TitleMr.
Name:Chuck
Surname:Connors
Nationality:USA  USA
Date of Birth:10/04/1921
Died:10/11/1992
Function:Player
 
Biography:
Chuck Connors Person was given the nickname "the Rifleman" because his mom liked the TV Western of that name, whose star, Chuck Connors, once played for the Boston Celtics. He has lived up to that nickname with his outstanding marksmanship during a long and productive NBA career. Person began his gunning at Auburn University, where he teamed with Charles Barkley and Chris Morris and racked up a .536 shooting percentage in his college career with the Tigers. He averaged 22.0 points and 8.9 rebounds per game as a junior in 1984-85 and 21.5 points and 7.9 rebounds as a senior, making The Sporting News All-America Second Team both years. He finished his career as the school's all-time leading scorer and second all-time in the Southeastern Conference. The Indiana Pacers selected Person with the fourth overall pick in the 1986 NBA Draft, and he had a phenomenal first season. He was named the NBA Rookie of the Year for 1986-87 after averaging 18.8 points per game, 8.3 rebounds, and 3.6 assists. He then averaged 27.0 points in four playoff games as the Pacers lost to the Atlanta Hawks in the first round. Person played six seasons with Indiana. During that span his scoring average ranged from 17.0 to 21.6 points per game and his rebounding average from 5.2 to 8.3 boards per contest. Person and Reggie Miller teamed to form a dangerous perimeter duo, but the Pacers never advanced past the first round of the playoffs during Person's tenure with the team. Person led the Pacers in scoring in each of his first three seasons. In his fifth campaign, 1990-91, he registered a career high .504 field-goal percentage. In the first round of the playoffs that year he waged a shooting war with Boston's Larry Bird. Person won the battle, averaging 26.0 points to Bird's 17.1, but Bird won the war, as the Celtics took the series in five games. In Game 2 of that series Person connected on 7-of-10 three-point attempts. In 1991-92, Person's last season in Indiana, he became the franchise's all-time leading scorer (later passed by Miller) and ranked second among NBA forwards with 4.7 assists per game. That summer he was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves along with Micheal Williams for Pooh Richardson and Sam Mitchell. Person spent two seasons with the Timberwolves, starting at small forward in 1992-93 but moving into a reserve role in 1993-94. The next season he signed with the San Antonio Spurs and found new life as a long-range threat off the bench. He led the Spurs in three-pointers made (172) and helped the team to the league's best record. His younger brother, Wesley, entered the NBA with the Phoenix Suns in 1994-95 and earned a spot on the All-Rookie Second Team. Person continued to contribute to the Spurs in 1995-96, playing primarily off the bench but also making 16 starts. He ranked fifth on the team in scoring at 10.9 ppg, the 10th year in a row he has averaged in double figures, and he led the Spurs with 190 three-pointers. Person missed the entire 1996-97 season after undergoing back surgery on October 29, 1996. Many thought that would be the end of his career, but he came back to play in 61 games for the Spurs in 1997-98, averaging 6.7 ppg and ranking second on the team with 95 three-pointers. Signed by Charlotte as a free agent on January 26, Person proved to be a valuable addition for the Hornets, especially after forward Anthony Mason was lost for the season due to injury. He played in all 50 games, making 21 starts, and averaged 6.1 ppg with 55 three-pointers, third-most on the team.
 
Related Database Events:
Basketball5/11/1946

         
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