Tom McMillen: A Basketball Legend

Tom McMillen was one of the best basketball players of his generation. A member of the famed “Dream Team” that won gold at the 1992 Olympics, he was a star at the University of Maryland before going on to enjoy a successful professional career.

Now, he’s written a book about his life and basketball called “Tom McMillen: A basketball legend ” In it, he chronicles his journey from small-town kid to NBA Star and shares the lessons he

Early Life

Before becoming a professional basketball player and U.S. Congressman, Tom McMillen was a star athlete in High School and college. Born in 1952 in Levittown, New York, McMillen began playing organized basketball when he was just six years old. When he entered high school he was already 6-foot-8-inches tall and continued to grow, eventually reaching a height of 7-feet-0-inches. As a high school senior, McMillen was named the USA Today high school Player of the Year, an honor that had only been bestowed upon two other players up to that point: Bill Walton and Lew Alcindor (now known as Kareem Abdul Jabbar).

College Career

Tom McMillen was a basketball legend during his college career. He played for the University of Maryland from 1972 to 1976. During his time there, he was a three-time All-American and led the Terps to the NCAA Final Four in 1975. He was also named the ACC Player of the Year in 1976.

Professional Career

Tom McMillen was drafted in 1974 by the Buffalo Braves, but his professional career truly began when he was traded to the Atlanta Hawks He played with the Hawks for two seasons before being traded to the Washington Bullets (now the Wizards), where he became a star player He played 11 seasons with the Bullets, making the All-Star team in 1982 and leading the team to the NBA Finals in 1975. After his time with the Bullets, McMillen played for the Lakers, Blazers, and Nets before retiring in 1986.

Post-Playing Career

Tom McMillen’s post-playing career has been just as successful as his time on the court. He has been a CEO, a founder, an author, and a public servant.

In 1993, McMillen became the CEO of LEAP (Leadership Education Athletic Participation), which is a non-profit organization that aims to use sports to teach LIFE LESSONS to young people

In 2006, McMillen co-founded the Paladin Political Risk Insurance Company, which provides insurance for businesses that are operating in parts of the world that are considered to be high risk.

McMillen is also the author of Out of Bounds: Inside the NBA’s Culture of Rape, Violence, and Crime (Dafina Books, 2006), which details some of the serious problems that have plagued the NBA over the years.

Lastly, McMillen has also served in public office. He was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1987 to 1993 and he was also on the President’s Council on physical fitness and Sports from 2002 to 2005.

Business Ventures

Besides being a successful basketball player Tom McMillen is also a businessman and politician. He is the President and CEO of Lead1 Association, which represents the athletic directors of over 130 Division 1A colleges. In this role, he has worked with college presidents, chancellors, and commissioners on critical issues in higher education and athletics. He also serves on several corporate boards, including Under Armour, STX, and DLH Holdings.

Philanthropy

McMillen is the founder of the Leadership Through Athletic Excellence Fund, which offers college scholarships to student-athletes who show outstanding leadership in their communities.

Family Life

Tom McMillen was born in 1952 in Levittown, New York, on Long Island His parents were both athletes: his mother was a champion swimmer and his father a basketball player McMillen grew up idolizing his father and developed a love for basketball at an early age.

In 1970, McMillen was recruited by the University of Maryland to play basketball for their team. He had an immediate impact on the court, helping the Terrapins to win the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship in his freshman year. McMillen went on to have an illustrious career at Maryland, setting various records and achieving many individual accolades. He was named a First Team All-American in 1974 and was inducted into the University of Maryland Athletic Hall of Fame in 1988.

After graduation, McMillen enjoyed a successful Professional Basketball career, playing for the Washington Bullets/Washington Wizards the Atlanta Hawks and the New Jersey Nets He also represented the United States at the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal, winning a bronze medal.

Since retiring from basketball, McMillen has been involved in various business ventures and is currently President and CEO of two companies: Insightful Solutions Inc., and Thetomorrowgroup LLC. He is also a principal with London-based private equity firm PineBridge Investments LLC. In addition to his business interests, McMillen serves on several corporate boards and is active in numerous philanthropic endeavors.

Awards and Honors

In his post-basketball career McMillen served on the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports from 2002 until 2005. He was also a member of the Board of Visitors of the United States Military Academy at West Point from 2002 until 2006. In 2006, McMillen was inducted into the National Basketball Hall of Fame

Legacy

Tom McMillen is considered one of the best basketball players of his generation. He was a member of the “Dream Team” that won the gold medal at the 1992 Olympics, and he is one of only four players in NCAA history to score 2,000 points and grab 1,000 rebounds in a career.

After his playing days were over, McMillen became a successful businessman and politician. He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1992 and served three terms before declining to run for re-election in 2000. In 2006, he was appointed by President George W. Bush to head the President’s Council on physical fitness and Sports, a position he held until 2009.

McMillen has also been active in several philanthropic causes. He is the founder and president of LEAP (Leadership Education for Athletes), a non-profit organization that provides scholarships and leadership training to student-athletes. He is also a member of the Board of Directors for PeacePlayers International, a non-profit that uses basketball to unite young people in areas of conflict around the world.

Further Reading/Resources

– http://www.tommcmillen.com/
– https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_McMillen
– https://www.si.com/college/maryland/basketballextra/news/1997/02/28/mcmillen-chat
– https://books.google.com/books?id=YBIEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA22&lpg=PA22&dq=tom+mcmillen+basketball&source=bl&ots=nLZ8F9X4jq&sig=bLt78vwd4rBl2km3i49qYERfIz0&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjob6TznOzUAhUD6yYKHeV7BQMQ6AEInAEwEg#v=onepage&q=tom%20mcmillen%20basketball&f=false