Maceo Baston
Encyclopedia
Maceo Demond Baston is an American
professional basketball
player who is currently a free agent.
, Baston played college basketball
at the University of Michigan
. At Michigan, he was part of an all-star recruiting class that included Maurice Taylor
, Travis Conlon, Jerod Ward
and Willie Mitchell. He was known for his above-average dunking ability, and tenacious defense. Baston averaged 10.7 points and 6.6 rebounds a game for his Michigan career, which included NCAA Tournament
appearances in 1995
and 1998
and the National Invitation Tournament
Championship in 1997
. Michigan later forfeited its entire 1996–97 schedule after Robert Traylor
, Maurice Taylor
and Louis Bullock
were found to have taken money from a Michigan booster.
in 1998, but he did not appear in any games for them. He played for the Quad City Thunder
in the CBA, in Italy (SC Montecatini) in Spain (Joventut Badalona
), the NBA's Toronto Raptors
(February–April 2003 and 2007–2008) and Indiana Pacers
, and Maccabi Tel Aviv
. Baston was a CBA All-Star in 2000.
Baston holds the Euroleague
Final Four record for blocks with 6 versus Tau Ceramica, in the 2006 finals.
On July 28, 2006, the NBA's Indiana Pacers signed Baston to a two-year deal worth $1.8 million with the second year being a player option. He appeared in 47 games and averaged 3 points. On July 11, 2007, Baston signed an offer sheet to return to the Raptors worth roughly US$3.8 million over two years. The Pacers declined to match the offer. But the Pacers did reacquire him in on July 9, 2008 involving a trade with the Raptors which included Jermaine O'Neal
and T. J. Ford
. Baston, along with point guard
Chucky Atkins
, signed non-guaranteed contracts with the Detroit Pistons
on September 28, 2009. The Pistons waived Baston on October 21, 2009. Despite conversations with KK Partizan, he signed for Budivelnyk Kyiv
on March 1, 2010, but he only played one match due to his physical problems.
In November 2010 Baston returned to Israel, signing with Bnei HaSharon
. However, after playing seven games, he left the team in January 2011.
| align="left" | 2002–03
| align="left" | Toronto
| 16 || 0 || 6.6 || .600 || .000 || .833 || 1.4 || .0 || .2 || .7 || 2.5
|-
| align="left" | 2006–07
| align="left" | Indiana
| 47 || 2 || 8.6 || .645 || .429 || .787 || 1.6 || .3 || .3 || .4 || 2.9
|-
| align="left" | 2007–08
| align="left" | Toronto
| 15 || 2 || 6.9 || .680 || .000 || .700 || 1.7 || .2 || .1 || .3 || 2.7
|-
| align="left" | 2008–09
| align="left" | Indiana
| 27 || 0 || 8.0 || .543 || .000 || .630 || 1.9 || .3 || .2 || .4 || 2.5
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 105 || 4 || 7.9 || .616 || .375 || .740 || 1.7 || .2 || .2 || .4 || 2.7
| align="left" | 2007–08
| align="left" | Toronto
| 1 || 0 || 1.0 || .000 || .000 || .000 || .0 || .0 || 1.0 || .0 || .0
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 1 || 0 || 1.0 || .000 || .000 || .000 || .0 || .0 || 1.0 || .0 || .0
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 who is currently a free agent.
College career
After graduating from Dallas' H. Grady Spruce High SchoolH. Grady Spruce High School
H. Grady Spruce High School is a public school in the Pleasant Grove area of Dallas, Texas. H. Grady Spruce High School, which covers grades 9-12, is a part of the Dallas Independent School District....
, Baston played college basketball
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
at the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
. At Michigan, he was part of an all-star recruiting class that included Maurice Taylor
Maurice Taylor
Maurice De Shawn Taylor is an American professional basketball power forward.-College career:Taylor attended the University of Michigan. The athletic forward, from Henry Ford High School in Detroit, burst onto the national scene during the 1994 Maui Invitational with fellow freshman Maceo Baston...
, Travis Conlon, Jerod Ward
Jerod Ward
Jerod Davanta Ward is an American professional basketball player, currently playing for Adepal in Spain Leb Oro.Ward was the #1 recruit in the nation coming out of Clinton, Mississippi in 1994. He signed with the University of Michigan and comprised part of its highly-touted Fab Five II that...
and Willie Mitchell. He was known for his above-average dunking ability, and tenacious defense. Baston averaged 10.7 points and 6.6 rebounds a game for his Michigan career, which included NCAA Tournament
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...
appearances in 1995
1995 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1995 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, 1995, and ended with the championship game on April 3 at the Kingdome in Seattle,...
and 1998
1998 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1998 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 12, 1998, and ended with the championship game on March 30 at the Alamodome in San Antonio,...
and the National Invitation Tournament
National Invitation Tournament
The National Invitation Tournament is a men's college basketball tournament operated by the National Collegiate Athletic Association. There are two NIT events each season. The first, played in November and known as the Dick's Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off , was founded in 1985...
Championship in 1997
1997 National Invitation Tournament
-Semifinals & Finals:*Third Place - Connecticut 74, Arkansas 64Michigan later forfeited its entire 1996-97 schedule after Robert Traylor, Maurice Taylor and Louis Bullock were found to have taken money from a Michigan booster....
. Michigan later forfeited its entire 1996–97 schedule after Robert Traylor
Robert Traylor
Robert DeShaun "Tractor" Traylor was an American professional basketball player.-High school and college:...
, Maurice Taylor
Maurice Taylor
Maurice De Shawn Taylor is an American professional basketball power forward.-College career:Taylor attended the University of Michigan. The athletic forward, from Henry Ford High School in Detroit, burst onto the national scene during the 1994 Maui Invitational with fellow freshman Maceo Baston...
and Louis Bullock
Louis Bullock
Louis Bullock, Jr. is an American professional basketball player. He is currently with the pro club CB Cajasol Sevilla in Spain....
were found to have taken money from a Michigan booster.
NBA and Euroleague career
He was drafted in the second round (58th overall) by the Chicago BullsChicago 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...
in 1998, but he did not appear in any games for them. He played for the Quad City Thunder
Quad City Thunder
The Quad City Thunder are a defunct professional basketball team that was based in the Quad Cities of Illinois and Iowa. They played in the Continental Basketball Association from the 1987-1988 season until the league folded in 2001. The teams was CBA champions in the 1993-1994 and 1997-1998...
in the CBA, in Italy (SC Montecatini) in Spain (Joventut Badalona
Joventut Badalona
Club Joventut Badalona, S.A.D. is a Spanish professional basketball club based in Badalona, Catalonia, playing in the Asociación de Clubs de Baloncesto . Known to their fans as La Penya , it is one of only three teams that have never been relegated from the top division of the Spanish League...
), the NBA's Toronto Raptors
Toronto Raptors
The Toronto Raptors are a professional basketball team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1995, along with the Vancouver Grizzlies, as part of the NBA's re-expansion...
(February–April 2003 and 2007–2008) and Indiana Pacers
Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers are a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They are members of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association...
, and Maccabi Tel Aviv
Maccabi Tel Aviv (basketball)
Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv B.C. is a professional Israeli basketball club based in Tel Aviv. The team plays in three leagues: the Euroleague, the Israeli Basketball Super League, and the Adriatic League....
. Baston was a CBA All-Star in 2000.
Baston holds the Euroleague
Euroleague
Euroleague Basketball, commonly known as the Euroleague, is the highest level tier and most important professional club basketball competition in Europe, with teams from up to 18 different countries, members of FIBA Europe. For sponsorship reasons, for five seasons starting with 2010–2011, it is...
Final Four record for blocks with 6 versus Tau Ceramica, in the 2006 finals.
On July 28, 2006, the NBA's Indiana Pacers signed Baston to a two-year deal worth $1.8 million with the second year being a player option. He appeared in 47 games and averaged 3 points. On July 11, 2007, Baston signed an offer sheet to return to the Raptors worth roughly US$3.8 million over two years. The Pacers declined to match the offer. But the Pacers did reacquire him in on July 9, 2008 involving a trade with the Raptors which included Jermaine O'Neal
Jermaine O'Neal
Jermaine Lee O'Neal is an American professional basketball player for the Boston Celtics. The 6 ft 11 in , 255 lb forward-center had a successful high school career and declared his eligibility for the 1996 NBA Draft straight out of high school...
and T. J. Ford
T. J. Ford
Terrance Jerod "T. J." Ford is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for KK Zagreb. Having been awarded numerous top basketball accolades in high school and college, Ford entered the 2003 NBA Draft and was selected eighth overall by the Milwaukee Bucks...
. Baston, along with point guard
Point guard
Point guard , also called the play maker or "the ball-handler", is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. A point guard has perhaps the most specialized role of any position – essentially, he is expected to run the team's offense by controlling the ball and making sure that...
Chucky Atkins
Chucky Atkins
Kenneth Lavon "Chucky" Atkins is an American professional basketball player. He is currently a free agent.-Basketball career:...
, signed non-guaranteed contracts with the Detroit Pistons
Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons are a franchise of the National Basketball Association based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The team's home arena is The Palace of Auburn Hills. It was originally founded in Fort Wayne, Indiana as the Fort Wayne Pistons as a member of the National Basketball League in 1941, where...
on September 28, 2009. The Pistons waived Baston on October 21, 2009. Despite conversations with KK Partizan, he signed for Budivelnyk Kyiv
BC Budivelnyk Kyiv
BC Budivelnik is a Ukrainian professional basketball club based in Kiev. The club is currently playing in the Ukrainian Basketball SuperLeague. Budivelnik is owned and operated by the same group as the Kiev based hockey club, Budivelnyk.-History:...
on March 1, 2010, but he only played one match due to his physical problems.
In November 2010 Baston returned to Israel, signing with Bnei HaSharon
Bnei HaSharon
Bnei HaSharon/Herzliya is a professional basketball club based in Herzliya, in central Israel. The club currently plays in Ligat HaAl, the top division of Israeli basketball.The club was created by the merge of Maccabi Ra'anana and Bnei Herzliya in 2002...
. However, after playing seven games, he left the team in January 2011.
Regular season
|-| align="left" | 2002–03
| align="left" | Toronto
Toronto Raptors
The Toronto Raptors are a professional basketball team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1995, along with the Vancouver Grizzlies, as part of the NBA's re-expansion...
| 16 || 0 || 6.6 || .600 || .000 || .833 || 1.4 || .0 || .2 || .7 || 2.5
|-
| align="left" | 2006–07
| align="left" | Indiana
Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers are a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They are members of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association...
| 47 || 2 || 8.6 || .645 || .429 || .787 || 1.6 || .3 || .3 || .4 || 2.9
|-
| align="left" | 2007–08
| align="left" | Toronto
| 15 || 2 || 6.9 || .680 || .000 || .700 || 1.7 || .2 || .1 || .3 || 2.7
|-
| align="left" | 2008–09
2008–09 NBA season
The 2008–09 NBA season was the 63rd season of the National Basketball Association . The 1,230-game regular season began on Tuesday, October 28, 2008, and ended on Wednesday, April 15, 2009...
| align="left" | Indiana
| 27 || 0 || 8.0 || .543 || .000 || .630 || 1.9 || .3 || .2 || .4 || 2.5
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 105 || 4 || 7.9 || .616 || .375 || .740 || 1.7 || .2 || .2 || .4 || 2.7
Playoffs
|-| align="left" | 2007–08
2008 NBA Playoffs
The 2008 NBA Playoffs was the postseason for the National Basketball Association's 2007–08 season which ended with the Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics defeating the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers 4–2....
| align="left" | Toronto
Toronto Raptors
The Toronto Raptors are a professional basketball team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1995, along with the Vancouver Grizzlies, as part of the NBA's re-expansion...
| 1 || 0 || 1.0 || .000 || .000 || .000 || .0 || .0 || 1.0 || .0 || .0
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 1 || 0 || 1.0 || .000 || .000 || .000 || .0 || .0 || 1.0 || .0 || .0