Christian Laettner solid a legacy to be pleased with in basketball.
The New York native is broadly thought of one of many biggest ever NCAA gamers after starring for Duke’s Championship groups in 1991 and 1992 earlier than he loved a 13-year profession within the NBA.
Laettner was properly rewarded for his time in The Affiliation, too.
His 13-year tenure started with the Minnesota Timberwolves, adopted by stints with the Atlanta Hawks, Detroit Pistons, Dallas Mavericks, Washington Wizards, and Miami Warmth.
It left him with profession earnings of round $61 million.
Laettner was a six-time All-Star and is enshrined within the Naismith Memorial Basketball Corridor of Fame, U.S. Olympic Corridor of Fame, FIBA Corridor of Fame, and Faculty Basketball Corridor of Fame.
After retiring in 2005, Laettner pursued enterprise with ventures into actual property, funding in Main League Soccer, in addition to an unsuccessful try and buy the Memphis Grizzlies.
Nevertheless, actuality quickly got here crashing down for Laettner, who confronted Chapter 7 chapter in 2016.
The previous Duke star was preventing to keep away from involuntary chapter after 5 collectors filed a movement in opposition to him, claiming he owed $14.05 million.
It took virtually two months for the difficulty to be resolved after those self same collectors settled with Laettner.
A few of these 5 collectors included former Carolina Panthers working again Jonathan Stewart and ex-Detroit Lions linebacker Ernie Sims.
What’s worse in regards to the state of affairs is that it was not the primary time Laettner ended up being sued by his fellow skilled athletes.
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Christian Laettner was sued by Scottie Pippen
In 2007, Laettner satisfied Scottie Pippen to affix an funding group to buy the Grizzlies.
That group included Laettner himself and his former Duke teammate Brian Davis.
Nevertheless, the sale by no means went by way of, and Pippen appeared to get his a refund.
Laettner could not repay Pippen, and it led to his former 1992 Olympic Dream teammate submitting a lawsuit in 2010.
Pippen’s lawsuit was profitable, and he was awarded $2.5 million, which Laettner and his group needed to pay.
In 2016, a PR catastrophe unfolded when Pippen’s spouse, Larsa, lashed out at Laettner on social media for allegedly not repaying the total quantity.
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It is not the primary time Laettner has come into battle with Pippen.
Laettner didn’t impress Pippen on the basketball courtroom, and the Bulls icon made that clear when he did not need the Duke star within the 1992 Olympic Dream Crew.
“I agreed with every choose besides Laettner,” Pippen wrote in his 2021 autobiography
“I did not assume he would slot in, and I used to be proper. The committee ought to have chosen one other NBA participant, and lots have been worthy. My choice was Dominique Wilkins.”
Laettner was the one collegian chosen for the Olympic workforce that yr.