Kendall Gill
Encyclopedia
Kendall Cedric Gill is a retired American
professional basketball
player, now a sports analyst for Comcast Sports Net and the Big Ten Network.
, Illinois
and attended Rich Central High School
in Olympia Fields, Illinois
. Graduating in 1986, as a senior Gill led Rich Central to a 2nd place finish in the IHSA
class AA state boys basketball tournament. Gill led Rich Central in scoring with 54 points in the 4 games of the tournament finals, and was named to the six-player All-Tournament team.
After high school, Gill attended the University of Illinois
. Playing four years for the Fighting Illini
, Gill was a starter for his last three seasons. As a junior, Gill led the Fighting Illini to the 1989 Final Four
before losing to Michigan on a last second shot. Also among that fabled "Flyin' Illini" squadron were future NBA players Nick Anderson
, Marcus Liberty
, Kenny Battle
and Illini TV/radio broadcaster Stephen Bardo
as well as four year starter, Lowell Hamilton
. As a senior, Gill led the Big Ten
in scoring and was named a first-team All-American (UPI). Gill left Illinois as the 7th all-time leading scorer in school history. Gill's Illini earned NCAA bids each year he played. Gill also won the NCAA Slam Dunk championship at the Final Four his senior season.
Gill was elected to the "Illini Men's Basketball All-Century Team" in 2004.
with the fifth overall pick by the Charlotte Hornets, and was named First Team All-Rookie for the 1990-91 season. Kendall also participated in an NBA Slam-Dunk Competition. Gill played in 15 seasons in the NBA for the Hornets (including two separate stints), Seattle SuperSonics
, New Jersey Nets
, Miami Heat
, Minnesota Timberwolves
, Chicago Bulls
, and Milwaukee Bucks
. In two different seasons Gill averaged over 20 points per game, first as a second-year player for the Hornets in 1991-92
(20.5 ppg), and again for the Nets in 1996-97 (21.8 ppg). In the 1997-98 NBA season
, Gill led the league in steals as a member of the Nets. On April 3, 1999, he recorded 11 steals in a game against Miami, tying Larry Kenon
's single-game record. In this game, he also recorded 15 points and 10 rebounds for a rare Points-Rebounds-Steals triple double. Gill's career totals include 12,914 points in 966 regular season games. He made an appearance as himself in a Nickelodeon TV Show, My Brother and Me
.
, eventually entering the professional ranks. Gill had his first bout on June 25, 2005 at the age of 37.
Gill was added to Comcast SportsNet
's studio coverage of the Chicago Bulls as analyst prior to the 2006-2007 NBA season. He has also served as a college basketball analyst for the Big Ten Network.
He appeared on the January 23, 2008 edition of Spike TV
's Pros vs. Joes.
On May 15, 2010, Gill sang a rendition of 'Take Me Out to the Ballgame' at Wrigley Field
, home of the Chicago Cubs
, as they took on the Pittsburgh Pirates
.
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, now a sports analyst for Comcast Sports Net and the Big Ten Network.
Early life
Gill was born in ChicagoChicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
and attended Rich Central High School
Rich Central High School
Rich Central High School or RCHS, is a public four-year high school located in Olympia Fields, Illinois, a southern suburb of Chicago, Illinois, in the United States. The Rich Central Campus serves the cities of Olympia Fields, Matteson, Richton Park,...
in Olympia Fields, Illinois
Olympia Fields, Illinois
Olympia Fields is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 4,732 at the 2000 census. It is the location of the prestigious Olympia Fields Country Club, and is also noteworthy as one of the wealthiest majority black communities in the United States...
. Graduating in 1986, as a senior Gill led Rich Central to a 2nd place finish in the IHSA
Illinois High School Association
The Illinois High School Association is one of 521 state high school associations in the United States, designed to regulate competition in most interscholastic sports and some interscholastic activities at the high school level. It is a charter member of the National Federation of State High...
class AA state boys basketball tournament. Gill led Rich Central in scoring with 54 points in the 4 games of the tournament finals, and was named to the six-player All-Tournament team.
After high school, Gill attended the University of Illinois
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign is a large public research-intensive university in the state of Illinois, United States. It is the flagship campus of the University of Illinois system...
. Playing four years for the Fighting Illini
Illinois Fighting Illini
The Fighting Illini are the intercollegiate athletic teams of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The University offers 10 men's and 11 women's varsity sports....
, Gill was a starter for his last three seasons. As a junior, Gill led the Fighting Illini to the 1989 Final Four
1989 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1989 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 16, 1989, and ended with the championship game on April 3 in Seattle, Washington...
before losing to Michigan on a last second shot. Also among that fabled "Flyin' Illini" squadron were future NBA players Nick Anderson
Nick Anderson
Nelison "Nick" Anderson is a former American professional basketball player. He attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign for two years, playing on the team that reached the NCAA Final Four in 1989. That Fighting Illini team gained the moniker "Flyin' Illini" by Dick Vitale while...
, Marcus Liberty
Marcus Liberty
Marcus Liberty is a retired American professional basketball player.-High School:Liberty attended Chicago King High School from 1983 to 1987. During his time at King, Liberty led his basketball teams to an IHSA State Championship in 1986 and a second-place finish in 1987...
, Kenny Battle
Kenny Battle
Kenneth R. "Kenny" Battle is an American retired professional basketball player.-High school career:...
and Illini TV/radio broadcaster Stephen Bardo
Stephen Bardo
Stephen Dean "Steve" Bardo is a retired American professional basketball player, in the shooting guard position.-Basketball career:...
as well as four year starter, Lowell Hamilton
Lowell Hamilton
Lowell Hamilton was a former high school and college basketball player during the 1980s. Hamilton, a dominant high school center, led Chicago's Providence-St. Mel to a third-place finish in the I.H.S.A. 1984 high school playoffs, as well as a Class A state title in 1985...
. As a senior, Gill led the Big Ten
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
in scoring and was named a first-team All-American (UPI). Gill left Illinois as the 7th all-time leading scorer in school history. Gill's Illini earned NCAA bids each year he played. Gill also won the NCAA Slam Dunk championship at the Final Four his senior season.
Gill was elected to the "Illini Men's Basketball All-Century Team" in 2004.
NBA career
Gill was chosen in the 1990 NBA Draft1990 NBA Draft
The 1990 NBA Draft took place on June 27, 1990, in New York City, New York. This draft produced only one perennial All-Star,Gary Payton. Among the 54 picks, Payton is considered by far the best pick of the draft. Payton went on to be considered one of the greatest point guards of all time...
with the fifth overall pick by the Charlotte Hornets, and was named First Team All-Rookie for the 1990-91 season. Kendall also participated in an NBA Slam-Dunk Competition. Gill played in 15 seasons in the NBA for the Hornets (including two separate stints), Seattle SuperSonics
Seattle SuperSonics
The Seattle SuperSonics were an American professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington that played in the Pacific and Northwest Divisions of the National Basketball Association from 1967 until 2008. Following the 2007–08 season, the team relocated to Oklahoma City, and now plays as...
, New Jersey Nets
New Jersey Nets
The New Jersey Nets are a professional basketball team based in Newark, New Jersey. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
, 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...
, Minnesota Timberwolves
Minnesota Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves are an American professional basketball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . Founded in 1989, the team is currently owned by Glen Taylor...
, 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...
, and Milwaukee Bucks
Milwaukee Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks are a professional basketball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. They are part of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1968 as an expansion team, and currently plays at the Bradley Center....
. In two different seasons Gill averaged over 20 points per game, first as a second-year player for the Hornets in 1991-92
1991-92 NBA season
-Statistics leaders:-NBA awards:*Most Valuable Player: Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls*Rookie of the Year: Larry Johnson, Charlotte Hornets*Defensive Player of the Year: David Robinson, San Antonio Spurs...
(20.5 ppg), and again for the Nets in 1996-97 (21.8 ppg). In the 1997-98 NBA season
1997-98 NBA season
The 1997–98 NBA season was the 52nd season of the National Basketball Association. The season ended with the Chicago Bulls winning their third straight championship and sixth in the last eight years, beating the Utah Jazz 4 games to 2 in the 1998 NBA Finals...
, Gill led the league in steals as a member of the Nets. On April 3, 1999, he recorded 11 steals in a game against Miami, tying Larry Kenon
Larry Kenon
Larry Joe Kenon is an American former professional basketball player.A 6'9" forward who had a productive career in both the American Basketball Association and the National Basketball Association , Kenon played for the New York Nets, San Antonio Spurs, Chicago Bulls, Golden State Warriors and...
's single-game record. In this game, he also recorded 15 points and 10 rebounds for a rare Points-Rebounds-Steals triple double. Gill's career totals include 12,914 points in 966 regular season games. He made an appearance as himself in a Nickelodeon TV Show, My Brother and Me
My Brother and Me
My Brother and Me is a sitcom on Nickelodeon that premiered on October 15, 1994, and ran until February 2, 1995. The show is about a family living in the West Side of Charlotte, North Carolina, who experience the highs and lows of everyday life. Jennifer and Roger Parker have two sons, Alfie and...
.
After retiring as a player
As a means to maintain his conditioning, Gill took up boxingBoxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
, eventually entering the professional ranks. Gill had his first bout on June 25, 2005 at the age of 37.
Gill was added to Comcast SportsNet
Comcast SportsNet
Comcast SportsNet is a group of regional sports networks in the United States primarily owned by the Comcast cable television company....
's studio coverage of the Chicago Bulls as analyst prior to the 2006-2007 NBA season. He has also served as a college basketball analyst for the Big Ten Network.
He appeared on the January 23, 2008 edition of Spike TV
Spike TV
Spike is an American cable television channel. It launched on March 7, 1983 as The Nashville Network , a joint venture of WSM, Inc...
's Pros vs. Joes.
On May 15, 2010, Gill sang a rendition of 'Take Me Out to the Ballgame' at Wrigley Field
Wrigley Field
Wrigley Field is a baseball stadium in Chicago, Illinois, United States that has served as the home ballpark of the Chicago Cubs since 1916. It was built in 1914 as Weeghman Park for the Chicago Federal League baseball team, the Chicago Whales...
, home of the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
, as they took on the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
.
NBA stats
| Season | Team | GP | GS | MIN | FG% | 3P% | FT% | OFF | DEF | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | PF | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte Charlotte Hornets (NBA) The Charlotte Hornets was a professional American basketball team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They played in the Atlantic, Midwest, and Central divisions of the National Basketball Association. The Hornets began play during the 1988–89 NBA season as an expansion franchise, along with the... |
82 | 36 | 23.7 | .450 | .143 | .835 | 1.3 | 1.9 | 3.2 | 3.7 | 1.3 | .5 | 2.0 | 2.3 | 11.0 | |
| Charlotte Charlotte Hornets (NBA) The Charlotte Hornets was a professional American basketball team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They played in the Atlantic, Midwest, and Central divisions of the National Basketball Association. The Hornets began play during the 1988–89 NBA season as an expansion franchise, along with the... |
79 | 79 | 36.8 | .467 | .240 | .745 | 2.1 | 3.0 | 5.1 | 4.2 | 1.9 | .6 | 2.3 | 3.0 | 20.5 | |
| Charlotte Charlotte Hornets (NBA) The Charlotte Hornets was a professional American basketball team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They played in the Atlantic, Midwest, and Central divisions of the National Basketball Association. The Hornets began play during the 1988–89 NBA season as an expansion franchise, along with the... |
69 | 67 | 35.2 | .449 | .274 | .772 | 1.7 | 3.2 | 4.9 | 3.9 | 1.4 | .5 | 2.5 | 2.8 | 16.9 | |
| Seattle Seattle SuperSonics The Seattle SuperSonics were an American professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington that played in the Pacific and Northwest Divisions of the National Basketball Association from 1967 until 2008. Following the 2007–08 season, the team relocated to Oklahoma City, and now plays as... |
79 | 77 | 30.8 | .443 | .317 | .782 | 1.2 | 2.2 | 3.4 | 3.5 | 1.9 | .4 | 1.8 | 2.5 | 14.1 | |
| Seattle Seattle SuperSonics The Seattle SuperSonics were an American professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington that played in the Pacific and Northwest Divisions of the National Basketball Association from 1967 until 2008. Following the 2007–08 season, the team relocated to Oklahoma City, and now plays as... |
73 | 58 | 29.1 | .457 | .368 | .742 | 1.4 | 2.6 | 4.0 | 2.6 | 1.6 | .4 | 1.9 | 2.5 | 13.7 | |
| Charlotte Charlotte Hornets Charlotte Hornets may refer to several sports teams based in Charlotte, North Carolina:* Charlotte Hornets , a professional basketball team that was based in Charlotte, North Carolina... /New Jersey New Jersey Nets The New Jersey Nets are a professional basketball team based in Newark, New Jersey. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association... |
47 | 46 | 35.8 | .469 | .329 | .784 | 1.5 | 3.4 | 4.9 | 5.5 | 1.4 | .5 | 2.8 | 2.8 | 14.0 | |
| New Jersey New Jersey Nets The New Jersey Nets are a professional basketball team based in Newark, New Jersey. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association... |
82 | 81 | 39.0 | .443 | .336 | .797 | 2.2 | 3.9 | 6.1 | 4.0 | 1.9 | .6 | 2.7 | 2.7 | 21.8 | |
| New Jersey New Jersey Nets The New Jersey Nets are a professional basketball team based in Newark, New Jersey. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association... |
81 | 81 | 33.7 | .429 | .257 | .688 | 1.4 | 3.4 | 4.8 | 2.5 | 1.9 | .8 | 1.5 | 3.3 | 13.4 | |
| New Jersey New Jersey Nets The New Jersey Nets are a professional basketball team based in Newark, New Jersey. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association... |
50 | 47 | 32.1 | .398 | .118 | .683 | 1.2 | 3.7 | 4.9 | 2.5 | 2.7 | .5 | 1.4 | 3.2 | 11.8 | |
| New Jersey New Jersey Nets The New Jersey Nets are a professional basketball team based in Newark, New Jersey. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association... |
76 | 75 | 31.0 | .414 | .256 | .710 | 1.1 | 2.6 | 3.7 | 2.8 | 1.8 | .5 | 1.2 | 2.8 | 13.1 | |
| New Jersey New Jersey Nets The New Jersey Nets are a professional basketball team based in Newark, New Jersey. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association... |
31 | 26 | 28.8 | .331 | .286 | .722 | 1.0 | 3.2 | 4.2 | 2.8 | 1.5 | .2 | 1.5 | 2.1 | 9.1 | |
| Miami 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... |
65 | 49 | 21.7 | .384 | .136 | .677 | .4 | 2.4 | 2.8 | 1.5 | .7 | .1 | .8 | 2.2 | 5.7 | |
| Minnesota Minnesota Timberwolves The Minnesota Timberwolves are an American professional basketball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . Founded in 1989, the team is currently owned by Glen Taylor... |
82 | 34 | 25.2 | .422 | .322 | .764 | .6 | 2.4 | 3.0 | 1.9 | 1.0 | .2 | 1.3 | 2.1 | 8.7 | |
| Chicago 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... |
56 | 35 | 25.2 | .392 | .237 | .735 | 1.1 | 2.3 | 3.4 | 1.6 | 1.2 | .3 | 1.5 | 1.9 | 9.6 | |
| Milwaukee Milwaukee Bucks The Milwaukee Bucks are a professional basketball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. They are part of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1968 as an expansion team, and currently plays at the Bradley Center.... |
14 | 0 | 20.3 | .400 | .333 | .900 | .8 | 1.9 | 2.6 | 1.9 | 1.0 | .3 | .6 | 2.6 | 6.1 | |
| Career | 966 | 791 | 30.5 | .434 | .300 | .754 | 1.3 | 2.8 | 4.1 | 3.0 | 1.6 | .4 | 1.8 | 2.6 | 13.4 | |
| Playoffs | 27 | 17 | 29.5 | .408 | .259 | .686 | 1.6 | 2.1 | 3.7 | 2.1 | 1.4 | .4 | 1.4 | 2.7 | 11.9 | |
See also
- List of National Basketball Association career steals leaders
- List of National Basketball Association players with most steals in a game