John MacBeth Paxson is an American basketball administrator and former player who was vice president of basketball operations for the Chicago Bulls of the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 2009 to 2020. He was their general manager from 2003 to 2009. Paxson played eleven NBA seasons for the San Antonio Spurs and Chicago Bulls, winning three championships as a member of the Bulls. He was an All-American college player at the University of Notre Dame.
Ronald Eugene Mercer is an American former professional basketball player. After his career at the University of Kentucky, Mercer played for several teams in the National Basketball Association (NBA); he ended his career with the New Jersey Nets in 2005.
Artis Gilmore Sr. is an American former professional basketball player who played in the American Basketball Association (ABA) and National Basketball Association (NBA). Gilmore was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on August 12, 2011.
The 2005 NBA playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 2004–05 season. The tournament concluded with the Western Conference champion San Antonio Spurs defeating the Eastern Conference champion Detroit Pistons 4 games to 3 in the NBA Finals. Tim Duncan was named Finals MVP.
Ronald Harper Sr. is an American former professional basketball player. He played for four teams in the National Basketball Association (NBA) between 1986 and 2001 and is a five-time NBA champion.
Christopher Allen Jefferies is an American former professional basketball player. He played for the Toronto Raptors and the Chicago Bulls in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Arkansas Razorbacks and Fresno State Bulldogs.
Frank Alan Hamblen II was an American basketball coach and scout. He played college basketball at Syracuse. He served as an NBA coach for various teams from 1969 to 2011, including stints as the interim head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks (1991–1992) and the Los Angeles Lakers (2005).
The 1998 NBA playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1997–98 season. The tournament concluded with the two-time defending NBA champion and Eastern Conference champion Chicago Bulls defeating the Western Conference champion Utah Jazz 4 games to 2 in the NBA Finals. The Bulls achieved a second three peat, a goal unrivaled since the Boston Celtics in 1966. Michael Jordan was named NBA Finals MVP for the sixth and final time.
Arthur James "A. J." Guyton is an American former professional basketball player and now basketball coach. He played college basketball for Indiana University.
Jawann Oldham is an American former professional basketball player who played center. After being selected by the Denver Nuggets in the second round of the 1980 NBA draft, he went on to play in ten National Basketball Association (NBA) seasons for eight teams.
George Wilson was an American professional basketball player. Wilson played as a center for the Cincinnati Royals, Chicago Bulls, Seattle SuperSonics, Phoenix Suns, Philadelphia 76ers, and Buffalo Braves of the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1964 to 1971. Before turning professional, he played college basketball for the Cincinnati Bearcats and won a gold medal in the 1964 Summer Olympics.
Robert Lee Wilkerson is a retired American professional basketball player.
Steven Michael Green is an American retired professional basketball player. He was a 6-foot-7-inch (2.01 m), 220-pound (100 kg) small forward. He played college basketball at Indiana University where he was first-year head coach Bob Knight's first recruit in 1971. Green attended Silver Creek High School in Sellersburg, Indiana.
John "Jumpin' Johnny" Baum is a retired American basketball player. Born in Philadelphia, he played collegiately for Temple University.
Roger Allen Burkman is a retired American basketball player and athletic director at Spalding University in Louisville, Kentucky. Born in Indianapolis, Indiana, he played high school basketball at Franklin Central High School. He played collegiately for the University of Louisville, and was a member of the school's 1980 national championship team. Burkman was selected by the Chicago Bulls in the 6th round of the 1981 NBA draft. He played for the Bulls (1981–82) in the NBA for 6 games. Burkman played for the Anchorage Northern Knights of the Continental Basketball Association during the 1981–81 season.
William C. Smith is a retired American professional basketball player. He was a 6'2" 170 lb (77 kg) guard and played collegiately at Seminole Junior College and the University of Missouri, where he earned All-America honors. Smith, nicknamed "Mister Magic", averaged 25.3 points per game during the 1976 season as he led Mizzou to a Big Eight Conference basketball championship.
The 1997–98 NBA season was the Pacers' 22nd season in the National Basketball Association, and 31st season as a franchise. In the off-season, the Pacers hired former Indiana State and Boston Celtics legend Larry Bird as head coach, acquired All-Star forward Chris Mullin from the Golden State Warriors, and signed free agent Mark West. Bird and Mullin were once teammates on the "Dream Team" from the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain.
Douglas Richard McDermott is an American professional basketball player for the Sacramento Kings of the National Basketball Association (NBA). While playing college basketball for the Creighton Bluejays, McDermott led the nation in scoring in 2013–14 and was a three-time consensus first-team All-American. He was the consensus national player of the year as a senior in 2014, and finished his college career with the fifth-most points in NCAA Division I men's basketball history.
Terry Taylor is an American professional basketball player for the Stockton Kings of the NBA G League. He played college basketball for the Austin Peay Governors.
