This article is about the American basketball player who won two NBA championships with the Houston Rockets. For the American basketball player who won two NBA championships with the Boston Celtics, see Cedric Maxwell. For the American football player, see Vernon Maxwell (American football).
Vernon Maxwell (born September 12, 1965) is an American former professional basketball player who was a shooting guard in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for thirteen seasons during the late 1980s, 1990s, and early 2000s. 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]
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 careeredit
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]
Professional careeredit
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,[3] 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.[4] 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.[5] 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.[6] The decision to quit the team is something that Maxwell has been said to regret.[7] He was waived by the Rockets on June 1995.[8]
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.[9] 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.[10]
Referencesedit
^Goldaper, Sam (January 29, 1991). "PRO BASKETBALL: Notebook; Teams Ravaged By Key Injuries". The New York Times. Retrieved May 27, 2010.
^John Harris (April 30, 1990). "Maxwell gets new life with Rockets". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved May 1, 2022.
^"NBA Progressive Leaders and Records for 3-Pt Field Goals".
^Dan Hafner (January 27, 1991). "Rockets' Maxwell Scores 30 in Fourth Quarter, 51 in Game". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 1, 2022.
^"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.
^Young, Matt (January 15, 2021). "Vernon Maxwell tells about time Hakeem slapped him at halftime". Chron.
^"The Houston Rockets quietly waived controversial guard Vernon". AP News. July 12, 1995. Retrieved May 1, 2022.
- Column by Hubert Mizell of the St. Petersburg Times
May 03, 2024
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This article is about the American basketball player who won two NBA championships with the Houston Rockets For the American basketball player who won two NBA championships with the Boston Celtics see Cedric Maxwell For the American football player see Vernon Maxwell American football Vernon Maxwell born September 12 1965 is an American former professional basketball player who was a shooting guard in the National Basketball Association NBA for thirteen seasons during the late 1980s 1990s and early 2000s 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 Vernon MaxwellMaxwell in 2023Personal informationBorn 1965 09 12 September 12 1965 age 58 Gainesville Florida U S NationalityAmericanListed height6 ft 4 in 1 93 m Listed weight190 lb 86 kg Career informationHigh schoolBuchholz Gainesville Florida CollegeFlorida 1984 1988 NBA draft1988 2nd round 47th overall pickSelected by the Denver NuggetsPlaying career1988 2001PositionShooting guard point guardNumber11 2 3Career history1988 1990San Antonio Spurs1990 1995Houston Rockets1995 1996Philadelphia 76ers1996 1997San Antonio Spurs1998Orlando Magic1998Charlotte Hornets1999Sacramento Kings1999 2000Seattle SuperSonics2000Philadelphia 76ers2001Dallas MavericksCareer highlights and awards2 NBA champion 1994 1995 Florida Mr Basketball 1984 Career NBA statisticsPoints10 912 12 8 ppg Rebounds2 200 2 6 rpg Assists2 912 3 4 apg Stats at NBA comStats at Basketball Reference com Contents 1 Early years 2 College career 3 Professional career 4 References 5 External linksEarly years editMaxwell 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 editMaxwell 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 Professional career editOn 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 3 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 4 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 5 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 6 The decision to quit the team is something that Maxwell has been said to regret 7 He was waived by the Rockets on June 1995 8 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 9 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 10 References edit Goldaper Sam January 29 1991 PRO BASKETBALL Notebook Teams Ravaged By Key Injuries The New York Times Retrieved May 27 2010 1990 Florida infractions report John Harris April 30 1990 Maxwell gets new life with Rockets Tampa Bay Times Retrieved May 1 2022 NBA Progressive Leaders and Records for 3 Pt Field Goals Dan Hafner January 27 1991 Rockets Maxwell Scores 30 in Fourth Quarter 51 in Game Los Angeles Times Retrieved May 1 2022 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 Young Matt January 15 2021 Vernon Maxwell tells about time Hakeem slapped him at halftime Chron The Houston Rockets quietly waived controversial guard Vernon AP News July 12 1995 Retrieved May 1 2022 Frank Hughes March 29 2000 Boom or bust The News Tribune p C1 Retrieved May 1 2022 via Newspapers com nbsp Tim Korte April 22 2000 Sonics Maxwell sidelined Jazz breathe sigh of relief The Salina Journal p B4 Retrieved May 1 2022 External links edit nbsp Sports portal nbsp Biography portal Career stats NBA com player profile Mad Max threw away talent and much more Column by Hubert Mizell of the St Petersburg Times Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Vernon Maxwell amp oldid 1220466979, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
