When and where was Christian Laettner born?
Christian Donald Laettner was born on the 17th of August 1969 in Angola, New York. This small town sits near Buffalo and Niagara Falls.
Questions about Christian Laettner
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What were Christian Laettners college basketball achievements at Duke University?
Christian Laettner led Duke University to national titles in 1991 and 1992 under coach Mike Krzyzewski. He won 21 out of 24 NCAA tournament games which remains a record and earned every major national player of the year award during his senior season.
Why is The Shot by Christian Laettner famous in sports history?
Christian Laettner hit a game-winning buzzer-beating turn-around jumper against Kentucky in the 1992 East Regional Final with two seconds remaining in overtime. That moment has since become known simply as The Shot and ranked fifth most memorable moment in sports history by The Best Damn Sports Show Period in 2006.
How did Christian Laettners professional NBA career unfold after leaving Duke?
Christian Laettner played thirteen seasons from 1992 until 2005 across six different teams including the Atlanta Hawks and Detroit Pistons. He averaged 12.8 points and 6.7 rebounds per game over 868 regular-season games total before retiring.
What role did Christian Laettner play on the 1992 Dream Team?
Christian Laettner became the only collegian selected for the prestigious Dream Team that won gold at the Summer Olympics held in Barcelona. He averaged 4.8 points per game during the tournament while still playing for Duke University.
Why was Christian Laettner voted the most hated college basketball player in history?
More than 20 years after graduating from Duke he was voted the most hated college basketball player in history by ESPN online poll due to factors like race privilege bullying behavior greatness and physical appearance. Opposing fans widely reviled him particularly for stepping on the chest of Kentucky player Aminu Timberlake during the 1992 regional final.