular season games. In 1991–92 Armstrong averaged double-digit scoring while coming off the bench behind longtime starter John Paxson to help the Bulls win 67 games and their second straight title. In 1992–93 he locked down the starting job, contributing to a 57–25 record and the Bulls' third straight title. He also claimed the NBA's three-point field goal percentage crown with a mark of .453 on 63-for-139.^[3]

In 1993–94 he emerged as more of a leader in the wake of Michael Jordan's retirement, placing third on the team in scoring. He was voted a starter in the 1994 NBA All-Star Game, finished second in the NBA in three-point field goal percentage at .444 while leading the team to a 55–27 record and a second-round exit from the playoffs.

Armstrong finished third in scoring again in 1994–95 as the Bulls posted a 47–35 record, and with Jordan, Scottie Pippen and Toni Kukoc, led the team to the second round again.

Armstrong was the first player chosen in the 1995 NBA Expansion Draft (via Toronto Raptors) and played for the Golden State Warriors in 1995–96 and in 1996–97. Four games into the 1997–98 season, he was acquired by the Charlotte Hornets, playing 62 games that year. He also played 10 games for the Hornets in the 1998–99 season before being signed by the Orlando Magic in March of that year.

On August 30, 1999 he was again signed by the Bulls and played the 1999–2000 season and retired at the end of the season.

Later endeavors

Armstrong stepped into Chicago's front office as a special assistant to Vice President of Basketball Operations Jerry Krause. Having replaced Paxson as the Bulls' starting point guard years before, Armstrong was himself replaced by Paxson as hire to the GM job in Chicago when Krause resigned in 2003. Armstrong remained with the organization as a scout for a couple of seasons, leaving in 2005.

He was employed by ESPN as a basketball analyst in recent years for the 'NBA Fast Break' television series. Since 2006 he has also been employed by Wasserman Media Group, a sports marketing and representation group out of Los Angeles, California representing professional athletes and other entertainers.

He currently serves as an agent for Bulls point guard, Derrick Rose, who was the first player selected in the 2008 NBA Draft.

Transactions

• Selected by the Chicago Bulls in the first round (18th pick overall) of the 1989 NBA Draft.
• Selected by the Toronto Raptors (first pick overall) in the NBA expansion draft on 6/24/95.
• Traded by the Raptors to the Golden State Warriors for Victor Alexander, Carlos Rogers and the draft rights to Martin Lewis, Michael McDonald and Dwayne Whitfield on 9/18/95.
• Traded by the Warriors to the Charlotte Hornets for Muggsy Bogues and Tony Delk on 11/7/97.
• Traded by the Hornets with Glen Rice and J. R. Reid to the Los Angeles Lakers for Eddie Jones and Elden Campbell on 3/10/99.
• Waived by the Lakers on 3/10/99.
• Signed as a free agent by the Orlando Magic on 3/14/99.
• Signed as a free agent by the Chicago Bulls on 8/30/99.

References

External links

• NBA Player Agent, Wasserman Media Group BJArmstrong10.com
• Career statistics databasebasketball.com
• NBA Profile NBA.com
• Catholic High School Hall of Fame Info aodonline.org
• Interview with B. J. Armstrong SportsAgentBlog.com