David Wingate (basketball)
David Wingate | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 15, 1963 United States |
| Occupation | Professional basketball player (retired) |
| Years active | 1986–2001 |
| Known for | NBA shooting guard and small forward for six franchises |
David Grover Stacey Wingate Jr. (born December 15, 1963) is a retired American professional basketball athlete. Over a 15-year span, he competed in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a shooting guard and small forward for six different franchises.
High school and college career
During his high school years, Wingate was a member of the Dunbar Poets basketball team, playing alongside future NBA talents such as Muggsy Bogues, Reggie Lewis, and Reggie Williams. The 1981–82 Dunbar squad completed an undefeated season at 29–0. The following year, after Wingate had graduated, the team achieved a perfect 31–0 record and earned the top national ranking by USA Today. Although anticipated to enroll at the University of Maryland, Wingate ultimately committed to Georgetown University.
In his freshman season with the Georgetown Hoyas men's basketball in 1982–83, Wingate was named to the Big East Conference all-rookie team. He shifted primarily to the shooting guard position during his sophomore year as fellow Dunbar alumnus Reggie Williams assumed the small forward role. Wingate led Georgetown in steals and contributed approximately 11 points per game throughout their journey to winning the 1984 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament. In his junior campaign, the Hoyas fell short in the 1985 NCAA championship game against Villanova University. Wingate recorded personal bests in assists and steals and led his team with 16 points in that final matchup. During his senior year, he averaged 16 points per contest—second only to Williams—and logged over 1,000 minutes without fouling out. By graduation, he was third on Georgetown’s all-time scoring list behind Eric Floyd and Patrick Ewing.
Professional career
Wingate’s professional tenure spanned from 1986 through 2001 in the NBA. He was chosen with the 44th pick in the second round of the 1986 NBA draft by the Philadelphia 76ers. His draft position surprised some observers; coach Matt Guokas remarked that Wingate was "one of the people we would have considered" for a first-round selection. After earning a spot on the roster, Wingate made his league debut on November 2, 1986, logging nine minutes against the Atlanta Hawks. His first starting appearance came on March 10, 1987, when he scored 22 points across 46 minutes versus the Cleveland Cavaliers. He concluded that rookie season having participated in 77 games with averages of 8.8 points and two assists per outing.
Throughout his career, Wingate also suited up for the San Antonio Spurs, Washington Bullets, Charlotte Hornets, Seattle SuperSonics, and New York Knicks. He ended his playing days with the Sonics in 2001 after appearing in a total of 28 games during his last three seasons.
Personal life
Wingate is a father to five children: Cynthia Alixandra, Brandi Allstin, Davion, Ashley, and Aminah