by Patrick ‘Rey’ Reynell
Quite a few Temple University guards continued their careers at the highest level of professional basketball these last two decades. Some became first round draft picks while others signed after going undrafted.
With the 2009 NBA Draft finally coming Thursday June 25, Dionte Christmas has completed all of his pre-draft workouts including an invite to the draft combine in Chicago. Toronto, Washington, Houston, Oklahoma City, Detroit, San Antonio, Milwaukee, and Chicago all invited Christmas for personal workouts as well. Much like his Owl predecessors, Christmas has been projected all over the draft board. He could go late in the first round or drop well into the second.
Though this history of Temple guards in the NBA is a celebrated one, not every player achieved their anticipated success after draft night. Dionte Christmas’ career could go either way.
The following is a brief history of former Temple guards and their time in the NBA since 1990.
Mark Macon 1991-1998 | 1st round pick by Denver, Detroit
Macon is the most distinguished guard in Temple history. He remains the school’s and Atlantic 10’s all-time leading scorer with 2,609 points, finishing with a career average of nearly 21 points per game. Macon was an All-American as a freshman, a season that saw Temple rise to no. 1 in the nation. The Denver Nuggets drafted Macon eighth overall in the 1991 draft.
Potential and high hopes became unfulfilled expectations for Macon in the NBA. Macon started 67 games in his rookie campaign, but his ability to get to the rim in college became a challenge at the professional level. He shot atrociously from the field (38 percent) and certainly did not show any adept shooting from long range, hitting only 4 three-pointers all season. As the starting point guard, he turned the ball over a staggering 155 times, good for over 2 a game. Macon was, however, a reliable on-the-ball defender.
Injuries limited his playing time the following season in Denver and would continue to plague him the rest of his career. This allowed Robert Pack and Chris Jackson to see more time at point. Denver’s up-tempo style with Pack pleased the Nuggets’ organization, and they became wary of fans seeing the eighth overall pick coming off the bench. In November of 1994, The Nuggets traded Macon after two lackluster seasons and only 7 games into his third. He would stay in Detroit until the 1998-1999 season.
Macon would go on to play in Europe and South American leagues. He returned to Temple as John Chaney’s assistant and has since moved on to other assistant coaching stints in the NCAA ranks. Macon and his Temple teams will perhaps be considered the best in the school’s history largely due to having three stellar NBA talent guards. The other two were Eddie Jones and Aaron McKie.
Eddie Jones 1994-2007 | 1st round pick by LA Lakers, Charlotte Hornets, Miami, Memphis, Dallas
Jones has the most successful NBA career out of recent Temple guards in the NBA in terms of statistical and team success. He’s played the most games (954) and most seasons (13) than any other Temple player in the NBA. He’s also seen the most playoff action, playing nearly a whole NBA season in his postseason career (81 games).
While at Temple, the 6’6″ guard became a prototype for the style of play John Chaney wanted on North Broad Street: a big guard who could get up and down the floor quickly and play tenacious defense. Jones saw an increase in his offensive output each year, eventually averaging nearly 20 a game in his junior season toward becoming the Atlantic 10 Conference player of the year.
He could rebound well, averaging a collegiate career high of 7 his sophomore season. His shooting was efficient from all areas of the court, shooting a career 46 percent from the field and 35 percent from three-point range. But most importantly for Chaney, Jones became a great defender. He could match-up out of Chaney’s signature 3-2 zone and pressure smaller, quicker ball-handlers as well as bigger wings. He was a menace on the backside and anticipated reversal well.
Jones’ game translated well to the professional level. Drafted tenth overall by the Los Angeles Lakers, he ended up playing for five different teams but remained a reliable commodity taking each of his teams to the playoffs. Later in his career, it was probably Jones’ contract that was shopped around more than Jones himself.
His career averages over 13 seasons are more than respectable: 14.8 points, 1.7 steals, 2.9 assists, 4 rebounds, while starting in 902 out of his 954 career games. His playoff numbers are not much different, averaging nearly the same amount all the while shooting the ball better than his regular season percentages.
Aaron McKie 1994-2006 | 1st round pick by Portland, Detroit, Philadelphia, LA Lakers
Eddie Jones made it back-to-back Temple guards as conference players of the year because teammate Aaron McKie won the award the previous season as a sophomore. Like Jones, McKie opted for the NBA after his junior year in 1994. Portland drafted McKie with the seventeenth overall pick.
McKie served as quite the “tweener” for Chaney’s Owls. At 6’5″, he could play a wing position and defend bigger players. But McKie also was a deft ball-handler with exceptional court vision, often running the point. Where Eddie Jones’ assist-to-turnover ratio remained even throughout his collegiate and professional career, McKie handled the ball much more and gave out more assists. He averaged over 3 assists per game in every season at Temple. He also averaged nearly 21 points in his sophomore campaign. That season McKie and Jones carried Temple to yet another Regional Final, losing to eventual national runner-up Michigan, 77-72.
McKie played in a total of 12 NBA seasons and nearly 800 games making the playoffs with each of his teams. His most successful time came with his hometown Philadelphia 76ers between 2000 and 2002.
McKie was awarded the Sixth Man of the Year trophy for his efforts in the 2000-2001 season. He also recorded back-to-back triple doubles in that season. The 76ers Won the East but lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in the Finals. McKie played a major role in those playoffs, averaging just over 14 and a half points a game, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists. He became the team’s second leading scorer in the playoffs behind Allen Iverson and emerged pivotal in Philadelphia’s brief resurrection as NBA title contenders.
The years following 2002 saw a dramatic drop in McKie’s numbers. Philadelphia released him in 2005. He later signed with Los Angeles Lakers for two seasons, playing in only 24 games. McKie spent a brief period as an assistant coach with the Philadelphia 76ers but has since left the league.
Rick Brunson 1995-2007 | New York, Boston, Chicago, Toronto, LA Clippers, Seattle, Houston, Philadelphia
Brunson became an NBA journeyman and turned out an almost unrecognizable nine year career. While at Temple between 1991 and 1995, Brunson’s consistency at the guard position probably attracted NBA scouts. He averaged nearly 17 points per game his senior season and, similar to his previous seasons, averaged about 4 assist to go along with nearly 6 rebounds.
Brunson’s best year in the NBA came with the Los Angeles Clippers. He played in 80 games and averaged 5 and a half point per contest. He also dished out a little over 5 assists a game to go along with 2 rebounds.
The Clippers released Brunson after the season to make way for Cuttino Mobley. Brunson never found the success he had with the Clippers.
Brunson moved on to coaching with a brief stint with the Nuggets and at the University of Virginia. He now serves as the assistant coach for the University of Hartford where John Chaney’s former top assistant, Dan Leibovitz, serves as head coach.
Pepe Sanchez 2000-2002 | Atlanta, Philadelphia, Detroit
The oft referred to “crafty” Argentinean honed his skills with the likes of Manu Ginobili while playing for the youth team of Club Bahiense del Norte in his native country.
While playing point guard in North Philadelphia, Sanchez took the Owls to a regional final in 1999 where they’d eventually lose to no. 1 seeded Duke, 85-64. Sanchez averaged nearly 3 steals a game every year while at Temple. He currently sits third all time in NCAA men’s basketball in steals with 365, behind John Linehan (Providence) with 385 and Erik Murdock (Providence) with 376.
He only averaged double digits once (10 a game his freshman year) but slowly developed into a playmaking point guard. His senior year saw his assist average rise to a collegiate career high 8 a game.
As successful as Sanchez and Temple were in the late 1990s, he never found a permanent home in the NBA. He only played in 38 games in two seasons and never averaged more than 7 minutes a game. Sanchez’s limited offensive arsenal probably contributed to his NBA demise. A great basketball mind, but not necessarily the athleticism to finish or create his own shot if defenders forced him.
Sanchez now plays his professional basketball in Spain. His style probably more suited for an international flavor, don’t expect Sanchez to ever make it back to the NBA.
Lynn Greer 2006 | Milwaukee
The left-handed point-guard was lightning quick, but had to be considering he stood only 6’2″, though he seems much smaller in person. He had the ability to blow by his defender off the dribble and consistently attacked the lane to create for all teammates.
Big man Kevin Lyde thrived playing for Greer. Scouts considered Lyde a second round pick after his junior year, but he returned for a lackluster senior season on North Broad Street. He never made it to the NBA. Lyde is, however, a perfect example of what competent point guard Greer was. The scouts loved Lyde because he became so proficient at flattening out and making precise moves to the basket on assists from Greer. The tandem of Greer and Lyde ended up being one of the best for John Chaney while at Temple. The Owls made it to the Regional Final in 2001 where they lost to no. 1 seeded Michigan State.
Certainly the NBA, filled with big men who, like Lyde, would love a guard that could get them the ball on the low block, had room for a guy like Greer. Somehow, though, Greer’s talent did not translate itself into NBA success.
No team drafted Greer in 2002. He took his game to Europe for a few years until Milwaukee eventually signed him in 2006. He ended up playing just half a season. He continued to take care of the basketball with only 18 turnovers in 41 games while also handing out 1.2 assists.
Since his short stint as a Buck, Greer decided to take his game back to Europe and has thrived with Greek powerhouse, Olympiacos.
Mardy Collins 2006-present | 1st round pick by New York Knicks, LA Clippers
Mardy Collins remains the lone Owl still active on an NBA roster. In college, Collins earned the reputation as a 6’6″ point guard who shot well from the field, create for teammates and himself, and handle pressure in half or full court. He abused smaller guards with his back-to-the-basket approach much like Magic Johnson. He also displayed athleticism and versatility to get by and finish against bigger guards. Big, athletic, and quick for a guy well over 200 pounds, Collins seemed like an NBA point guard in the making. Plus, he came with four years of college experience.
The NBA experts put him very high on their boards, some even going as high as fifteen. They all agreed that he would translate well to NBA play and would be a steal for whomever selected him. Collins barely stayed in the first round falling to the Knicks at twenty-ninth. A few not-so-stellar years in New York that saw little playing time, and Collins ended up being dealt to the Clippers with Zach Randolph and his monstrous contract.
Collins’ move to the Clippers may end up being a good one for him. Since arriving there and battling a nagging foot injury, Collins has seen his numbers increase in every category. He’s shot extremely well from the field (43 percent, 46 percent from three). If the Clippers decide to re-sign him, he could flourish as their point guard. As long as Baron Davis sticks around, Collins will continue to assume a role off the bench. However, between Davis’ injuries, a large contract, and still some demand in the league, Collins could find himself as the only point guard should Davis depart.
Dionte Christmas 2009-?
The next Temple guard to have his name called on draft night will be Dionte Christmas. The four-year player certainly has had his share of illustrious collegiate highlights. He led the Atlantic 10 in scoring for three straight seasons averaging nearly 20 points. He led Temple to back-to-back Atlantic 10 tournament titles the past two years. Unfortunately, those titles remained the only accolade as the Owls were eliminated in the first round of the NCAA tournament each time.
Christmas, a John Chaney recruit, has transitioned the Temple program into the Fran Dunphy era. He saw little time in his freshman season, then needed to adjust from Chaney’s matchup zone to Dunphy’s man-to-man. Dunphy played him right away and Christmas thrived. He became the unquestionable go-to-guy who possessed deep shooting ability from beyond the arc. Often referred to as having an unorthodox release, Christmas was difficult to stop when his shot was on.
Fans often overlooked his defense. He was the best off-the-ball defender the Owls had; he could extend and defend passing lanes far from the basket and was a menace as a backside defender reading reversals and skip passes. He averaged 1.5 steals a game to lead the Owls in 2009 as well as nearly 6 rebounds, most of which came on the defensive end.
In order for Christmas to be successful at the NBA level, he will need to improve and become more than just a shooter. He had exactly as many assists as turnovers his senior year. His ball-handling leaves much to be desired, especially when pressured. Perhaps his biggest fault was his reluctance to attack the basket when his jump shot wasn’t falling. He could be extremely stubborn in trying to shoot himself out of a slump rather than penetrating and creating something for himself or a teammate.
Regardless, Christmas’ work ethic has shown that he can improve year after year. More than likely he will be drafted by a team that is in desperate need of a legitimate outside threat. He will probably go to Detroit in the second round with the thirty-fifth pick, or even fall to San Antonio at thirty-seven.
The question will not be if Christmas gets drafted, but how long and successful his NBA career will be. Many Temple guards fell short of expectations after stellar careers in North Philadelphia. Christmas can certainly be another Macon or Greer. If he remains consistent with his shooting ability, he may have a career like Brunson and move from team to team depending on who needs a shooter. But Christmas has the build and talent to contend with the careers of Jones and McKie. He’ll most likely never reach their level, but a ten-plus year career in the NBA should not be out of the question.
Temple players in the NBA
Mark Macon – OwlSports
Dionte Christmas Pre-Draft Workouts – OwlSports
Denver Nuggets 1993 Draft
NCAA Career Steals Leaders
Rey
Great work here! Christmas does struggle off the dribble, but I love the way he moves without the ball. If there is such a stat, he has to be in the top ten of the country in setting up a back door cut. Can you see him in Spurs’ uniform? I can only imagine Duncan feeding him inside / out stuff.
A yeoman’s effort pulling together all this background on Temple guards of the past.
How about the ‘Owl Without A Vowel?’
Great comment about him moving without the ball. I don’t know how I overlooked that when we’ve discussed it many, many times.
I would LOVE to see Christmas in a Spurs uniform. I’m hoping he falls to them in the second round at 37. That’s the Spurs’ first pick in the draft I think. Duncan playing a nice inside-out game with him would be nice, as would Parker weaving through screens only to dish to the open Christmas. I think it owuld be a GREAT fit for him. Not so much with the Pistons.
The Owl without a Vowel is Bill Mlkvy. He played in the 1950s but only lasted one season I think. I wanted to stay in the past two decades so I started with Macon. Mlkvy holds the NCAA record for most consecutive points in a single game with 54.
Being coached by Dunphy and Chaney has to count for something. Popovic and other coaches (like Jerry Sloan) have to look at Christmas and figure he’s got a clue about defense. His wing span, like you said, is a nice asset to have on defense.
There has to be a way to keep track of back door cuts. I know all it takes is someone with a clipboard sitting on the bench, but I’m referring to the measurement of success. A great back door doesn’t always have to result in a direct pass. It can also create defensive movement and open up the floor.
Especially when you consider it as a timely cut that is made purposely draw that defender down to the lane and not allowed to either 1) pinch on penetration or 2) close out on a nearby shooter in defensive rotation.
Keeping track of them would be easy to do, but the hard part is like you said – measurement of success. Sometimes a good backdoor cut leads to an open lane. Most would give all the credit to the ball handler and never even consider that cut essential, when it actually made the whole play develop.
Concerning good coaching, one would think. Sometimes it feels like the “experts” for these teams ignore the obvious. Everyone is sold on Jonny Flynn as the next great PG. He looked very much like a Marbury clone for Syracuse. Remember the game at Pitt this year? He totally played to Pitt’s plan and just shot three after three, never once looking to attack Fields in the lane.
And all I’m reading is about his 40 inch vertical. Can we officially label the vertical jump the 40 yard dash of the NBA draft. It measures nothing in terms of talent to me.
Yeah – or when that cut causes an interior defender to slide and take it away thus leaving open a pass into the post.
I saw this really good post today. Well-written, and it describes…