Mixing
John Starks (basketball)
 Starks at Madison Square Garden in 2013 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1965-08-10) August 10, 1965 Tulsa, Oklahoma |
| Nationality | American |
| Listed height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
| Listed weight | 180 lb (82 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Central (Tulsa, Oklahoma) |
| College |
|
| NBA draft | 1988 / Undrafted |
| Playing career | 1988–2002 |
| Position | Shooting guard |
| Number | 30, 3, 9 |
| Career history | |
| 1988–1989 | Golden State Warriors |
| 1989–1990 | Cedar Rapids Silver Bullets |
| 1990 | Memphis Rockers |
1990–1998 | New York Knicks |
1999–2000 | Golden State Warriors |
| 2000 | Chicago Bulls |
2000–2002 | Utah Jazz |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
| Career NBA statistics | |
| Points | 10,829 (12.5 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 2,129 (2.5 rpg) |
| Assists | 3,085 (3.6 apg) |
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |
John Levell Starks (born August 10, 1965) is an American retired professional basketball shooting guard. Starks was listed at 6'2" and 190 pounds[1] during his NBA playing career. Although he was not drafted in the 1988 NBA draft after attending four colleges in his native Oklahoma, including Oklahoma State University, he gained fame while playing for the New York Knicks of the National Basketball Association in the 1990s.
Contents
1 Early life
2 Career
2.1 Golden State Warriors
2.2 Other Leagues
2.3 New York Knicks
2.4 Return to Golden State
2.5 Chicago Bulls
2.6 Utah Jazz
3 Later career and retirement
3.1 Slamball coaching record
4 Legacy
5 Personal life
6 NBA career statistics
6.1 Regular season
6.2 Playoffs
7 See also
8 Further reading
9 References
10 External links
Early life
Starks was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma where he attended Tulsa Central High School.[2] At Tulsa Central, Starks played only one year on the basketball team.[3] After high school, he enrolled at Rogers State College in 1984. While at Rogers State, Starks was on the "taxi squad" of the basketball team for backups to replace injured or suspended players; taxi squad players did not suit up and instead watched games from the stands. However, Starks was expelled from Rogers State for stealing another student's stereo equipment in retaliation for the student breaking into Starks' dorm room and the college holding him and his roommates financially responsible for the damage.[4] Starks transferred to Northern Oklahoma College in spring 1985, made the basketball team there, and was sentenced to five days in jail for the robbery. He served the sentence during spring break.[5] In the fall of 1985, Starks averaged 11 points per game with Northern Oklahoma but left the college after being caught in his dorm smoking cannabis.[6] Having worked at a Safeway supermarket, Starks enrolled at Tulsa Junior College in the summer of 1986 to pursue a business degree.[7] While playing intramural basketball, he came to the attention of Ken Trickey, the former coach of Oral Roberts University who was then starting a basketball program for Oklahoma Junior College. Starks played there for a season, then earned a scholarship at Oklahoma State University in 1988, where he finished his collegiate career.[3][8]
Career
Golden State Warriors
Starks in 1996 with the New York Knicks
Although he was passed over in the 1988 NBA draft, Starks signed with the Golden State Warriors in September 1988 as a free agent. However, as the Warriors had drafted fellow shooting guard Mitch Richmond with the fifth overall pick that year, Starks played limited minutes in only 36 games while Richmond won Rookie of the Year. Starks was cut following the end of the season.
Other Leagues
Starks played stints in the Continental Basketball Association (Cedar Rapids Silver Bullets, 1989–90) and World Basketball League (Memphis Rockers, 1990–91).[3]
New York Knicks
Starks was able to work his way back into the NBA. In 1990, he tried out for the New York Knicks. In one practice, he tried to dunk on Knicks center Patrick Ewing. Ewing threw him down and Starks twisted his knee. The team was not allowed to release him unless it healed by the end of December. When it did not heal by that time, the Knicks could not release him.[9] As a result, Starks has referred to Ewing as his saving grace. He eventually became the starting shooting guard, becoming a key player on the team and playing 8 seasons in New York from 1990–98. Starks was a posterchild for their physical play during that era, along with teammates Anthony Mason and Charles Oakley. He was a participant in the 1992 NBA Slam Dunk Contest.
Starks executed one of the most famous plays in Knicks history, a play that became known simply as "The Dunk". In Game 2 of the 1993 Eastern Conference Finals against the Chicago Bulls, Starks was in the court's right corner, and closely guarded by B.J. Armstrong. Ewing came to set a screen for Starks, who faked to the left, as if to exploit the screen, but then drove along the baseline and, with his left hand, dunked over Horace Grant in front of Michael Jordan.[10][11]
One of the low points of Starks' career came in the 1994 NBA Finals against the Houston Rockets. In the closing seconds of Game 3 and the Knicks trailing by 3, Starks was fouled by Rockets center Hakeem Olajuwon while attempting a 3. At the time, the NBA allowed only 2 free throws during a foul on a 3-pointer. Starks made both, but Houston won 93–89 (the league would change the rule to allow 3 free throws the next season). Starks and the Knicks then watched[12]their home court host the New York Rangers' first Stanley Cup celebration in 54 years, with their 3–2 win over the Vancouver Canucks in Game 7 of the 1994 Stanley Cup Finals. It served as an inspiration[12] for the Knicks to recover to take a 3–2 series lead going into Game 6. However, in the final seconds of Game 6, Olajuwon blocked Starks' last-second 3-point attempt to give Houston an 86–84 victory. In Game 7, Starks had one of the worst games of his career, shooting 2-for-18 from the field, including 0-for-10 in the fourth quarter. The Rockets went on to win the game and the championship, denying New York from having both NBA and NHL championships in the same year.
In 1995, Pat Riley left the Knicks to go to the Miami Heat after a dispute with then General Manager Dave Checketts. The Knicks hired Don Nelson, bringing back the tensions from Stark's first season in Golden State. Nelson started Hubert Davis over Starks. Nelson was eventually fired mid-season, and the Knicks replaced him with Jeff Van Gundy. In 1996 Allan Houston took Starks' starting spot. Starks was a steady contributor off the bench and won the NBA Sixth Man of the Year award in 1997.
On February 18, 1997, Starks hit a buzzer beating three pointer to defeat the Phoenix Suns at home 95-94. On the play, he rebounded an Allan Houston missed three while getting to the three-point line and head-faked the Suns Wesley Person before releasing the shot just as the horn sounded. Replays were inconclusive as to whether the shot was released in time, but the basket stood. This may have been the most dramatic regular season moment of Starks' career as it was his only buzzer-beater to win an NBA game.
Return to Golden State
In January 1999, Starks was traded back to his original team, the Golden State Warriors. Starks was traded along with Chris Mills and Terry Cummings in exchange for Latrell Sprewell. Starks remained with the Warriors until February 2000, when he was traded to the Chicago Bulls as part of a three-team trade.
Chicago Bulls
After his second stint with the Warriors, Starks played for the Chicago Bulls for 4 games in the 1999-2000 season.
Utah Jazz
Starks finished his career with the Utah Jazz, playing for the Jazz from 2000-01 to 2001-02.
Later career and retirement
After his stint with Golden State, Starks played for the Bulls and Utah Jazz before failing to make an NBA team in 2002 and retiring with 10,829 career points. He currently works for the Knicks as an alumnus and fan development official, and as a pre-and-post-game analyst on MSG Network's home Knicks game coverage. He has also served as the head coach of the Maulers, a Slamball team. His autobiography, John Starks: My Life, was published in 2004.
Starks is part-owner and a promoter for the Ektio basketball shoe, which doctor and former college basketball player Barry Katz designed to reduce ankle injuries.[13][14]
Slamball coaching record
| Team | Year | Regular Season | Post Season | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Won | Lost | Win % | Finish | Won | Lost | Result | |||
| Maulers | 2008 | 5 | 7 | .417 | 5th | – | – | Did not qualify | |
| Total | 5 | 7 | .417 | - | - | - | - | ||
Legacy
His fierce tenacity,[peacock term] desire to win, and plays like "The Dunk", made Starks into a great crowd favorite in New York.[10] Starks' fiery intensity often led to emotional displays on the court. Reggie Miller, star shooting guard for the Indiana Pacers, was often a provocateur and target of his ire; during game three of the 1993 NBA Playoffs, Starks was ejected for headbutting Miller.
Starks is the Knicks' all-time leader in three point field goals (982).[15] He was the first player in NBA history to make 200 three-pointers in one season; his 217 during the 1994–95 NBA season broke Louie Dampier's single-season professional (NBA or ABA) record of 199 during the 1968–69 ABA season. Dennis Scott broke Starks' record a year later with 267; it now belongs to Stephen Curry.
Personal life
Starks' mother was one-quarter Muscogee.[16] On December 13, 1986, John Starks married his wife Jackie.[17] Their son John Jr. was born in 1987,[18] and they have two daughters, Chelsea and Tiara Starks.[3]
NBA career statistics
| Legend | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | Games 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 |
Regular season
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1988–89 | Golden State | 36 | 0 | 8.8 | .408 | .385 | .654 | 1.1 | .8 | .6 | .1 | 4.1 |
1990–91 | New York | 61 | 10 | 19.2 | .439 | .290 | .752 | 2.1 | 3.3 | 1.0 | .3 | 7.6 |
1991–92 | New York | 82 | 0 | 25.8 | .449 | .348 | .778 | 2.3 | 3.4 | 1.3 | .2 | 13.9 |
1992–93 | New York | 80 | 51 | 31.0 | .428 | .321 | .795 | 2.6 | 5.1 | 1.1 | .2 | 17.5 |
1993–94 | New York | 59 | 54 | 34.9 | .420 | .335 | .754 | 3.1 | 5.9 | 1.6 | .1 | 19.0 |
1994–95 | New York | 80 | 78 | 34.1 | .395 | .355 | .737 | 2.7 | 5.1 | 1.2 | .1 | 15.3 |
1995–96 | New York | 81 | 71 | 30.8 | .443 | .361 | .753 | 2.9 | 3.9 | 1.3 | .1 | 12.6 |
1996–97 | New York | 77 | 1 | 26.5 | .431 | .369 | .769 | 2.7 | 2.8 | 1.2 | .1 | 13.8 |
1997–98 | New York | 82 | 10 | 26.7 | .393 | .327 | .787 | 2.8 | 2.7 | 1.0 | .1 | 12.9 |
1998–99 | Golden State | 50 | 50 | 33.7 | .370 | .290 | .740 | 3.3 | 4.7 | 1.4 | .1 | 13.8 |
1999–00 | Golden State | 33 | 30 | 33.6 | .378 | .348 | .833 | 2.8 | 5.2 | 1.1 | .1 | 14.7 |
1999–00 | Chicago | 4 | 0 | 20.5 | .324 | .300 | 1.000 | 2.5 | 2.8 | 1.3 | .3 | 7.5 |
2000–01 | Utah | 75 | 64 | 28.3 | .398 | .352 | .802 | 2.1 | 2.4 | 1.0 | .1 | 9.3 |
2001–02 | Utah | 66 | 1 | 14.1 | .368 | .305 | .805 | 1.0 | 1.1 | 1.0 | .0 | 4.4 |
| Career | 866 | 420 | 27.2 | .412 | .340 | .769 | 2.5 | 3.6 | 1.1 | .1 | 12.9 | |
| All-Star | 1 | 0 | 20.0 | .444 | .333 | - | 3.0 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 9.0 | |
Playoffs
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1991 | New York | 3 | 0 | 9.3 | .400 | - | 1.000 | 1.0 | 2.0 | .0 | .0 | 2.0 |
1992 | New York | 12 | 0 | 24.6 | .374 | .239 | .808 | 2.5 | 3.2 | 1.4 | .0 | 12.1 |
1993 | New York | 15 | 15 | 38.3 | .440 | .373 | .717 | 3.5 | 6.4 | 1.0 | .2 | 16.5 |
1994 | New York | 25 | 18 | 33.6 | .381 | .356 | .770 | 2.3 | 4.6 | 1.4 | .1 | 14.6 |
1995 | New York | 11 | 11 | 34.5 | .450 | .411 | .619 | 2.3 | 5.2 | 1.2 | .1 | 15.6 |
1996 | New York | 8 | 8 | 39.3 | .448 | .467 | .744 | 3.6 | 4.1 | 1.6 | .1 | 16.0 |
1997 | New York | 9 | 1 | 28.1 | .444 | .317 | .806 | 3.4 | 2.8 | 1.1 | .0 | 14.0 |
1998 | New York | 10 | 2 | 31.4 | .472 | .424 | .875 | 4.0 | 2.3 | 1.6 | .1 | 16.4 |
2001 | Jazz | 3 | 0 | 12.0 | .333 | .250 | 1.000 | 1.0 | .3 | .3 | .3 | 3.7 |
| Career | 96 | 55 | 31.6 | .421 | .371 | .759 | 2.8 | 4.1 | 1.3 | .1 | 14.2 | |
See also
- List of National Basketball Association career playoff 3-point scoring leaders
- List of National Basketball Association undrafted players
- Knicks–Heat rivalry
- Bulls–Knicks rivalry
Further reading
Starks, John (2004), My Life, Sports Publishing LLC, ISBN 1-58261-802-X.mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit}.mw-parser-output q{quotes:"""""""'""'"}.mw-parser-output code.cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:inherit;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Lock-green.svg/9px-Lock-green.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-gray-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-red-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration{color:#555}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription span,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration span{border-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration,.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-right{padding-right:0.2em}
References
^ "NBA.com playerfile". Archived from the original on December 19, 2007. Retrieved 2011-07-28.CS1 maint: BOT: original-url status unknown (link)
^ "Thursday a big day for Central", Tulsa World, September 23, 2001.
^ abcd "John Starks biography". NBA. Archived from the original on January 31, 2009.
^ Starks 2004, pp. 39–40
^ Starks 2004, pp. 41–42
^ Starks 2004, pp. 43–44
^ Starks 2004, pp. 46–49
^ Starks 2004, pp. 55–61
^ Off the Bench, Out of Purgatory; John Starks
^ ab Mike Wise, "Hard Way Is Starks's Way; Crowd Favorite Returning to the Garden", New York Times, December 7, 1999.
^ "Five Great Dunks". Inside Stuff. NBA. December 29, 2004. Archived from the original on December 31, 2004.
^ ab Boeck, Greg (June 17, 1994). "Knicks Motivated by Rangers' Title". USA Today. p. 09C.
^ Van Riper, Tom (September 28, 2010). "John Starks Pitching New Shoe". Forbes. Retrieved August 20, 2011.
^ Pesca, Mike (August 15, 2011). "Basketball Shoes May Reduce Ankle Injuries". All Things Considered. National Public Radio. Retrieved August 20, 2011.
^ New York Knickerbockers Career Leaders
^ Starks 2004, p. 28
^ Starks 2004, p. 58
^ Starks 2004, p. 70
External links
John Starks player profile at the Wayback Machine (archived October 15, 2002) @ NBA.com- John Starks Foundation
- Quotes of John Starks
- John Starks makes a guest appearance on The NBA Breakdown
John Starks on IMDb
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