Luc Longley

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Lore & Background

Longley's journey to the Bulls began at Scotch College in Perth, where he was recruited by University of New Mexico coach Gary Colson. He played collegiately for the Lobos from 1987 to 1991, averaging 19.1 points and 9.2 rebounds in his senior year before being selected by Minnesota. After contract delays kept him out of the league's first month, he debuted on November 30, 1991. The trade to Chicago brought Stacey King back to Minnesota. Initially a bench player who appeared in 55 games during the 1994–95 season, Longley took over as the starting center for the 1995–96 campaign. His physical presence was vital to the team's success, though injuries marred parts of his tenure. In the summer of 1997, he dislocated his shoulder while body surfing at Hermosa Beach near a Los Angeles hotel, missing nearly two months of the season. During his recovery, Michael Jordan reportedly called him frequently to urge a return, noting he had no one else to set screens for him.

In Their Own Story

The 1996–97 season tested Longley's resilience after he dislocated his shoulder in Hermosa Beach. His absence left a void in the Bulls' rotation until he could recover. The source highlights a specific interaction during this period: Jordan, frustrated by the lack of effective screens, began calling Longley personally to push him back onto the court. This dynamic underscored Longley's tactical importance; his role was not just scoring but facilitating the offense through screening and positioning. Before joining Chicago, he had already established himself as a key figure for Australia, representing the nation at the 1988 Seoul Olympics where they finished fourth, a record best result for an Australian senior men's team at the time. His transition from the struggling Timberwolves to the Bulls marked a turning point in his career, shifting him from a lottery pick in Minnesota to a championship cornerstone in Chicago.

Reader's Guide

Luc Longley's tenure with the Chicago Bulls (1994–1998) was defined by his role as the starting center during the franchise's most dominant era. He joined the team late in the 1993–94 season via a trade for Stacey King and served as a backup before becoming the starter in 1995–96. As the anchor of the lineup, he helped secure three consecutive championships (1996, 1997, 1998). His style of play relied on setting screens and operating within Phil Jackson's system, rather than modern spacing metrics. After the Bulls' roster disintegrated following the 1998 title, Longley moved to the Phoenix Suns in a sign-and-trade deal involving Mark Bryant, Martin Müürsepp, Bubba Wells, and a conditional first-round pick. He finished his career with a brief stint at the New York Knicks before retiring due to a degenerative condition in his left ankle.

Did You Know?

• Longley missed the 1996 Atlanta Olympics due to ankle surgery but represented Australia at the 1988, 1992, and 2000 Games.
• During his recovery from a shoulder dislocation in 1997, Michael Jordan called him repeatedly to urge him back on the court because he needed screens.
• He set an NBA record for most wins in a regular season (72) during the 1995–96 campaign as the Bulls' starting center.
• Before his NBA career, Longley helped New Mexico reach the NCAA Tournament in 1991 and won consecutive State Basketball League championships with the Perth Redbacks in 1989 and 1990.