Perhaps Chris Webbers most enduring memory to basketball fans is one that he’d like to forget. See, it was Webber who famously called a time out in the national championship game when the University of Michigan had none costing his team the championship. Still, Webber went on to have a fantastic NBA career and made the Sacramento Kings a power house in the early 2000s. Part of the fab-five, which consisted of Juwan Howard, Jalen Rose, Jimmy King and Ray Jackson, Webber help the University of Michigan make two consecutive NCAA championship games in 1992 and 1993, unfortunately losing both times. Despite being on a team loaded with Talent Webber had two very good years at Michigan averaging 17 points and 10 rebounds in 70 career games. This accolades helped Webber become the first overall pick in the 1993 NBA draft.

Webber only played one season for the Warriors before opting out of his contract saying he had no intention of playing for the Warriors. The Warriors were able to do a sign and trade with Webber and sent him to the Washington Bullets.

Injuries would play a big part in Webbers first two years with the Bullets. In his first year he missed 28 games due to injuries but did manager to average 20 points a game. His second year with the Bullets he played only 15 games with the Bullets. In 1996-97 he bounced back and had one of the best seasons of his career averaging 21 points and 10 rebounds as he made his first all-star team. He also helped the Bullets reach the playoffs for the first time in 9 years. Webber had a good season in 97-98 but the Bullets who now were renamed Wizards continued to struggle and after the season he was traded to Sacramento.

The trade to the Kings was the greatest thing that happened to Chris Webber. He went from being a good player on a bad team to being the best player on a very good team and it brought him to the forefront of NBA stardom. In his first year with the Kings he averaged 20 points and a league high 13 rebounds but did not make the all-star game because there was no all-star game due to the lockout. In the playoffs the Kings nearly upset the Jazz.

Webber became a double-double machine in the early 2000s. From 99 until 2003 he averages over 20 points and 10 rebounds with a career best 27 points a game in 2001. He was a four time all-star with the Kings and lead them to the playoffs every year he was in Sacramento, including two tips to the Western Conference Finals.

In Sacramento he was paired with Mike Bibby, Doug Christie, Peja Stojakovic and Vlade Divac. Only Christie was not an all-star or near all-star talent. The team lost a heart breaking 7 game series in 2002 to the Lakers in a series many consider to have had the outcome dictated by the league or the officials as some very questionable calls were called against the Kings.

A knee injury in the 2003 playoffs forced Webber to miss most of the following season and he never was the same player he was before. Half way through the 2004-05 season he was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers ending the greatest run the Sacramento Kings have ever had.

Webber was solid in his two season in Philadelphia helping them make the playoffs in 2005. But he never caught on and was traded to the Detroit Pistons for the remainder of the 2006-07 season. His career ended where it began as he tried to make amends with the Warriors. He played only 9 games with the Warriors before his knee injuries forced him to retire.

Webber played in 831 career games owning averages of 21 points and 10 rebounds. He was a 5 time all-star and came close to winning an MVP award in 2001. He is currently working for TNT and NBA TV.

#95                                         Main index                                         #97