Eric Piatkowski is a former professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for 14 seasons. He was born on September 30, 1970, in Steubenville, Ohio, and attended the University of Nebraska, where he played college basketball for four years.
Piatkowski was selected by the Indiana Pacers in the first round of the 1994 NBA draft, but he was immediately traded to the Los Angeles Clippers. He spent the majority of his career with the Clippers, playing for them from 1994 to 2003. During his time with the Clippers, Piatkowski was known for his three-point shooting ability and was often used as a sharpshooter off the bench.
In the 2003-2004 season, Piatkowski played for the Houston Rockets, but he only appeared in 22 games. He then signed with the Chicago Bulls for the 2004-2005 season, where he played in 68 games and averaged 5.2 points per game.
After his stint with the Bulls, Piatkowski signed with the Phoenix Suns for the 2005-2006 season. He played in 39 games for the Suns and averaged 2.8 points per game. He then signed with the Miami Heat for the 2006-2007 season, where he played in 22 games and averaged 1.5 points per game.
Piatkowski's final season in the NBA was the 2007-2008 season, which he spent with the Philadelphia 76ers. He played in 36 games for the 76ers and averaged 2.2 points per game.
Throughout his career, Piatkowski was known for his three-point shooting ability. He finished his career with a three-point shooting percentage of 36.9%, and he ranks 47th on the NBA's all-time list for three-pointers made with 1,157.
After retiring from the NBA, Piatkowski became a color commentator for the Nebraska Cornhuskers men's basketball team. He also worked as a studio analyst for Fox Sports Net and as a color commentator for the Los Angeles Clippers.
In addition to his basketball career, Piatkowski is also known for his philanthropic work. He and his wife, Lisa, founded the Eric Piatkowski Foundation, which supports various charitable organizations in the Omaha, Nebraska area.
Overall, Eric Piatkowski had a successful career in the NBA, known for his three-point shooting ability and his contributions off the court.
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