George Lynch (basketball)
Encyclopedia
George DeWitt Lynch III (born September 3, 1970, in Roanoke, Virginia
) is a retired American
professional basketball
player in the NBA
. He holds the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill basketball record for most career steals.
Lynch was raised in Roanoke, Virginia
and played basketball at Patrick Henry High for coach Woody Dean. Lynch was part of the 1989 Virginia State Champion Team at Patrick Henry. For his senior year, he transferred to Flint Hill School
, a prep school located outside Washington D.C. to better his chances at college prospects.
After leading the University of North Carolina
to an NCAA title
in 1993, he was selected by the Los Angeles Lakers
with the 12th overall pick in that year's NBA Draft
. With the Lakers, he wore three different jersey numbers - #24, #30 and #9. Lynch was traded to the Vancouver Grizzlies
along with Anthony Peeler
in 1996 in order to open up salary cap space in order to sign Shaquille O'Neal
. He joined the Philadelphia 76ers
as a free agent
in 1999.
It was with Theo Ratliff
, Tyrone Hill
, Eric Snow
, Dikembe Mutombo
, Allen Iverson
, and coach Larry Brown
that he helped form one of the better defenses in the league.
After playing with the 76ers for three seasons, he was traded to the Charlotte Hornets in a three-way trade also involving Derrick Coleman
, Jerome Moiso
, Robert Traylor
, and Vonteego Cummings
, among others, in 2001, retiring after 2004-05.
On December 20, 2006, he joined the Southern Methodist University
men's basketball staff under head coach Matt Doherty, who was part of North Carolina Tar Heels
1981-1982 NCAA championship team (thus, both played for coach Dean Smith
). Lynch became the team's administrative assistant/graduate manager.
Roanoke, Virginia
Roanoke is an independent city in the Mid-Atlantic U.S. state of Virginia and is the tenth-largest city in the Commonwealth. It is located in the Roanoke Valley of the Roanoke Region of Virginia. The population within the city limits was 97,032 as of 2010...
) 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 in 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...
. He holds the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill basketball record for most career steals.
Lynch was raised in Roanoke, Virginia
Roanoke, Virginia
Roanoke is an independent city in the Mid-Atlantic U.S. state of Virginia and is the tenth-largest city in the Commonwealth. It is located in the Roanoke Valley of the Roanoke Region of Virginia. The population within the city limits was 97,032 as of 2010...
and played basketball at Patrick Henry High for coach Woody Dean. Lynch was part of the 1989 Virginia State Champion Team at Patrick Henry. For his senior year, he transferred to Flint Hill School
Flint Hill School
Flint Hill School, founded in 1956, is a private, co-educational, college preparatory school, in Oakton, Virginia, in the United States. Its campus is located in the heart of Fairfax County close to the Vienna Metro and just off major routes into Washington, DC and the Dulles Technology...
, a prep school located outside Washington D.C. to better his chances at college prospects.
After leading the University of North Carolina
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
to an NCAA title
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 1993, he was selected by the Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
with the 12th overall pick in that year's NBA Draft
1993 NBA Draft
The 1993 NBA Draft took place on June 30, 1993 in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The draft had some talented players at the top, but injuries and personal problems hurt many of them. Anfernee Hardaway, Allan Houston, and Jamal Mashburn all looked like possible Hall of Famers until their careers were cut...
. With the Lakers, he wore three different jersey numbers - #24, #30 and #9. Lynch was traded to the Vancouver Grizzlies
Memphis Grizzlies
The Memphis Grizzlies are a professional basketball team based in Memphis, Tennessee, USA. The team is part of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . Along with the Toronto Raptors, the Grizzlies were established in 1995 as part of the NBA's...
along with Anthony Peeler
Anthony Peeler
Anthony Eugene Peeler is a retired American professional basketball player, having played for a number of NBA teams from 1992 to 2005...
in 1996 in order to open up salary cap space in order to sign Shaquille O'Neal
Shaquille O'Neal
Shaquille Rashaun O'Neal , nicknamed "Shaq" , is a former American professional basketball player. Standing tall and weighing , he was one of the heaviest players ever to play in the NBA...
. He joined the Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers are a professional basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . Originally known as the Syracuse Nationals, they are one of the oldest franchises in the NBA...
as a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
in 1999.
It was with Theo Ratliff
Theo Ratliff
Theophilus Curtis Ratliff , better known as Theo Ratliff, is an American professional basketball player who last played with the NBA's Los Angeles Lakers. Primarily a center, he was an excellent shot-blocker who has led the league three times in blocks per game...
, Tyrone Hill
Tyrone Hill
Tyrone Hill is a retired American basketball player and, since 2008–09, assistant coach for the NBA's Atlanta Hawks. Hill spent four years playing collegiately at Xavier University, in his last season averaging 20.2 points and 12.6 rebounds per game, while shooting 58.1% from the field...
, Eric Snow
Eric Snow
Eric Snow is a retired American professional basketball player and businessman. He is now an analyst on NBA TV and an announcer for the Philadelphia 76ers.-High school career:...
, Dikembe Mutombo
Dikembe Mutombo
Dikembe Mutombo Mpolondo Mukamba Jean-Jacques Wamutombo , commonly referred to as Dikembe Mutombo, is a retired Congolese American professional basketball player who last played for the Houston Rockets of the NBA...
, Allen Iverson
Allen Iverson
Allen Ezail Iverson is an American professional basketball point guard and shooting guard. He was selected by the Philadelphia 76ers with the number one pick in the 1996 NBA Draft. He was named the NBA Rookie of the Year in the 1996–97 season...
, and coach Larry Brown
Larry Brown (basketball)
Lawrence Harvey "Larry" Brown is an American basketball coach and former player. He most recently served as head coach of the National Basketball Association's Charlotte Bobcats....
that he helped form one of the better defenses in the league.
After playing with the 76ers for three seasons, he was traded to the Charlotte Hornets in a three-way trade also involving Derrick Coleman
Derrick Coleman
Derrick D. Coleman is a retired American basketball player in the NBA. Coleman grew up and attended high school in Detroit, Michigan and attended college at Syracuse University...
, Jerome Moiso
Jérome Moïso
Jérôme Moïso is a French professional basketball player.-College career:He played college basketball at UCLA with the UCLA Bruins.-Pro career:...
, Robert Traylor
Robert Traylor
Robert DeShaun "Tractor" Traylor was an American professional basketball player.-High school and college:...
, and Vonteego Cummings
Vonteego Cummings
Vonteego Marfeek Cummings is an American professional basketball player. He is a 1.91 m combo guard who has played in the National Basketball Association during his career. He has also had a successful career in Europe where he has played in several different countries...
, among others, in 2001, retiring after 2004-05.
On December 20, 2006, he joined the Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University is a private university in Dallas, Texas, United States. Founded in 1911 by the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, SMU operates campuses in Dallas, Plano, and Taos, New Mexico. SMU is owned by the South Central Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church...
men's basketball staff under head coach Matt Doherty, who was part of 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...
1981-1982 NCAA championship team (thus, both played for coach Dean Smith
Dean Smith
Dean Edwards Smith is a retired American head coach of men's college basketball. Originally from Emporia, Kansas, Smith has been called a “coaching legend” by the Basketball Hall of Fame. Smith is best known for his successful 36-year coaching tenure at the University of North Carolina at Chapel...
). Lynch became the team's administrative assistant/graduate manager.