Chris Welp

Christian Welp
Christian Welp
Born	Template:Birth date; Delmenhorst, Germany
Died	March 1, 2015 (aged 51)
Occupation(s)	Professional basketball player, basketball coach
Known for	NBA player, EuroBasket 1993 MVP

Christian Ansgar Welp (January 2, 1964 – March 1, 2015) was a professional basketball athlete from Germany. Measuring 7 feet tall and weighing 245 pounds, he played the center position and competed in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for three seasons. Welp earned the Most Valuable Player award at the 1993 EuroBasket tournament.

College career

During his collegiate tenure, Welp became the all-time leading scorer for the Washington Huskies men's basketball program with a total of 2,073 points. He was honored with three All-Pac-10 Conference selections and secured the Pac-10 Player of the Year title in 1986. Additionally, he played a key role in achieving back-to-back regular-season conference championships. In recognition of his accomplishments, Welp was inducted into the Husky Hall of Fame in 2001.

NBA

Welp entered the NBA as the 16th overall pick in the 1987 draft, selected by the Philadelphia 76ers. His NBA career spanned three seasons. In December 1987, while playing in Chicago, he sustained a significant knee injury caused by slipping on a wet court surface, which subsequently impacted his playing effectiveness.

During the 1989 off-season, Welp was traded by Philadelphia along with Maurice Cheeks and David Wingate to the San Antonio Spurs in exchange for Johnny Dawkins and Jay Vincent. His playing time with the Spurs was limited, and during the 1989–90 season, he was traded to the Golden State Warriors in return for fellow German center Uwe Blab. After a short period with Golden State, Welp’s NBA tenure came to an end.

Europe

From 1990 through 1996, Welp competed for Bayer Leverkusen in Germany, where he contributed to winning six national league titles as well as three German Cup championships. In the 1996–97 season, he signed with Greek powerhouse Olympiacos and played a pivotal role in securing the EuroLeague championship and completing the European Basketball Triple Crown. The subsequent season saw him return to Germany to play for Alba Berlin.

Welp wrapped up his professional playing career during the 1998–99 season with Italian club Viola Reggio Calabria.

National team career

Representing Germany’s senior national basketball team, Welp captured gold at EuroBasket 1993, delivering the winning points in the final match. His outstanding performance throughout the tournament earned him MVP honors.

Coaching career

Following his playing days, Welp served as an assistant coach for Germany’s senior national basketball team until 2006.

Personal life and death

After retiring from professional basketball in 1999, Welp settled in Seattle, Washington with his wife Melanie and their three children. He pursued a career in construction supply business based in Woodinville alongside Tim Burnham, a former college football athlete and close friend.

Welp passed away due to heart failure on March 1, 2015 at his vacation residence on Hood Canal—a property he had acquired soon after being drafted in 1987. Prior to his death, he had experienced chest discomfort and intended to consult a physician. His sons Collin and Nic shared his passion for basketball; Collin went on to play for UC Irvine Anteaters men's basketball team.

External links

NBA statistics at databasebasketball.com