Michael Anthony Sanders (born May 7, 1960) is an American former professional basketball player who played primarily as a small forward. He was selected by the Kansas City Kings in the fourth round (5th pick) and was the 74th overall pick in the 1982 NBA draft. He is a former assistant coach for the Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Prior to being an assistant coach for Tyrone Corbin, Sanders was the team's director of player development.

Playing career

Born in Vidalia, Louisiana, Sanders was selected by the Kansas City Kings with the 74th overall pick of the 1982 NBA draft after the close of his college career at UCLA. Over the course of 11 NBA seasons, Sanders averaged eight points and three rebounds per game. He played for the San Antonio Spurs, Phoenix Suns, Cleveland Cavaliers and Indiana Pacers during this time.

Early in his career, Sanders played parts of two seasons in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA) for the Montana Golden Nuggets and Sarasota Stingers. He averaged 23.3 points and 8.9 rebounds in 37 career games in the league, earning CBA Rookie of the Year, All-CBA First Team All-Defensive second team honors in 1983.

Coaching career

After retiring from the NBA, Sanders became a head coach of the Black Hills Gold in the IBA, the Wisconsin Blast of the IBA and the Adirondack Wildcats of the USBL.

Sanders also served as an assistant coach with the Detroit Pistons, Milwaukee Bucks and Charlotte Bobcats.

Career playing statistics

Legend
GPGames playedGSGames startedMPGMinutes per game
FG%Field goal percentage3P%3-point field goal percentageFT%Free throw percentage
RPGRebounds per gameAPGAssists per gameSPGSteals per game
BPGBlocks per gamePPGPoints per gameBoldCareer high
*Led the league

NBA

Source

Regular season

YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
1982–83San Antonio26015.1.484.000.7213.6.7.7.27.0
1983–84Phoenix50011.7.478–.6902.1.9.5.24.5
1984–85Phoenix211119.9.486–.7634.21.41.1.210.2
1985–86Phoenix82520.0.513.200.8093.31.8.9.411.0
1986–87Phoenix82*420.2.494.118.7813.31.5.7.310.5
1987–88Phoenix35513.3.480.000.7361.8.9.5.15.8
Cleveland241117.4.538–.8702.01.1.5.26.8
1988–89Cleveland82*82*25.6.453.300.7193.71.61.1.49.3
1989–90Indiana82*1318.7.470.357.7332.81.1.5.36.2
1990–91Indiana80717.0.417.200.8252.31.3.5.35.8
1991–92Indiana1008.1.500–.833.81.1.2.12.7
Cleveland212026.3.583.333.7564.22.01.0.49.2
1992–93Cleveland535122.4.497.250.7563.21.4.7.68.6
Career64820919.1.482.221.7693.01.4.7.38.0

Playoffs

YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
1983San Antonio64.2.538––1.5.7.0.02.3
1984Phoenix1510.1.478–.9411.3.5.4.34.0
1985Phoenix3330.3.595–.8005.03.31.7.017.3
1988Cleveland5526.8.538.000.8005.01.4.6.412.8
1989Cleveland5317.4.500–.6003.2.8.4.26.6
1990Indiana308.0.4551.000–2.0.7.0.03.7
1991Indiana508.2.600.500.500.8.8.8.43.0
1992Cleveland171724.6.487.333.8103.22.2.9.76.0
1993Cleveland8718.1.417.000.6002.31.31.0.15.8
Career673516.7.500.333.7792.51.3.6.36.3

External links

  • @ basketballreference.com
  • @ NBA.com