 |
Vin BakerAmerican former professional basketball player
Date of Birth: 23.11.1971
Country:  USA |
Content:
Early Life and College Career
Vin Baker was born in Old Saybrook, Connecticut, where his exceptional basketball skills caught the attention of scouts at Old Saybrook High School. Receiving a scholarship from the University of Hartford, Baker began playing in the NCAA at just 17 years old. As a freshman for the Hartford Hawks, he earned NCAA All-Freshman Team honors. By his sophomore season, Baker averaged 19.7 points and 10.4 rebounds per game, being named to the North Atlantic Conference All-Conference Team.
Despite Baker's remarkable scoring (27.6 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 3.7 blocks per game in his junior year and 28.3 points in his senior year), the Hawks failed to make the NCAA Tournament under his leadership. Baker ended his college career as Hartford's all-time leading scorer with 2238 points, a record that stands today. His jersey number (42) was retired by the university.
NBA Career
Baker declared for the 1993 NBA Draft after four seasons at Hartford. He was selected eighth overall by the Milwaukee Bucks. In four seasons with the Bucks, Baker made the NBA All-Rookie Team and earned three NBA All-Star selections. In the 1996-97 season, Milwaukee traded Baker to the Seattle SuperSonics as part of a three-way deal involving Shawn Kemp.
In Seattle, Baker signed a lucrative contract and continued to perform at a high level, earning a fourth consecutive All-Star selection and helping the SuperSonics reach the second round of the playoffs. However, following the 1998-99 lockout, Baker struggled with weight gain and decreased production.
After five seasons with the SuperSonics, Baker was traded to the Boston Celtics, along with Shammond Williams, for Kenny Anderson, Vitaly Potapenko, and Joe Forte. Celtics coach Jim O'Brien recognized Baker's alcohol dependency, leading to the player's admission of his problem. Consequently, Baker moved between three more teams (New York Knicks, Houston Rockets, and Los Angeles Clippers) before signing with the Minnesota Timberwolves, where he never played a game and ultimately ended his professional career.
