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Tom Chambers (basketball)

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Tom Chambers
Chambers in 2022
Personal information
Born (1959-06-21) June 21, 1959 (age 65)
Ogden, Utah, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
Listed weight220 lb (100 kg)
Career information
High schoolFairview (Boulder, Colorado)
CollegeUtah (1977–1981)
NBA draft1981: 1st round, 8th overall pick
Selected by the San Diego Clippers
Playing career1981–1997
PositionPower forward
Number8, 22, 24, 42, 25
Career history
1981–1983San Diego Clippers
1983–1988Seattle SuperSonics
1988–1993Phoenix Suns
1993–1995Utah Jazz
1995–1996Maccabi Tel Aviv
1997Charlotte Hornets
1997Philadelphia 76ers
Career highlights and awards
Career NBA statistics
Points20,049 (18.1 ppg)
Rebounds6,703 (6.1 rpg)
Assists2,283 (2.1 apg)
Stats at NBA.com Edit this at Wikidata
Stats at Basketball Reference Edit this at Wikidata

Thomas Doane Chambers (born June 21, 1959) is an American former professional basketball player. He played professionally from 1981 to 1997. Playing power forward in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Chambers was selected to four NBA All-Star Games and was a two-time All-NBA Second Team member during his career. In December 2021, Chambers was nominated to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame[2] but did not advance to the list of finalists.[3]

Early life

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Thomas Doane Chambers was born on June 21, 1959, in Ogden, Utah. Chambers starred at Fairview High School in Boulder, Colorado. Hailing from an athletic family, Chambers was a promising 6-2 guard at the end of his sophomore year. Suddenly, he grew six inches during the next six months. As a junior, teammates marveled that he had not lost any coordination with that growth.[4] A broken wrist as a senior forced him to use his left hand more, improving his game. An all-Colorado high school player, he was hotly recruited and enrolled at Utah.

College career

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At Utah, Chambers played center with star forward Danny Vranes. The two led successful teams in the Western Athletic Conference. He ran the floor well and had good shooting range. At the NBA level he would move to power forward. On Feb. 5, 2022, Chambers' jersey and number, 42, were retired during the Utes' game against Oregon.

Professional career

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San Diego Clippers (1981–1983)

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Chambers was drafted by the-then San Diego Clippers with the 8th pick in the 1981 NBA draft. After signing a $1.5 million four-year contract,[5] he played at forward for the first time after being a center in college. On the injury-riddled young Clippers roster his rookie year, Chambers ended up the team's top scorer at 17.2 points per game, and he made 52.5% of his shots. On April 15, 1982, he set a then-career-high points total of 39 points in a 129–123 win against the Portland Trail Blazers.[6]

The following season, on October 29, 1982, Chambers scored 29 points and grabbed 16 rebounds in San Diego's home opener, a loss to the Phoenix Suns.[6] The same season, the team had drafted power forward Terry Cummings, who went on to win Rookie of the Year, and the club felt it had to choose between the two young prospects, and they traded Chambers and Al Wood for James Donaldson, Greg Kelser, Mark Radford, a 1984 first-round draft pick (Michael Cage was later selected) and a 1985 2nd round draft pick (Calvin Duncan was later selected).[7]

Seattle SuperSonics (1983–1988)

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Teaming with center Jack Sikma and guard Gus Williams, Chambers became a key piece to a winning team in his third NBA season. He played all 82 games and averaged 18.1 points per game.

The following year, though, Williams was traded, and the point guard who emerged was Gerald Henderson. After posting a team-high 21.5 points per game the season before, Chambers fell to third-most on the team in shot attempts, taking only 28 more shots more than Henderson that season. He still led the team at 18.5 points per game, but felt he was being passed around in the offense.

1986–87, however, was a big season for Chambers. Rookie Nate McMillan took over Henderson's spot and Chambers became one of three key scorers for the Sonics. He posted 23.3 points per game to reach All-Star status for the first time. Chambers hit 85% of 630 free throw tries that season. He also again played all 82 games.

He was the star of the 1987 NBA All-Star Game, played in Seattle. He scored 34 points on 13 of 25 shooting and was named Game's Most Valuable Player. With the SuperSonics, he averaged 20.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 2.4 assists.[8]

Phoenix Suns (1988–1993)

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An avid hunter and horseback rider, Chambers had no interest in playing outside of his native West. He accepted a then-very pricey offer to join the Phoenix Suns in June 1988. Seattle declined to match the offer. He would go onto make three All-Star appearances as a Suns player.

In Phoenix, coach Cotton Fitzsimmons expected Chambers to shoot the ball. In 1988–89 Chambers scored 25.7 points per game. In 1989–90 his total rose to 27.2 points per game. Just as his scoring hit new highs his team also improved. Point guard Kevin Johnson was the passer Chambers had long-awaited, and the duo became an outstanding NBA tandem. On March 24, 1990, Chambers scored a Suns-franchise-record 60 points during a win over his former team the Sonics,[9] while playing through a hamstring injury.[10]

Former Seattle teammate, Xavier McDaniel, joined the team in 1990–91, and the now 31-year-old Chambers again accepted a more team-oriented role for the Suns. His scoring, and the team's success, declined. He had been twice named All-NBA Second Team, but now just tried to fit in.

In 1992–93, the fifth and final season in Phoenix, Charles Barkley arrived to give the team the rebounder the team had long needed to truly contend. The now 33-year-old Chambers accepted a role as sixth man, while Barkley and Dan Majerle were the team's key scorers.

That team made it to the 1993 NBA Finals, where they lost 4 games to 2 to Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls. In the last game of the series, and what would be the last game of his Suns tenure, Chambers scored 12 points in a 99–98 Game 6 loss.[11]

Utah Jazz

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Chambers still felt he had more to contribute, and accepted an offer to join the Utah Jazz in August 1993. He would back up star Karl Malone, and re-team with Jeff Hornacek from the Suns. The Jazz improved immediately and made it to the 1994 Western Conference Finals. Now age 35, Chambers had one more year to give before ending his first stint in the NBA as a 20,024-point NBA scorer.

Maccabi Tel Aviv (1995–1996)

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Chambers joined Maccabi Tel Aviv in Israel, for a season of play in the Israeli Super League and the FIBA EuroLeague, during the 1995–96 season. In the Israeli Super League, Chambers averaged 17.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game.[12] He also won the Israeli League championship that season with Maccabi. In the FIBA EuroLeague's 1995–96 season, Chambers averaged 15.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 0.7 steals per game, in 32.8 minutes per game.[13]

Charlotte Hornets (1997)

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After his stint in Israel, Chambers signed a contract with the Charlotte Hornets. He played twelve games with the Hornets but was then waived.

Philadelphia 76ers (1997)

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Chambers would play in one more NBA game, with the Philadelphia 76ers, during the 1997–98 regular season,[7] before retiring. In the last game of his career, played on November 26, 1997, he had six points, two rebounds, and two steals for the 76ers, against the Cleveland Cavaliers, in his only appearance with the team.[14]

Player profile

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Chambers appeared in 16 NBA seasons as a member of the San Diego Clippers, Seattle SuperSonics, Phoenix Suns, Utah Jazz, Charlotte Hornets, and Philadelphia 76ers.[15] Chambers scored 20,049 total points in the NBA for a career average of 18.1 points per game. His career high was a 60-point performance with the Suns against the Sonics on March 24, 1990.[16] He appeared in four NBA All-Star Games during his career (1987, 1989, 1990, and 1991), earning game MVP honors in 1987 after scoring 34 points. He also played in the 1993 NBA Finals as a member of the Suns, but his team lost to the Chicago Bulls.[15] He is one of just two players (alongside Antawn Jamison) currently eligible for induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame who have scored 20,000 points who have not been inducted.

Legacy

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Chambers was inducted into the Phoenix Suns Ring of Honor in April 1999 and became the first inductee since the Ring of Honor was installed at the then-America West Arena (now Footprint Center). As part of the induction ceremony, he received a bronze statue by artist Sam Wickey recreating his 1989 dunk over the New York Knicks guard Mark Jackson.[17] Chambers was also honored by being inducted into the Utah Sports Hall of Fame in 2010 and the Arizona Sports Hall of Fame in 2019.[18][19]

NBA career statistics

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Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

Regular season

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Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
1981–82 San Diego 81 58 33.1 .525 .000 .620 6.9 1.8 0.7 0.6 17.2
1982–83 San Diego 79 79 33.7 .472 .000 .723 6.6 2.4 1.0 0.7 17.6
1983–84 Seattle 82 44 31.3 .499 .000 .800 6.5 1.6 0.6 0.6 18.1
1984–85 Seattle 81 60 36.1 .483 .273 .832 7.1 2.6 0.9 0.7 21.5
1985–86 Seattle 66 26 30.6 .466 .271 .836 6.5 2.0 0.8 0.6 18.5
1986–87 Seattle 82 82 36.8 .456 .372 .849 6.6 3.0 1.0 0.6 23.3
1987–88 Seattle 82 82 32.7 .448 .303 .807 6.0 2.6 1.1 0.6 20.4
1988–89 Phoenix 81 81 37.1 .471 .326 .851 8.4 2.9 1.1 0.7 25.7
1989–90 Phoenix 81 81 37.6 .501 .279 .861 7.0 2.3 1.1 0.6 27.2
1990–91 Phoenix 76 75 32.6 .437 .274 .826 6.4 2.6 0.9 0.7 19.9
1991–92 Phoenix 69 66 28.2 .431 .367 .830 5.8 2.1 0.8 0.5 16.3
1992–93 Phoenix 73 0 23.6 .447 .393 .837 4.7 1.4 0.6 0.3 12.2
1993–94 Utah 80 0 23.0 .440 .311 .786 4.1 1.0 0.5 0.4 11.2
1994–95 Utah 80 4 15.3 .457 .167 .807 2.6 0.9 0.3 0.4 6.2
1996–97 Charlotte 12 5 6.9 .226 .667 .750 1.2 0.3 0.1 0.0 1.6
1997–98 Philadelphia 1 0 10.0 1.000 — 1.000 2.0 0.0 2.0 0.0 6.0
Career 1,107 734 30.6 .468 .307 .807 6.1 2.1 0.8 0.6 18.1
All-Star 4 1 21.0 .518 .400 .773 4.0 1.3 1.5 0.0 19.3

Playoffs

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Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
1984 Seattle 5 — 38.2 .475 .000 .667 6.6 1.6 1.0 0.6 13.6
1987 Seattle 14 14 35.6 .449 .333 .808 6.4 2.3 0.9 0.9 23.0
1988 Seattle 5 5 33.6 .549 .000 .829 6.2 2.2 0.6 0.2 25.8
1989 Phoenix 12 12 41.3 .459 .409 .859 10.9 3.8 1.1 1.3 26.0
1990 Phoenix 16 16 38.3 .425 .263 .879 6.7 1.9 0.4 0.4 22.2
1991 Phoenix 4 4 35.5 .409 .000 .737 5.8 2.5 1.8 1.3 17.0
1992 Phoenix 7 0 27.7 .459 .571 .844 4.4 2.7 0.3 0.7 15.6
1993 Phoenix 24 1 15.7 .388 .400 .815 2.7 0.5 0.3 0.4 7.3
1994 Utah 16 0 20.3 .361 .000 .793 2.8 0.8 0.3 0.6 5.8
1995 Utah 5 0 12.0 .500 .333 .692 2.6 0.4 0.4 0.0 6.4
Career 108 52 28.3 .440 .303 .827 5.3 1.7 0.6 0.6 15.4

Personal life

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After his playing career ended, Chambers bought a ranch in North Ogden for himself and family which became known as Shooting Star Ranch. Soon after, he became a community relations representative for the Suns, sold his ranch in Ogden, and moved permanently to Scottsdale, Arizona, with his family.

He won a Rocky Mountain Emmy alongside senior editor Tommy Arguelles for their work on Sunderella Suns, a film commemorating the 40th anniversary of the 1975–76 Phoenix Suns season and the impact that season had on the state of Arizona as a whole.[20]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Phoenix Suns to Unveil Permanent Banners and Murals as Part of Reimagined Ring of Honor During Home Opener on October 28". NBA.com.
  2. ^ "Phoenix Suns forward Tom Chambers nominated for Basketball Hall of Fame". KNXV. December 21, 2021. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
  3. ^ Rankin, Duane (February 18, 2022). "Tom Chambers fails to make Naismith Hall of Fame 2022 finalists list as a first-time nominee". AZ Central. Retrieved February 19, 2022.
  4. ^ Clarke, Norm (February 25, 1990), "Colorado's All Time Top Prep Star? Tom Chambers – By A Spurt", The Seattle Times
  5. ^ Harris, Curtis M. (March 31, 2020). "From Double TC to Zero Hope". Prohoopshistory.substack.com. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
  6. ^ a b "Portland Trail Blazers at San Diego Clippers Box Score, April 15, 1982". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
  7. ^ a b "Tom Chambers Stats". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
  8. ^ "Tom Chambers: The First Unrestricted Free Agent". www.nba.com. Retrieved December 11, 2022.
  9. ^ (1990) Tom Chambers scored a franchise high 60 points vs the Sonics
  10. ^ THROWBACK: CHAMBERS DROPS FRANCHISE RECORD 60
  11. ^ SUNS ROAD TO 1993 NBA FINALS: THE FINISH LINE
  12. ^ "ISRAEL BASKETBALL SUPER LEAGUE | Israel Basketball | 1995-96 Season | Maccabi Tel-Aviv | Tom Chambers". Basket.co.il. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
  13. ^ "Thomas Doane Chambers | European Championship for Men's Clubs (1996) | FIBA Europe". Fibaeurope.com. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
  14. ^ "Tom Chambers 1997-98 Game Log". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
  15. ^ a b "Chambers, Tom." 2005–06 Official NBA Player Register. 2005. 338–339.
  16. ^ "Single Game Bests: Points". 2006–2007 Official NBA Guide. 2006. 167.
  17. ^ Gilmartin, Joe (April 22, 1999). "Suns Honor Chambers". Phoenix Suns. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
  18. ^ Nov. 16, Rod Zundel | Posted-; P.m, 2010 at 8:36. "5 inducted into Utah Sports Hall Of Fame". www.ksl.com. Retrieved February 19, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  19. ^ "Hall inducted into Arizona Sports Hall of Fame". MLB.com. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
  20. ^ "Marquese Chriss comfortable with preseason Phoenix Suns impact". Azcentral.com. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
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