Chris Childs (basketball)
Encyclopedia
Chris Childs is a retired American
professional basketball
player, who played primarily at the guard position.
After playing his high school basketball at Foothill High School
and starring at Boise State University
in the late 1980s, Childs went undrafted in the 1989 NBA Draft
and began his professional career in the Continental Basketball Association
. He played for five different teams in his first three seasons in the league, but eventually found a home with the Quad City Thunder
, with whom he won a league title and an MVP award in 1994 after averaging 17.9 points and 7.6 assists
.
Childs' success in the minor leagues proved to be his ticket to the NBA
, as he signed with the New Jersey Nets
prior to the start of the 1994–95 NBA season. He spent his first two seasons with the Nets, and averaged an NBA career-high 12.8 points in 1995-96
.
However, Childs was perhaps best remembered for his five-year (1996–2001) tenure with the New York Knicks
, who relied on his tight defense and streaky three-point shooting ability
during their perennial runs to the NBA Playoffs
. It was during this time that Childs helped lead the New York Knicks to the NBA Eastern Conference Championship in 1999. He led the team in assists (6.1 per game) as a starter during the 1996-97 season, and was a valuable contributor off the bench during his next four years with the team. A visible figure in the New York
media, he also represented the Knicks on the 1998-99
NBA All-Interview Team and won the New York Press Photographers Association's 2000 "Good Guy Award" for his involvement with several charities and youth basketball programs.
In February 2001, Childs was traded to the Toronto Raptors
for Mark Jackson
and Muggsy Bogues
, with whom he played for one-and-a-half seasons before rejoining the Nets in 2002. He retired after the 2002-2003 season.
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, who played primarily at the guard position.
After playing his high school basketball at Foothill High School
Foothill High School (Bakersfield, California)
Their Speech and Debate team won the State Championship in 2004. In 2003, Foothill had the league record of sending 7 students to the National Championships...
and starring at Boise State University
Boise State University
Boise State University is a public university located in Boise, Idaho. Originally founded in 1932 as a junior college by the Episcopal Church, the university became an independent institution in 1934, and has been awarding baccalaureate and master degrees since 1965...
in the late 1980s, Childs went undrafted in the 1989 NBA Draft
1989 NBA Draft
The 1989 NBA Draft took place on June 27, 1989 in New York City, New York, USA. It has been regarded as one of the worst drafts in NBA history, along with the 1986 NBA Draft and the 2000 NBA Draft. Though the draft produced talented players such as Shawn Kemp, Glen Rice, Sean Elliott, Nick...
and began his professional career in the Continental Basketball Association
Continental Basketball Association
The Continental Basketball Association was a professional men's basketball league in the United States, which has been on hiatus since the 2009 season.- History :...
. He played for five different teams in his first three seasons in the league, but eventually found a home with the Quad City Thunder
Quad City Thunder
The Quad City Thunder are a defunct professional basketball team that was based in the Quad Cities of Illinois and Iowa. They played in the Continental Basketball Association from the 1987-1988 season until the league folded in 2001. The teams was CBA champions in the 1993-1994 and 1997-1998...
, with whom he won a league title and an MVP award in 1994 after averaging 17.9 points and 7.6 assists
Assist (basketball)
In basketball, an assist is attributed to a player who passes the ball to a teammate in a way that leads to a score by field goal, meaning that he or she was "assisting" in the basket. There is some judgment involved in deciding whether a passer should be credited with an assist...
.
Childs' success in the minor leagues proved to be his ticket to the NBA
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
, as he signed with the New Jersey Nets
New Jersey Nets
The New Jersey Nets are a professional basketball team based in Newark, New Jersey. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
prior to the start of the 1994–95 NBA season. He spent his first two seasons with the Nets, and averaged an NBA career-high 12.8 points in 1995-96
1995-96 NBA season
The 1995–96 NBA season was the 50th season of the National Basketball Association , although the league didn't celebrate this anniversary until the following season...
.
However, Childs was perhaps best remembered for his five-year (1996–2001) tenure with the New York Knicks
New York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
, who relied on his tight defense and streaky three-point shooting ability
Three-point field goal
A three-point field goal is a field goal in a basketball game, made from beyond the three-point line, a designated arc radiating from the basket...
during their perennial runs to the NBA Playoffs
NBA Playoffs
The National Basketball Association Playoffs is a best-of-seven elimination tournament among sixteen teams in the Eastern Conference and Western Conference , ultimately deciding the final four teams who will play in the NBA Conference Finals.-Format:Following the NBA regular season, eight teams in...
. It was during this time that Childs helped lead the New York Knicks to the NBA Eastern Conference Championship in 1999. He led the team in assists (6.1 per game) as a starter during the 1996-97 season, and was a valuable contributor off the bench during his next four years with the team. A visible figure in the New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
media, he also represented the Knicks on the 1998-99
1998-99 NBA season
The 1999 NBA season was the 53rd season of the National Basketball Association . Due to a lockout, the season did not start until February 5, 1999 after a new six year Collective Bargaining Agreement was reached between the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association...
NBA All-Interview Team and won the New York Press Photographers Association's 2000 "Good Guy Award" for his involvement with several charities and youth basketball programs.
In February 2001, Childs was traded to the Toronto Raptors
Toronto Raptors
The Toronto Raptors are a professional basketball team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1995, along with the Vancouver Grizzlies, as part of the NBA's re-expansion...
for Mark Jackson
Mark Jackson (basketball)
Mark A. Jackson is a retired American professional basketball player and the current head coach of the Golden State Warriors. He played point guard for the New York Knicks, Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Clippers, Denver Nuggets, Toronto Raptors, Utah Jazz, and Houston Rockets in the NBA in a career...
and Muggsy Bogues
Muggsy Bogues
Tyrone Curtis "Muggsy" Bogues is a retired American professional basketball player and former head coach of the now-defunct Charlotte Sting of the Women's National Basketball Association . The shortest player ever to play in the NBA, the Bogues played point guard for four teams during his...
, with whom he played for one-and-a-half seasons before rejoining the Nets in 2002. He retired after the 2002-2003 season.