Michael Young (basketball, born 1961)
Michael Young | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 2, 1961 Houston, Texas, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Basketball player, coach, director of basketball operations and performance enhancement |
| Years active | 1984–1998 (player) |
| Known for | Professional basketball career in NBA, CBA, and international leagues; director of basketball operations at University of Houston |
Michael Wayne Young (born January 2, 1961) is a retired American professional basketball athlete, famously nicknamed "the Silent Assassin." His playing career spanned 12 years across the National Basketball Association (NBA) and international circuits. Following his playing days, Young took on the role of director of basketball operations and performance enhancement at his alma mater, the University of Houston.
College career
A native of Houston, Young developed his basketball skills at Yates High School before advancing to the University of Houston. As a member of the Houston Cougars, he was part of the renowned Phi Slama Jama squad and earned Southwest Conference First Team honors twice. Young competed in consecutive NCAA Finals in 1983 and 1984, facing off against the North Carolina State Wolfpack and Georgetown Hoyas, respectively.
NBA and CBA
In the 1984 NBA draft, Michael Young was chosen 24th overall in the first round by the Boston Celtics. His NBA tenure included three seasons: with the Phoenix Suns in 1984–85, the Philadelphia 76ers in 1985–86, and the Los Angeles Clippers during 1989–90. Additionally, he spent two seasons in the Continental Basketball Association playing for the Detroit Spirit, where he secured the CBA Player of the Year award in 1986 after averaging 26 points per contest.
Overseas
Young's professional journey extended internationally, with engagements in countries such as the Philippines, Spain, Italy, France, and Israel. In 1986, he led Manila Beer to the finals of the Philippine Basketball Association Open Conference and was honored as Best Import despite falling short to Ginebra San Miguel. The following year, he returned to the Philippines with Great Taste Coffee Makers, guiding them to a second-place finish. While competing in France for CSP Limoges, Young achieved victory in the prestigious 1993 European Club Championship, known as the EuroLeague.
Post-playing career
Upon concluding his playing career in 1998, Young rejoined the University of Houston. He contributed one season as an assistant coach for the men's basketball team and served five years as strength and conditioning coach before advancing to director of basketball operations and performance enhancement.
Personal life
Young completed his bachelor's degree at the University of Houston in 2002. Together with his wife Tina, he has five children: Michael Jr., Joe, Mayorca, Jacob, and Milan Maria. Joe played collegiate basketball at Houston and later at Oregon, entering the NBA in 2015 with the Indiana Pacers. Jacob's college career included stints at the University of Texas and Rutgers before transferring to Oregon. In 2025, Young assumed the head coaching position at the College of Biblical Studies located in Houston, Texas.