Chuck Person, also known as "The Rifleman," was a professional basketball player who played in the NBA for 13 seasons. He was born on June 27, 1964, in Brantley, Alabama, and attended Auburn University, where he played college basketball.
Person was selected fourth overall in the 1986 NBA draft by the Indiana Pacers. He quickly made a name for himself in the league, earning the NBA Rookie of the Year award in his first season. He was a versatile player who could score from anywhere on the court and was known for his deadly three-point shooting.
In 1991, Person was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves, where he continued to excel. He was named to the NBA All-Star team in 1994 and helped lead the Timberwolves to their first-ever playoff appearance in 1997.
After his time with the Timberwolves, Person played for several other teams, including the San Antonio Spurs, Charlotte Hornets, and Seattle SuperSonics. He retired from the NBA in 2000 with career averages of 14.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game.
Person's impact on the game of basketball extends beyond his playing career. He went on to become a successful coach, serving as an assistant coach for several NBA teams, including the Los Angeles Lakers, Indiana Pacers, and Sacramento Kings. He also served as the head coach for his alma mater, Auburn University, from 2014 to 2019.
However, Person's coaching career was marred by scandal in 2019 when he was one of several coaches implicated in a college basketball bribery scandal. He pleaded guilty to accepting bribes to steer players to certain financial advisors and was sentenced to 200 hours of community service and two years of probation.
Despite this setback, Person's legacy as a basketball player and coach remains significant. He was a talented and versatile player who helped pave the way for the modern NBA with his ability to shoot from long range. As a coach, he was respected for his knowledge of the game and his ability to develop young players.
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