Joe Kleine is a former professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for 15 seasons. He was born on January 4, 1962, in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and attended the University of Arkansas, where he played college basketball for the Razorbacks.
Kleine was selected by the Sacramento Kings with the sixth overall pick in the 1985 NBA draft. He played for the Kings for two seasons before being traded to the Boston Celtics in 1987. Kleine played for the Celtics for three seasons, during which he was part of the team that reached the NBA Finals in 1987 and 1988.
In 1990, Kleine was traded to the Phoenix Suns, where he played for two seasons before being traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in 1992. He played for the Lakers for one season before being traded to the Chicago Bulls in 1993. Kleine played for the Bulls for one season before being traded to the New Jersey Nets in 1994.
Kleine played for the Nets for one season before being traded to the Phoenix Suns in 1995. He played for the Suns for two seasons before being traded to the Vancouver Grizzlies in 1997. Kleine played for the Grizzlies for two seasons before being traded to the Portland Trail Blazers in 1999. He played for the Trail Blazers for one season before retiring from the NBA in 2000.
Throughout his NBA career, Kleine was known for his toughness, rebounding, and defense. He was a solid role player who provided valuable minutes off the bench for his teams. Kleine was also known for his work ethic and professionalism, which earned him the respect of his teammates and coaches.
After retiring from the NBA, Kleine worked as a basketball analyst for various media outlets, including ESPN and Fox Sports. He also worked as an assistant coach for the Arkansas Razorbacks men's basketball team from 2006 to 2011.
In conclusion, Joe Kleine had a successful NBA career that spanned 15 seasons. He played for several teams and was known for his toughness, rebounding, and defense. After retiring from the NBA, Kleine continued to work in basketball as an analyst and coach.
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