Darrell Walker

Last updated • 2 min readFrom Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

Darrell Walker
Darrell Walker.jpg
Walker in 2013
Little Rock Trojans
PositionHead coach
League Ohio Valley Conference
Personal information
Born (1961-03-09) March 9, 1961 (age 63)
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Listed weight180 lb (82 kg)
Career information
High school Corliss (Chicago, Illinois)
College
NBA draft 1983: 1st round, 12th overall pick
Selected by the New York Knicks
Playing career1983–1993
Position Point guard / shooting guard
Number4, 5, 20
Career history
As player:
19831986 New York Knicks
1986–1987 Denver Nuggets
19881991 Washington Bullets
19911992 Detroit Pistons
1993 Chicago Bulls
As coach:
1995–1996 Toronto Raptors (assistant)
19961998 Toronto Raptors
1999–2000 Rockford Lightning
2000 Washington Wizards
2000 Washington Mystics (interim)
20042008 New Orleans Hornets (assistant)
20082011 Detroit Pistons (assistant)
20122014 New York Knicks (assistant)
2016–2018 Clark Atlanta
2018–present Little Rock
Career highlights and awards
As player:

As coach:

  • SIAC tournament champion (2017)
  • Sun Belt regular season champion (2020)
  • OVC regular season champion (2024)
  • Sun Belt Coach of the Year (2020)
  • OVC Coach of the Year (2024)
Career statistics
Points 6,389 (8.9 ppg)
Assists 3,276 (4.6 apg)
Steals 1,090 (1.5 spg)
Stats at NBA.com  OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Stats at Basketball Reference  OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg

Darrell Walker (born March 9, 1961) is an American college basketball coach and retired professional player. He is currently head men's coach at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Walker played in National Basketball Association (NBA) for 10 seasons, winning an NBA championship with the Chicago Bulls in 1993. He played college basketball for Westark Community College and the Arkansas Razorbacks.

Contents

Playing career

After graduating from Chicago's Corliss High School, Walker played college basketball at Westark Community College (now the University of Arkansas–Fort Smith) and the University of Arkansas. He was selected by the New York Knicks with the 12th pick in the first round of the 1983 NBA draft. Over a ten-year career, he played for five teams—the Knicks, the Denver Nuggets, the Washington Bullets, the Detroit Pistons, and the Chicago Bulls. Walker is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity.

Walker was selected to the 1984 NBA All-Rookie team, and was among the league leaders during his career in assists and steals. His best season was in 1989–90 with the Washington Bullets when he averaged 9.5 points, 8.8 rebounds and 8.0 assists per game. He won an NBA title with the Chicago Bulls in his final season.

Coaching career

Walker has served as head coach for two different teams—the Toronto Raptors and the Washington Wizards. He was the Raptors' second coach, following Brendan Malone, and led the team for a season and a half. In 2000, he replaced the fired [1] Gar Heard in Washington for half a season (the first coaching "call-up" in history, having previously been the coach of the Rockford Lightning of the CBA), but was then replaced by Leonard Hamilton the next year. Later that same year, he was named the interim head coach of the Washington Mystics of the WNBA, replacing Nancy Darsch who resigned during the season. [2] He remained in Washington as director of player personnel and later head scout before joining the Hornets as assistant coach.

In March 2012, Walker became an assistant coach with the New York Knicks, where he was on staff until 2014. [3]

Walker was named the head coach at Clark Atlanta University in 2016. [4] In two seasons with the Panthers, Walker guided the team to a 45–18 overall record a SIAC conference tournament championship, and two appearances in the NCAA Division II tournament.

On March 27, 2018, Walker was named the head men's basketball coach at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. [5]

Career playing statistics

Legend
  GPGames played  GS Games started MPG Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage 3P%  3-point field goal percentage FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game APG  Assists per game SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game PPG Points per game Bold Career high
  Won an NBA championship  * Led the league

NBA

Source [6]

Regular season

YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
1983–84 New York 82*016.1.417.267.7912.03.51.5.27.9
1984–85 New York 82*6630.4.435.000.7003.45.02.0.313.5
1985–86 New York 813525.0.430.000.6862.74.21.8.410.3
1986–87 Denver 812524.9.482.000.7454.03.51.5.512.2
1987–88 Washington 52018.1.392.000.7812.41.91.2.26.0
1988–89 Washington 797832.5.420.000.7726.46.32.0.39.0
1989–90 Washington 818135.6.454.095.6878.88.01.7.49.5
1990–91 Washington 716532.5.430.000.6047.06.51.1.57.8
1991–92 Detroit 74420.8.423.000.6193.22.8.9.25.2
1992–93 Detroit 9216.0.158.000.3332.11.01.1.0.9
1992–93† Chicago 28013.1.403.5001.41.6.8.12.6
Career72035625.8.435.059.7134.44.61.5.38.9

Playoffs

YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
1984 New York 1216.3.370.6092.91.72.0.26.8
1987 Denver 3322.7.324.5713.31.7.7.08.7
1988 Washington 5031.0.407.000.6884.82.81.4.811.0
1992 Detroit 5013.6.3331.0002.4.8.2.02.0
1993 Chicago 902.4.250.667.1.6.0.0.4
Career34314.9.368.000.6452.41.41.0.25.2

Head coaching record

NBA

Legend
Regular seasonGGames coachedWGames wonLGames lostW–L %Win–loss %
PlayoffsPGPlayoff gamesPWPlayoff winsPLPlayoff lossesPW–L %Playoff win–loss %
TeamYearGWLW–L%FinishPGPWPLPW–L%Result
Toronto 1996–97 823052.3668th in CentralMissed Playoffs
Toronto 1997–98 491138.224(fired)
Washington 1999–2000 381523.3957th in AtlanticMissed Playoffs
Career16956113.331

WNBA

Legend
Regular seasonGGames coachedWGames wonLGames lostW–L %Win–loss %
PlayoffsPGPlayoff gamesPWPlayoff winsPLPlayoff lossesPW–L %Playoff win–loss %
TeamYearGWLW–L%FinishPGPWPLPW–L%Result
Washington 2000 1257.4174th in East202.000Lost in Conference semifinals
Career1257.417202.000

College

Statistics overview
SeasonTeamOverallConferenceStandingPostseason
Clark Atlanta Panthers (Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference)(2016–2018)
2016–17Clark Atlanta 21–1212–52nd (East) NCAA Division II First Round
2017–18Clark Atlanta 24–616–32nd (East) NCAA Division II First Round
Clark Atlanta:45–18 (.714)28–8 (.778)
Little Rock Trojans (Sun Belt Conference)(2018–2022)
2018–19 Little Rock 10–215–13T–11th
2019–20 Little Rock 21–1015–51stNo postseason held
2020–21 Little Rock 11–157–115th (West)
2021–22 Little Rock 9–193–1112th
Little Rock Trojans (Ohio Valley Conference)(2022–present)
2022–23 Little Rock 10–216–12T–8th
2023–24 Little Rock 21–1314–4T–1st CBI First Round
Little Rock:82–99 (.453)50–56 (.472)
Total:127–117 (.520)

      National champion        Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion        Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion      Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Paxson</span> American basketball player

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Muggsy Bogues</span> American basketball player (born 1965)

Tyrone Curtis "Muggsy" Bogues is an American former basketball player. The shortest player ever to play in the National Basketball Association (NBA), the 5 ft 3 in (1.60 m) Bogues played point guard for four teams during his 14-season career in the NBA. Although best known for his ten seasons with the Charlotte Hornets, he also played for the Washington Bullets, Golden State Warriors, and Toronto Raptors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charles Oakley</span> American basketball player-coach

Charles Oakley is an American former professional basketball player. Oakley played most of 19 seasons in the National Basketball Association with the New York Knicks. As a power forward, he consistently ranked as one of the best rebounders and defensive players in the NBA. He also played for the Chicago Bulls, Toronto Raptors, Washington Wizards, and Houston Rockets. Since 2017, he has been the coach of the Killer 3's of the BIG3.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeff Van Gundy</span> American basketball coach and commentator

Jeffrey William Van Gundy is an American basketball coach and former commentator who is currently the top assistant coach for the Los Angeles Clippers. He served as head coach of the New York Knicks and the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). During his tenure on the Knicks, he led the team to the 1999 NBA Finals, where they ultimately lost to the San Antonio Spurs. Van Gundy won an NBA championship in 2024 with the Boston Celtics where he served as a senior consultant in the front office.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Herb Williams</span> American basketball player (born 1958)

Herbert L. Williams is an American former basketball player in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for eighteen seasons from 1981 to 1999. Williams served as the interim head coach and the assistant coach of the NBA's New York Knicks. He was last an assistant coach for the New York Liberty of the WNBA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adrian Griffin</span> American basketball player and coach (born 1974)

Adrian Darnell Griffin Sr. is an American professional basketball coach and former player who most recently served as the head coach for the Milwaukee Bucks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played in the NBA as a shooting guard and small forward from 1999 to 2008. Griffin grew up in Wichita, Kansas, and played college basketball for the Seton Hall Pirates.

Clarence Eugene "Butch" Carter Jr. is an American former professional basketball player and coach. He played college basketball at Indiana University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rick Brunson</span> American basketball player and coach

Eric Daniel Brunson is an American basketball coach who is currently an assistant coach for the New York Knicks of the National Basketball Association (NBA) and a former professional player. He played nine seasons in the NBA and has also worked as an assistant coach for several teams. Brunson played college basketball for the Temple Owls.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hubert Davis</span> American basketball player and coach (born 1970)

Hubert Ira Davis Jr. is an American college basketball coach and former professional player who is the head coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels men's team. Before his coaching career, Davis played for North Carolina from 1988 to 1992 and in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the New York Knicks, Toronto Raptors, Dallas Mavericks, Washington Wizards, Detroit Pistons, and New Jersey Nets from 1992 to 2004. He holds the franchise single-season and career three-point field goal shooting percentage records for both the Knicks and the Mavericks. He is the nephew of Walter Davis, another former Tar Heel and NBA player.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brendan Malone</span> American basketball coach (1942–2023)

Brendan Thomas Malone was an American professional basketball coach in the National Basketball Association (NBA).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike Thibault</span> American basketball player and coach

Michael Francis Thibault is an American former basketball head coach and current basketball general manager. He coached the Connecticut Sun of the WNBA, and the Washington Mystics. In 2013, Thibault became the all-time WNBA leader with his 212th head-coaching victory.

Richard Adam Adubato is an American former basketball coach in the National Basketball Association. He has served as head coach for three NBA teams, the Detroit Pistons, the Dallas Mavericks, and the Orlando Magic.

Brian Joseph Winters is an American former basketball player and coach.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mark Alarie</span> American basketball player (born 1963)

Mark Steven Alarie is an American former professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Duke Blue Devils and was selected by the Denver Nuggets as the 18th overall pick in the 1986 NBA draft. Alarie spent his rookie season with the Nuggets and was then traded to the Washington Bullets in 1987. He played four seasons for the Bullets until his retirement in 1992 after missing the entire 1991–92 season due to knee surgery.

The 1995–96 NBA season was the Toronto Raptors' first season in the National Basketball Association. The Raptors, along with the Vancouver Grizzlies, played their first games in 1995, and were the first NBA teams to play in Canada since the 1946–47 Toronto Huskies. Retired All-Star point guard, and former Detroit Pistons legend Isiah Thomas became the team's General Manager. The Raptors revealed a new primary logo of a dinosaur playing basketball, and got new pinstripe uniforms with the logo on the front of their jerseys, adding purple and red to their color scheme.

The 1996–97 NBA season was the Raptors' second season in the National Basketball Association. The Raptors had the second overall pick in the 1996 NBA draft, and drafted Marcus Camby from the University of Massachusetts, and started their season with new head coach Darrell Walker. Veteran leadership was added as the team signed free agent Walt Williams, acquired Popeye Jones from the Dallas Mavericks, acquired three-point specialist Hubert Davis from the New York Knicks, and signed John Long, who came out of his retirement. The team also signed Benoit Benjamin, but released him to free agency after only just four games. Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the NBA, the Raptors started their season by wearing throwback uniforms of the Toronto Huskies in their season opener against the New York Knicks at the SkyDome on November 1, 1996, but lost to the Knicks, 107–99.

The 1992–93 NBA season was the Bulls' 27th season in the National Basketball Association. The Bulls entered the season as the back-to-back defending NBA champions, having defeated the Portland Trail Blazers in the 1992 NBA Finals in six games, winning their second NBA championship. In the off-season, the team acquired Rodney McCray from the Dallas Mavericks, and signed free agent Trent Tucker. At mid-season, the team signed Darrell Walker, who was previously released by the Detroit Pistons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tom Thibodeau</span> American basketball coach

Thomas Joseph Thibodeau Jr., nicknamed "Thibs", is an American basketball coach who is the head coach for the New York Knicks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He served as an assistant coach for the United States men's national basketball team from 2013 to 2016, and helped Team USA win a gold medal at the 2016 Olympic Games.

The 1995–96 NBA season was the 50th season for the Knicks in the National Basketball Association in New York City, New York. After Pat Riley left to coach the Miami Heat, the Knicks hired Don Nelson as their new head coach. The team also signed free agent Gary Grant in November. The Knicks won ten of their first twelve games, leading to a 16–5 start and held a 30–16 record at the All-Star break. However, the team never seemed to get under Nelson down the stretch, as he was fired and replaced with long-time assistant Jeff Van Gundy after 59 games.

References

  1. "Washington fires head coach Gar Heard". CNN. January 31, 2000. Archived from the original on January 19, 2013.
  2. White, Joseph (July 15, 2000). "Darsch quits as Mystics coach". ESPN.com. Retrieved April 17, 2021.
  3. "Jim Todd, Darrell Walker join Knicks interim coach Mike Woodson's staff as assistants". The Washington Post. Associated Press. March 17, 2012. Archived from the original on February 1, 2019. Retrieved March 17, 2012.
  4. "Clark Atlanta University Athletics". Archived from the original on March 26, 2018. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
  5. "Darrell Walker Named Head Men's Basketball Coach". lrtrojans.com. March 27, 2018.
  6. "Darrell Walker". Basketball Reference . Sports Reference, LLC. Retrieved September 1, 2023.