Category: Athlete Appearances, Basketball
Highlights: Christian Laettner helped Duke win two NCAA national titles in 1991 and 1992 before winning an Olympic gold medal as a member of the "Dream Team" and playing in the NBA for 13 years.
Travels From: Florida
Fee Range: $10,001 - $20,000
Christian Laettner enjoyed a legendary college basketball career at Duke from 1988-1992 before playing in the NBA from 1992-2005. One of the most celebrated players in Duke program history, Laettner left his mark on the program after leading the Blue Devils to NCAA National Championships in 1991 and 1992. Laettner was a two-time All-ACC pick in 1991 and 1992 and was named both the ACC Player of the Year and National College Player of the Year in the latter year. His jersey #32 was retired by the school in 1992.
Laettner will always be remembered for what’s become one the most iconic moments in college basketball history. In the 1992 NCAA Tournament, Duke played Kentucky in the regional final with the winner moving on to the Final Four. With :02 remaining in overtime, Duke trailed the Wildcats by one point. Situated at the free throw line, Laettner caught the long inbounds pass thrown from the opposite end of the court, faked to the right and made a jumper to the left as time expired. The win propelled the Blue Devils to the Final Four and ultimately a 71-51 win in the title game over Michigan and the Fab Five.
In 1992, Laettner was the only collegiate player named a member of the U.S. Men’s Basketball Team to compete at that year’s Olympics. Considered the greatest basketball squad ever assembled, the “Dream Team” featured Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Charles Barkley, Clyde Drexler, John Stockton, David Robinson, Scottie Pippen, Magic Johnson, Chris Mullin, Karl Malone, Patrick Ewing and Scottie Pippen and easily won gold, beating its opponents by an average of close to 44 points. Laettner was picked in the 1992 NBA Draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round (3rd overall) and went on to play 13 seasons with the Timberwolves (1992-1996), Atlanta Hawks (1996-1999), Detroit Pistons (1999-2000), Dallas Mavericks (2000-2001), Washington Wizards (2001-2004) and Miami Heat (2004-2005). He was named to the NBA All-Rookie First-Team in 1993 and an All-Star in 1997. Laettner was born on August 17, 1969 in Angola, New York.
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