Buffalo head men’s basketball coach Nate Oats has announced the addition of former NBA player and coach Lindsey Hunter to the staff as assistant coach. Hunter spent 17 years in the NBA as a player and another two years as a coach in the league, including as interim head coach of the Phoenix Suns.
“We are excited to have Lindsey join our staff,” said Oats. “He has a tremendous background as both a player and coach and he has won multiple NBA Titles. As a player, Lindsey worked his way into the league and played 17 years, so he can relate to our guys. He has been a head coach and an assistant in the league as well and will bring tremendous basketball knowledge. I can’t wait for him to come in and work with our guys, especially our guards.”
Hunter was the 10th pick overall in the 1993 NBA Draft by the Detroit Pistons after concluding his college career at Jackson State. Hunter played for Detroit from 1993-2000 before spending a year with the Milwaukee Bucks and the Los Angeles Lakers. He won his first NBA Title playing for the Lakers in 2001-02. Hunter then played for the Toronto Raptors for a year before returning to the Pistons from 2003-08, winning his second NBA title in 2003-04. He concluded his playing career for the Chicago Bulls from 2008-10. He played in 937 games over his NBA career and 147 playoff games as he reached the postseason in 12 of his seasons. During his 17-year NBA career, Hunter recorded 7,956 points, 2,021 rebounds and 2,506 assists.
In 2012, Hunter signed with the Phoenix Suns as an assistant coach for player development. After a coaching change during the 2012-13 season, Hunter was named interim head coach of the Suns for the remainder of the year, leading Phoenix for 41 games. He moved on to become an assistant for the Golden State Warriors during the 2013-14 season.
Hunter lettered three years at Jackson State where he averaged 26.7 points per game as a senior and he was named the Southwestern Athletic Conference Player of the Year. He led Jackson State to an upset of UConn in the 1993 Postseason NIT. Hunter spent his freshman season at Alcorn State where he was named the SWAC Freshman of the Year.
Hunter replaces fellow NBA veteran Donyell Marshall who was named head coach at Central Connecticut State in April.
http://ubbulls.com/sports/mbkb/2015-16/releases/20160613hninvv
Photo Courtesy UB Athletics
