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Chris Mullin

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» Tuesday, September 27 2011

“I thought it’d be fun to get involved and see what I could do to polish up the playing, make it look more authentic and sharpen the choreography for Broadway,” said Mr. Mullin, who was born in Brooklyn and piled up basketball awards and records through school, including at St. John’s University in Queens. “I also have great respect for theater. When I was at St. John’s, my coaches would refer to Broadway dancers and performers and talk about how they would practice and practice and practice. I always remembered that.” Mr. Mullin, who lives in the San Francisco area, said he was a fan of musicals but didn’t see as many as he would like; his last Broadway show was “Jersey Boys.” New York Times

 

» Thursday, September 15 2011

Newly enshrined Hall of Famer Chris Mullin will have his No. 17 retired by the Golden State Warriors. The ceremony is scheduled for Jan. 20, before the team hosts the Pacers. Mullin, an ESPN anaylyst who was enshrined in the Hall of Fame last month, played his first 12 seasons with Golden State, then three with Indiana before returning to the Warriors for his final season in 2000-01. ESPN.com

 

» Sunday, September 4 2011

Blazers president Larry Miller has expressed a strong interest in former Golden State Warriors GM Chris Mullin, sources said. Mullin’s expected to talk with the Blazers too, sources said. Yahoo! Sports

 

» Thursday, August 18 2011

Walsh is extremely fond of Miller, and sources say Simon believes Miller could evolve into a good basketball executive. The possibility of teaching him the trade, the craft, and eventually handing the Pacers over to Miller is intriguing to Walsh too, sources said. Miller isn’t the only choice, because there’s one more ex-Pacer that the owner and Walsh have a fondness for: Chris Mullin. Walsh wanted to hire Mullin with the Knicks, but ownership wouldn’t allow it. Still, Reggie is Reggie in Indiana. There’s no more magical pro basketball name there. Yahoo! Sports

 

» Wednesday, August 17 2011

The legend of Sabonis grew after the game. The United States would play Croatia in the gold-medal game eight hours later, allowing for a time gap between the bronze game and the award ceremony. Sabonis and his teammates ventured back to the Olympic dormitory, where Sabonis challenged fellow Olympians in arm wrestling for shots. One by one, wrestlers and shot putters among them, Sabonis beat them. By the time of the award ceremony, three Lithuanians did not make it to the podium. Sabonis was one of them. "I knew how they used to roll," said Chris Mullin, part of the United States' Dream Team. "I think they came out with their tie-dye on. They did what the Deadheads do. They got loosened up. Made use of their free time." Sabonis was located a couple of days later in one of the women's Olympic dormitories. Grantland

 

» Tuesday, August 16 2011

The National Basketball Association will host its first-ever event in Thailand with the NBA 3-on-3 Thailand 2011 presented by Singha Drinking Water, the league announced yesterday. Featuring Hall of Famer Chris Mullin, the NBA 3-on-3 Thailand 2011 will take place in Bangkok at CentralWorld on Sept 10 and 11. The competition, which will provide youth with an opportunity to hone their basketball skills and compete amongst their peers, is open to 11-19-year-old boys and girls and also features a division for adult men. Registration began yesterday at Central Plaza Pin Klao, Central Plaza Bang Na and CentralWorld on a first come first serve basis and runs until Sept 6. Bangkok Post

Mullin, who played for the Golden State Warriors and the Indiana Pacers, was a five-time NBA All-Star (1989-1993) and won two Olympic gold medals in 1984 1992 with the USA team. He will make appearances and interact with fans through clinics and community events. "I'm really looking forward to visiting Thailand and taking part in the NBA's first event in the country," Mullin said in a statement. "I have heard great things about Thailand and can't wait to meet the fans and work with them on developing their basketball skills during my trip." Bangkok Post

For two years Mullin was Walsh's choice to succeed him with the Knicks, but Garden chairman James Dolan refused to sign off on hiring Mullin as a GM. In June, Walsh stepped down as Knicks president but Mullin, who played for Walsh with the Indiana Pacers, doesn't think his old boss is ready for retirement. "He's as good as anyone," Mullin said Monday following a taping of "CenterStage" on YES. "I think it's just a matter of if he wants to do it. And what I know of Donnie, he's a worker. "He likes to work. That's part of his makeup. I haven't talked to him about it but if you asked me I would think (Walsh will work again)." New York Daily News

When asked Monday if the Knicks will miss Walsh, Mullin replied: "No question. You got that right." Mullin also addressed questions about Walsh's health. Walsh had three surgeries in three years with the Knicks, including a hip replacement last November. Walsh was upset over whispers that he was in declining health. "He's getting healthy," Mullin said. "He was never as bad as people let on." Mullin reiterated that his hope was to work with Walsh. "With Donnie Walsh, that's the guy I consider the right person for use," he said. "It really never got that far along. But knowing him like I do and the respect I have for him and his success at that level ... he's been a great executive." New York Daily News

 

» Monday, August 15 2011

Mullin's name repeatedly surfaced as a potential GM candidate for the Knicks during Walsh's tenure. Mullin, a former Golden State Warriors executive, said he and Walsh talked about the gig but talks never progressed. "With Donnie Walsh, that's the guy I consider the right person [to work for] for sure," Mullin said. "[Talks with Walsh about joining the Knicks] really never got that far along." Walsh is expected to stay with the Knicks as a consultant for this season. But Mullin sees Walsh, who underwent hip surgery during the 2010-2011 season, as a candidate to return to the front office in the future. "He likes to work. That's part of his makeup. I haven't talked to him about it but if you asked me I would think yeah," said Mullin, the former St. John's star who was inducted into the NBA Hall of Fame last weekend. "He's getting healthy. He was never as bad as people let on to." ESPN.com

 

» Saturday, August 13 2011

Among 10 inductees, Rodman was joined by Chris Mullin, who called it "the biggest moment of my post-basketball life." During his induction speech, Mullin mentioned Flatbush Avenue, where he grew up, and a roar went up from the crowd at Symphony Hall. "Brooklyn's in the house," he said, smiling. So was St. John's. Former teammates Mark Jackson, Walter Berry and David Russell were on hand to see Mullin's big moment, and his presenter was Mr. St. John's himself, Lou Carnesecca. "Coach," Mullin said, choking up, "it's hard to believe we made it this far." New York Daily News

 

» Friday, August 12 2011

In the end, Mullin retired as one of the league’s greats, but without knowing the feeling of a championship. “It happens,” Mullin said. “It’s all part of the journey. In 1985, the Final Four, I thought we could have won a national championship. With the Pacers, I thought we had a chance at an NBA championship. But I don’t really … it’s not like a regret. Sure, you think about it, and you see people you played with and you might talk about it. But you know what happened. You saw it. Someone wins and someone loses.” Sporting News

Mullin, an ESPN analyst, laughed and said, “Well, there are a lot of people I do need to thank.” Where does Mullin begin with such a crowded inner circle, an extended basketball family that could pass for a small army and with a fair share of folks who have been with him every step of the way now planning to attend the ceremony in Springfield, Mass.? “The people you will see there for him at the induction are the same ones who were there 30 years ago,” said Mark Jackson, who played with Mullin at St. John’s University and with the Indiana Pacers. “That’s the beauty of Chris Mullin.” New York Times

On Dec. 10, 1987, Nelson suspended Mullin, confronted him and ordered him to call his parents to say he needed help. Telling his father — himself a recovering alcoholic — was the most frightening moment of Mullin’s then 25-year-old life. “I thought it would kill him,” Mullin said. Rod Mullin instead told his son to listen to his coach, as he always had. On Dec. 13, 1987, Mullin checked into a 30-day program at Centinela Hospital in Inglewood, Calif. He called it the most important day of his life and said he hasn’t had a drink since. “It made him this beautiful person,” said Nelson, who was amazed by the transformation. Mullin still spoke Brooklynese, but he was open and expressive. He returned to be a team leader, forging unique relationships. Manute Bol, the Sudanese giant, became Mullin’s close friend, calling him Chalk for his palest of skin tones. New York Times

In a telephone interview this week, Mullin said he wished that Nelson, who spared him that ordeal, could be in Springfield Friday night instead of watching at home six time zones away. They had worked together on the Warriors’ staff in recent years — Mullin as general manager and Nelson as coach — and with both their names on the ballot, they had hoped to go into the Hall together. “It was always my dream that it would happen that way,” Nelson said. As the all-time leader in career coaching victories, he is likely to be elected eventually. Mullin said he wouldn’t forget Nelson in his speech, or his parents. At 48, Mullin spends a good deal of time trying to be as good at the job as Rod and Eileen were, making up for school events missed. Sean plays lacrosse at Bryant University in Rhode Island. Chris Jr., a 6-2 guard, will play prep school basketball next season in Massachusetts. Both will be within commuting distance of ESPN in Connecticut, where Mullin landed after his career as a basketball executive was aborted — temporarily, he hopes. New York Times

And his career took off. He averaged 20.2 points in ’87-88. That was up to 26.5 the next year and 25.1 the year after that. Helping matters: The Warriors brought on Mitch Richmond in 1988, and Tim Hardaway the following year. The three did not stay together long—Richmond was traded in November 1991—and they were not exactly a championship threat, but that “Run TMC” team was fun to watch and reinvigorated Mullin’s career. “Once we got on the court, we meshed,” Mullin said. “That was just when I got my game together and my life together. They were young and energetic—just what I needed. They were such good players, and they made the game easy for me. They had a lot of skills I didn’t have. The things I was able to do balanced some of their limitations.” Sporting News

 

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