Luc Longley
Encyclopedia
Lucien James "Luc" Longley (born 19 January 1969) is a retired Australian professional basketball
player, who was the first Australian to play in the NBA
, where he played for eleven seasons. Known for his passing ability and free spirit, Longley drew comparisons to fellow redhead Bill Walton
upon his entry into the NBA.
, Victoria
. At age sixteen Luc was a member of the Australian Under-19 side and the following year, 1986, he joined the Perth Wildcats
, with whom he played two games. Longley was recruited by the University of New Mexico
's basketball coach, Gary Colson
, who went to Perth to recruit Andrew Vlahov
, who attended Stanford University
. He attended college at the University of New Mexico
, between 1987–1991, where he averaged 19.1 points, 9.2 rebounds and 3.6 assists in his senior year. At nineteen he was a member of the national team for the Seoul Olympics, where they came fourth, the best result an Australian senior men's basketball team
has achieved in Olympic
competition.
Longley was drafted 7th overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves
in 1991
. In 1992 he again represented Australia at the Barcelona Olympics. After two plus mediocre seasons with the struggling franchise, the 7'2" (218 cm) center was traded to the Chicago Bulls
for Stacey King late in the 1993-94 season
. He won three straight championships with the Bulls from 1996 to 1998 as a teammate of Michael Jordan
, Scottie Pippen
, Toni Kukoč
and Dennis Rodman
.
Following the breakup of the championship Bulls in 1998, Chicago did a sign-and-trade deal with Longley, sending him to the Phoenix Suns
for Mark Bryant
, Martin Müürsepp
, Bubba Wells
, and a conditional first-round draft pick. Longley spent two lackluster seasons with Phoenix, where he gained less attention for his play than for being stung twice by a scorpion while sitting on the floor of his home sorting through his CD collection.1 (Longley also had difficulties with bodysurfing - he managed to separate his shoulder and miss 18 games in 1997. http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1009654/index.htm) He was traded to the New York Knicks
prior to the 2000–01 NBA season in what was only the second four-team trade in NBA history. The Suns acquired Chris Dudley
as part of the deal together with a first-round draft pick from New York and an undisclosed amount of cash, while New York received Longley, Glen Rice
, Travis Knight
, Vladimir Stepania
, Lazaro Borrell
, Vernon Maxwell
, two first-round draft picks (from the Los Angeles Lakers
and the Seattle SuperSonics
) and two second-round draft picks from Seattle. Seattle received Patrick Ewing
and the Lakers received Horace Grant, Greg Foster
, Chuck Person
and Emanual Davis
. Longley spent one year with New York before retiring, due to a degenerative condition in his left ankle. Longley averaged 7.20 points and 4.90 rebounds per game in his 567 regular season game NBA career. Longley played more NBA games than any other Australian.
Longley attended Scotch College, Perth
for the majority of his high schooling, was part-owner of the Perth Wildcats
basketball club in the Australian National Basketball League
for several years and was the #1 ticket holder at the Fremantle Dockers
in the Australian Football League
between 2006 and 2007.
In 2006 Longley was inducted into Basketball Australia's Hall of Fame in Melbourne.
On 6 April 2007, Longley's $2 million home in Fremantle
, Western Australia
, was destroyed by a fire. It is believed much of Longley's memorabilia from his basketball career was lost, although his three championship rings may have been spared.
On 8 October 2009 Longley was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame at its 25th anniversary dinner in Melbourne.
In December 2009 Longley, who had participated in marine conservation efforts before, named a newly discovered shrimp species Lebbeus clarehanna
after his 15-year-old daughter.
Longley has two brothers, Sam, a journalist and actor, and Griff, also a journalist and who also played briefly for the Perth Wildcats. Longley was married to an American, Kelly, whom he met in New Mexico while he was attending college and they had two daughters, Clare Hanna and Lily Samantha. He married Anna Gare
, a celebrity chef, in 2008.
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, who was the first Australian to play 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...
, where he played for eleven seasons. Known for his passing ability and free spirit, Longley drew comparisons to fellow redhead Bill Walton
Bill Walton
William Theodore "Bill" Walton III is a retired American basketball player and television sportscaster. The "Big Red-Head", as he was called, achieved superstardom playing for John Wooden's powerhouse UCLA Bruins in the early '70s, winning three straight College Player of the Year Awards, while...
upon his entry into the NBA.
Biography
Luc Longley was born 19 January 1969 in MelbourneMelbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
. At age sixteen Luc was a member of the Australian Under-19 side and the following year, 1986, he joined the Perth Wildcats
Perth Wildcats
The Perth Wildcats are an Australian professional basketball team competing in the National Basketball League. The Wildcats are the only team in the league representing the state of Western Australia and are based in the state capital, Perth...
, with whom he played two games. Longley was recruited by the University of New Mexico
University of New Mexico
The University of New Mexico at Albuquerque is a public research university located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in the United States. It is the state's flagship research institution...
's basketball coach, Gary Colson
Gary Colson
Gary Colson is an American basketball coach. The Logansport, Indiana native guided several college men's basketball teams, including Valdosta State University, Pepperdine University, University of New Mexico and California State University, Fresno. He compiled a 563-385 record over 34 seasons of...
, who went to Perth to recruit Andrew Vlahov
Andrew Vlahov
Andrew Mitchell Vlahov is a retired Australian professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball League of Australia from 1991 through till the 2001/2002 season...
, who attended Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
. He attended college at the University of New Mexico
University of New Mexico
The University of New Mexico at Albuquerque is a public research university located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in the United States. It is the state's flagship research institution...
, between 1987–1991, where he averaged 19.1 points, 9.2 rebounds and 3.6 assists in his senior year. At nineteen he was a member of the national team for the Seoul Olympics, where they came fourth, the best result an Australian senior men's basketball team
Australia national basketball team
The Australian national basketball team is the men's basketball side that represents Australia in international competitions. The team is known in Australia as the Boomers, an Australian slang term for Kangaroo. Australia is ranked 9th in the world and finished 7th at the 2008 Beijing Olympic...
has achieved in Olympic
Summer Olympic Games
The Summer Olympic Games or the Games of the Olympiad are an international multi-sport event, occurring every four years, organized by the International Olympic Committee. Medals are awarded in each event, with gold medals for first place, silver for second and bronze for third, a tradition that...
competition.
Longley was drafted 7th overall by the 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...
in 1991
1991 NBA Draft
The 1991 NBA Draft took place on June 26, 1991 in New York City, New York. Dikembe Mutombo is regarded as the best overall pick in this draft, becoming one of the greatest defensive centers in the history of the league. He was a four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year award winner and an eight...
. In 1992 he again represented Australia at the Barcelona Olympics. After two plus mediocre seasons with the struggling franchise, the 7'2" (218 cm) center was traded to 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...
for Stacey King late in the 1993-94 season
1993-94 NBA season
-Statistics leaders:-NBA awards:*Most Valuable Player: Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston Rockets*Rookie of the Year: Chris Webber, Golden State Warriors*Defensive Player of the Year: Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston Rockets...
. He won three straight championships with the Bulls from 1996 to 1998 as a teammate of Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan
Michael Jeffrey Jordan is a former American professional basketball player, active entrepreneur, and majority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats...
, Scottie Pippen
Scottie Pippen
Scottie Maurice Pippen is a retired American professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association . He is most remembered for his time with the Chicago Bulls, with whom he was instrumental in six NBA Championships and their record 1995–96 season of 72 wins...
, Toni Kukoč
Toni Kukoc
Toni Kukoč is a retired Croatian professional basketball player. He was renowned for his versatility and passing ability; although his natural position was small forward, he played all five positions on the court with prowess and demonstrated court vision and an outside shooting touch that were...
and Dennis Rodman
Dennis Rodman
Dennis Keith Rodman is a retired American Hall of Fame professional basketball player of the National Basketball Association's Detroit Pistons, San Antonio Spurs, Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks. Born in Trenton, New Jersey, he was nicknamed "Dennis the Menace" and "The...
.
Following the breakup of the championship Bulls in 1998, Chicago did a sign-and-trade deal with Longley, sending him to 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...
for Mark Bryant
Mark Bryant
Mark Craig Bryant is a retired American professional basketball player who was selected by the Portland Trail Blazers in the 1st round of the 1988 NBA Draft. Bryant played for 10 NBA teams during his career, averaging 5.4 ppg and appeared in the 1990 and 1992 NBA Finals as a member of the Blazers...
, Martin Müürsepp
Martin Müürsepp
Martin Müürsepp is an Estonian retired professional basketball player and basketball coach.-Club career:...
, Bubba Wells
Bubba Wells
Charles Richard "Bubba" Wells is a retired American professional basketball player. He played briefly for the Dallas Mavericks of the NBA...
, and a conditional first-round draft pick. Longley spent two lackluster seasons with Phoenix, where he gained less attention for his play than for being stung twice by a scorpion while sitting on the floor of his home sorting through his CD collection.1 (Longley also had difficulties with bodysurfing - he managed to separate his shoulder and miss 18 games in 1997. http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1009654/index.htm) He was traded to the New York Knicks
New York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
prior to the 2000–01 NBA season in what was only the second four-team trade in NBA history. The Suns acquired Chris Dudley
Chris Dudley
Christen Guilford "Chris" Dudley is a retired American basketball player who played 16 years and 886 games in the NBA for five different teams. A journeyman center, he was known primarily for his defensive skill as a rebounder and shot blocker...
as part of the deal together with a first-round draft pick from New York and an undisclosed amount of cash, while New York received Longley, Glen Rice
Glen Rice
Glen Anthony Rice is a retired American professional basketball player who played in the NBA. The 6'8" tall Rice was a three-time NBA All-Star guard/forward, ranking 11th in NBA history with 1,559 three-point field goals made during his 15-year career. As a player, Rice won an NCAA Men's Division...
, Travis Knight
Travis Knight
Travis Knight is a retired American professional basketball player who was selected by the Chicago Bulls in the 1st round of the 1996 NBA Draft...
, Vladimir Stepania
Vladimir Stepania
Vladimir Stepania is a retired Georgian professional basketball player, in the center position.-Basketball career:...
, Lazaro Borrell
Lazaro Borrell
Lazaro Manuel Borrell Hernández, referred to as Lazaro Borrell , is a Cuban professional basketball player. He is a 6'8", 220 lb forward.He played with the NBA's Seattle SuperSonics during the 1999-2000 NBA season....
, Vernon Maxwell
Vernon Maxwell
Vernon Maxwell is a former American college and professional basketball player who was a shooting guard in the National Basketball Association for thirteen seasons from the late 1980s to the early 2000s. Maxwell played college basketball for the University of Florida, and led the Florida Gators...
, two first-round draft picks (from 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...
and the 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...
) and two second-round draft picks from Seattle. Seattle received Patrick Ewing
Patrick Ewing
Patrick Aloysius Ewing Sr. is a Jamaican-American retired Hall of Fame basketball player and current assistant coach for the National Basketball Association's Orlando Magic. He played most of his career with the NBA's New York Knicks as their starting center and played briefly with the Seattle...
and the Lakers received Horace Grant, Greg Foster
Greg Foster (basketball)
Gregory Clinton Foster is a retired American professional basketball player.-College years:Foster was born in Oakland, California and attended Skyline High School where he played alongside future NBA point guard Gary Payton. He began his collegiate basketball career at UCLA, playing for the Bruins...
, Chuck Person
Chuck Person
Chuck Connors Person is a retired American National Basketball Association player and current assistant coach for the Los Angeles Lakers.-High school and college:...
and Emanual Davis
Emanual Davis
Emanual Davis is a retired American professional basketball player. As a 6'4" guard, Davis played college basketball at Delaware State University in Dover, Delaware...
. Longley spent one year with New York before retiring, due to a degenerative condition in his left ankle. Longley averaged 7.20 points and 4.90 rebounds per game in his 567 regular season game NBA career. Longley played more NBA games than any other Australian.
Longley attended Scotch College, Perth
Scotch College, Perth
Scotch College , is one of Australia's leading independent schools for boys, situated in Swanbourne, Western Australia, Australia. The school is a member of the Public Schools Association and is now a Uniting Church school, although it was founded in 1897 by the Presbyterian Church of Australia...
for the majority of his high schooling, was part-owner of the Perth Wildcats
Perth Wildcats
The Perth Wildcats are an Australian professional basketball team competing in the National Basketball League. The Wildcats are the only team in the league representing the state of Western Australia and are based in the state capital, Perth...
basketball club in the Australian National Basketball League
National Basketball League (Australia)
The National Basketball League, also known as the iiNet NBL Championship for sponsorship reasons, is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in Australasia....
for several years and was the #1 ticket holder at the Fremantle Dockers
Fremantle Football Club
The Fremantle Football Club, nicknamed The Dockers, is an Australian rules football team which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in the port city of Fremantle at the mouth of the Swan River in Western Australia...
in the Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
between 2006 and 2007.
In 2006 Longley was inducted into Basketball Australia's Hall of Fame in Melbourne.
On 6 April 2007, Longley's $2 million home in Fremantle
Fremantle, Western Australia
Fremantle is a city in Western Australia, located at the mouth of the Swan River. Fremantle Harbour serves as the port of Perth, the state capital. Fremantle was the first area settled by the Swan River colonists in 1829...
, Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
, was destroyed by a fire. It is believed much of Longley's memorabilia from his basketball career was lost, although his three championship rings may have been spared.
On 8 October 2009 Longley was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame at its 25th anniversary dinner in Melbourne.
In December 2009 Longley, who had participated in marine conservation efforts before, named a newly discovered shrimp species Lebbeus clarehanna
Lebbeus clarehanna
Lebbeus clarehanna is a species of shrimp discovered in 2005 off the southwest coast of Australia. Former NBA player Luc Longley won the rights to name the shrimp in an eBay auction. He named the shrimp after his daughter, Clare Hanna Longley, as a birthday present to her....
after his 15-year-old daughter.
Personal
His father, Richard, an architect, represented Australia at international level in basketball, including being a member of two Olympic squads. His mother, Sue Hansen-Smith, is an equestrian who has been divorced from Richard since 1984 and resides in Albuquerque.Longley has two brothers, Sam, a journalist and actor, and Griff, also a journalist and who also played briefly for the Perth Wildcats. Longley was married to an American, Kelly, whom he met in New Mexico while he was attending college and they had two daughters, Clare Hanna and Lily Samantha. He married Anna Gare
Anna Gare
Anna Gare is an Australian musician and television personality. She is one of four judges on Channel Ten's reality television program, Junior MasterChef Australia, although she is neither a formally trained chef nor trained cook.-Biography:...
, a celebrity chef, in 2008.
External links
- NBA.com player file
- David ZinglerDavid ZinglerDavid Lee Zingler is an American freelance writer based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He currently does work for Minnesota Score magazine and has also contributed to Internet Broadcasting and Minnesota Public Radio's website...
: Luc Longley: A footnote in NBA history - Stung by a scorpion reference