John Paxson is a former professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for 11 seasons. He was born on September 29, 1960, in Dayton, Ohio, and attended Archbishop Alter High School in Kettering, Ohio. Paxson played college basketball at the University of Notre Dame, where he was a standout player and helped lead the Fighting Irish to the NCAA Tournament in 1979 and 1981.
After graduating from Notre Dame in 1983, Paxson was selected by the San Antonio Spurs in the first round of the NBA draft. He played for the Spurs for two seasons before being traded to the Chicago Bulls in 1985. Paxson quickly became a key player for the Bulls, known for his sharpshooting and clutch performances in big games.
Paxson played alongside Michael Jordan during the Bulls' championship runs in the 1990s, and he was a key contributor to the team's success. He is perhaps best known for hitting the game-winning three-pointer in Game 6 of the 1993 NBA Finals against the Phoenix Suns, which clinched the Bulls' third consecutive championship.
Throughout his career, Paxson was known for his accuracy from beyond the arc. He finished his career with a career three-point shooting percentage of 37.9%, which was among the best in the league during his playing days. He was also a solid defender and a reliable ball-handler, making him a valuable asset to any team he played for.
After retiring from playing in 1994, Paxson transitioned into coaching and front office roles. He served as an assistant coach for the Bulls from 1995 to 2003, and he was the head coach of the team from 2003 to 2005. In 2003, he was named the NBA's Executive of the Year for his work as the general manager of the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Paxson's contributions to the game of basketball have been recognized by his peers and fans alike. He was inducted into the Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame in 2011, and he was honored by the Bulls in 2019 with a special ceremony to commemorate his career. Today, he continues to work in the Bulls' front office as the team's Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations.
Overall, John Paxson's basketball career was marked by his accuracy from beyond the arc, his clutch performances in big games, and his contributions to championship-winning teams. He is widely regarded as one of the best shooters of his era, and his legacy as a player and executive will continue to be felt in the NBA for years to come.
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