Michael Curtis "Yogi" Stewart (born April 24, 1975) is a French-born American former basketball player who last played for the Atlanta Hawks of the NBA.
Stewart earned his nickname "Yogi" from his older brother for his childhood love of Yogi Bear cartoons.[1]
College career
Stewart played four seasons at the University of California, Berkeley. He averaged 4.3 ppg and 4.7 rpg in 117 games and finished as the Bears' all-time leading shot-blocker (207). Stewart set a school record by blocking 59 shots as a freshman in 1993–94 and holds the four best single-season totals for blocks in school history. He never missed a game, playing in all 117 games during his collegiate career and shooting .510 from the field.
At the 1994 U.S. Olympic Festival, Stewart was a member of the bronze medal-winning West team.
NBA career
Stewart went undrafted in the 1997 NBA draft, but was signed to a one-year contract by the Sacramento Kings on September 11, 1997. This was a dream come true for Stewart, as he had served as a ball boy for the Kings in his youth.[1] As a rookie in 1997–98, he led the Kings in blocked shots and ranked second overall among NBA rookies. He also blocked nine shots in one game.[1] On January 21, 1999, Stewart was signed as a free agent by the Toronto Raptors. During the ensuing offseason, he was re-signed to a six-year, $24million contract by the team.
In 2002, Stewart was traded from the Raptors (along with a future first round pick) to the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for Lamond Murray.[2]
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