Horace Grant
|
|
Horace Junior Grant (born July 4 1965 in Augusta, Georgia) is a former NBA basketball player, and the twin brother of Harvey Grant, also a former NBA player. He attended Clemson University, joined Pi Kappa Alpha and in 1987 was selected by the Chicago Bulls with the 10th overall pick in the NBA draft. The 6'10" power forward immediately teamed with Scottie Pippen to form the Bulls' forward tandem of the future, although he initially backed up Charles Oakley, one of the league's premier rebounders and post defenders.
In 1989, he moved into the starting lineup when Oakley was traded to the New York Knicks for center Bill Cartwright. He immediately became the Bulls' main rebounder, and established himself as the Bulls' third scoring option after Jordan and Pippen, forming the one of league's best trios. He helped the Bulls win three consecutive NBA championships (1990-91, 91-92, and 92-93). After Jordan retired following the 1992-93 season, he became the number two star behind Pippen, and helped the Bulls push the Knicks to seven games in the second-round playoff series before being defeated. In the offseason, however, he left the Bulls as a free agent, joining the young and rising Orlando Magic, led by young phenoms Shaquille O'Neal and Anfernee Hardaway. Grant helped the Magic reach the 1994-95 NBA Finals, where they were swept in four games by the more experienced Houston Rockets. Grant spent the next several seasons with the Magic, until he joined the Seattle SuperSonics in 1999. After the 1999-2000 season, he was involved in a three-way trade in which Glen Rice of the Los Angeles Lakers was sent to New York, Patrick Ewing of the Knicks was sent to Seattle, and Grant went to the defending champion Lakers. He helped them win the championship in 2000-2001, and in the offseason signed back with the Magic. He retired in the beginning of the 2002-2003 season, but returned to the Lakers in the summer of 2003.
Grant is known as a strong defender and rebounder who can also provide a consistent source of points. He's easily recognizable by many NBA fans because he wears trademark large goggles.
His nickname is "The General".ja:ホーレス・グラント