Derrick Coleman
Derrick Demetrius Coleman (born June 21, 1967) is an American former professional basketball player. Coleman attended Syracuse University and was selected first overall in the 1990 NBA draft by the New Jersey Nets.
Coleman in 2014 | ||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born | June 21, 1967 Mobile, Alabama, U.S. | |||||||||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) | |||||||||||
| Listed weight | 258 lb (117 kg) | |||||||||||
| Career information | ||||||||||||
| High school | Northern (Detroit, Michigan) | |||||||||||
| College | Syracuse (1986–1990) | |||||||||||
| NBA draft | 1990: 1st round, 1st overall pick | |||||||||||
| Selected by the New Jersey Nets | ||||||||||||
| Playing career | 1990–2005 | |||||||||||
| Position | Power forward / center | |||||||||||
| Number | 44 | |||||||||||
| Career history | ||||||||||||
| 1990–1995 | New Jersey Nets | |||||||||||
| 1995–1998 | Philadelphia 76ers | |||||||||||
| 1999–2001 | Charlotte Hornets | |||||||||||
| 2001–2004 | Philadelphia 76ers | |||||||||||
| 2004–2005 | Detroit Pistons | |||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | ||||||||||||
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| Career NBA statistics | ||||||||||||
| Points | 12,884 (16.5 ppg) | |||||||||||
| Rebounds | 7,232 (9.3 rpg) | |||||||||||
| Blocks | 1,051 (1.3 bpg) | |||||||||||
| Stats at NBA.com | ||||||||||||
| Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | ||||||||||||
Medals
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Throughout his career, the left-handed Coleman was an effective low post scorer, averaging 16.5 points and 9.3 rebounds. He enjoyed his best years as a member of the New Jersey Nets, where he averaged 19.8 points and 10.6 rebounds per game. When Coleman entered the NBA, he was compared to elite power forwards such as Karl Malone and Charles Barkley, and expected to put up similar numbers, only with the added ability to shoot from three-point range. Coleman made the 1994 NBA All-Star team, but his career was overshadowed by numerous injuries and attitude problems. Sports Illustrated once remarked that "Coleman could have been the best power forward ever; instead he played just well enough to ensure his next paycheck."
As of 2007, he was working as a developer and entrepreneur in Detroit. He has also appeared as an occasional studio analyst for NBA TV's "NBA Gametime Live" coverage.