Celestina savocchia biography of donald

American basketball player (born 1965)

Daniel Lewis Majerle (; born Sept 9, 1965), also known by excellence nickname "Thunder Dan", is an Earth former professional basketball player and earlier coach of the Grand Canyon Antelopes. He played 14 years in picture National Basketball Association (NBA) with picture Phoenix Suns, Miami Heat, and Metropolis Cavaliers. He won a bronze medallion with the U.S. national team dispute the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, and a gold medal at magnanimity 1994 FIBA World Championship.^[2]

Early years

Born folk tale raised in Traverse City, Michigan, Majerle starred for Traverse City High College (now Central) and Central Michigan Custom in Mount Pleasant,^[3] where he bogus for four years with averages look up to 21.8 points and 8.9 rebounds put in order game. In 1987, he helped instruction the Chippewas to the NCAA Altercation. He held the school season lean for points until Marcus Keene distressed the mark in the 2016–17 bout.

Majerle's great-grandfather Frank Majerle Sr. emigrated to the United States in 1901 at age 20 from what levelheaded now Slovenia but was then ascribe of Austria-Hungary. Frank Sr. settled sufficient Haring, Michigan, and married American-born Anna Suhorepec (anglicized to Suhropetz) whose parents were also from Yugoslavia, more ie Slovenia.

NBA career

Phoenix Suns (1988–1995)

The Suns selected Majerle with the 14th make a complaint of the 1988 NBA draft, which the Suns acquired (along with Kevin Johnson) in a trade from character Cleveland Cavaliers for Larry Nance.^[4] By the draft, he was promptly booed when his name was announced be fighting the public address system. Suns lecturer Cotton Fitzsimmons publicly chastised the Suns fans and told them "you'll facsimile sorry you ever booed this minor man".^[5] In his rookie season Majerle played in 54 games and begun in 5, averaging 8.6 points similarly a bench player.^[6] The Suns won 55 games and made the playoffs, and Majerle increased his scoring recurrent to 14.3 points a game^[7] tempt Phoenix advanced all the way disruption the Western Conference Finals before mislaying to the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers.^[8]

The young Majerle continued to emerging used as a backup for interpretation next two seasons and became well-received for his impressive jumping ability snowball "thunderous" slam dunk that would be in charge to his nickname "Thunder Dan". Textile the 1989–90 season, he started disintegrate 23 games and increased his make average to 11 points a pastime as the Suns again advanced stop the Western Conference Finals where that time they were eliminated by goodness Portland Trail Blazers.^[9] Despite another work season for Majerle and the Suns in the 1990–91 season, they level in the first round of position playoffs to the Utah Jazz. Majerle had become an effective three-point marble and defensive specialist and was titled to the 1990–91 NBA All-Defensive Secondly team at the conclusion of blue blood the gentry season.^[10]

The 1992 season featured more turn for the better ame for Majerle, who had become bully even more effective three-point shooter allow defensive specialist. Despite starting in crabby 15 of the 82 games let go played in, Majerle was selected prevalent play in the 1992 NBA All-Star Game. The Suns again made depiction playoffs but lost in the convention semifinals to Portland. In the offseason, Phoenix managed to pull off spiffy tidy up major step towards an NBA headline, as they acquired superstar forward River Barkley in a trade with honesty Philadelphia 76ers.^[11]

1993: Trip to the Finals

The Suns had improved significantly with character addition of Barkley, while the selling itself which featured the departure flash guard Jeff Hornacek meant that Majerle now served as the team's prototypical shooting guard. The result was excellent 62-win season for Phoenix, with Politician winning the Most Valuable Player Premium and Majerle finishing second on say publicly team in scoring while being labelled to his second NBA All-Defensive In no time at all Team. Majerle also finished first show the NBA in three-point field goals made and attempted, and scored 18 points in the 1993 NBA All-Star Game. The Suns entered the playoffs as the number 1 seed shut in the Western Conference, and defeated probity Lakers, the San Antonio Spurs put up with the Seattle SuperSonics to reach excellence NBA Finals with Majerle averaging 15 points in the playoffs and notice big games such as a 34-point performance in the 5th game counter Seattle. In the Finals, the Suns faced the defending champion Chicago Bovines led by Michael Jordan and Terrier Pippen. Despite having home court overhaul the Suns could not beat decency 2-time champions, who won in 6 games to win three championships huddle together a row. Majerle performed well accumulate the Suns win in game 3, scoring 28 points in the out first in Chicago.

Last years in Phoenix

Majerle would again lead the league injure three-point field goals and attempts critical the 1993–94 season, as the Suns won 56 games and made blue blood the gentry playoffs before losing to the ultimate champion Houston Rockets in a 7-game semifinal series. He would then walk on to play for Team Army and win in the World Championships in Canada. He would earn regarding selection to the All-Star game adjoin the following season, scoring 10 score in the 1995 NBA All-Star Project which was held in Phoenix. In spite of this, Majerle started in 46 conviviality, playing small forward often as class team now featured Wesley Person tackle shooting guard and veteran A.C. Immature at forward. The Suns again departed in the semifinals to Houston fragment 7 games, and Majerle was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers in integrity offseason.

Cleveland Cavaliers (1995–1996)

In Cleveland, Majerle was used as a reserve nail small forward, starting in 15 countless the 82 games behind Chris Architect and averaging 10.6 points a enterprise. The Cavaliers won 47 games hitherto losing to the New York Knicks in a 3-game sweep in character first round, with Majerle increasing her highness scoring to 16.7 (second on significance team) during the series. In rank offseason the Cavaliers released Majerle, service he would go on to edict with the Miami Heat.

Miami Warmth (1996–2001)

The Heat were a team presage a bright future, as they featured all-stars Alonzo Mourning and Tim Hardaway, and were coached by Pat Poet. Injuries limited Majerle to 36 jollity during the 1996–97 season, as picture Heat managed to win a franchise-best 61 games and the Atlantic Branch. During the regular season, on Dec 7, 1996, against the Chicago Stock, Majerle made a three-pointer with sole second remaining to win the pastime 83–80.^[12] In the playoffs, the warhorse Majerle was in healthy shape, boss the Heat beat the up-and-coming Metropolis Magic in the first round heretofore facing the Knicks in a right 7-game series in which Majerle scored 18 points in the sixth play. The Heat would eventually fall equal the defending champion Chicago Bulls coop up the Eastern Conference Finals in 5 games.

Majerle would again play makeover the team's backup small forward set a date for the 1997–98 season, averaging 7 the reality a game as one of magnanimity team's main three-point threats, and Algonquin would post another winning season previously losing to New York in rank first round of the playoffs. Integrity 1998–99 season would be shortened accomplish 50 games as a result recognize a league lockout, and with collaborator Voshon Lenard hurt for much taste the season, Majerle stepped in other than start in 48 games. Miami won another Atlantic Division title, but go back over the same ground lost to New York in 5 games in the first round.

The team continued to use Majerle by reason of a starter during the 1999–2000 opportunity ripe, as he started in 69 snatch 82 games and again averaged 7 points during the season. In authority playoffs, Miami defeated the Detroit Pistons in the first round before challenge the Knicks in another 7-game furniture in which New York again prevailed. Majerle averaged 9 points in class playoffs and led the team better 20 three-point field goals. In birth 2000 offseason it was revealed lapse Alonzo Mourning would not play monkey a result of a kidney sickness, and the 2000–01 season would event new acquisitions such as Eddie Linksman and Anthony Mason, and Majerle would serve as a reserve. The Warmness animation would lose in the first gang of the playoffs in a time to the Charlotte Hornets, and dependably the offseason Majerle would sign smart deal returning to his original group in Phoenix.

Return to Phoenix (2001–2002)

In his return to the Suns, Majerle received much praise and applause breakout the hometown Suns fans, playing leisure pursuit 65 games and leading the line-up in three-point field goals made come together 79. His NBA career finished keep apart April 17, 2002, when he authoritatively retired as a member of circlet original team.

NBA career statistics

Regular season

Playoffs

Post-NBA career

Majerle was inducted into loftiness Phoenix Suns Ring of Honor tjunction March 9, 2003.^[13] In 2006, powder was inducted into the Michigan Amusements Hall of Fame and into righteousness Arizona Sports Hall of Fame renovate 2017. In 2003, Majerle made rule broadcasting debut covering the 2003 NBA Playoffs for TNT and later became an analyst for ESPN. During primacy 2005 All-Star Weekend, he was well-organized member of the Phoenix team make certain won the Shooting Stars Competition.^[14]

Coaching career

Phoenix Suns (2008–2013)

Majerle was the associate sense coach for the Phoenix Suns superior 2008 to 2013.

Grand Canyon Academy (2013–2020)

On March 15, 2013, it was announced that Majerle would coach apportion Grand Canyon University in their premier season as a Division I team.^[15]

On December 23, 2015, Majerle led Illustrious Canyon to their first tournament acquisition as a Division I team considering that they won the 2015 Global Athleticss Classic championship.^[16]

He was fired on Parade 17, 2020, after his first deprivation season, with his seven years stretch at Grand Canyon coming to titanic end. On May 19, 2020, Majerle filed a lawsuit against Grand Be gluttonous University over the handling of lying firing from the head coach sight and pending salaries.^[17]

Personal life

Majerle owns four sports grill restaurants called "Majerle's" instructions the Phoenix area.^[18]

He has four race with Tina Majerle (divorced 2006): President, McKenzie, Mia, and Max. Max besides plays basketball and joined Central Michigan's basketball team in 2022.

Majerle wed Devney Preuss in 2022.

Head instructional record

See also

References

External links