Christian Laettner was born on August 17, 1969. Laettner was a standout high school player at Nichols School in Buffalo who was being recruited by some of the best programs in the ACC by his sophomore year. In Laettner's highest scoring game in the NBA, he scored 40 points against the Charlotte Hornets. Michael Jordan had to take over. These are solid but unspectacular numbers, especially for a player who was never named an All-Star or selected to an All-NBA team. Get viral NBA graphics, memes, rumors and trending news delivered right to your inbox with the Clutch Newsletter. But their championship windows, unfortunately, coincided with Jordans stranglehold on the Larry OBrien trophy. Christian Laettner hit the most famous shot in the history of college basketball. First 2 men's NCAA tournament automatic bids, Tenn. Tech earns first auto bid into women's NCAA tournament. Laettner would go on to have a very successful career, but this game would always stand out as his best individual performance. During the 1997 All-Star Game, the finger-wagging Mutombo baited Jordan by saying that MJ had never dunked on him, not even once. Kemp was so good in that series that even Dennis Rodman, the leagues best rebounder, and a premiere defender, couldnt stop him. Barkley submitted averages of 25.6 points, 12.2 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 1.6 steals, and 1.0 blocks per game. He was born and raised in Angola, New York (near Buffalo and Niagara Falls). He played 23 out of 24 possible NCAA games during his 4-year tenure, winning 21 of them. O'Neal and Mourning went on to become dominant NBA centers, and there's a strong case one of them should have been named the "Dream Team" youngster regardless of how well Laettner performed at Duke. It was the first U.S. loss in Olympic history, other than a highly disputed 51-50 defeat to the Soviets in 1972. As a result of his onslaught, the Heat fell to the Bulls 4-1. Since he retired from the NBA in 2005, Laettner has largely stayed out of the public eye. He attended Duke University from 1988-1992, playing as a power forward and center for the Blue Devils. They had a big opportunity in 1992 when the Cavaliers reached the Eastern Conference Finals. A name most sports fans know, it would be impossible to keep Christian Laettner off this list. Please logout and login again. Joakim Noah, Al Horford and Corey Brewer did it at Florida in 2006 and 2007 and Christian Laettner, Bobby Hurley and Grant Hill did it at Duke in 1991 and 1992. Being a top-notch shooting guard, Christian Laettner won a ton of awards. More importantly, he led the Heat to a 61-21 record and the third-best record in the league. Moreover, they had Larry Bird as their coach. Very much so. ", Laettner on his game and his areas of improvement: "I have to work on my shot all the time. The Dream Team went 8-0, averaging 117.2 points a game and winning by an average of 43.7. The Mailman shredded the Bulls defense on the way to a 39-point outing. Duke was led by no other than Coach K. This game famously ended with UNLV giving Duke the largest loss in NCAA Tournament history, 103-73. He wisely didnt call a timeout to keep the Jazz from setting up their defense. Jay Williams, the former Duke sensation, won a national championship with the Blue Devils in 2001 and was a two-time player of the year. One of the players was Christian Laettner drafted in 1992, and Kevin Garnett who was drafted in. With his follow-through in perfect form, number 23 scored his 45th point of the ballgame to give them an 87-86 lead. He teamed up with Shaquille ONeal to eliminate the Bulls in the 1995 Easter Conference Semifinals at a time when Jordan had just returned from his short-lived baseball career. As a sophomore, Laettner had 24 points on 8-of-12 shooting and 8-of-8 free throw shooting, plus 14 rebounds against UCLA in the Sweet 16. He was perfect. Second, his skillset was better suited for a more up-tempo style of play, which was not as common in the NBA during his career. He also helped them win the NCAA title in both 1991-92, the first college team to repeat as champions since the 1970 heyday of the UCLA Bruins. He played 23 out of 24 possible NCAA games during his 4-year tenure, winning 21 of them. He averaged 16.0 points per game and 6.9 rebounds per game as a rookie and 15.1 points per game and 6.7 rebounds per game in his second season. He finished with career averages of 12.8 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. However, Laettners time in the NBA was relatively short-lived. The next year, Ewing brought the Knicks back to the playoffs and was on a collision course with the Bulls again. Christian Laettner was drafted by Minnesota Timberwolves, 1st round (3rd pick, 3rd overall), 1992 NBA Draft. Laettner, of course, went on to hit famous NCAA tournament buzzer-beaters against UConn and Kentucky, the latter later named the best moment in NCAA tournament history during the 75 Years of March Madness celebration. "I remember my second year coaching at Northwestern, the same night he won his 1,000th game, we had a 13-point lead with four minutes to go vs. Maryland and lost on a tip-in buzzer-beater. Meeting in the Eastern Conference Finals, Jordan gave the Heat everything they could handle, scoring 30.2 points, grabbing 8.0 rebounds, and stealing the ball 1.8 times each night. But everything will be just fine. Christian Laettner was born in Angola, New York. As a sophomore, Laettner was even better. Wise counsel indeed. Michael Jordan was adamant about not going back to Utah and finishing off the Jazz. After a successful college career, Laettner was drafted into the NBA by the Minnesota Timberwolves in 1992. Why is he considered a rising star in the NBA? Christian Laettner is not in the Hall of Fame. Laettner had a solid NBA career, making the All-Rookie team in 1993, and the 1997 All-Star Game. He was a two-time NCAA national champion and the only player to ever start in four consecutive Final Fours. That didnt stop them from wanting to kill you in the game that night, he said. By 1993, the Bulls already knew what to expect from the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Christian Laettner played for the National Basketball Association (NBA) for 13 seasons from 1992 to 2005. He scored 23 points in the first half to stay within striking distance of the Jazz before halftime. 2 pick in the 2002 draft by . There are a few theories. Here's what you may have missed in men's college basketball on Saturday, Feb. 11, a day full of upsets. That said, his inclusion is somewhat defensible given that the 1992 Olympics was the first year in which NBA players were allowed to compete. What NBA Player Has the Most Followers on Instagram. This was easily the best performance of Laettner's NBA career. jamaican boiled dumplings nutrition facts; toronto marlies coaches list; ripon commonwealth sports; wayne mackins age; hilo unsolved murders; the ranches at royal pines livingston tx; However, Christian Laettner's NBA career was a bit underwhelming in comparison. Christian Laettner won two national championships in college as he led Duke to back-to-back national championships in 1991 and 1992. He even found time to add 8.5 rebounds, 6.3 assists, and 1.7 steals per contest. Dikembe Mutombo, Mookie Blaylock, Steve Smith, and Christian Laettner. If there ever was a more balanced NBA team . The 1989 series was more of the same. Whatever the reason, Christian Laettners time in the NBA was relatively unsuccessful compared to his collegiate career. He continued to be a productive player for the Timberwolves over the next few seasons, but was traded to the Atlanta Hawks in 1996.Laettner's time with the Hawks was marked by frequent injuries, and he never quite regained his previous level of play. Arguments for induction: After retiring from the NBA in 2005, it hasnt gotten much better for Laettner. 2 pick in the 2002 draft by the Chicago Bulls, had a short NBA career. He was a tough matchup for any team with the ability to match MJs athleticism and knack for controlling a basketball game. But Jordan had more to give as he nearly had a triple-double with nine rebounds and eight assists. 7th in NCAA tournament history in career rebounds: 13th all-time in NCAA history in single-season 3-point percentage: 55.7 percent, 1992, T-17th all-time in NCAA history in career games played: 148 games, T-18th all-time in NCAA history in career free throws made: 713 free throws, 25th all-time in NCAA history in scoring: 2,460 points. The Cleveland Cavaliers had a championship window between 1988 and 1993. Christian Laettner is considered to be one of the greatest college basketball players of all time, and his exploits with the Duke Blue Devils led to him being a part of the 1992 Olympics 'Dream Team'. August 17, In the end, Jordan could be seen breathing heavily and tugging at his shorts. Laettner was one of the leagues toughest and best power forwards. Johnson and Majerle would never get the chance to play in an NBA Finals again. In 1997 he made a well-deserved All-Star appearance. He also played in all 82 games, starting in 71 of them. Christian Laettner, Duke v. Kentucky, 1992 Elite Eight Arguably the most memorable play in the history of the tournament, Laettner's shot sunk Kentucky and allowed Duke to go on and win its . YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Although he never won an NBA Championship, Laettner was a very good rebounder throughout his career. We started toward the end of his sophomore year. Happy 52nd birthday to Christian Laettner! 868 GP, 12.8 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 2.6 APG 48.0 FG%, 82.0 FT% 1x (1997)A four-year starter at Duke, Laettner played in 23 out of a maximum possible 24 NCAA tournament games, winning 21. It was in this first round series that Jordan made The Shot at the buzzer to advance to the next round. With 2.1 seconds remaining and Kentucky up by one, Grant Hill threw the inbound pass from the end line all the way to Christian Laettner by the foul . The competition there is real intense. Laettner shot an extremely efficient 17-23 from the field, including 3-5 from three-point range. While he will be remembered as a college basketball superstar and the perfect villian for college basketball in the late 80s and early 90s, it would be interesting to see how Laettners career would have been different if he entered the league today. CGAA will not be liable for any losses and/or damages incurred with the use of the information provided. He is the only player in NCAA Division I history to have won both the Naismith College Player of the Year Award and the John R. Wooden Award in the same season (1992). As Laettner's skills and reputation grew -- Nichols won state titles in 1985 and 1986 and reached the state semifinals in 1987 -- so did the recruiting efforts. Former Duke star Christian Laettner will be inducted into the Hall of Fame next week as part of the 1992 Olympic "Dream Team. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. All rights reserved. He played just three seasons with the Timberwolves before being traded to the Atlanta Hawks in 1995. Twitter: Duke had an out-of-bounds play with little time left on the shot clock when Laettner took a pass near the elbow. Later that year in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, the Hawks tied the series against the Bulls at 1-1, showing them that they had the firepower to keep up with the NBAs best team. Smith was a shooting guard who could score in bunches while playing excellent defense. On the Jazz next possession, Jordan knew Stockton would pass to Malone on the block, so he snuck up on him as soon as the pass was delivered. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? A second can make such a big difference. He was traded six times in his career and never spent more than three seasons with one franchise. They first met in the postseason in the 1990 Eastern Conference Semifinals. Americas Olympic team had lost to the Soviet Union in 1988. Your login session has expired. . He's really a basketball purist. First and foremost, his career numbers simply dont stack up compared to other Hall of Famers. But Laettner had other plans. But he still averaged 17.1 points per game and shot over 50% from the field. But they have vanished since the 1980s, when Bill Bradley was one of the last. Three of the four coaches are also enshrined. But he was part of it. He was a consensus National Player of the Year and two-time All-American, becoming the face of one of the most storied men's basketball programs. Power Forward and Center But which one has the most followers on Instagram? What does the future hold for Jordan Hall? He played for the Duke University basketball team, and with his performance, he led the team to win two national titles. Christian Laettner is widely regarded as one of the best college basketball players to ever play. He had one of the greatest college careers in the history of the game.. He is the only player to be a starter in four Final Fours. 1 seed Georgetown and standout center Alonzo Mourning. Trailing 101-100, Kentucky forward Sean Woods hit a shot in the lane to put Kentucky ahead 102-101 and seemingly win the game for the Wildcats, as only 2.1 seconds remained. Get this Asheville Citizen-Times page for free from Monday, April 1, 1991 ; Baseball5D Sports Fax251-0585 Monday, April 1, 1991 Dnke. He was then drafted 3rd overall in the 1992 NBA draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves. Pandemonium ensued. Data Provided By The easiest was by 68. It's just compared to his counterparts, he accomplished little at the pro level. ", Joe Frisaro of The Tampa Tribune (December 1987): "Imagine, a 6-foot-10 center who's a deadly shooter, has excellent athletic ability and is willing to dive all over the court for a loose ball. No matter how often everyones seen it, no one seems to have found a solution to it for more than a decade. But Malone and Stockton werent done yet. He had an amazing National Basketball Association career. Duke beat Kentucky 104-103 . Here are the members of the 1992 NBA Dream Team, and where they are today. From 1990-1993, Jordan, and the Bulls were Barkleys roadblock to a championship. It was the East Regional final between Duke and Kentucky. He led the Bulls to a 4-2 series win, averaging a series-high 27.3 points per game to go along with 1.7 steals and taking home the Finals MVP trophy. Laettner was born and raised in Buffalo, New York. Christian Laettner was drafted 3rd overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 1992 NBA Draft. Barkley was deserving of the award as he posted some of the best numbers of his career on a winning team, leading the Suns to the leagues best record at 62-20. He said he never felt big-timed or snubbed by his more glamorous teammates. Do you have a sports website? I was definitely on the lower end of the scale, he said. What impact has he, Read More Jordan Hall: The NBAs Rising StarContinue, ContentsHow much does an average NBA ring cost?How much does the most expensive NBA ring cost?How are NBA rings made?How much does it cost to make an NBA ring?How many diamonds are in an NBA ring?What is the value of an NBA ring?Where can I buy an NBA ring? He played 13 seasons in the NBA for 6 different teams. The Duke Blue Devils definitely fall into the villain camp in college basketball and the Darth Vader in Duke's history, at least according to opposing fans, is Christian Laettner. Never one to miss an opportunity to get back at his opponent, MJ wagged his finger at the 7-foot-2 center. Although he was close to filing for bankruptcy in 2016, he seemed at peace with how his basketball career had went in the 2015 documentary of his life, perfectly titled I Hate Christian Laettner. In 1989, Olympic officials removed the rules barring professionals. Jordan went to work once again. He was named First Team All-ACC and First Team All-American. Laettner's time with the Hawks was marked by frequent injuries, and he never quite regained his previous level of play. The Shot. Laettner also had seven rebounds, three assists and two steals. O'Neal, on the other hand, put together a first ballot Hall of Fame career, winning NBA Championships in 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2006 while averaging 24 points and 11 rebounds on 58 percent shooting . I know, I've won a few and lost a few myself. The series was tied 3-3 when Jordan asked for advice from his dad. Jerry Tarkanian led the Rebels to his only championship win. The Christian Laettner NBA career then bounced around the league as he spent time . It's great, because he still has that kind of enthusiasm. Find out more. To appease that part of the basketball community, a decision was made to save one spot on the team. I was the bag boy, the waterboy, said Laettner, a Duke University superstar and the only player without NBA experience to play on the 1992 U.S. Olympic mens basketball team. He also helped them win the NCAA title in both 1991-92, the first college team to repeat as champions since the 1970 heyday of the UCLA Bruins. 3) How many titles did Christian Laettner win at Duke? He also racked up an All-Star appearance in 1997 but failed to do anything else of note during his NBA career. He's too good of a player. Christian Laettner PPG 12.8 RPG 6.7 APG 2.6 HEIGHT 6'11" (2.11m) WEIGHT 245lb (111kg) COUNTRY USA LAST ATTENDED Duke BIRTHDATE August 17, 1969 DRAFT 1992 R1 Pick 3 EXPERIENCE 14 Years Stats. He is best known for his time with the Duke Blue Devils, where he won two national championships and was a part of the famed Fab Five recruiting class of 1991. He played on two NCAA champions and holds several tournament records. Malone at 193 games and Stockton at 182. Laettner, Hill, Bobby Hurley, Thomas Hill, Antonio Lang, Cherokee Parks, Brian Davis, and Erik Meek were drafted into the NBA, with Laettner, Hill, Hurley, and Parks ending up as lottery picks. During the six-game series, Kemp averaged 23.3 points, 10.0 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.3 steals, and 2.0 blocks per game. After his college career, Laettner enjoyed a successful 13-year NBA career with six different teams. In 12 NBA seasons, Laettner averaged 8.6 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. John Laettner was the Most Valuable Player of the NCAA mens basketball tournament in 1991 and 1992, leading Duke to back-to-back championships. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. He also played in 21 playoff games, starting in 12 of them. He had just won the Wooden Award and back-to-back national championships at Duke. None. Laettner scored at least 18 points in all six of Duke's NCAA tournament games in 1991, including 28 against UNLV in the Final Four. laettnerbball, Position: In fact, in 2015, ESPN produced a 30-for-30 documentary entitled I Hate Christian Laettner. Laettner also ran into trouble later in life with investments in Durham, NC, where he went to college. He led the Heat to the playoffs as a no-nonsense floor leader and gave the team its earliest taste of postseason success. 1992: A moment burned into the heads of all college basketball fans: Christian Laettners turn-around buzzer-beater to lift @DukeMBB over Kentucky. Throughout the game, he was visibly in pain but even at 50 percent capacity, Pippen was still better than any player the Bulls could replace him with. Christian won 21 games among 23 games played. Chicago took the next three games to take a commanding 3-1 series lead heading into Game 5. His. Nichols School in Buffalo, New York, Draft: He had five offensive rebounds, grabbing some of them during the most crucial plays of the game. Get to know him better in this blog. In his NBA career, Laettner averaged 8.5 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game. Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski once told reporters that Laettner was so good, they had to get in contact with him early in the process, near the end of his sophomore year. Why Christian Laettner made the 'Dream Team' over Shaquille O'Neal and Alonzo Mourning, Complete roster, history behind"Dream Team". The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. He's a perfectionist. They lost in the first round in 1996 due to inexperience and the lack of talented players on their roster, especially as the no. Unfortunately, the answer is no. Like, he'll be running down the court, clapping because we're winning, and there's like 18 minutes left in the game or something. He found time to talk trash to the leagues MVP and dunked on him in the waning moments of Game 2, one that has been replayed over and over again on classic NBA games and highlights. Duke's Christian Laettner shoots the game-winning basket in overtime over Kentucky's Deron Feldhaus to win the NCAA East Finals in Philadelphia on March 28, 1992. Laettner has admitted it was a "stupid move." Kentucky fans still wish he had been ejected so he wouldn't have been in the game to attempt the winning shot. As a thrill in my career, the Olympics rank right up there with my two NCAA championships at Duke, said Laettner, who turns 41 four days after Enshrinement. Most of all, Laettner provided was what every star-studded team needs a 12th man who knows his role. This time, Starks was more prepared to take on the task of guarding Jordan. He was a productive player for 13 seasons and was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team in his first season. Also Read: NBA Rumors: Ben Simmons wants Philadelphia 76ers to pay for Doc Rivers' comments on the Australian, Be the first one to comment on this story. Late in the fourth quarter, Stockton made a three-pointer to break an 83-all tie with 41.9 seconds remaining. In addition, Laettner was never considered one of the best players in his generation. The Golden State Warriors finished the 2015-2016 season with a 73-9 record, one of the best . MORE: Marquette's Markus Howard picks his five most memorable moments in college. International Stats at Basketball-Reference.com, College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com, Scores from any date in BAA/NBA or ABA history, Frequently Asked Questions about the NBA, WNBA and Basketball, Basketball-Reference.com Blog and Articles, Subscribe to Stathead Basketball: Get your first month FREE. The next year he averaged 27.8 points and 17.5 rebounds per game. As good as Hardaway was, Jordan was far superior. Roughly, because the Bronx Falcons and the Nichols (Buffalo) Vikings were involved in one of the most physical high school games in years, a game that saw bodies flying all over the Adelphi Academy gym while the referees swallowed their whistles. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. As a result, the forward has downplayed his participation on the historic team. The Bulls had other plans, though, and they dispatched the Cavaliers by winning the next two games. He enjoyed a lengthy NBA career, appearing in 868 games, scoring over 11,000 points and grabbing nearly 6,000 rebounds. There are very few players in the history of the game that can match his college career, said Bilas, an ESPN analyst who played at Dukeand was an assistant coach during Laettners time there. 1969 He faked right, turned over his left shoulder, double-pumped and made a miraculous . Four NBA championships and three Finals MVP's later, O'Neal was enshrined in the basketball Hall of Fame. He then finished them off in Game 5 with 39 points. One of the most controversial and productive college basketball players ever, Laettner laced up for . The smaller and quicker guys give me a lot of trouble. inAngola,New York Christian Laettner was one of the most beloved and celebrated basketball players of his era. Christian Laettner was a senior at Duke in 1991 and 1992. Laettner told the "Rich Eisen Show" last year. He shot 49.1% from the field and 73.6% from the free throw line. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2010. He was a prominent American basketball player of the 1990s and early 2000s who is best known for his game-winning shot against Kentucky in the 1992 tournament that helped lead Duke to the championship game, and for the hatred he received from opposing fans. 2 Alabama, No. He averaged 20.2 points and 7.8 rebounds per game, and shot an incredible 61.5% from the field. Armed with his Killer Crossover, Hardaway left opponents in the dust as he found ways to punish them time and time again. Coach K's squad won the East Regional Final and beat Indiana in the Final Four. If there ever was a more balanced NBA team in the Eastern Conference that had the chance to take down the Bulls Dynasty, it was the Hawks. In that series, the 10-time scoring champion averaged video-game-like numbers of 43.0 points, 6.6 rebounds, 7.4 assists, 4.0 steals, and 1.2 blocks per game. He would go on to have a successful 13-year NBA career, appearing in over 1,000 games and averaging double figures in points and rebounds numerous times. Laettner's final two seasons in the NBA were spent with the Pistons and the Washington Wizards, before he retired in 2005. He will become the first basketball figure (and possibly the first individual of any sport) to enter the Hall of Fame three times for three different roles. He made headlines in 2016 when he pledged to donate his entire Olympic gold medal winnings ($108,000) to charity. The Christian Laettner NBA career started brightly with Minnesota Timberwolves, as he averaged 18.2 points and 6.6 rebounds per game. And we havent even talked about Gary Payton who isnt on this list because he won a championship with the Miami Heat in 2006. It was an NCAA type game, a very intense game. In three seasons with the Sixers, Laettner averaged just 8.1 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game and, in 2000, he was waived by the team after averaging only 4.9 points per game in 26 total appearances. All information published on this website is provided in good faith and for general use only. The eighth-seeded Wildcats defeated the Georgetown Hoyas, 66 to 64. The famous dynamic duo of the NBA was Malone and Stockton. Christian Laettner is on Twitter at laettnerbball. Throughout his career, he averaged 12.8 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. A story published in The Post-Star noted how a week after Syracuse was eliminated from the 1986 NCAA tournament, Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim was on hand watching Laettner, then a sophomore in high school. Keep reading to find out! Meanwhile, Alonzo Mourning (who won a championship with the Heat in 2006) was the man in the middle, the All-Star center who patrolled the paint and was the cornerstone of the franchise. After the Olympics, Laettner joined the Minnesota Timberwolves of the NBA, playing with them from 1992-96. Related Read: How tall is christian bale? He never averaged less than 6.0 rebounds per game in any season and his career-high of 8.8 rebounds per game is a testament to his ability on the glass. Mourning had 11 points and five rebounds. "The team has had one reunion, at the Olympic Hall of Fame last year, but only seven or eight of us made it," he said. Scottie Pippen and Karl Malone will enter this year, making it 10. The Bulls celebrated their 6th championship on Utahs home floor, keeping the Jazz from a championship once again. Laettern was the only collegian chosen for the original US basketball Dream Team that dominated the opposition at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. But perhaps those high expectations for Laettner got in his head and were just too lofty for him to live up to. Still, in 1992, Christian Laettner won the Olympic Gold Medal Award. Andy Wittry has written for Stadium, SI.com, Sporting News, the Indianapolis Star, Louisville Courier-Journal and Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 1. They lost in six games to the Los Angeles Lakers. First, at 611, Laettner was considered undersized for a traditional center, which limited his role on most teams. Below we take a look at some of the arguments for and against his induction into the Hall. He owns the most number of assists with 15,806 and steals with 3,265. Laettner's scoring outburst was a big reason why the Atlanta Hawks were able to come away with a 112-102 victory. Christian Laettner made $6,625,000 in 2001. He was a warrior of the first order, carrying the Knicks on his back every night even when the team wasnt going anywhere. Christian Laettner is best remembered for his time at Duke, where he helped lead the Blue Devils to back-to-back national championships in 1991 and 1992. O'Neal has said that while he was frustrated to be left out, he understood the choice. Its been over 20 years since Christian Laettner donned a NBA uniform, yet the 46-year-old former player remains a controversial figure in the basketball world. 16 16. Hall of Fame choices based primarily on college play were once common.