John Paxson

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Paxson's journey began at Archbishop Alter High School, where he led his team to a state championship in 1978 and earned a spot on the 1979 McDonald's All-American Team alongside future stars like Isiah Thomas. At Notre Dame, he became a two-time Academic All-American, graduating with a degree in Business Administration and a 3.71 GPA. His four-year career yielded 1,366 points (19th in school history) and a .526 field goal percentage. Selected 19th overall by the San Antonio Spurs in 1983, he averaged 4.9 points per game before joining the Bulls. There, he became known as a clutch shooter, most notably during the 1993 NBA Finals in Phoenix. With the Bulls down two and 3.9 seconds remaining in Game 6, Paxson hit a wide-open three to take a 99-98 lead, securing the third consecutive title after Horace Grant blocked Kevin Johnson. His career stats included 7.2 points and 3.6 assists per game over 369 starts.

In Their Own Story

After retiring in 1995, Paxson briefly served as an assistant coach under Phil Jackson during the 1995-96 season but resigned to prioritize his family, famously stating he missed his wife and kids too much. He returned to the organization in April 2003 as General Manager following Jerry Krause's resignation. His early tenure was turbulent; after signing Scottie Pippen, the team stumbled to a 23-59 record in his first season. Paxson reshaped the roster by trading Jalen Rose for Antonio Davis and firing coach Bill Cartwright. A pivotal moment came when he took a cautious approach with center Eddy Curry's potential heart condition, eventually trading him to the New York Knicks for Michael Sweetney, Tim Thomas, and draft picks that yielded Tyrus Thomas. Despite a 24-game improvement in 2005 and three consecutive playoff appearances under coach Scott Skiles, the team struggled without size. Paxson fired Skiles in December 2007 after a poor start, leading to an interim stint for Jim Boylan. The Bulls won the draft lottery with only a 1.7% chance, selecting Derrick Rose first overall in 2008. Relationships soured later with coach Vinny Del Negro, culminating in a physical altercation on March 30, 2010, over Joakim Noah's minutes. Paxson was promoted to Vice President of Basketball Operations in May 2009 and reassigned as senior advisor in April 2020.

Reader's Guide

John Paxson's legacy is defined by his ability to perform under pressure and his strategic vision in the front office. As a player, he proved that role players are essential to dynasty building; his Game 6 shot remains one of the most critical moments in NBA history. His collegiate background at Notre Dame highlighted his discipline, earning him induction into the CoSIDA Hall of Fame in 2005. As General Manager, Paxson faced the immense challenge of replacing a legend like Michael Jordan. While he could not replicate the championship success of his playing days, he stabilized the franchise by drafting key contributors like Kirk Hinrich, Ben Gordon, Luol Deng, and Derrick Rose. His tenure involved difficult decisions regarding player health and roster construction, such as the trade of Eddy Curry and the firing of Scott Skiles to reset the team's culture. Paxson's career illustrates the dual importance of on-court execution and off-court leadership in sustaining a competitive organization.

Did You Know?

• Paxson is one of only four Notre Dame basketball players to earn Academic All-America accolades more than once.
• He led the Bulls to three championships, including the iconic Game 6 shot in the 1993 Finals where he hit a wide-open three with 3.9 seconds remaining.
• As General Manager, Paxson oversaw the trade of Eddy Curry due to potential heart symptoms and later acquired Derrick Rose via the NBA draft lottery despite having only a 1.7% probability of winning it.
• He was involved in a physical altercation with coach Vinny Del Negro on March 30, 2010, allegedly grabbing him by the tie over Joakim Noah's playing minutes.