Gene Banks
Encyclopedia
Eugene Lavon "Gene" Banks (born May 15, 1959 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
) is a retired American
professional basketball
player. He is one of a handful of players to make high school All-America three times.
, where he received the Atlantic Coast Conference
(ACC) Rookie of the Year award in 1978. He also received team MVP honors three times. His Duke career is noteworthy in other regards as well -- in 1980, during Mike Krzyzewski's first game against the Blue Devils' heated rival, the North Carolina Tar Heels
, he hit the game-winning shot as time expired, sending the crowd into a massive frenzy and ushering in a new era in Blue Devils basketball. The shot was recently voted the #1 play in the history of the rivalry according to Dukeblueplanet.com.
He went on to play six seasons in the NBA with the San Antonio Spurs
and the Chicago Bulls
. He averaged 11.3 points per game spanning over 468 games in his professional NBA career.
for Arimo Bologna
. He ended his athletic career as a member of the Maccabi Rishon Lezion
basketball club in Israel
in 1992.
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
) is a retired American
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. He is one of a handful of players to make high school All-America three times.
College & NBA Years
A 6'7" forward, Banks starred at Duke UniversityDuke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
, where he received the Atlantic Coast Conference
Atlantic Coast Conference
The Atlantic Coast Conference is a collegiate athletic league in the United States. Founded in 1953 in Greensboro, North Carolina, the ACC sanctions competition in twenty-five sports in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association for its twelve member universities...
(ACC) Rookie of the Year award in 1978. He also received team MVP honors three times. His Duke career is noteworthy in other regards as well -- in 1980, during Mike Krzyzewski's first game against the Blue Devils' heated rival, the North Carolina Tar Heels
North Carolina Tar Heels
The North Carolina Tar Heels are the athletic teams for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The name Tar Heel is a nickname used to refer to individuals from the state of North Carolina, the Tar Heel State...
, he hit the game-winning shot as time expired, sending the crowd into a massive frenzy and ushering in a new era in Blue Devils basketball. The shot was recently voted the #1 play in the history of the rivalry according to Dukeblueplanet.com.
He went on to play six seasons in the NBA with the San Antonio Spurs
San Antonio Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs are an American professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas. They are part of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association ....
and the Chicago Bulls
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1966. They play their home games at the United Center...
. He averaged 11.3 points per game spanning over 468 games in his professional NBA career.
Italian and Israeli leagues
In the 1988–1989 season he played in ItalyItaly
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
for Arimo Bologna
Fortitudo Bologna
Fortitudo Pallacanestro Bologna is an Legadue Basket professional basketball club that is based in Bologna. It's currently sponsored by Conad.-History:...
. He ended his athletic career as a member of the Maccabi Rishon Lezion
Maccabi Rishon LeZion
Maccabi Rishon LeZion is a sport club in Rishon LeZion, Israel.The professional teams associated with it include:*Maccabi Rishon LeZion *Maccabi Rishon LeZion *Maccabi Rishon LeZion...
basketball club in Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
in 1992.