Danny Vranes
Danny Vranes | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 29, 1958 United States |
| Occupation | Professional basketball player (retired) |
| Years active | 1981–1988 (NBA), later in Europe |
| Known for | NBA player for Seattle SuperSonics and Philadelphia 76ers; NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1984–85) |
Daniel LaDrew Vranes (born October 29, 1958) is a retired American professional basketball athlete.
In 1977, Vranes guided Skyline High School in Salt Lake City to capture the state basketball title and earned a spot on the first-ever McDonald's All-American team. Standing 6'7" and playing as a small forward, he attended the University of Utah before being chosen fifth overall by the Seattle SuperSonics in the 1981 NBA draft. Vranes competed in the NBA for seven seasons from 1981 until 1988, representing both the SuperSonics and the Philadelphia 76ers.
Throughout his NBA tenure, Vranes participated in 510 games and accumulated a total of 2,613 points. His peak season came in 1983–84 with Seattle, when he averaged 8.4 points across 80 contests. On January 18, 1984, he achieved a personal best of six blocks during a victory against the Dallas Mavericks. Renowned for his defensive skills, he was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team following the 1984–85 campaign. Notably, on October 26 of that year, Vranes recorded six steals along with a team-leading 24 points in a win over the Utah Jazz.
Vranes shares the franchise record for fourth highest single-game playoff rebounds with an 18-rebound effort on April 22, 1983, a mark still standing within the Thunder/Sonic organization.
After concluding his NBA career, he extended his professional playing days in Europe with stints at AEK BC, Teorematour Arese, and Breeze Milano.
Personal life
Vranes descends from Croatian immigrants who settled in the United States during the early twentieth century. He practices the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and is related to Jeff Judkins, his former teammate at Utah. Additionally, his nephew Jackson Bennee plays safety for the Utah Utes football team.