Chris Mills

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Chris Mills bigraphy, stories - American basketball player

Chris Mills : biography

January 25, 1970 –

Christopher Lemonte Mills (born January 25, 1970) is a retired American professional basketball player.

Chris Mills attended Fairfax High School in Los Angeles, from 1986–1988. At 6’7", he was the starting center for each of his three years playing varsity basketball there. In 1987 and 1988, he was awarded the City 4-A Player of the Year Award, as well as Mr. Basketball for the state of California. He was a 1988 McDonalds All-American.http://www.mcdonaldsallamerican.com/content/dam/allamerican/pdfs/Player-Alumni-List-12-2013.pdf El Camino Real High School basketball coach, Mike McNulty said of Chris Mills, "He’s one of the three best players ever to come out of Los Angeles—he’s gotta be right there with John Williams and Marques Johnson." Taft High School basketball coach, Jim Woodard, echoed these sentiments when he said, "I’ve been watching city basketball for 33 years. Mills is the best I’ve ever seen. He can do it all."

Mills graduated from University of Arizona, having transferred there from the University of Kentucky after the 1988–89 season, after being the center of a major scandal involving receiving improper payments, allegedly from a UK booster. The scandal broke when an Emery Worldwide package addressed to Mills’ father popped open and several large-denomination bills spilled out.

He was selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers as the 22nd overall pick in the 1993 NBA Draft, and played four seasons for the Cavs. Mills then played for the New York Knicks for the 1997-98 season and then the Golden State Warriors for five seasons.http://www.nba.com/historical/playerfile/index.html?player=chris_mills He was listed as a member of the Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks but never actually played a game for any of them. He was a solid defender on the wing and a decent shooter. Mills also had several problems with his health in his late career and was not a stellar athlete, ultimately being a solid back-up off the bench.

In 1999, in a game against the Dallas Mavericks, after a jump ball, Mills attempted to make a basket, but on the wrong side of the court. Amazingly, his shot was blocked by opposing player Samaki Walker.

Mills recorded a rap single entitled "Sumptin’ to Groove To," along with several NBA players such as Jason Kidd, Cedric Ceballos and J.R. Rider on the album B-Ball’s Best Kept Secret released in 1994. He is also a member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.