Moochie Norris
Encyclopedia
Martyn "Moochie" Norris is an American
former professional basketball
player.
Norris, a journeyman
, played collegiately
at Odessa College
(JC
) (1992/93-1993/94), at Auburn University
(1994/95) and at the University of West Florida
(1995/96). He was drafted with 33rd overall pick (4th in second round) of the 1996 NBA draft
by Milwaukee Bucks
. He did not play for Bucks and on 22 November 1996 was waived by them. On 12 December he signed as free agent with Vancouver Grizzlies
for whom he played until 30 December, when he was waived. After one season (1997/98) of break he returned to the NBA and played there until the 2005/06 season for Seattle SuperSonics
, Houston Rockets
, New York Knicks
and New Orleans Hornets, for Rockets and Knicks intermittently with several stints. Early on in his career, Norris dealt with insomnia
which he has suffered from for many years.
Moochie was one of the lesser-known NBA players with his own bobblehead figurine sporting a synthetic afro when he was with the Houston Rockets
in 2002. He was also noticeable for his large afro
.
He was given his nickname by his grandfather, who loved the Cab Calloway
song, "Minnie the Moocher
".
After the 2006 NBA season, Norris was placed on waivers by the New Orleans Hornets. He joined the Yakama Sun Kings of the Continental Basketball Association
briefly in January 2007, played for Italian
club Climamio Bologna
from March to June of that year, and in November returned to the Sun Kings, where he led the league in assists.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
former 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.
Norris, a journeyman
Journeyman
A journeyman is someone who completed an apprenticeship and was fully educated in a trade or craft, but not yet a master. To become a master, a journeyman had to submit a master work piece to a guild for evaluation and be admitted to the guild as a master....
, played collegiately
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
at Odessa College
Odessa College
Odessa College is a public two-year junior college based in Odessa, Texas, USA serving the people of Ector County and the Permian Basin. It opened in 1952 and currently enrolls about 5,000 annually in its university-parallel and occupational/technical courses, and 11,000 students annually in its...
(JC
Junior college
The term junior college refers to different educational institutions in different countries.-India:In India, most states provide schooling through 12th grade...
) (1992/93-1993/94), at Auburn University
Auburn University
Auburn University is a public university located in Auburn, Alabama, United States. With more than 25,000 students and 1,200 faculty members, it is one of the largest universities in the state. Auburn was chartered on February 7, 1856, as the East Alabama Male College, a private liberal arts...
(1994/95) and at the University of West Florida
University of West Florida
The University of West Florida, also known as West Florida and UWF, is a mid-sized public university located in Pensacola, Florida, United States. UWF is a member institution of the State University System of Florida. The University of West Florida is a Research University, which specializes in...
(1995/96). He was drafted with 33rd overall pick (4th in second round) of the 1996 NBA draft
1996 NBA Draft
The 1996 NBA Draft was the 50th draft in the National Basketball Association . It was held on June 26, 1996 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The draft was broadcast in the United States on the Turner Network Television...
by 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....
. He did not play for Bucks and on 22 November 1996 was waived by them. On 12 December he signed as free agent with Vancouver Grizzlies
Vancouver Grizzlies
The Vancouver Grizzlies were a professional basketball team based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. They were part of the Midwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1995, along with the Toronto Raptors, as part of the NBA's...
for whom he played until 30 December, when he was waived. After one season (1997/98) of break he returned to the NBA and played there until the 2005/06 season for 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...
, Houston Rockets
Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston, Texas. The team plays in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1967, and played in San Diego, California for four years, before being...
, 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...
and New Orleans Hornets, for Rockets and Knicks intermittently with several stints. Early on in his career, Norris dealt with insomnia
Insomnia
Insomnia is most often defined by an individual's report of sleeping difficulties. While the term is sometimes used in sleep literature to describe a disorder demonstrated by polysomnographic evidence of disturbed sleep, insomnia is often defined as a positive response to either of two questions:...
which he has suffered from for many years.
Moochie was one of the lesser-known NBA players with his own bobblehead figurine sporting a synthetic afro when he was with the Houston Rockets
Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston, Texas. The team plays in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1967, and played in San Diego, California for four years, before being...
in 2002. He was also noticeable for his large afro
Afro
Afro, sometimes shortened to fro and also known as a "natural", is a hairstyle worn naturally by people with lengthy kinky hair texture or specifically styled in such a fashion by individuals with naturally curly or straight hair...
.
He was given his nickname by his grandfather, who loved the Cab Calloway
Cab Calloway
Cabell "Cab" Calloway III was an American jazz singer and bandleader. He was strongly associated with the Cotton Club in Harlem, New York City where he was a regular performer....
song, "Minnie the Moocher
Minnie the Moocher
"Minnie the Moocher" is a jazz song first recorded in 1931 by Cab Calloway and His Orchestra, selling over 1 million copies. "Minnie the Moocher" is most famous for its nonsensical ad libbed lyrics . In performances, Calloway would have the audience participate by repeating each scat phrase in a...
".
After the 2006 NBA season, Norris was placed on waivers by the New Orleans Hornets. He joined the Yakama Sun Kings of 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 :...
briefly in January 2007, played for Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
club Climamio Bologna
Fortitudo Bologna
Fortitudo Pallacanestro Bologna is an Legadue Basket professional basketball club that is based in Bologna. It's currently sponsored by Conad.-History:...
from March to June of that year, and in November returned to the Sun Kings, where he led the league in assists.