Dan Majerle
Encyclopedia
Daniel Lewis Majerle is a retired American
professional basketball
player and currently an assistant coach for the Phoenix Suns
of the NBA
. Known by his fans as "Downtown Dan," "Thunder Dan," and "Dan the Man," he played 14 years in the NBA, primarily with the Phoenix Suns, also with the Miami Heat
and, briefly, the Cleveland Cavaliers
. He won a bronze medal with the US national team at the 1988 Summer Olympics
, and won a gold medal at the 1994 FIBA World Championship
.
. He starred for Traverse City High School (now Traverse City Central High School
) and Central Michigan University
.
The Phoenix Suns selected Majerle with the 14th pick of the 1988 NBA Draft
, which the Suns acquired (along with Kevin Johnson
) in a trade from the Cleveland Cavaliers
for Larry Nance. During the draft, he was promptly booed when his name was announced over the public address
system. Suns coach Cotton Fitzsimmons
publicly chastised the Suns fans and told them "you'll be sorry you ever booed this young man". His prediction was evident as Majerle was one of the most popular players throughout the years he played in the NBA and was capped on April 17, 2002 when he officially retired in his second stint as a member of the Phoenix Suns.
His "Thunder Dan" nickname originated from his "thunderous" dunks
in his early career, but as he grew older his style of play transitioned to that of a perimeter shooter and defensive specialist. He was one of the Suns' better 3-point
threats during their '90s playoff runs.
Majerle found his niche as the sixth man off the bench. He was voted an all-star starter by the fans in 1992, the first time in NBA history a starter on the all-star team wasn't even a starter on his own team (Kobe Bryant became the second NBA player to achieve this feat during the 1997-98 season). He eventually made his way into the starting lineup and continued his great level of play there.
Majerle was inducted into the Suns' "Ring of Honor" on March 9, 2003. In 2006, he was inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame
.
Majerle is currently an assistant coach with the Phoenix Suns. He also owns three sports grill restaurants.
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 and currently an assistant coach for the Phoenix Suns
Phoenix Suns
The Phoenix Suns are a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association and the only team in their division not to be based in California. Their home arena since 1992 has been the US...
of the NBA
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
. Known by his fans as "Downtown Dan," "Thunder Dan," and "Dan the Man," he played 14 years in the NBA, primarily with the Phoenix Suns, also with the Miami Heat
Miami Heat
The Miami Heat is a professional basketball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. The team is a member of the Southeast Division in the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . They play their home games at American Airlines Arena in Downtown Miami...
and, briefly, the Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers are a professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They began playing in the National Basketball Association in 1970 as an expansion team...
. He won a bronze medal with the US national team at the 1988 Summer Olympics
1988 Summer Olympics
The 1988 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIV Olympiad, were an all international multi-sport events celebrated from September 17 to October 2, 1988 in Seoul, South Korea. They were the second summer Olympic Games to be held in Asia and the first since the 1964 Summer Olympics...
, and won a gold medal at the 1994 FIBA World Championship
1994 FIBA World Championship
The 1994 FIBA World Championship was an international basketball competition hosted by Canada from August 4 to August 14, 1994. The tournament was held at SkyDome and Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto as well as at Copps Coliseum in Hamilton...
.
Biography
Majerle was born in Traverse City, MichiganTraverse City, Michigan
Traverse City is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is the county seat of Grand Traverse County, although a small portion extends into Leelanau County. It is the largest city in the 21-county Northern Michigan region. The population was 14,674 at the 2010 census, with 143,372 in the Traverse...
. He starred for Traverse City High School (now Traverse City Central High School
Central High School (Traverse City)
Traverse City Central High School is a public high school in Traverse City, Michigan, located at 1150 Milliken Drive. The principal is Dr. Rick Vandermolen.It is one of three high schools in Traverse City, with over 1,500 students each year...
) and Central Michigan University
Central Michigan University
Central Michigan University is a public research university located in Mount Pleasant in the U.S. state of Michigan...
.
The Phoenix Suns selected Majerle with the 14th pick of the 1988 NBA Draft
1988 NBA Draft
The 1988 NBA Draft took place on June 28, 1988 in New York City, New York. The length was reduced from seven rounds in the previous year to three rounds.-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:-Notable undrafted players:...
, which the Suns acquired (along with Kevin Johnson
Kevin Johnson
Kevin Maurice Johnson is the current mayor of Sacramento, California. He is Sacramento's first African American mayor. Prior to entering politics, Johnson was a basketball player in the NBA, playing point guard for the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Phoenix Suns...
) in a trade from the Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers are a professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They began playing in the National Basketball Association in 1970 as an expansion team...
for Larry Nance. During the draft, he was promptly booed when his name was announced over the public address
Public address
A public address system is an electronic amplification system with a mixer, amplifier and loudspeakers, used to reinforce a sound source, e.g., a person giving a speech, a DJ playing prerecorded music, and distributing the sound throughout a venue or building.Simple PA systems are often used in...
system. Suns coach Cotton Fitzsimmons
Cotton Fitzsimmons
Lowell "Cotton" Fitzsimmons was a college and NBA basketball coach. A native of Hannibal, Missouri, he attended and played basketball at Hannibal-LaGrange Junior College in Hannibal and Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, Texas...
publicly chastised the Suns fans and told them "you'll be sorry you ever booed this young man". His prediction was evident as Majerle was one of the most popular players throughout the years he played in the NBA and was capped on April 17, 2002 when he officially retired in his second stint as a member of the Phoenix Suns.
His "Thunder Dan" nickname originated from his "thunderous" dunks
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...
in his early career, but as he grew older his style of play transitioned to that of a perimeter shooter and defensive specialist. He was one of the Suns' better 3-point
Three-point field goal
A three-point field goal is a field goal in a basketball game, made from beyond the three-point line, a designated arc radiating from the basket...
threats during their '90s playoff runs.
Majerle found his niche as the sixth man off the bench. He was voted an all-star starter by the fans in 1992, the first time in NBA history a starter on the all-star team wasn't even a starter on his own team (Kobe Bryant became the second NBA player to achieve this feat during the 1997-98 season). He eventually made his way into the starting lineup and continued his great level of play there.
Majerle was inducted into the Suns' "Ring of Honor" on March 9, 2003. In 2006, he was inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame
Michigan Sports Hall of Fame
The Michigan Sports Hall of Fame is a Hall of Fame to honor Michigan sports people. It was organized in 1954 by Michigan Lieutenant Governor Philip Hart, Michigan State University athletic director Biggie Munn, president of the Greater Michigan Foundation Donald Weeks, general manager of the...
.
Majerle is currently an assistant coach with the Phoenix Suns. He also owns three sports grill restaurants.
See also
- List of National Basketball Association career 3-point scoring leaders
- List of National Basketball Association career playoff 3-point scoring leaders