Aaron McKie
USABiography of Aaron McKie
Aaron Fitzgerald McKie, born on October 2, 1972, is a former American professional basketball player who played in the NBA and is now retired. Throughout his career, McKie had a variety of basketball positions, including shooting guard, small forward, and point guard.
Early Life and High School Career
McKie attended Simon Gratz High School in Philadelphia, where he was an active basketball player. In his senior years, he played for the "All-Scholastic" and "All-Southern Pennsylvania" teams. Thanks to his contributions, his team made it to the Public League Championship, recording a record of 26 wins and 4 losses. McKie averaged 18.9 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 7.2 assists per game during that time.
College Career
After his successful high school career, McKie enrolled at Temple University. At this point, he was already listed as the sixth-best high school basketball player, with a total of 1650 points and an average of 17.9 points per game in ninety-two games. He was also a member of the "All Atlantic 10" virtual team and later became a member of the tournament roster at Temple University.
NBA Career
In the 1994 NBA Draft, McKie was selected in the first round, seventeenth overall, by the Portland Trail Blazers. He later played for the Detroit Pistons, Philadelphia 76ers, and Los Angeles Lakers. In the 2000-2001 season, McKie was named the "Sixth Man of the Year," becoming the first member of the 76ers to receive this award since Bobby Jones in 1983.
McKie played an important role in the NBA Finals, serving as a substitute for Eric Snow and Allen Iverson and eventually joining the starting lineup. He particularly excelled in games against the Sacramento Kings on December 30, 2000, and the Atlanta Hawks on January 3, 2001.
Post-NBA Career
On August 12, 2005, McKie was released by the 76ers as part of a special program to reduce the team's tax burden. However, he quickly signed a contract with the Los Angeles Lakers on August 22.
In October 2007, McKie returned to the 76ers as an assistant coach. He later worked for the Memphis Grizzlies before returning to the Philadelphia team. Currently, Aaron McKie remains as an assistant coach for the 76ers. There are no plans for his return to professional basketball as a player at the moment.
