NBA Career
Rice started his senior season as a projected mid-first-round selection, but his stock rose to the point where he was selected #4 overall in the 1989 NBA Draft due to his record-breaking performance in the NCAA Tournament. The Miami Heat, an expansion to the NBA along with the Charlotte Hornets, were now in their second-year in need of some offensive help after finishing last in the NBA in points per game in 1988-89.
Rice only averaged 13.6 points per game his rookie season but bumped that up to 20 ppg for his remaining five seasons in Miami, which included two trips to the playoffs. Rice became the Heat's first bonafide star and led Miami to its first playoff series against the Bulls. Rice was the first Heat player to average 20+ points per game in a season (1991–1992). Unfortunately, the Heat were unable to win a playoff series during Rice's tenure losing a hard fought series against the Atlanta Hawks 3-2.
Rice played in 1000 games in the NBA from 1989-2004. He was a three-time All-Star who finished with career averages of 18.3 points and 4.4 rebounds in 1,000 regular-season games with the Miami Heat, Charlotte Hornets, Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks, Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Clippers. He finished with 18,336 career points. Rice peaked as a member of the Charlotte Hornets in the 1996-1997 season when he was third in the league in scoring behind only Michael Jordan and Karl Malone averaging 26.8 points per game.
Rice played in 55 career playoff games, averaging 16.1 points and 4.5 rebounds. He averaged 16.3 points in three All-Star games.
Rice earned an NBA championship ring as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers for the 2000 NBA Championship vs the Indiana Pacers.
Read more about this topic: Glen Rice
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