Vernon Maxwell

Last updated

Vernon Maxwell
Vernon Maxwell Broken Play 2023.png
Maxwell in 2023
Personal information
Born (1965-09-12) September 12, 1965 (age 59)
Gainesville, Florida, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Listed weight190 lb (86 kg)
Career information
High school Buchholz (Gainesville, Florida)
College Florida (1984–1988)
NBA draft 1988: 2nd round, 47th overall pick
Selected by the Denver Nuggets
Playing career1988–2001
Position Shooting guard / point guard
Number11, 2, 3
Career history
1988–1990 San Antonio Spurs
1990–1995 Houston Rockets
1995–1996 Philadelphia 76ers
1996–1997 San Antonio Spurs
1998 Orlando Magic
1998 Charlotte Hornets
1999 Sacramento Kings
1999–2000 Seattle SuperSonics
2000 Philadelphia 76ers
2001 Dallas Mavericks
Career highlights and awards
Career NBA statistics
Points 10,912 (12.8 ppg)
Rebounds 2,200 (2.6 rpg)
Assists 2,912 (3.4 apg)
Stats at NBA.com  OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Stats at Basketball Reference

Vernon Maxwell (born September 12, 1965) is an American former professional basketball player. He was a shooting guard in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for thirteen seasons during the late 1980s, 1990s, and early 2000s.

Contents

Maxwell played college basketball for the University of Florida, and led the Florida Gators to their first-ever NCAA tournament appearance. He was selected by the Denver Nuggets in the second round of the 1988 NBA draft and was immediately traded to the San Antonio Spurs. His longest and most successful NBA tenure was with the Houston Rockets.

The nickname "Mad Max" was bestowed upon Maxwell by color commentators for his clutch three-point shooting, which reached its pinnacle in the deciding game of the 1994 NBA Finals between Houston and New York. Maxwell is among just nine players in NBA history to amass 30 points in a single quarter, accomplishing that feat en route to a 51-point outing on January 26, 1991, against Cleveland. [1]

Early years

Maxwell was born in Gainesville, Florida. He attended Buchholz High School in Gainesville, and played for the Buchholz Bobcats high school basketball team. As a senior, Maxwell was the Mr. Basketball of the state of Florida as well as being an all-state defensive back in football.

College career

Maxwell received an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Florida, where he played for coach Norm Sloan's Florida Gators men's basketball from 1984 to 1988. The 6-foot-4 guard averaged 20.2 points as a senior and still holds 15 Gators team records. He left school after four years as the Gators' all-time leading scorer (2,450) and the No. 2 scorer in Southeastern Conference history behind LSU's Pete Maravich. He averaged more than 20 points in both his junior and senior seasons, although Florida would erase all the points Maxwell scored in those seasons due to Maxwell taking money from agents and accepting a free round-trip ticket to go to a basketball camp. [2] [3]

Professional career

On June 28, 1988, Maxwell was drafted into the NBA by the Denver Nuggets, who traded him the same day to the San Antonio Spurs for a second-round pick the next year. Two years later, his contract was sold to the Houston Rockets for $50,000, [4] where he would become a key member of the franchise's first championship team in 1994. Known for his clutch shooting, Maxwell hit several game-winning shots throughout his career. Maxwell held the NBA's record for most 3-pointers made in a season from 1991 to 1993. [5] In January 1991, he became the fourth player to score 30 points in a quarter when he scored 30 of his career high 51 points in the fourth quarter of the Rockets 103–97 win against the Cleveland Cavaliers. [6] On February 6, 1995, Maxwell went into the stands in a road game against the Portland Trail Blazers and punched a fan that was heckling him. [7] The fan, Steve George, denied Maxwell's allegations that racial comments and derogatory remarks about the player's stillborn daughter precipitated the attack. [8] Maxwell was suspended for 10 games and fined $20,000 for the incident. At the time, it was the highest fine in NBA history and the second longest suspension. [9] Maxwell was not a part of the Rockets' 1995 championship roster, quitting the team after a loss to Utah in the 1995 playoffs. Clyde Drexler, who Houston had acquired in February 1995, had taken away most of Maxwell's minutes and his starting spot. [10] The decision to quit the team is something that Maxwell has been said to regret. [11] He was waived by the Rockets in June 1995. [12]

He signed with the Seattle SuperSonics prior to the 1999–2000 season. In March, he got into a fight with Sonics star Gary Payton and accidentally hit Horace Grant with a 5-pound weight, when he was trying to break up the fight, injuring Grant's shoulder and forcing him to miss the Sonics next game. [13] Shortly before the Sonics' first round series against the Utah Jazz, it was reported that he would miss the playoffs due to a knee injury, much to the delight of Utah's players. [14]

Personal life

In August 1995, Maxwell was charged with and convicted of misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance after Houston police reportedly found marijuana in his vehicle during a traffic stop. [15] He would later file appeals to overturn his conviction, but was forced to surrender himself to Houston authorities in April 1998 after the United States Supreme Court refused to hear his case. [16]

In February 1996, Maxwell was ordered by a court to pay $592,000 to Sheila Rias after failing to respond to her lawsuit alleging him of knowingly infecting her with herpes in 1995. Maxwell received a new trial after claiming Rias had served him improperly, then received a third trial after another default judgment. One day before the third trial was set to begin, Maxwell filed for bankruptcy. [17]

In the summer of 1996, Maxwell took his eight-year-old son, Dominique, to Shands Hospital for a blood test in the hopes of refuting paternity. After the test proved he was the father, Maxwell gave Dominique $40 if he promised not to tell his mother, Myra Jenkins. [18]

In April 2004, Maxwell spent five days in jail in Gainesville for failure to pay $150,000 in child support to Jenkins. After release, he was extradited to Cobb County on charges of kidnapping and aggravated assault against Belinda Beine, who was described as a recent companion. [19]

In August 2020, Maxwell made allegations of racial discrimination against Emerson police after being arrested on charges of aggravated stalking, possession of less than one ounce of marijuana, operating a vehicle without a current license plate, operating a truck with an obstructed license plate, not having his driver's license in his immediate possession when operating a motor vehicle, possession of an open container of an alcoholic beverage in the passenger area, and driving under the combined influence of alcohol and drugs. [20]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clyde Drexler</span> American basketball player (born 1962)

Clyde Austin Drexler is an American former professional basketball player who currently works as the commissioner of the Big3 3-on-3 basketball league. Nicknamed "Clyde the Glide", he played 15 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA), spending a majority of his career with the Portland Trail Blazers before finishing with the Houston Rockets. He was a ten-time NBA All-Star and named to the NBA's 50th and 75th anniversary teams. Drexler won an NBA championship with Houston in 1995, and earned a gold medal on the 1992 United States Olympic team known as "The Dream Team". He was inducted twice into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, in 2004 for his individual career and in 2010 as a member of the "Dream Team". Drexler is widely considered one of the greatest basketball players and greatest shooting guards of all time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shawn Kemp</span> American basketball player (born 1969)

Shawn Travis Kemp Sr. is an American former professional basketball player who played for the Seattle SuperSonics, Cleveland Cavaliers, Portland Trail Blazers, and Orlando Magic in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Nicknamed "Reign Man", he was a six-time NBA All-Star and a three-time All-NBA Second Team member.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert Horry</span> American basketball player (born 1970)

Robert Keith Horry is an American former professional basketball player and current sports commentator. He earned the nickname "Big Shot Rob", because of his clutch shooting in important games. A seven-time NBA champion, he is widely considered to be one of the greatest clutch performers and winners in NBA history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kenny Smith</span> American basketball player and sports commentator

Kenneth Smith, is an American sports commentator and former professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Nicknamed "the Jet", he played in the NBA from 1987 to 1997 as a member of the Sacramento Kings, Atlanta Hawks, Houston Rockets, Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic, and Denver Nuggets. Smith won back-to-back NBA championships with Houston.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stromile Swift</span> American basketball player

Stromile Emanuel Swift is an American former professional basketball player. He played college basketball for Louisiana State University (LSU) before being drafted second overall by the Vancouver Grizzlies in the 2000 NBA draft. At 6'10" and 220 lbs, he played the power forward and center positions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vernon Macklin</span> American professional basketball player (born 1986)

Vernon Leon Macklin is an American basketball coach and former professional basketball player. He is an assistant coach of the Ulsan Hyundai Mobis in the Korean Basketball League (KBL). Macklin played college basketball for the University of Florida before being drafted was by the Detroit Pistons in the second round of the 2011 NBA draft.

Mitchell Lee Wiggins was an American professional basketball player who was a shooting guard in the National Basketball Association (NBA).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jazz–Rockets rivalry</span> National Basketball Association rivalry

The Jazz–Rockets rivalry is a National Basketball Association (NBA) rivalry between the Utah Jazz and the Houston Rockets. The rivalry began in the 1990s when the Rockets, led by dominant center Hakeem Olajuwon and college teammate Clyde Drexler, and the Jazz, led by the pick-and-roll duo of Karl Malone and John Stockton, were playoff powers in the Midwest Division. The teams faced each other four times in the NBA playoffs during the decade. In all four instances, the winner was the eventual Western Conference champion and played in the NBA Finals. In 2007, the rivalry was restored as the two teams met again in the playoffs and a showdown of two of the best 1–2 combos of Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming of the Rockets and Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer of the Jazz. In 2018, the rivalry was once again restored as the two teams met in the Western Conference Semifinals, where the Rockets won the series 4–1. In 2019, the two teams met once again in the playoffs, but in the First Round, with the Rockets once again winning the series 4–1.

Thomas Johnson "John" Reaves was an American professional football player who was a quarterback for 11 seasons in the National Football League (NFL) and three seasons in the United States Football League (USFL) during the 1970s and 1980s. Reaves played college football for the Florida Gators football, and earned first-team All-American honors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Florida Gators men's basketball</span> Team representing the University of Florida in basketball

The Florida Gators men's basketball team represents the University of Florida in the sport of basketball. The Gators compete in NCAA Division I's Southeastern Conference (SEC). Home games are played in the Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center on the university's Gainesville, Florida campus.

The 1993–94 NBA season was the Houston Rockets' 27th season in the National Basketball Association, and their 23rd season in Houston. The Rockets had the 24th overall pick in the 1993 NBA draft, and selected Sam Cassell out of Florida State University. During the off-season, the team acquired Mario Elie from the Portland Trail Blazers. The Rockets went off to a great start, winning their first fifteen games of the season to tie the 1948–49 Washington Capitols for the best unbeaten record to open a season, while also posting a 14–0 record in November, before the Golden State Warriors surpassed it in 2015 and the Cleveland Cavaliers tied Houston's mark in 2024. After losing to the Atlanta Hawks, 133–111 on the road on December 3, the Rockets won their next seven games as well, falling just one victory shy of tying the 1969–70 Knicks (23–1) for the best record with one defeat in NBA history. However, the Rockets would cool off as the season progressed, at one point losing four games in a row in January. Still, they held a 34–12 record at the All-Star break, and finished first place in the Midwest Division with a 58–24 record, a franchise record that stood until the 2017-18 team recorded their 59th win.

The 1994–95 NBA season was the Rockets' 28th season in the National Basketball Association, and 24th season in Houston. After winning their first championship, the Rockets went on to win their first nine games of the season. However, with increased competition in the West, management felt a change was needed to win another title.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chandler Parsons</span> American basketball player (born 1988)

Chandler Evan Parsons is an American former professional basketball player. He played college basketball for the University of Florida and was drafted by the Houston Rockets with the 38th overall pick in the 2011 NBA draft. Between 2011 and 2020, Parsons played in the NBA for the Rockets, the Dallas Mavericks, the Memphis Grizzlies, and the Atlanta Hawks before injuries caused by a drunk driver forced him into retirement.

The 1995–96 NBA season was the Rockets' 29th season in the National Basketball Association, and 25th season in Houston. In the off-season, the Rockets signed free agents Mark Bryant and Eldridge Recasner. After two straight NBA championships, the team changed their primary logo, which showed a light blue rocket flying past a red basketball with the team name "Rockets", and added new pinstripe uniforms adding dark navy blue to their color scheme.

The 1992–93 NBA season was the Rockets' 26th season in the National Basketball Association, and 22nd season in Houston. After missing the playoffs the previous year, the Rockets selected Robert Horry from the University of Alabama with the eleventh overall pick in the 1992 NBA draft. During the off-season, the team acquired Scott Brooks from the Minnesota Timberwolves. For the season opener, the Rockets traveled overseas to Yokohama, Japan to play their first two games against the Seattle SuperSonics.

The 2000–01 NBA season was the Mavericks' 21st season in the National Basketball Association. The Mavericks had the twelfth overall pick in the 2000 NBA draft, and selected Etan Thomas out of Syracuse University; the team also acquired first-round draft pick Courtney Alexander out of Fresno State University from the Orlando Magic, first-round draft pick Donnell Harvey out of the University of Florida from the New York Knicks, and second-round draft pick Eduardo Nájera out of the University of Oklahoma from the Houston Rockets.

The 1989–90 NBA season was the Rockets' 23rd season in the National Basketball Association, and 19th season in the city of Houston. After a 9–6 start to the season, the Rockets would struggle posting a 12–18 record as they entered the New Year. However, they would manage to win seven of their next nine games, holding a 22–25 record at the All-Star break. At midseason, the team acquired second-year guard Vernon Maxwell from the San Antonio Spurs, as they continued to play .500 basketball for the rest of the season. The Rockets finished fifth in the Midwest Division with a 41–41 record, winning a tie-breaker over the Seattle SuperSonics for the #8 seed in the Western Conference.

The 1995–96 NBA season was the 76ers 47th season in the National Basketball Association, and 33rd season in Philadelphia. The 76ers had the third overall pick in the 1995 NBA draft, and selected Jerry Stackhouse from the University of North Carolina. During the off-season, the team signed free agents Vernon Maxwell, Richard Dumas, then later on in December, signed second-year guard Trevor Ruffin, and veteran point guard Scott Skiles, who then retired in January after only just ten games with the team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Frazier II</span> American basketball player

Michael Frazier II is an American professional basketball player who last played for the NBA G League Ignite of the NBA G League. He played college basketball for the Florida Gators.

References

  1. ↑ Goldaper, Sam (January 29, 1991). "PRO BASKETBALL: Notebook; Teams Ravaged By Key Injuries". The New York Times . Archived from the original on July 5, 2018. Retrieved May 27, 2010.
  2. ↑ 1990 Florida infractions report
  3. ↑ Mizell, Hubert (August 28, 2004). ""Mad Max' threw away talent and much more". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved November 26, 2024.
  4. ↑ John Harris (April 30, 1990). "Maxwell gets new life with Rockets". Tampa Bay Times . Retrieved May 1, 2022.
  5. ↑ "NBA Progressive Leaders and Records for 3-Pt Field Goals".
  6. ↑ Dan Hafner (January 27, 1991). "Rockets' Maxwell Scores 30 in Fourth Quarter, 51 in Game". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved May 1, 2022.
  7. ↑ "Maxwell Allegedly Strikes Fan in Loss to Portland". Los Angeles Times . February 7, 1995. Retrieved June 22, 2024.
  8. ↑ "FAN SPEAKS OUT ABOUT MAXWELL". chicagotribune.com. March 2, 1995.
  9. ↑ "Maxwell's Penalty for Punch: at Least 10 Games and $20,000". Los Angeles Times . February 9, 1995. Retrieved June 22, 2024.
  10. ↑ "Disgruntled Maxwell Out for Year : Pro basketball: Slighted by backup role, Rocket guard put on indefinite leave of absence and won't return for playoffs". Los Angeles Times . Associated Press. May 3, 1995. Retrieved May 1, 2022.
  11. ↑ Young, Matt (January 15, 2021). "Vernon Maxwell tells about time Hakeem slapped him at halftime". Chron.
  12. ↑ "The Houston Rockets quietly waived controversial guard Vernon". AP News . July 12, 1995. Retrieved May 1, 2022.
  13. ↑ Frank Hughes (March 29, 2000). "Boom or bust?". The News Tribune . p. C1. Retrieved May 1, 2022– via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  14. ↑ Tim Korte (April 22, 2000). "Sonics' Maxwell sidelined; Jazz breathe sigh of relief". The Salina Journal . p. B4. Retrieved May 1, 2022.
  15. ↑ "Maxwell Arrested: Police Allegedly Find Marijuana In His Car". spokesman.com. August 30, 1995.
  16. ↑ "Report: Maxwell to surrender in Texas". upi.com. April 13, 1998.
  17. ↑ "'Mad Max' Files For Bankruptcy". cbs.com. August 29, 1998.
  18. ↑ Brockway, Kevin (May 23, 2004). "To the max". gainesville.com.
  19. ↑ Mizell, Hubert (May 30, 2004). "Mad Max' threw away talent and much more". tampabay.com.
  20. ↑ G., Mike (August 10, 2020). "NBA Champ Makes Racial Allegations Upon Arrest In Emerson". wbhfradio.org.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.