Steve Stipanovich
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 17, 1960 St. Louis, Missouri |
| Nationality | American |
| Listed height | 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) |
| Listed weight | 245 lb (111 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | De Smet Jesuit (Creve Coeur, Missouri) |
| College | Missouri (1979–1983) |
| NBA draft | 1983: 1st round, 2nd overall pick |
| Selected by the Indiana Pacers | |
| Playing career | 1983–1988 |
| Position | Center |
| Number | 40 |
| Career history | |
| 1983–1988 | Indiana Pacers |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| Career NBA statistics | |
| Points | 5,323 (13.2 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 3,131 (7.8 rpg) |
| Assists | 938 (2.3 apg) |
| Stats at NBA.com | |
| Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |
Stephen Samuel Stipanovich (born November 17, 1960, in St. Louis, Missouri) is a retired American professional basketball player of Croatian origin.[1]
A 6-ft 11-inch center from the University of Missouri, Stipanovich was selected by the Indiana Pacers with the second pick of the 1983 NBA Draft. Knee problems limited his career to five seasons, and he retired in 1988 with career totals of 5,323 points and 3,131 rebounds. At Missouri, between November 1979 and March 1983, he and Jon Sundvold helped their coach Norm Stewart to four consecutive winning seasons and NCAA tournament appearances.
Early life
Steve "Stipo" Stipanovich, son of Sam and Elaine (Ortmann) Stipanovich, was born and raised in the St. Louis area, where his father ran a funeral home.[2] After attending his freshman year of high school at Chaminade College Prep he transferred to De Smet Jesuit High School in suburban Creve Coeur.[3] While a member of the Spartans basketball team he led them to back-to-back Missouri Class 4A State Championships and a sixty-game winning streak.[4][5]
College career
At Mizzou Stipanovich was named Big Eight Newcomer of the Year as a freshman. As a senior in college, Stipanovich averaged over 18 points and almost 9 rebounds per game, and dominated the Big Eight Conference. In a nationally televised game, Stipanovich and teammate Greg Cavener combined to stop future NBA number one pick Ralph Sampson and upset top ranked Virginia. He was both an academic All American and a first team All American selection his senior year. His college team won over 100 games in four years.
Gunshot controversy
On the evening of Dec. 27, 1980 Stipanovich accidentally discharged a loaded firearm, hitting himself in the shoulder. He initially told police that a masked intruder, wearing cowboy boots and a flannel shirt broke into his apartment on Sunrise Drive in Columbia, Missouri, and shot him while screaming obscenities about basketball players.
The next day Stipanovich recanted the story and admitted that he shot himself by accident.[6]
Post-NBA career
Following his retirement from the NBA Stipanovich tried a variety of careers including real estate sales in Oregon. He eventually returned to the St. Louis area where he is the owner/operator of a coal mine.[7] Stipanovich and his wife Terri are involved with the Mercy Ministries program in the St. Louis area, providing temporary home for young women recovering from abuse.[8]
References
- ^ Hoopedia - NBA.com
- ^ "Reverberation Of A Gunshot". Sports Illustrated. December 21, 1981.
- ^ "Steve Stipanovich-Basketball". 2011. Retrieved 2011-11-12.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|published=ignored (help) - ^ Missouri Legends: Famous People From The Show-Me State by John W. Brown. Page 258. Published by Reedy Press, St. Louis, 2008.
- ^ "Reverberation Of A Gunshot". Sports Illustrated. December 21, 1981.
- ^ "Reverberation Of A Gunshot". Sports Illustrated. December 21, 1981.
- ^ "Mizzou's Steve Stipanovich back home". 2011. Retrieved 2011-11-12.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|published=ignored (help) - ^ "Two NFL greats speak at St. Louis luncheon". 2011-03-30. Retrieved 2011-11-12.
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