Christian Laettner

College Career

Laettner's #32 jersey was retired in 1992, making him the sixth of thirteen players so honored by Duke. He averaged 16.6 points and 7.7 rebounds per game at Duke and is the all-time three-point shooting percentage leader at Duke with 48.5%.

Laettner is one of only four players (including teammates Greg Koubek and Brian Davis) to play in four consecutive Final Fours, and the only one to ever start in all four Final Fours. He owns the record for most tournament games played, with 23, out of a maximum possible of 24 in 4 years (excluding the play-in game for the lowest seeds in one bracket).

NCAA Tournament Records Held:

• Most points scored: 407
• Most free throws made: 142
• Most free throw attempts: 167
• Most games played: 23

1992 East Regional Final Game

Laettner is especially known for his game-winning last-second jump shot on March 28 in Duke's dramatic 104-103 victory over Kentucky in the East regional final of the 1992 NCAA Tournament, acclaimed by many as the "greatest college basketball game ever played." Footage of Laettner's buzzer beater shot is frequently included in televised montages depicting college basketball and the NCAA tournament, and in 2003 it was used in a nationally televised commercial by Allstate. In 2009, Laettner appeared in a commercial for Vitamin Water, again replaying "the shot" with a Vitamin Water bottle; the ad also features then Kentucky coach Rick Pitino. It is often now referred to simply as "the shot." In the game as a whole, Laettner made ten of ten shots from the field and ten of ten from the free throw line. His performance in the game as a whole earned him a 1993 ESPY Award for "Outstanding Performance Under Pressure," and the shot in particular received the 1993 ESPY for "College Basketball Play of the Year." Laettner also received the 1993 ESPY for "Outstanding College Basketball Performer of the Year." The shot was also named the most memorable basketball shot of all-time (including the NBA, college, and high school) by The Best Damn Sports Show Period in 2007 and the fifth most unforgettable sports moment of all-time across all sports in 2006.


NBA

Laettner was drafted third overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves after Shaquille O'Neal (1st overall) and Alonzo Mourning (2nd overall) in the 1992 NBA Draft, all three would later play together on the 2004-05 Miami Heat. During his 13-year NBA career Laettner was a member of the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Atlanta Hawks, the Detroit Pistons, the Dallas Mavericks, the Washington Wizards, the Golden State Warriors (though he never played a game for them), and the Miami Heat. Though Laettner never became the superstar some expected, he was voted onto the All-Rookie First Team in 1992-93 and was an All-Star reserve in 1996-97. After missing most of the 1998-99 season due to a torn Achilles tendon, his playing time and numbers saw a decline. Laettner was suspended five games without pay in 2003-04 after violating the NBA's anti-drug policy. He wrapped up his career in 2004-05 as a reserve with the Miami Heat and finished with career averages of 13.3 points per game, 6.9 rebounds, and 2.7 assists. He shot 47.8% from the floor and 82.1% from the free throw line.


International Career

He played for the US national team in the 1990 FIBA World Championship, winning the bronze medal.

Laettner was the only college player on the original "Dream Team," which won the Olympic Gold medal in 1992 and is considered to be the greatest basketball team ever assembled.