Don MacLean (basketball)
Encyclopedia
Donald James MacLean is a retired American
professional basketball
player in the NBA. As a college player, he holds the distinction of being the all-time scoring leader of both the Pac-10 Conference and UCLA
, although Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
would have most likely attained both of those records had freshmen been allowed to play on the varsity team at UCLA at the time (Abdul-Jabbar tallied 2,325 points in three years to MacLean's 2,608 in four years).
After graduating from Simi Valley High School
in Simi Valley, California
where he was an All-American, he played in college at UCLA
from 1989 to 1992. He still holds the school record for points scored (2,608) which is also the Pac-10 Conference's all-time scoring record, passing Sean Elliott
's then record of 2,555 points. In his senior season, he led UCLA to the 1992 Elite 8. In 1994, MacLean won the NBA Most Improved Player Award
.
MacLean, along with his 1994-95 Washington Bullets
teammates Rex Chapman
, Tom Gugliotta
, and Scott Skiles
, all reunited in Phoenix
in 1999-2000
when Chapman, Gugliotta, and MacLean were Suns players and Skiles was the head coach. As highly productive scoring Bullets teammates in 1994-95, Chapman averaged 16.2 points per game (ranked 4th highest on the team), Gugliotta averaged 16.0 (5th on the team), Skiles averaged 13.0 (6th on the team), and MacLean averaged 11.0 (7th on the team). However, as Suns teammates, Gugliotta averaged 13.7 (5th on the team), Chapman averaged only 6.6 (9th on the team), and MacLean averaged only 2.6 (15th on the team).
MacLean tested positive for steroids
in 2000, although Charles Barkley
came to his defense, saying, "I've seen Don MacLean naked, and he doesn't use steroids."
MacLean now serves as an analyst with the UCLA ISP Sports Network during the UCLA Bruins
Basketball season. He also does pregame and postgame analysis for the Los Angeles Clippers.
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 in the NBA. As a college player, he holds the distinction of being the all-time scoring leader of both the Pac-10 Conference and UCLA
University of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles is a public research university located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA. It was founded in 1919 as the "Southern Branch" of the University of California and is the second oldest of the ten campuses...
, although Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is a retired American professional basketball player. He is the NBA's all-time leading scorer, with 38,387 points. During his career with the NBA's Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers from 1969 to 1989, Abdul-Jabbar won six NBA championships and a record six regular season...
would have most likely attained both of those records had freshmen been allowed to play on the varsity team at UCLA at the time (Abdul-Jabbar tallied 2,325 points in three years to MacLean's 2,608 in four years).
After graduating from Simi Valley High School
Simi Valley High School
Simi Valley High School is a secondary school located in Simi Valley, California, nestling in the shadow of the Santa Susana Mountains, adjacent to the San Fernando Valley. It was established in 1920 as the valley's first high school. Simi Valley High School has undergone several configurations...
in Simi Valley, California
Simi Valley, California
-2010:The 2010 United States Census reported that Simi Valley had a population of 124,237. The population density was 2,940.8 people per square mile...
where he was an All-American, he played in college at UCLA
University of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles is a public research university located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA. It was founded in 1919 as the "Southern Branch" of the University of California and is the second oldest of the ten campuses...
from 1989 to 1992. He still holds the school record for points scored (2,608) which is also the Pac-10 Conference's all-time scoring record, passing Sean Elliott
Sean Elliott
Sean Michael Elliott is a retired American professional basketball player in the NBA.-Early life:Elliott was born in Tucson, Arizona and was youngest of three boys. He was a very intelligent boy growing up and attended the G.A.T.E. program at Toleson Elementary School in Tucson, Arizona...
's then record of 2,555 points. In his senior season, he led UCLA to the 1992 Elite 8. In 1994, MacLean won the NBA Most Improved Player Award
NBA Most Improved Player Award
The National Basketball Association's Most Improved Player Award is an annual National Basketball Association award given since the 1985–86 NBA season, to the most improved player of the regular season. The winner is selected by a panel of sportswriters throughout the United States and Canada,...
.
MacLean, along with his 1994-95 Washington Bullets
Washington Wizards
The Washington Wizards are a professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C., previously known as Washington Bullets. They play in the National Basketball Association .-Early years:...
teammates Rex Chapman
Rex Chapman
Rex Everett Chapman is a retired American professional basketball player. Chapman was a college standout at the University of Kentucky and went on to play for four NBA teams through his 12-year career in the league...
, Tom Gugliotta
Tom Gugliotta
Thomas James Gugliotta is a former American professional basketball player....
, and Scott Skiles
Scott Skiles
Scott Allen Skiles is the head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks and former American professional basketball player. He also is the former head coach of the NBA's Chicago Bulls and Phoenix Suns. Skiles holds the NBA record for assists in one game, with 30...
, all reunited in Phoenix
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...
in 1999-2000
1999-2000 NBA season
-Statistics leaders:-NBA awards:*Most Valuable Player: Shaquille O'Neal, Los Angeles Lakers*Co-Rookies of the Year: Elton Brand, Chicago Bulls; Steve Francis, Houston Rockets*Defensive Player of the Year: Alonzo Mourning, Miami Heat...
when Chapman, Gugliotta, and MacLean were Suns players and Skiles was the head coach. As highly productive scoring Bullets teammates in 1994-95, Chapman averaged 16.2 points per game (ranked 4th highest on the team), Gugliotta averaged 16.0 (5th on the team), Skiles averaged 13.0 (6th on the team), and MacLean averaged 11.0 (7th on the team). However, as Suns teammates, Gugliotta averaged 13.7 (5th on the team), Chapman averaged only 6.6 (9th on the team), and MacLean averaged only 2.6 (15th on the team).
MacLean tested positive for steroids
Anabolic steroid
Anabolic steroids, technically known as anabolic-androgen steroids or colloquially simply as "steroids", are drugs that mimic the effects of testosterone and dihydrotestosterone in the body. They increase protein synthesis within cells, which results in the buildup of cellular tissue ,...
in 2000, although Charles Barkley
Charles Barkley
Charles Wade Barkley is a former American professional basketball player. Nicknamed "Sir Charles" and "The Round Mound of Rebound", Barkley established himself as one of the National Basketball Association's most dominating power forwards...
came to his defense, saying, "I've seen Don MacLean naked, and he doesn't use steroids."
MacLean now serves as an analyst with the UCLA ISP Sports Network during the UCLA Bruins
UCLA Bruins
The UCLA Bruins are the sports teams for University of California, Los Angeles . The Bruin men's and women's teams participate in NCAA Division I as part of the Pacific-12 Conference and the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation . For football, they are in the Football Bowl Subdivision of Division I...
Basketball season. He also does pregame and postgame analysis for the Los Angeles Clippers.
External links
- College & NBA stats @ basketballreference.com