Bob Hansen

Robert Louis Hansen II (born January 18, 1961) is an American former professional basketball player. A 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) guard, he played nine seasons (1983–1992) in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Hansen is currently a commentator for Iowa Hawkeyes basketball broadcasts.

This article is about the basketball player. For the baseball player, see Bob Hansen (baseball). For the serial killer, see Robert Hansen.
Bob Hansen
Hansen, circa 1988
Personal information
Born (1961-01-18) January 18, 1961
Des Moines, Iowa
NationalityAmerican
Listed height6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Listed weight190 lb (86 kg)
Career information
High schoolDowling (West Des Moines, Iowa)
CollegeIowa (1979–1983)
NBA draft1983 / Round: 3 / Pick: 54th overall
Selected by the Utah Jazz
Playing career1983–1992
PositionShooting guard
Number20
Career history
1983–1990Utah Jazz
1990–1991Sacramento Kings
1991–1992Chicago Bulls
Career highlights and awards
Career statistics
Points3,952
Rebounds1,282
Assists947
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Medals
Men's basketball
Representing  United States
FIBA U19 World Championship
1979 Salvador National team

Early years

Hansen attended Christ The King Elementary school and was a four-year starter at West Des Moines Dowling High School in the late 1970s. As a senior, he averaged 26 points and eleven rebounds per game to lead his team to an Iowa Class 4-A boys' basketball championship in 1979.

University of Iowa

His success in high school made him a prized recruit for head coach Lute Olson and the Iowa Hawkeyes, where Hansen played a key role on the team that reached the 1980 Final Four.

Hanson averaged 5.6 ppg as a freshmen in 1979-1980 as Iowa reached the Final Four. He averaged 8.4 in 1980-1981 as Iowa finished 21-7. He led the 21-8 Hawkeyes with 12.0 ppg in 1981-1982. As a senior in 1982-1983, he helped lead Iowa to the NCAA Sweet 16, averaging 15.4 points and 5.7 rebounds.[1][2][3][4]

As a senior in 1983, he was named as the Hawkeyes' Most Valuable Player.

Professional career

Hansen was selected by the Utah Jazz in the third round of the 1983 NBA draft, the 54th overall pick.[5] Hansen appeared in 55 games during his rookie season with the Jazz, averaging 2.7 points per game and 7.6 minutes per game. By the 1985–86 season, Hansen was a regular starter for the Jazz. He was also one of three Jazz players named NBA Player of the Week (March 6, 1986) during the season, joining teammates John Stockton and Karl Malone.[5] Hansen's highest scoring average, 9.7 points per game, came during the 1986–87 season.[6] During the 1990 All-Star weekend, Hansen participated in the three-point challenge, finishing fourth.

Hansen never missed the playoffs in his tenure with the Jazz, while reaching the Western Conference semifinals in both 1984 and 1988. On June 25, 1990, Hansen was involved in a three-team deal in which the Jazz acquired Jeff Malone from the Washington Bullets for Hansen, Eric Leckner and two draft picks.[5]

To begin the 1990–91 season, Hansen suited up for the Sacramento Kings, where he would play for chiefly one season, appearing in just two games for the 1991–92 Kings before Hansen and the Kings' 1992 second-round pick were traded for Dennis Hopson of the Chicago Bulls.[7] In his final NBA season, and perhaps his best known, Hansen appeared in 66 regular season games and, along with Craig Hodges, served as back-up guard to Michael Jordan.[8] Hansen, who averaged 2.5 points per contest heading into the 1992 NBA Playoffs, would have arguably his most memorable professional contribution during the 1992 NBA Finals. During Game 6, the Bulls, who held a 3-2 series lead over the Portland Trail Blazers, were trailing by 15 points after three quarters. Head coach Phil Jackson decided to pull Jordan from the game in favor of Hansen,[9] hoping for an extra jolt to start what looked to be the final corner of a Finals looking to require seven games to determine a champion. According to longtime Bulls writer Sam Smith, Jackson may have wanted to rest his starters considering no team had ever come back from a 15-point deficit to win an NBA championship,[10] and Hansen started the fourth quarter with a three-pointer, his only field goal of the game, and a steal off Jerome Kersey. Hansen confirmed with the defending Finals MVP Jordan whether he wanted to re-enter the game, but Jordan declined.[9] Scottie Pippen led a 14-2 Bulls rally,[11] and, along with Hansen and fellow reserve big man Stacey King, helped the Bulls get within three points by the time Jordan was put back in the game to replace Hansen. The Bulls completed the comeback, eventually rallying for a 97–93 victory and winning their second consecutive NBA championship. Hansen was the only player on the roster who had not won a ring with the Bulls during the 1991 Finals and after the Game 6 win, Jordan repeatedly stated, "I'm glad for Bobby Hansen."[12] When Hansen gave Jordan the game ball, Jordan replied, "I told you I'd get you that ring."[9] Hansen had logged 5 minutes of game time, while Jordan played in 43 minutes.[13]

After retirement

Having won his championship ring, Hansen retired from the NBA in 1992. Hansen is a color-commentator for Iowa Hawkeyes' basketball broadcasts. He calls games with Gary Dolphin. He has also run many summer basketball camps for Chicago-area children.[14]

Former joins Iowa teammates Kevin Boyle and Steve Carfino as basketball analysts. Mark Gannon is also a former analyst.[15]

Hanson sang "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" at Wrigley Field for the 7th Inning Stretch of the Chicago Cubs' game on August 31, 2012.[14][16]

Honors

He was named to the Des Moines Register Iowa Sports Hall of Fame in 1999.[16]

References
  1. https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/iowa/1980.htmll
  2. https://www.sports-https%5B%5D://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/iowa/1981.html
  3. "1981-82 Iowa Hawkeyes Roster and Stats". College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com.
  4. "1982-83 Iowa Hawkeyes Roster and Stats". College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com.
  5. "Utah Jazz Media Guide 2011–12" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on November 12, 2012. Retrieved July 22, 2012.
  6. "NBA.com:Bob Hansen Info Page". NBA.com. Retrieved July 22, 2012.
  7. "Names in the News". Los Angeles Times. 5 November 1991. Retrieved 22 July 2012.
  8. Isaacson, Melissa (11 March 1992). "Hansen's Turn as Hodges Cools". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 22 July 2012.
  9. Hlas, Mike (13 June 2012). "5 minutes, 20 years ago: ex-Hawkeye Hansen has unforgettable career-finale". The Gazette. Retrieved 22 July 2012.
  10. Smith, Sam (6 December 2011). "June 14, 1992". Bulls.com. NBA.com. Retrieved 22 July 2012.
  11. "20 years ago: Ex-Jazzman Bobby Hansen keys Finals run". Deseret News. 20 June 2010. Retrieved 22 July 2012.
  12. "The Ten Greatest Bulls Shots". Bulls.com. NBA.com. Retrieved 22 July 2012.
  13. "1992 NBA Finals Box Score". Chicago Tribune. 19 June 1992. Retrieved 22 July 2012.
  14. "Bob Hansen to Sing 7th Inning Stretch at Wrigley". hawkeyesports.com. August 26, 2012. Retrieved December 3, 2013.
  15. "Ex-Hawkeye coach Lute Olson made big impact on basketball media". Des Moines Register.
  16. Hansen in Iowa Sports Hall of Fame, at the Des Moines Register
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