Editing Chris Webber (section)

==Professional career==

=== Golden State Warriors (1993–1994) ===
Webber was selected by the [[1993–94 Orlando Magic season|Orlando Magic]] with the first pick of the [[1993 NBA draft]], becoming the first sophomore since [[Magic Johnson]] to be a #1 overall draft pick.<ref name="LB" /> The Magic immediately traded him to the [[1993–94 Golden State Warriors season|Golden State Warriors]] in exchange for [[Penny Hardaway]] and three future first round draft picks.<ref>{{cite news | last=Draves | first=Zachary | title=The 1993 Chris Webber-Penny Hardaway Trade On Draft Day Changed Course Of Their Careers | date=June 30, 2024 | url=https://www.si.com/fannation/backinthedaynba/the-1993-chris-webber-penny-hardaway-trade-on-draft-day-changed-course-of-their-careers-01j1mp65rw39 | work=si.com }}</ref> Over his 15-year NBA career, Webber made $178 million.<ref name="stats">{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/w/webbech01.html |title=Chris Webber NBA & ABA Statistics |publisher=Basketball-Reference.com |access-date=April 4, 2011}}</ref>

Webber had an outstanding first year, averaging 17.5 points and 9.1 rebounds per game and winning the [[NBA Rookie of the Year Award]]. He was instrumental in leading the Warriors back into the [[1994 NBA Playoffs|playoffs]] where they were swept by the [[Charles Barkley]]-led [[1993–94 Phoenix Suns season|Phoenix Suns]] in three games. However, he had a long-standing conflict with his coach, [[Don Nelson]].<ref>{{cite news |first=Mike |last=Wise |title=One Blot on Nelson's Impressive Resume |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/07/02/sports/pro-basketball-one-blot-on-nelson-s-impressive-resume.html |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=July 2, 1995 |access-date=January 27, 2008}}</ref> Nelson wanted to make Webber primarily a post player, despite Webber's superb passing ability and good ball handling skills for someone his size at {{convert|6|ft|10|in|abbr=on}} tall. Webber also disliked playing a substantial amount of time at center, given Nelson's propensity towards smaller, faster line ups. In the 1994 off-season, the Warriors acquired [[Rony Seikaly]] so that Webber could play primarily at [[power forward (basketball)|power forward]]. However, at the time, the differences between Webber and Nelson were considered to be irreconcilable. Webber exercised a one-year escape clause in his contract, stating he had no intention of returning to the Warriors. With few alternatives, Golden State agreed to a sign-and-trade deal, sending Webber to the [[1994–95 Washington Bullets season|Washington Bullets]] (renamed the Wizards in 1997) for forward [[Tom Gugliotta]] and three first-round draft picks. The three draft picks included two of the picks the Warriors had traded to the Magic to obtain Webber in the first place, as the Magic had included those picks in a trade package with the Bullets less than 4 months earlier.<ref>{{cite web |title=Todd Fuller – Transactions |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/f/fulleto02.html#all_transactions |website=basketball-reference.com |access-date=May 31, 2020}}</ref>

=== Washington Bullets / Wizards (1994–1998) ===
With the [[Washington Bullets]], Webber was reunited with his college teammate and friend, [[Juwan Howard]]. He spent the next three years with the Bullets (later renamed the Washington Wizards), although in the [[1995–96 NBA season|1995–96 season]] injuries limited him to only 15 games. Webber rebounded the following year and was named to his first All-Star team in [[1996–97 NBA season|1997]]. The same season, Webber led the Bullets into the [[1997 NBA Playoffs|playoffs]] for the first time in nine years, but they were swept by the [[Michael Jordan]]-led [[1996–97 Chicago Bulls season|Chicago Bulls]] in three games. By 1998, Webber had established himself as a great power forward, but his time in Washington had also worn out.

=== Sacramento Kings (1998–2005) ===
{{BLP sources section|date=January 2024}}
On May 14, 1998, Webber was traded to the [[Sacramento Kings]] for [[Mitch Richmond]] and [[Otis Thorpe]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1998/05/15/webber-traded-to-sacramento/55b294a5-ed9a-41db-8dc0-0623453790ed/|title=Webber traded to Sacramento|last=Bucher|first=Ric|date=May 15, 1998|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=August 7, 2007}}</ref> Although Webber originally did not want to go to the Kings, as they were a perennially losing team, he had his best years in Sacramento and nearly took the team to the [[NBA Finals]].

When Webber arrived, the Kings also signed [[small forward]] [[Peja Stojaković]] and [[center (basketball)|center]] [[Vlade Divac]], and drafted [[point guard]] [[Jason Williams (basketball, born 1975)|Jason Williams]]. In his first year with the Kings (the lockout-shortened 1998–99 season), Webber won the rebounding title averaging a league high 13.0 rebounds per game, ending [[Dennis Rodman]]'s seven-year run as the NBA's rebound leader. Under the guidance of [[Rick Adelman]], the Kings team made it into the [[1999 NBA Playoffs|1999 Playoffs]], where they lost to the [[1998–99 Utah Jazz season|Utah Jazz]] led by future hall of famers [[Karl Malone]] and [[John Stockton]].

In years to come, Webber and the Kings became one of the league's top franchises, and NBA title contenders. He was named to the All-Star team again in [[1999–2000 NBA season|2000]] and [[2000–01 NBA season|2001]] while cementing his status as one of the premier power forwards in the NBA. For the [[1999–2000 NBA season|1999–2000 season]] Webber was the cover athlete on ''[[NBA Jam 2000]]''; that season, Webber led the Kings to 44 wins improving their win column from a year before, and into the first round of the [[2000 NBA Playoffs|2000 Playoffs]] where they faced the [[1999–2000 Los Angeles Lakers season|Los Angeles Lakers]]. After losing the first two games of the series in Los Angeles, the Kings won the next two in Sacramento, including 23 points, 14 rebounds, 7 blocks, 8 assists and 4 steals from Webber in game four, to send the series back to Los Angeles for a deciding game 5. The Kings lost Game 5 and the series to the Lakers who went on to win the championship that year.

Webber peaked in the [[2000–01 NBA season|2000–01 season]], when he averaged a career-high 27.1 points. He also averaged 11.1 rebounds and was fourth in MVP voting, while starting at forward for the Western Conference All-Star Team in the [[2001 NBA All-Star Game|2001 All-Star Game]] in Washington. In the [[2001 NBA Playoffs|2001 Playoffs]], Webber and the Kings defeated the [[2000–01 Phoenix Suns season|Phoenix Suns]] in four games of the first round to advance to the second round (first time of his career he advanced past the first round), where they faced the [[2000–01 Los Angeles Lakers season|Los Angeles Lakers]] for a second year in a row. The Kings lost in four games to the Lakers despite Webber's 21 points, 11 rebounds and 8 assists in game four.

On July 27, 2001, Webber signed a seven-year, $127 million contract with the Kings. In the [[2001–02 NBA season|2001–02 season]], Webber played in 54 games leading the Kings to a Pacific division title and a franchise-record (and league-best) 61–21 season. He also made his fourth All-Star team and the All-NBA Second Team. In the [[2002 NBA Playoffs|2002 Playoffs]] the Kings defeated the [[2001–02 Utah Jazz season|Utah Jazz]] in four games and [[2001–02 Dallas Mavericks season|Dallas Mavericks]] in five games in the first two rounds en route to reaching the Western Conference Finals against their archrivals, the defending-champion [[2001–02 Los Angeles Lakers season|Los Angeles Lakers]] led by [[Kobe Bryant]] and [[Shaquille O'Neal]], a series that would prove to be one of the most memorable (and most controversial) in NBA History. 

The series was nip and tuck all the way as both teams traded wins in the first six games of the series as the Lakers won games one, four (highlighted by the game winner from [[Robert Horry]]) and six, a game which featured many controversial calls, including a late-game foul on [[Mike Bibby]] after he was bleeding from being elbowed in the nose by Bryant. All told, the Lakers shot 27 free throws in the fourth quarter. Former NBA referee [[Tim Donaghy]] filed in court papers in 2008 said that Game 6 was fixed by the NBA. NBA Commissioner [[David Stern]] denied Donaghy's allegations. Lawrence Pedowitz, who led a review of the league's officiating following the outbreak of the scandal, concluded that while Game 6 was poorly officiated, no concrete evidence existed of it having been fixed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/media/PedowitzReport.pdf|title=Report to the Board of Governors of the National Basketball Association|website=[[NBA.com]]}}</ref> 

The Kings won games two, three and five, including 29 points, 13 rebounds and 3 assists from Webber plus the game-winner from teammate [[Mike Bibby]] in game five, heading into the deciding seventh game back at the [[ARCO Arena]] in Sacramento, a game which would prove to be most memorable of the series. The game was nip and tuck all the way with Webber recording 20 points, 11 assists, 8 rebounds, 2 blocks and 1 steal and Bryant and O'Neal recording 30 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists and 2 steals, with 35 points, 13 rebounds, 4 blocks and 2 assists, respectively, as the game went into overtime with missed shots from teammates Stojakovic and [[Doug Christie (basketball)|Doug Christie]], boiling to the last minutes of the game with Webber fouling O'Neal with 1:27 left in overtime causing O'Neal to make both free throws and the Kings would go on to lose Game 7 of the series at home. It was the closest that Webber ever got to a championship.

In the [[2002–03 NBA season|next season]], Webber averaged 23 points and 11 rebounds per game. He was cited as a possible MVP candidate, and made his fifth consecutive All-Star team. In a bad sign of what was to come, Webber missed the All Star game with a sprained ankle. Nevertheless, he returned and the Kings were among the favorites to win the NBA Championship. In the second game of the [[2003 NBA Playoffs|2003]] Western Conference Semifinals against the [[2002–03 Dallas Mavericks season|Dallas Mavericks]], Webber suffered a career-threatening knee injury while making a back-cut, forcing him to miss nearly a year of action. This shattered the Kings' 2003 title hopes and they lost the series in seven games.

After [[microfracture surgery]], he returned for the final 24 games of the [[2003–04 NBA season|2003–04 season]], in which he led the Kings (who went 55–27 that season) into the [[2004 NBA Playoffs|2004 Playoffs]] where they faced their archrivals the [[2003–04 Dallas Mavericks season|Dallas Mavericks]] for the third year in a row, the Kings defeated the Mavericks in five games in the first round en route to reaching the Western Conference Semifinals against the top-seeded [[2003–04 Minnesota Timberwolves season|Minnesota Timberwolves]] led by league MVP [[Kevin Garnett]], a series that would prove to be one of the most memorable in NBA history. Each game was neck and neck with both teams trading wins in the first six games of the series as the Timberwolves won games two, three and five, while the Kings won games one, four and six, including 28 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 steals and 1 block from Webber in game four, heading into the deciding seventh game back at the [[Target Center]] in Minnesota, a game which would prove to be the most memorable of the series. 

The game was indecisively close throughout the first three quarters, with Webber recording 16 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists and 1 steal, and Garnett on the other hand recording 32 points, 21 rebounds, 2 assists, 4 steals and 5 blocks. The game boiled down to the last play of the game with the Kings trailing the Timberwolves by 3 with 2.5 seconds left in the game. After receiving an inbounds pass Webber pump-faked Garnett in the air and got a clean look as Garnett avoided contact for a three-point shot that rimmed out as the final buzzer sounded and the Kings lost Game 7 and the series, marking the third year in a row that the Kings lost a deciding game 7. It turned out to be the last chance the Webber-led Kings had to win a championship and he was traded the following season, thus resulting in the team being dismantled the following season.

=== Philadelphia 76ers (2005–2007) ===
In February 2005, Webber was traded, along with [[Michael Bradley (basketball)|Michael Bradley]] and [[Matt Barnes]], to the [[2004–05 Philadelphia 76ers season|Philadelphia 76ers]] for power forward [[Kenny Thomas (basketball)|Kenny Thomas]], forward/center [[Brian Skinner]], and former King [[Corliss Williamson]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=1998456|title=Kings ready to end Webber era with 76ers deal|date=2005-02-24|website=ESPN.com|language=en|access-date=2019-05-02}}</ref> Webber took some time to fit in with the 76ers' system, which was geared toward star guard [[Allen Iverson]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.starnewsonline.com/story/news/2005/03/06/76ers-duo-a-work-in-progress/30775985007/|title=76ers duo a work in progress|website=Wilmington Star-News}}</ref> While the Sixers reached the [[2005 NBA Playoffs|2005 playoffs]], they lost to the [[2004–05 Detroit Pistons season|Detroit Pistons]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/recap/_/gameId/250503008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220521165151/https://www.espn.com/nba/recap/_/gameId/250503008|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 21, 2022|title=76ers 78–88 Pistons (May 3, 2005) Game Recap|website=ESPN}}</ref> In the 21 games he played for Philadelphia in 2005, Webber averaged 15.6 points and 7.9 rebounds per game on 39.1% shooting.<ref name="stats" /> Following the 2003 [[microfracture surgery]] on his knee, Webber had lost lateral quickness and was seen as a defensive liability.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcsportsphiladelphia.com/news/today-in-philly-sports-history-20-and-20-for-chris-webber-2005/310307/|title=Today in Philly Sports History: 20 and 20 for Chris Webber, 2005|date=February 12, 2009}}</ref>

In 2006, Webber put up a resurgent 20 points and 9.9 rebounds per game in 75 games for Philadelphia.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=2665203|title = Frustrated Webber says he hasn't asked to be traded|website=ESPN.com|date = November 17, 2006}}</ref><ref name="stats" /> Nevertheless, the team missed the playoffs,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sixerswire.usatoday.com/lists/photos-philadelphia-76ers-playoff-history-since-1999/|title=PHOTOS: Philadelphia 76ers playoff history since 1999|date=May 21, 2021}}</ref> finishing with a 38–44 record.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sixerswire.usatoday.com/2022/06/10/2006-nba-draft-rewind-sixers-trade-for-rodney-carney-on-draft-night/|title=2006 NBA draft rewind: Sixers trade for Rodney Carney on draft night|date=June 10, 2022}}</ref> On Tuesday, April 18, 2006, Webber and Iverson were fined for not showing up at the [[Philadelphia 76ers]]' final home game of the [[2005–06 NBA season|season]], which was Fan Appreciation Night, although both of them were injured and not expected to play.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tsn.ca/nba/news_story/?ID=163126|title=TSN : NBA – Canada's Sports Leader<!-- Bot generated title -->}}</ref> The following day, they both apologized for being absent.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tsn.ca/nba/news_story/?ID=163245|title=TSN : NBA – Canada's Sports Leader<!-- Bot generated title -->}}</ref>

In the 2006–2007 season, Webber's role was reduced, and he was benched in the fourth quarter of multiple games. In November 2006, ESPN reported that "Webber's minutes and production had "dramatically declined", and that coach Maurice Cheeks had "turned him into a $20 million role player". Webber discussed his frustration with team president [[Billy King (basketball)|Billy King]], but claimed he was not requesting a trade.<ref name="auto"/> During the 2006–07 season, Webber only played 18 of 35 games for the Sixers, leading the media{{who|date=April 2013}} to question his motivation. On January 11, 2007, King announced that the Sixers and Webber had agreed to a reported $25&nbsp;million contract buyout on the remaining two years left on his contract, in effect paying him not to play. Later that day, the Sixers waived Webber, making him a free agent.<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--not stated--> |date=September 11, 2007 |title= With buyout completed, Sixers waive Webber|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=2727797 |work= [[ESPN]] via [[Associated Press]]|location=[[Philadelphia]] |access-date=January 20, 2024}}</ref>

===Detroit Pistons (2007)===
On January 16, 2007, Webber signed with the [[2006–07 Detroit Pistons season|Detroit Pistons]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=2731833|title=Pistons win sweepstakes, will sign Webber Tuesday|website=ESPN.com|date=January 16, 2007|access-date=January 16, 2007}}</ref> He has stated throughout his career that he always wanted to play for his hometown team. His usual number 4 had been retired in honor of [[Joe Dumars]], so Webber donned the number 84, because his nephew had a dream of him making a buzzer beater with that number on. The Pistons were a much improved basketball team after Webber's acquisition, improving their record in the Eastern Conference and solidifying the first seed in the East. However, the Eastern Conference favorites failed to advance to the finals after losing to the [[2006–07 Cleveland Cavaliers season|Cleveland Cavaliers]] in six games in the 
Eastern Conference Finals, leaving Webber short of an NBA Finals appearance yet again. Indeed, Webber performed well in the [[2007 NBA Playoffs|2007 Playoffs]] despite receiving limited minutes. Webber still managed to average 10 points and 6 rebounds per game in the playoffs and shot an impressive 52.4% from the field. His efforts were highlighted by a game 5 performance in the Eastern Conference Finals in which Webber scored 20 points (including 5 points in the double-overtime period) on 9 of 13 shooting and grabbed 7 boards. Nevertheless, Detroit still lost what turned out to be the key game in the series in double overtime and Webber ended up averaging a career low 11.2 PPG in his run with the Pistons. During the off-season, Detroit did not re-sign Webber. Despite receiving a lucrative proposal from [[Olympiacos B.C.]] in Greece, he was in free agency at the beginning of the regular season.<ref>{{cite news |last= Sheridan|first= Chris|date= September 28, 2007|title= Webber has offer from Olympiacos of Greece|url= https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=3040997|work=[[ESPN]] |location= |access-date=January 20, 2024}}</ref>

=== Return to Golden State (2008) ===
[[File:Cwebb vs Joe Smith.jpg|thumb|Webber (right) playing for the Warriors in 2008]]
On January 29, 2008, the [[2007–08 Golden State Warriors season|Golden State Warriors]] signed Webber for the rest of the season.<ref name="sign">{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/warriors/news/Warriors_Sign_Chris_Webber.html |title=WARRIORS: Warriors Sign Free Agent Chris Webber |work=Nba.com |access-date=April 4, 2011}}</ref><ref name="welcomeback">{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=3217920 |title=ESPN – Warriors' Nelson would welcome Webber back 14 years after feud – NBA |publisher=[[ESPN]] |date=January 28, 2008 |access-date=April 4, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nba.com/transactions/current_month_transactions.html |title=NBA.com: January 2008 Transactions |website=[[NBA.com]] |access-date=January 31, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018110518/http://www.nba.com/transactions/current_month_transactions.html |archive-date=October 18, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the ''[[San Francisco Chronicle]]'' reported that he would receive the pro-rated veteran's minimum of $1.2&nbsp;million<ref name="sfc">{{cite news| url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/01/29/SPUDUNPVK.DTL | work=The San Francisco Chronicle | title=Webber Returning To Warriors | first=Janny | last=Hu | date=January 29, 2008}}</ref> (approximately $570,000).<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/chronicle/a/2008/01/30/SP82UOI04.DTL | work=The San Francisco Chronicle | title=All right, Webber's back – now what? | first=Ray | last=Ratto | date=January 30, 2008}}</ref> This came after a rejected offer by the [[2007–08 Los Angeles Lakers season|Los Angeles Lakers]] who were trying to coax Webber in with two 10-day contracts so they could decide afterwards if they wanted him the rest of the season.<ref name="welcomeback" /> This also put to rest talks of joining the [[2007–08 Detroit Pistons season|Detroit Pistons]], [[2007–08 Dallas Mavericks season|Dallas Mavericks]], or retirement.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/columns/story?columnist=stein_marc&id=2931193 |title=Vegas news and notes: Changing of the guards |last=Stein |first=Marc |date=July 10, 2007 |access-date=July 11, 2007 |work=[[ESPN.com]]}}</ref> He played in only nine games for the Warriors, averaging 3.9 points and 3.6 rebounds in 14 minutes per game.<ref name="stats" />

On March 25, 2008, Webber retired from basketball due to persistent problems with his surgically repaired knee and was waived by the Warriors.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080331004126/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/basketball/nba/03/25/bc.bkn.warriors.webber.ap/index.html?eref=si_topstories Warriors' Webber calls it quits], SI.com. Retrieved on March 25, 2008.</ref>
On March 27, 2008, Webber made his first appearance on television on Inside the ''[[NBA on TNT]]'', alongside [[Charles Barkley]] and host [[Ernie Johnson, Jr.|Ernie Johnson]]. On April 25, 2008, TNT offered Webber a job to be a commentator for the postseason.

On February 6, 2009, Webber returned to [[ARCO Arena]], home of the Sacramento Kings, to participate in the ceremonies surrounding the retirement of his jersey, #4.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=3890366|title=Kings raise Webber's No.4 to rafters|publisher=[[Associated Press]]|website=ESPN.com|access-date=February 6, 2009}}</ref>