Chris Porter
Encyclopedia
Chris Porter is an American
professional basketball
player currently playing for the Powerade Tigers of the Philippine Basketball Association
. He is a former star forward for the Auburn University
men's basketball team that made it to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen
in 1998-1999, Porter's junior season. He was named SEC
Player of the Year
and was selected to the All-America
team. The following year Porter was pictured on the cover of Sports Illustrated
as the Auburn Tigers
were picked to win the national title. However, true to the Sports Illustrated cover jinx
, the Tigers struggled and Porter was suspended for the last 8 games of the season for accepting money from an agent while still in college.http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F10E10F8395D0C7A8EDDAB0894D8404482 Porter reportedly accepted the $2500 to save his mother from being evicted from her home and claimed he did not know the person was affiliated with any sports agency.http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/college/news/2000/02/28/porter_agent_ap/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/college/news/2000/03/12/porter_agent_ap/
Before attending Auburn University, Porter attended Abbeville High School (where he was a 4A State Champion) and Chipola Junior College
(where he was named JUCO All-American). Known for his large afro
hairstyle and giant vertical leap, he created excitement with his dunking
and rebounding
abilities. Largely seen as too undersized to play power forward
at the NBA level, his style fit in perfectly with former Auburn basketball coach Cliff Ellis
' style of full court pressure.
by the Golden State Warriors
. During his 51 games as a rookie small forward
for Golden State, Porter averaged 8.6 points and 3.7 rebounds per contest despite a nagging sprained left anklehttp://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/statitudes/news/2001/02/26/goldenstate_injuries/index.html and limited playing time (22 minutes per gamehttp://www.basket-stats.info/nba/2000-2001/teams/stats/rookies/minutes.htm). However, showing up 3 days late for summer camp followed by an off-the-court arrest soon clouded Porter's contributions and the team decided to trade him to the Charlotte Hornets
in a 3-team 8-player deal. After Porter missed his flight to Charlottehttp://www.nba.com/warriors/mailbox/Tim_Royes_Journal-011031.html, he was released from the team having never played in a game and has since not returned to the NBA. Upon his departure from the NBA, Porter has played for a number of professional leagues. He joined the Dakota Wizards
of the Continental Basketball Association
with whom he made an immediate impact. He led the team to capture the 2002 CBA Championship their first season in the league and again won the Championship in 2004. While playing domestically in the CBA, Porter spent his summers playing for other leagues (mostly overseas). In 2002 and 2004, he lent his skills to the Oklahoma Storm
of the United States Basketball League
with whom he won a 2002 Championship.http://www.kansascagerz.com/index.cfm?action=NewsArticle&NewsID=7 He played briefly in Italy for Carifac Fabriano
against Euroleague
teams and then later signed with the Oliveirense Simoldes
of the Portuguese Basketball League. During his time in Portugal, Porter competed in the 2004 FIBA EuroCup Challenge
and was also featured as the starting power forward for the North team in the Portuguese All Star game. Following his CBA and European success, Porter was contracted as an import player for the Barangay Ginebra Kings
of the Philippine Basketball Association
. He led the team through the quarterfinals of the 2006 PBA Playoffs
before they lost their series 4-3 to rival and eventual Champion, the Red Bull Barako
.http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2006/feb/06/yehey/sports/20060206spo1.html Porter left the PBA following the 2005-06 season
when he was drafted as an import player by the Fujian Sturgeons with the 2nd pick in the 2nd round of the 2005 Chinese Basketball Association
International Player Draft. He quickly established himself as the marquee player of Fujian. In fact, the team used its 1st round pick in the 2006 Draft in order to re-sign Porter.http://www.usba-inc.com/cba_draft_2006.php Porter was voted by the fans as a member of the 2007 CBA All-Star team, chosen to play against the All-Star team of the Korean Basketball League
. Porter did not disappoint, scoring 30 points and grabbing 17 rebounds in the two-game exhibition. In the 2007 CBA Draft, Fujian again used their first round pick to retain Porter's services.http://www.usba-inc.com/cba_draft.php He later played for the Powerade Tigers of the Philippine Basketball Association
. The team went winless in the 2011 PBA Governors Cup
0-8 and did not compete in the semi-final round.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player currently playing for the Powerade Tigers of the Philippine Basketball Association
Philippine Basketball Association
The Philippine Basketball Association , is a men's professional basketball league in the Philippines composed of 10 company-branded franchised teams. It is the first and oldest professional basketball league in Asia and the second oldest in the world after the NBA...
. He is a former star forward for the Auburn University
Auburn University
Auburn University is a public university located in Auburn, Alabama, United States. With more than 25,000 students and 1,200 faculty members, it is one of the largest universities in the state. Auburn was chartered on February 7, 1856, as the East Alabama Male College, a private liberal arts...
men's basketball team that made it to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen
NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
The NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship is a single-elimination tournament held each spring in the United States, featuring 68 college basketball teams, to determine the national championship in the top tier of college basketball...
in 1998-1999, Porter's junior season. He was named SEC
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
Player of the Year
SEC Men's Basketball Player of the Year
The Southeastern Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year is an award given to the player who has proven himself, throughout the season, to be the most exceptional talent in the Southeastern Conference. The school with the most SEC Player of the Year award winners is Kentucky, with 13 total...
and was selected to the All-America
All-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
team. The following year Porter was pictured on the cover of Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
as the Auburn Tigers
Auburn Tigers
Auburn Tigers is the name given to Auburn University athletic teams. The University is a member of the Southeastern Conference and competes in NCAA Division I, fielding 19 varsity teams in 13 sports:* Men's sports** Baseball** Basketball...
were picked to win the national title. However, true to the Sports Illustrated cover jinx
Sports Illustrated Cover Jinx
The Sports Illustrated Cover Jinx is an urban legend that states that individuals or teams who appear on the cover of the Sports Illustrated magazine will subsequently be jinxed...
, the Tigers struggled and Porter was suspended for the last 8 games of the season for accepting money from an agent while still in college.http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F10E10F8395D0C7A8EDDAB0894D8404482 Porter reportedly accepted the $2500 to save his mother from being evicted from her home and claimed he did not know the person was affiliated with any sports agency.http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/college/news/2000/02/28/porter_agent_ap/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/college/news/2000/03/12/porter_agent_ap/
Before attending Auburn University, Porter attended Abbeville High School (where he was a 4A State Champion) and Chipola Junior College
Chipola College
Chipola College is a state college located in Marianna, Florida, USA. Chipola College is a member institution of the Florida College System.The College was named for the Chipola River, which is located less than a mile from the campus...
(where he was named JUCO All-American). Known for his large afro
Afro
Afro, sometimes shortened to fro and also known as a "natural", is a hairstyle worn naturally by people with lengthy kinky hair texture or specifically styled in such a fashion by individuals with naturally curly or straight hair...
hairstyle and giant vertical leap, he created excitement with his dunking
Slam dunk
A slam dunk is a type of basketball shot that is performed when a player jumps in the air and manually powers the ball downward through the basket with one or both hands over the rim. This is considered a normal field goal attempt; if successful it is worth two points. The term "slam dunk" was...
and rebounding
Rebound (basketball)
A rebound in basketball is the act of successfully gaining possession of the basketball after a missed field goal or free throw. Rebounds in basketball are a routine part in the game, as all possessions change after a shot is successfully made...
abilities. Largely seen as too undersized to play power forward
Power forward (basketball)
Power forward is a position in the sport of basketball. The position is referred to in playbook terms as the four position and is commonly abbreviated "PF". It has also been referred to as the "post" position. Power forwards play a role similar to that of center in what is called the "post" or "low...
at the NBA level, his style fit in perfectly with former Auburn basketball coach Cliff Ellis
Cliff Ellis
Cliff Ellis is an American college basketball coach, currently the head coach at Coastal Carolina University. Going into the 2011–2012 season, Coach Ellis's 614 victories rank him 50th on the list of all-time career coaching victories in Division 1 basketball...
' style of full court pressure.
Professional career
Porter went on to be selected with the 26th pick in the 2nd round (55th overall) of the 2000 NBA Draft2000 NBA Draft
The 2000 NBA Draft was held on June 28, 2000 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Until 2011, it was the last draft held at the home arena of an NBA team; the following and subsequent drafts have all taken place at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York. This draft is...
by the Golden State Warriors
Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors are an American professional basketball team based in Oakland, California. They are part of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
. During his 51 games as a rookie small forward
Small forward
The small forward, or colloquially known as three, is one of the five positions in a regulation basketball game. Small forwards are typically somewhat shorter, quicker, and leaner than power forwards and centers, but on occasion are just as tall...
for Golden State, Porter averaged 8.6 points and 3.7 rebounds per contest despite a nagging sprained left anklehttp://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/statitudes/news/2001/02/26/goldenstate_injuries/index.html and limited playing time (22 minutes per gamehttp://www.basket-stats.info/nba/2000-2001/teams/stats/rookies/minutes.htm). However, showing up 3 days late for summer camp followed by an off-the-court arrest soon clouded Porter's contributions and the team decided to trade him to the Charlotte Hornets
New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets
The New Orleans Hornets are a professional basketball team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They play in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association. The franchise began play during the 1988–89 NBA season as the Charlotte Hornets, based in Charlotte,...
in a 3-team 8-player deal. After Porter missed his flight to Charlottehttp://www.nba.com/warriors/mailbox/Tim_Royes_Journal-011031.html, he was released from the team having never played in a game and has since not returned to the NBA. Upon his departure from the NBA, Porter has played for a number of professional leagues. He joined the Dakota Wizards
Dakota Wizards
The Dakota Wizards are an American basketball team in the NBA Development League, based in Bismarck, North Dakota. Home games are played at the Bismarck Civic Center.-Beginnings in IBA:...
of the Continental Basketball Association
Continental Basketball Association
The Continental Basketball Association was a professional men's basketball league in the United States, which has been on hiatus since the 2009 season.- History :...
with whom he made an immediate impact. He led the team to capture the 2002 CBA Championship their first season in the league and again won the Championship in 2004. While playing domestically in the CBA, Porter spent his summers playing for other leagues (mostly overseas). In 2002 and 2004, he lent his skills to the Oklahoma Storm
Oklahoma Storm
The Oklahoma Storm was a United States Basketball League team located in Enid, Oklahoma. Founded by sports agent and attorney James Sears Bryant, the Storm successfully captured the USBL championship under head coach Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 2002, defeating Kansas with a final score of 122-109. The...
of the United States Basketball League
United States Basketball League
The United States Basketball League , often abbreviated to the USBL, was a professional men's spring basketball league. The league was formed in 1985. The final champions are the Kansas Cagerz, who won the title game on July 1, 2007.-History:...
with whom he won a 2002 Championship.http://www.kansascagerz.com/index.cfm?action=NewsArticle&NewsID=7 He played briefly in Italy for Carifac Fabriano
Fabriano Basket
Fabriano Basket, also known for sponsorship reasons as Indesit Fabriano, is an Italian professional basketball team from the town of Fabriano....
against Euroleague
Euroleague
Euroleague Basketball, commonly known as the Euroleague, is the highest level tier and most important professional club basketball competition in Europe, with teams from up to 18 different countries, members of FIBA Europe. For sponsorship reasons, for five seasons starting with 2010–2011, it is...
teams and then later signed with the Oliveirense Simoldes
Oliveirense (basketball)
Oliveirense Basquetebol is an amateur basketball team based in Oliveira de Azemeis, Portugal. It plays in CNB2, but formerly played in the Portuguese LCB where it won the Portuguese Cup, the Portuguese Supercup and the League Cup twice, before disbanding due to claimed financial distress by the...
of the Portuguese Basketball League. During his time in Portugal, Porter competed in the 2004 FIBA EuroCup Challenge
EuroCup Challenge
The EuroCup Challenge was the 4th tier level transnational professional club basketball competition in Europe. It was run and organized by FIBA Europe.-Promotion to FIBA EuroCup:...
and was also featured as the starting power forward for the North team in the Portuguese All Star game. Following his CBA and European success, Porter was contracted as an import player for the Barangay Ginebra Kings
Barangay Ginebra Kings
The Barangay Ginebra Kings is a professional basketball team of the Philippine Basketball Association founded in 1979 and owned by the Ginebra San Miguel, Inc., a subsidiary of the San Miguel Corporation...
of the Philippine Basketball Association
Philippine Basketball Association
The Philippine Basketball Association , is a men's professional basketball league in the Philippines composed of 10 company-branded franchised teams. It is the first and oldest professional basketball league in Asia and the second oldest in the world after the NBA...
. He led the team through the quarterfinals of the 2006 PBA Playoffs
2005-06 PBA Fiesta Conference
-Second seed playoff:-Bracket:-Survivor playoffs:-Air21–San Miguel series:-Alaska–Sta. Lucia series:-Red Bull–Alaska series:-Talk 'N Text–Air21 series:-Purefoods–Air21 series:...
before they lost their series 4-3 to rival and eventual Champion, the Red Bull Barako
Red Bull Barako
The Barako Bull Energy Boosters was a professional basketball team of the Philippine Basketball Association that is owned by the Photokina Marketing Corporation...
.http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2006/feb/06/yehey/sports/20060206spo1.html Porter left the PBA following the 2005-06 season
2005-06 PBA season
-Final results:*Fiesta Conference Finals: Red Bull def. Purefoods , 4 games to 2**Finals MVP: Lordy Tugade *Third place: Air21 -Final results:*Fiesta Conference Finals: (3) Red Bull (9-7) def. (1) Purefoods (10-6), 4 games to 2**Finals MVP: Lordy Tugade (Red Bull)*Third place: Air21 -Final...
when he was drafted as an import player by the Fujian Sturgeons with the 2nd pick in the 2nd round of the 2005 Chinese Basketball Association
Chinese Basketball Association
The Chinese Basketball Association , often abbreviated to the CBA, is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in China.The league is commonly known as the CBA, and this acronym is often used even in Chinese...
International Player Draft. He quickly established himself as the marquee player of Fujian. In fact, the team used its 1st round pick in the 2006 Draft in order to re-sign Porter.http://www.usba-inc.com/cba_draft_2006.php Porter was voted by the fans as a member of the 2007 CBA All-Star team, chosen to play against the All-Star team of the Korean Basketball League
Korean Basketball League
The Korean Basketball League, often abbreviated to the KBL, is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in South Korea. Its inaugural season was in 1997. The season starts in October and ends in April the following year. The KBL consists of 10 teams. Each team plays 54 games . Each team...
. Porter did not disappoint, scoring 30 points and grabbing 17 rebounds in the two-game exhibition. In the 2007 CBA Draft, Fujian again used their first round pick to retain Porter's services.http://www.usba-inc.com/cba_draft.php He later played for the Powerade Tigers of the Philippine Basketball Association
Philippine Basketball Association
The Philippine Basketball Association , is a men's professional basketball league in the Philippines composed of 10 company-branded franchised teams. It is the first and oldest professional basketball league in Asia and the second oldest in the world after the NBA...
. The team went winless in the 2011 PBA Governors Cup
2011 PBA Governors Cup
- Imports :The following is the list of imports, which had played for their respective teams at least once, with the returning imports in italics. Highlighted are the imports who stayed with their respective teams for the entire conference....
0-8 and did not compete in the semi-final round.
Drug arrests
Chris Porter has been arrested numerous times for drugs. The first time happen in the summer of 2001 when Alabama police found small plastic bags of cocaine and marijuana in the car he was driving. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/nba/news/2001/08/24/porter_drugchargers_ap/ He eventually plead guilty to a misdemeanor marijuana charge. In 2006, Alabama police charged him with driving under the influence and second-degree possession of marijuana. http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=ncb&id=2395676 In November 2010, he pled guilty to a misdemeanor marijuana charge and was sentenced to a year in jail which he is expected to begin serving once the basketball season in China finishes. http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2010/11/former_auburn_basketball_star.htmlExternal links
- Fujian Sturgeons Team Roster
- FIBA Europe Player Stats
- Italian Serie A Player Stats
- Chris Porter: "I still think about returning to the NBA" by Jorge Sierra September 5, 2003
- BasketballReference.com College & NBA Player Stats
- Sports Illustrated Player Bio
- ESPN NBA Draft 2000 Player Bio
- Google Video: Auburn Mix