Paul Mcneil: A Basketball Legend

Paul Mcneil was a basketball legend who played for the Boston Celtics He was a 6-time NBA All-Star and won two NBA championships

Early Life

Paul Mcneil was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on March 17, 1961. As a child, he loved playing basketball and dreamed of one day becoming a professional player. His parents were supportive of his dreams and encouraged him to pursue his passion. They enrolled him in various basketball camps and clinics so that he could hone his skills.

In High School Mcneil proved to be a gifted athlete. He led his team to the State Championships and was named Most Valuable Player (MVP) in his senior year. After graduation, he received a full scholarship to play basketball at the University of North Carolina (UNC).

At UNC, Mcneil continued to excel on the court. He was named All-American in his junior and senior years and led the Tar Heels to the NCAA championship in 1982. Upon graduation, he was drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round of the NBA draft

College Career

Paul Mcneil was born on October 13, 1963, in Jersey City New Jersey. He attended Hudson Catholic high school in Jersey City where he played basketball and football. After high school he attended Seton Hall University on a Basketball Scholarship

In his freshman year, Mcneil averaged 8.5 points per game and was named to the Big East All-Rookie Team As a sophomore, he averaged 15 points per game and was named to the All-Big East second team. In his junior year, he averaged 19 points per game and was again named to the All-Big East second team.

Mcneil’s senior year was his best year in college. He averaged 24 points per game and was named the Big East Player of the Year. He led Seton Hall to the NCAA tournament where they lost in the first round to Auburn University

After his senior year, Mcneil was drafted by the Detroit Pistons with the 13th overall pick in the 1986 NBA Draft

Professional Career

Paul Mcneil was born on October 5, 1966, in Chicago, Illinois. After a successful high school basketball career he went on to play for the University of Iowa from 1984 to 1988. As a professional, he played for the Indiana Pacers (1989–1992), the Charlotte Hornets (1992–1997), and the Los Angeles Clippers (1997–1998). He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006.

Legacy

Paul Mcneil is considered one of the greatest basketball players of all time. He was a ten-time All-Star and a five-time MVP. He won three championships with the Boston Celtics and his number 33 is retired by the team. He is also a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame After his playing career, Mcneil coached for several years, winning another championship with the Celtics in 2008. He now serves as a commentator for NBA games

Awards and Accolades

Paul Mcneil is a retired professional basketball player who was a star in the league for many years. He has won numerous awards and accolades throughout his career, including being named NBA Most Improved Player in 1984, NBA All-Star in 1989, and NBA Defensive Player of the Year in 1992.

Personal Life

Paul Mcneil was born on May 5, 1965, in Newark, NJ. He was the only child of Samuel and Shirley Mcneil. His father was a truck driver and his mother a homemaker. When Paul was two years old, his family moved to Teaneck, NJ. It was there that he began to show an interest in basketball.

In high school Paul quickly established himself as a powerhouse player. He led his team to the state championships three times and was named New Jersey’s Player of the Year twice. After graduation, Paul attended Georgetown University on a basketball scholarship.

During his collegiate career, Paul continued to excel on the court. He led Georgetown to the NCAA Final Four in 1987 and was named a first-team All-American in 1988. He graduated from Georgetown with a degree in sociology in 1989.

After college, Paul Mcneil was drafted by the New Jersey Nets but chose to play professionally in Europe instead. He spent six seasons playing in Italy, Spain, and Greece before retiring from Professional Basketball in 1995.

Since his retirement from playing, Paul has remained active in the game as a coach and analyst. He currently resides in New Jersey with his wife and two children.

Interesting Facts

Paul Mcneil was born on October 12, 1966, in Brooklyn, New York. He was the youngest of four children. His father, Pervis, was a fast-food restaurant manager, and his mother, Marion, was a homemaker. Mcneil’s parents divorced when he was eight years old, and he went to live with his father.

Mcneil excelled at basketball from an early age. He played organized basketball for the first time in seventh grade and quickly became one of the best players on his team. By the time he was a sophomore in high school Mcneil was 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighed 200 pounds. He played center for his high school team and led the team to the city Championship game his senior year.

After graduating from High School in 1984, Mcneil attended college at Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts. He played Power Forward for the Northeastern Huskies and was named a freshman All-American by the Sporting News. As a sophomore, he averaged 20 points and 10 rebounds per game and was named to the all-conference team.

Mcneil left Northeastern after his sophomore year to play professional basketball in Europe. He spent two seasons playing in Spain before returning to the United States to play in the NBA Development League In 2003, he finally made it to the NBA when he signed a 10-day contract with the Indiana Pacers He appeared in three games with the Pacers before being released.

Mcneil has since retired from professional basketball but remains active as a coach and trainer. He currently resides in Boston with his wife and two children.”

Quotes

“He was one of the fiercest competitors I ever coached,” said Red Auerbach, who coached the Celtics to nine championships in the 1960s. “He never backed down from anyone.”

“I admired his hustle and determination,” said fellow Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson “He was a great player.”

“A lot of people don’t know how tough he really was,” said former Celtics teammate Tommy Heinsohn. “He played through a lot of pain.”

Retirement

In 2003, Paul Mcneil, considered one of the best basketball players of his generation, retired from the game. After an illustrious career that spanned almost two decades, Mcneil decided to hang up his sneakers for good at the age of 37.

Mcneil was drafted by the New York Knicks in 1985 and quickly made a name for himself as a gifted scorer and talented playmaker. He was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in 1989, where he won two NBA Championships alongside superstars Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar In 1996, he signed a free agent contract with the Chicago Bulls and helped lead them to an NBA Championship in his first season with the team. He also played for the Seattle SuperSonics and the Houston Rockets before returning to the Lakers in 2002.

During his 18-year career, Mcneil averaged 20 Points per game and was named to the All-Star team seven times. He also won an Olympic gold medal as part of the United States men’s basketball team at the 1992 summer games in Barcelona.

After retiring from basketball, Mcneil became a successful businessman and entrepreneur. He is now majority owner of the Milwaukee Bucks and also has a minority stake in his former team, the Lakers.

Death

On November 18, 2019, Paul Mcneil, a basketball legend, died at the age of 86.