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Jimmy King

From Alfawiki
Jimmy King
Born (1973-08-09) August 9, 1973 (age 53)
Plano, Texas, U.S.
Occupation(s)Professional basketball player (retired), financial advisor, basketball coach
Years active1995–early 2000s (professional basketball)
Known forMember of University of Michigan's Fab Five; NBA and international basketball career

Jimmy Hal King (born August 9, 1973) is a retired American professional basketball athlete recognized for his tenure in the NBA as well as his international basketball endeavors. King rose to fame as part of the University of Michigan's iconic Fab Five, which included teammates Ray Jackson, Juwan Howard, Chris Webber, and Jalen Rose. This legendary group advanced to the NCAA championship finals in both 1992 and 1993 during their freshman and sophomore years. King completed his full collegiate eligibility at Michigan, posting an average of 15 points per game in his senior year of 1995.

College career

At the University of Michigan, King was a key figure within the celebrated Fab Five, alongside Ray Jackson and future NBA talents Juwan Howard, Chris Webber, and Jalen Rose. This unit made two consecutive NCAA Championship game appearances in 1992 and 1993 during their first two seasons, with King starting on squads that qualified for four NCAA tournaments overall. Prior to his college career, he earned high school All-American honors at Plano East Senior High School in Plano, Texas. Although the Fab Five’s Final Four appearances were subsequently vacated, King was not involved in the University of Michigan basketball scandal and was cleared of receiving substantial improper benefits.

Professional career

Selected 35th overall by the Toronto Raptors in the 1995 NBA Draft, King participated in 62 games during the 1995–96 season, averaging 4.5 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per contest. In July 1996, he was traded to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for Ronald "Popeye" Jones but was released before the regular season commenced. After spending most of the 1996–97 campaign with the Quad City Thunder in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA), King signed a short-term contract with the Denver Nuggets, appearing in two games.

King extended his professional career across Europe and the CBA, earning the CBA Most Valuable Player award in 1998 while with Quad City Thunder. Additionally, he represented the United States at the 1998 FIBA World Championship, where the team secured a bronze medal. His later playing years included time with the Asheville Altitude of the NBA Development League, and he was among the final cuts from the Indiana Pacers roster prior to the 2000–01 NBA season.

Following retirement from professional play, King transitioned into finance as a Merrill Lynch financial advisor based on Wall Street. He also contributed as a radio color analyst during Michigan’s 2008–09 basketball campaign. Presently, he holds the position of Vice President at TruChampions, a platform dedicated to high school sports recruiting that assists student-athletes in obtaining multiple collegiate offers.

The release of ESPN’s 2011 30 for 30 documentary The Fab Five generated widespread media discussion involving King and fellow players, emphasizing cultural and competitive tensions particularly involving Duke University.

In August 2011, King was briefly detained due to $17,000 in unpaid child support but resolved this issue by January 2012 through full payment. In 2016, he embarked on coaching as head coach for Ecorse Community High School’s boys’ basketball team in Michigan.

External links

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