Mike Sanders is a former professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for ten seasons. He was born on March 21, 1960, in Cleveland, Ohio, and attended St. Joseph High School in Cleveland before playing college basketball at UCLA.
Sanders was selected by the San Diego Clippers in the third round of the 1982 NBA Draft, but he did not make the team. He then played for the Anchorage Northern Knights of the Continental Basketball Association (CBA) before signing with the Indiana Pacers in 1983.
Sanders played for the Pacers for two seasons before being traded to the Chicago Bulls in 1985. He played for the Bulls for one season before being traded to the Atlanta Hawks in 1986. Sanders played for the Hawks for four seasons and was a key player on the team that reached the Eastern Conference Semifinals in 1988.
In 1990, Sanders signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers, where he played for three seasons. He was a valuable role player on the team that reached the Eastern Conference Finals in 1992. Sanders then played one season for the Phoenix Suns before finishing his career with the Houston Rockets in 1994.
Throughout his career, Sanders was known for his defensive skills and his ability to score from mid-range. He was a versatile player who could play both small forward and power forward positions. He was also known for his toughness and his willingness to do the dirty work on the court.
Sanders played in a total of 757 NBA games and scored 5,126 points. He averaged 6.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game over his career. He was never a star player, but he was a valuable contributor to every team he played for.
After retiring from basketball, Sanders worked as a color commentator for the Cleveland Cavaliers and as a coach for the CBA's Yakima Sun Kings. He also worked as a scout for the New York Knicks and the Golden State Warriors.
In conclusion, Mike Sanders had a solid NBA career as a role player and defensive specialist. He played for six different teams over ten seasons and was a valuable contributor to each team. He was known for his toughness, his defensive skills, and his ability to score from mid-range. After retiring from basketball, he continued to work in the sport as a commentator, coach, and scout.
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