Austin Croshere
Encyclopedia
Austin Nathan Croshere (born May 1, 1975) is a retired American
professional basketball
player and current analyst for Fox Sports Indiana
broadcasts of Indiana Pacers
games.
in Santa Monica, California
, and graduated from Providence College
in Providence, Rhode Island
.
, selected by the Indiana Pacers
.
A 6'10", hard-nosed player who can play the power forward
and small forward
positions, Croshere has shot 33.9% from three-point range over the course of his ten-year career. In the 1999–2000 NBA season, he had peaked at just the right time
as he helped the Pacers advance to the 2000 NBA Finals
, marking the Pacers' first Finals appearance since the ABA-NBA merger
.
He was rewarded for his performance in the regular season and particularly the playoffs with a hefty contract, which the Pacers soon learned to regret as lamentably, Austin never fully lived up to the promise he had shown. In fairness to him, Pacers coach Isiah Thomas
seldom used him during the three seasons he coached the team. Croshere played 49 games in 2002-03, averaging a career-low 12.9 minutes per game that season as he fell out of the rotation.
Croshere became an important backup again during the Rick Carlisle
years, and was a key contributor against the Detroit Pistons
in the 2004 Eastern Conference Finals.
On September 26, 2008, Larry Bird
announced that Croshere was invited to training camp with the Pacers for an opportunity at a second stint. He was waived on October 23, 2008.
for Marquis Daniels
. This move left only Jeff Foster as the last Pacer remaining from the 1999-2000
Eastern Conference
championship team.
Croshere scored a career-high 34 points in a Mavericks 122-102 win against the Seattle SuperSonics
on January 30, 2007.
.
2008 was the first year in his career that Croshere did not make the playoffs.
, however he was waived and on October 27 he was claimed by the Milwaukee Bucks
off the waivers. He was released on January 6, 2009 after averaging 3.3 points and 2.2 rebounds per game.
on 16 January 2009. He was released on 28 January after appearing in 3 games and scoring 4 points.
as a pre- and post-game analyst for Pacers home games.
| align="left" | 1997–98
| align="left" | Indiana
| 26 || 0 || 9.3 || .372 || .308 || .571 || 1.7 || .3 || .3 || .2 || 2.9
|-
| align="left" | 1998–99
| align="left" | Indiana
| 27 || 0 || 9.2 || .427 || .276 || .870 || 1.7 || .4 || .3 || .3 || 3.4
|-
| align="left" | 1999–00
| align="left" | Indiana
| 81 || 14 || 23.3 || .441 || .362 || .848 || 6.4 || 1.1 || .5 || .7 || 10.3
|-
| align="left" | 2000–01
| align="left" | Indiana
| 81 || 23 || 23.1 || .394 || .338 || .866 || 4.8 || 1.1 || .4 || .6 || 10.1
|-
| align="left" | 2001–02
| align="left" | Indiana
| 76 || 1 || 16.9 || .413 || .338 || .851 || 3.9 || 1.0 || .3 || .4 || 6.8
|-
| align="left" | 2002–03
| align="left" | Indiana
| 49 || 0 || 12.9 || .411 || .391 || .815 || 3.2 || 1.1 || .1 || .3 || 5.1
|-
| align="left" | 2003–04
| align="left" | Indiana
| 77 || 0 || 13.6 || .388 || .389 || .894 || 3.2 || .7 || .3 || .2 || 5.0
|-
| align="left" | 2004–05
| align="left" | Indiana
| 73 || 22 || 25.0 || .378 || .259 || .883 || 5.1 || 1.3 || .7 || .2 || 8.9
|-
| align="left" | 2005–06
| align="left" | Indiana
| 50 || 26 || 23.0 || .463 || .386 || .882 || 5.3 || 1.2 || .4 || .1 || 8.2
|-
| align="left" | 2006–07
| align="left" | Dallas
| 61 || 2 || 11.9 || .351 || .286 || .865 || 3.0 || .7 || .2 || .1 || 3.7
|-
| align="left" | 2007–08
| align="left" | Golden State
| 44 || 0 || 10.4 || .445 || .361 || .906 || 2.4 || .7 || .2 || .1 || 3.9
|-
| align="left" | 2008–09
| align="left" | Milwaukee
| 11 || 0 || 7.0 || .400 || .455 || .636 || 2.2 || .5 || .1 || .1 || 3.3
|-
| align="left" | 2008–09
| align="left" | San Antonio
| 3 || 0 || 7.7 || .222 || .000 || .000 || 3.3 || 1.0 || .0 || .0 || 1.3
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 659 || 88 || 17.4 || .407 || .340 || .861 || 4.0 || 1.0 || .4 || .3 || 6.8
| align="left" | 1998–99
| align="left" | Indiana
| 1 || 0 || 1.0 || .000 || .000 || 1.000 || 1.0 || .0 || .0 || .0 || 2.0
|-
| align="left" | 1999–00
| align="left" | Indiana
| 23 || 2 || 21.3 || .418 || .405 || .839 || 4.7 || .8 || .4 || .7 || 9.4
|-
| align="left" | 2000–01
| align="left" | Indiana
| 4 || 0 || 32.3 || .400 || .200 || .867 || 5.0 || 1.5 || 1.0 || .5 || 10.8
|-
| align="left" | 2001–02
| align="left" | Indiana
| 4 || 0 || 14.8 || .400 || .333 || .750 || 3.5 || .5 || .2 || .2 || 6.0
|-
| align="left" | 2002–03
| align="left" | Indiana
| 4 || 0 || 11.5 || .263 || .000 || .857 || 4.3 || .8 || .0 || .2 || 4.0
|-
| align="left" | 2003–04
| align="left" | Indiana
| 13 || 2 || 16.5 || .345 || .333 || .810 || 3.1 || .9 || .3 || .2 || 4.8
|-
| align="left" | 2004–05
| align="left" | Indiana
| 10 || 0 || 8.8 || .400 || .500 || .833 || 1.7 || .0 || .4 || .1 || 2.5
|-
| align="left" | 2005–06
| align="left" | Indiana
| 6 || 2 || 29.2 || .316 || .391 || .889 || 3.7 || 1.2 || .8 || .0 || 8.2
|-
| align="left" | 2006–07
| align="left" | Dallas
| 3 || 0 || 11.3 || .333 || .750 || 1.000 || 2.0 || .0 || .0 || .0 || 5.0
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 68 || 6 || 18.2 || .379 || .360 || .844 || 3.6 || .7 || .4 || .3 || 6.7
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player and current analyst for Fox Sports Indiana
Fox Sports Indiana
Fox Sports Indiana is a regional cable sports network that operates in Central Indiana. Fox Sports Indiana was created in 2006 by Fox Sports Net as a spin-off to Fox Sports Midwest due to gaining the television contract for the Indiana Pacers full time...
broadcasts of Indiana Pacers
Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers are a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They are members of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association...
games.
Education
He went to Palms Middle School and Crossroads SchoolCrossroads School (Santa Monica, California)
Crossroads School for Arts & Sciences is a K-12 independent, college preparatory school in Santa Monica, California, United States. The school is a member of the G20 Schools Group.-History:...
in Santa Monica, California
Santa Monica, California
Santa Monica is a beachfront city in western Los Angeles County, California, US. Situated on Santa Monica Bay, it is surrounded on three sides by the city of Los Angeles — Pacific Palisades on the northwest, Brentwood on the north, West Los Angeles on the northeast, Mar Vista on the east, and...
, and graduated from Providence College
Providence College
Providence College is a private, coeducational, Catholic university located about two miles west of downtown Providence, Rhode Island, United States, the state's capital city. With a 2010–2011 enrollment of 3,850 undergraduate students and 735 graduate students, the College specializes in academic...
in Providence, Rhode Island
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
.
Indiana Pacers
Croshere was the 12th pick of the 1997 NBA Draft1997 NBA Draft
The 1997 NBA Draft took place on June 25, 1997 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Although the Celtics had the second worst record in the 1996-97 season and the best odds of winning the lottery with two picks, the Spurs, usually a model of winning and consistency, lost David Robinson to an injury early...
, selected by the Indiana Pacers
Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers are a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They are members of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association...
.
A 6'10", hard-nosed player who can play the power forward
Power forward (basketball)
Power forward is a position in the sport of basketball. The position is referred to in playbook terms as the four position and is commonly abbreviated "PF". It has also been referred to as the "post" position. Power forwards play a role similar to that of center in what is called the "post" or "low...
and small forward
Small forward
The small forward, or colloquially known as three, is one of the five positions in a regulation basketball game. Small forwards are typically somewhat shorter, quicker, and leaner than power forwards and centers, but on occasion are just as tall...
positions, Croshere has shot 33.9% from three-point range over the course of his ten-year career. In the 1999–2000 NBA season, he had peaked at just the right time
Contract year phenomenon
Contract year phenomenon is a term used in North American sports to describe the occurrence when athletes perform at a very high level in the season prior to their free agency eligibility...
as he helped the Pacers advance to the 2000 NBA Finals
2000 NBA Finals
The 2000 NBA Finals was the championship round of the 1999-2000 National Basketball Association season. The Los Angeles Lakers of the Western Conference took on the Indiana Pacers of the Eastern Conference for the title, with the Lakers holding home court advantage...
, marking the Pacers' first Finals appearance since the ABA-NBA merger
ABA-NBA merger
The ABA–NBA merger was the merger of the American Basketball Association with the National Basketball Association, which after multiple attempts over several years finally occurred in 1976.- Origins of ABA-NBA competition :...
.
He was rewarded for his performance in the regular season and particularly the playoffs with a hefty contract, which the Pacers soon learned to regret as lamentably, Austin never fully lived up to the promise he had shown. In fairness to him, Pacers coach Isiah Thomas
Isiah Thomas
Isiah Lord Thomas III , nicknamed "Zeke",is the men's basketball coach for the FIU Golden Panthers, and a retired American professional basketball player who played point guard for the Detroit Pistons of the National Basketball Association from 1981 until 1994. He led the "Bad Boys" to the NBA...
seldom used him during the three seasons he coached the team. Croshere played 49 games in 2002-03, averaging a career-low 12.9 minutes per game that season as he fell out of the rotation.
Croshere became an important backup again during the Rick Carlisle
Rick Carlisle
Richard Preston Carlisle is the head coach of the NBA's Dallas Mavericks. He has also coached the Indiana Pacers and Detroit Pistons, and was previously a player in the NBA. He is also one of the only 11 people to win an NBA championship both as a player and as a coach.-Playing career:Carlisle...
years, and was a key contributor against the Detroit Pistons
Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons are a franchise of the National Basketball Association based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The team's home arena is The Palace of Auburn Hills. It was originally founded in Fort Wayne, Indiana as the Fort Wayne Pistons as a member of the National Basketball League in 1941, where...
in the 2004 Eastern Conference Finals.
On September 26, 2008, Larry Bird
Larry Bird
Larry Joe Bird is a former American NBA basketball player and coach. Drafted into the NBA sixth overall by the Boston Celtics in 1978, Bird started at small forward and power forward for thirteen seasons, spearheading one of the NBA's most formidable frontcourts that included center Robert Parish...
announced that Croshere was invited to training camp with the Pacers for an opportunity at a second stint. He was waived on October 23, 2008.
Dallas Mavericks
On July 5, 2006, Croshere was traded to the Dallas MavericksDallas Mavericks
The Dallas Mavericks are a professional basketball team based in Dallas, Texas. They are members of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association , and the reigning NBA champions, having defeated the Miami Heat in the 2011 NBA Finals.According to a 2011...
for Marquis Daniels
Marquis Daniels
Marquis Antwane Daniels is a , guard-forward who most recently was a member of the Sacramento Kings. Daniels was an undrafted guard in the 2003 NBA Draft, yet has become a regular rotation player averaging at least 17.8 minutes per game in each one of his first six seasons...
. This move left only Jeff Foster as the last Pacer remaining from the 1999-2000
1999-2000 NBA season
-Statistics leaders:-NBA awards:*Most Valuable Player: Shaquille O'Neal, Los Angeles Lakers*Co-Rookies of the Year: Elton Brand, Chicago Bulls; Steve Francis, Houston Rockets*Defensive Player of the Year: Alonzo Mourning, Miami Heat...
Eastern Conference
Eastern Conference (NBA)
The Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association is made up of fifteen teams, organized in three divisions of five teams each.The three division winners and the non-division winner with the best record are seeded 1 through 4 for the playoffs in order of their records, with all...
championship team.
Croshere scored a career-high 34 points in a Mavericks 122-102 win against the Seattle SuperSonics
Seattle SuperSonics
The Seattle SuperSonics were an American professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington that played in the Pacific and Northwest Divisions of the National Basketball Association from 1967 until 2008. Following the 2007–08 season, the team relocated to Oklahoma City, and now plays as...
on January 30, 2007.
Golden State Warriors
On August 3, 2007, Croshere signed with the Golden State WarriorsGolden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors are an American professional basketball team based in Oakland, California. They are part of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
.
2008 was the first year in his career that Croshere did not make the playoffs.
Milwaukee Bucks
Croshere spent the 2008-09 pre-season with his former team Indiana PacersIndiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers are a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They are members of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association...
, however he was waived and on October 27 he was claimed by the Milwaukee Bucks
Milwaukee Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks are a professional basketball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. They are part of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1968 as an expansion team, and currently plays at the Bradley Center....
off the waivers. He was released on January 6, 2009 after averaging 3.3 points and 2.2 rebounds per game.
San Antonio Spurs
Croshere was signed to a 10-day contract with the San Antonio SpursSan Antonio Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs are an American professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas. They are part of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association ....
on 16 January 2009. He was released on 28 January after appearing in 3 games and scoring 4 points.
Post-NBA career
In February 2010, Croshere joined Fox Sports IndianaFox Sports Indiana
Fox Sports Indiana is a regional cable sports network that operates in Central Indiana. Fox Sports Indiana was created in 2006 by Fox Sports Net as a spin-off to Fox Sports Midwest due to gaining the television contract for the Indiana Pacers full time...
as a pre- and post-game analyst for Pacers home games.
Regular season
|-| align="left" | 1997–98
| align="left" | Indiana
Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers are a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They are members of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association...
| 26 || 0 || 9.3 || .372 || .308 || .571 || 1.7 || .3 || .3 || .2 || 2.9
|-
| align="left" | 1998–99
| align="left" | Indiana
| 27 || 0 || 9.2 || .427 || .276 || .870 || 1.7 || .4 || .3 || .3 || 3.4
|-
| align="left" | 1999–00
| align="left" | Indiana
| 81 || 14 || 23.3 || .441 || .362 || .848 || 6.4 || 1.1 || .5 || .7 || 10.3
|-
| align="left" | 2000–01
| align="left" | Indiana
| 81 || 23 || 23.1 || .394 || .338 || .866 || 4.8 || 1.1 || .4 || .6 || 10.1
|-
| align="left" | 2001–02
| align="left" | Indiana
| 76 || 1 || 16.9 || .413 || .338 || .851 || 3.9 || 1.0 || .3 || .4 || 6.8
|-
| align="left" | 2002–03
| align="left" | Indiana
| 49 || 0 || 12.9 || .411 || .391 || .815 || 3.2 || 1.1 || .1 || .3 || 5.1
|-
| align="left" | 2003–04
| align="left" | Indiana
| 77 || 0 || 13.6 || .388 || .389 || .894 || 3.2 || .7 || .3 || .2 || 5.0
|-
| align="left" | 2004–05
| align="left" | Indiana
| 73 || 22 || 25.0 || .378 || .259 || .883 || 5.1 || 1.3 || .7 || .2 || 8.9
|-
| align="left" | 2005–06
| align="left" | Indiana
| 50 || 26 || 23.0 || .463 || .386 || .882 || 5.3 || 1.2 || .4 || .1 || 8.2
|-
| align="left" | 2006–07
| align="left" | Dallas
Dallas Mavericks
The Dallas Mavericks are a professional basketball team based in Dallas, Texas. They are members of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association , and the reigning NBA champions, having defeated the Miami Heat in the 2011 NBA Finals.According to a 2011...
| 61 || 2 || 11.9 || .351 || .286 || .865 || 3.0 || .7 || .2 || .1 || 3.7
|-
| align="left" | 2007–08
| align="left" | Golden State
Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors are an American professional basketball team based in Oakland, California. They are part of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
| 44 || 0 || 10.4 || .445 || .361 || .906 || 2.4 || .7 || .2 || .1 || 3.9
|-
| align="left" | 2008–09
2008–09 NBA season
The 2008–09 NBA season was the 63rd season of the National Basketball Association . The 1,230-game regular season began on Tuesday, October 28, 2008, and ended on Wednesday, April 15, 2009...
| align="left" | Milwaukee
Milwaukee Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks are a professional basketball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. They are part of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1968 as an expansion team, and currently plays at the Bradley Center....
| 11 || 0 || 7.0 || .400 || .455 || .636 || 2.2 || .5 || .1 || .1 || 3.3
|-
| align="left" | 2008–09
| align="left" | San Antonio
San Antonio Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs are an American professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas. They are part of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association ....
| 3 || 0 || 7.7 || .222 || .000 || .000 || 3.3 || 1.0 || .0 || .0 || 1.3
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 659 || 88 || 17.4 || .407 || .340 || .861 || 4.0 || 1.0 || .4 || .3 || 6.8
Playoffs
|-| align="left" | 1998–99
1999 NBA Playoffs
The 1999 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1998-99 season. The tournament concluded with the Western Conference champion San Antonio Spurs by defeating the eighth-seeded Eastern Conference champion New York Knicks four games to one...
| align="left" | Indiana
Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers are a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They are members of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association...
| 1 || 0 || 1.0 || .000 || .000 || 1.000 || 1.0 || .0 || .0 || .0 || 2.0
|-
| align="left" | 1999–00
2000 NBA Playoffs
The 2000 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1999–2000 season. The tournament concluded with the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers win their first championship in twelve years by defeating the Eastern Conference champion Indiana Pacers...
| align="left" | Indiana
| 23 || 2 || 21.3 || .418 || .405 || .839 || 4.7 || .8 || .4 || .7 || 9.4
|-
| align="left" | 2000–01
2001 NBA Playoffs
The 2001 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 2000–01 season. The tournament concluded with the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers winning their second consecutive championship by defeating the Eastern Conference champion Philadelphia 76ers...
| align="left" | Indiana
| 4 || 0 || 32.3 || .400 || .200 || .867 || 5.0 || 1.5 || 1.0 || .5 || 10.8
|-
| align="left" | 2001–02
2002 NBA Playoffs
The 2002 NBA Playoffs were the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 2001–02 season. This would be the final postseason that held a best-of-5 first-round series; next year's postseason would see those series expanded to a best-of-7 format...
| align="left" | Indiana
| 4 || 0 || 14.8 || .400 || .333 || .750 || 3.5 || .5 || .2 || .2 || 6.0
|-
| align="left" | 2002–03
2003 NBA Playoffs
The 2003 NBA playoffs was the postseason of the National Basketball Association's 2002-03 NBA season. This postseason was notable for being the first time all series were conducted in a best-of-7 format. It was also the only time in playoff history that no team was swept in a first-round series....
| align="left" | Indiana
| 4 || 0 || 11.5 || .263 || .000 || .857 || 4.3 || .8 || .0 || .2 || 4.0
|-
| align="left" | 2003–04
2004 NBA Playoffs
The 2004 NBA Playoffs were the postseason of the National Basketball Association's 2003–04 season. Consisting of 16 teams in two conferences, the playoffs involved about two months of play. The playoffs were conducted in seven-game series, with the team with the better record holding home court...
| align="left" | Indiana
| 13 || 2 || 16.5 || .345 || .333 || .810 || 3.1 || .9 || .3 || .2 || 4.8
|-
| align="left" | 2004–05
2005 NBA Playoffs
The 2005 NBA Playoffs was the postseason of the National Basketball Association's 2004–05 season.The San Antonio Spurs, the number two ranked team in the Western Conference, won the 2005 NBA Playoffs by defeating the defending champions, the Detroit Pistons, 4-3 in the NBA Finals...
| align="left" | Indiana
| 10 || 0 || 8.8 || .400 || .500 || .833 || 1.7 || .0 || .4 || .1 || 2.5
|-
| align="left" | 2005–06
2006 NBA Playoffs
The 2006 NBA Playoffs was the postseason of the National Basketball Association's 2005–06 season. The Miami Heat won the first championship in the history of the franchise by defeating the Dallas Mavericks 4-2 in the 2006 NBA Finals...
| align="left" | Indiana
| 6 || 2 || 29.2 || .316 || .391 || .889 || 3.7 || 1.2 || .8 || .0 || 8.2
|-
| align="left" | 2006–07
2007 NBA Playoffs
The 2007 NBA Playoffs was the postseason to the National Basketball Association's 2006–2007 season.There were four rounds of postseason action, all of them in a best-of-seven format, with teams seeded on a bracket. The team with the better record wasn't necessarily the basis of seeding teams in...
| align="left" | Dallas
Dallas Mavericks
The Dallas Mavericks are a professional basketball team based in Dallas, Texas. They are members of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association , and the reigning NBA champions, having defeated the Miami Heat in the 2011 NBA Finals.According to a 2011...
| 3 || 0 || 11.3 || .333 || .750 || 1.000 || 2.0 || .0 || .0 || .0 || 5.0
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 68 || 6 || 18.2 || .379 || .360 || .844 || 3.6 || .7 || .4 || .3 || 6.7