Legend Rolando Blackman featured on NBRPA site
Apr 13, 2006 | Men's Basketball
MANHATTAN, Kan. - Wildcat legend Rolando Blackman is featured on the "Where Are They Now?" section of the National Basketball Retired Players Association (NBRPA) website.
Currently an assistant coach with the NBA's Dallas Mavericks, Blackman is remembered as one of Kansas State's best all-around players. Not only could he score at will, but he also was three times named the Big Eight Defensive Player of the Year. Whatever the team needed, Blackman provided: scoring, rebounding, passing and game-winning clutch shots.
The Brooklyn, N.Y., native became one of the best shooting guards in Big Eight history with a 51.7 career percentage. His 1,844 career points rank him second on K-State's all-time scoring charts and yet the unselfish Blackman only shot when necessary. He is also the third all-time leading scorer in Big Eight Conference tournament history with 170 points.
A three-time unanimous All-Big Eight selection, Blackman was the conference's Player of the Year his junior campaign. Following that season, he earned All-America honors and was a starter on the 1980 U.S. Olympic team. He also was named as co-winner of the 1980-81 Big Eight Athlete of the Year award.
Blackman was a first round draft choice (ninth pick overall) of the NBA's Dallas Mavericks in 1981 and played 11 seasons in Dallas before his trade to the New York Knicks during the summer of 1992. During the 1999-2000 season, the Mavericks retired Blackman's jersey.
A four-time NBA all-star, Blackman averaged at least 17 points per game from 1981 to 1992, including a career-high 22.4 points during the 1983-84 season. During the 1992 season, he helped the Knicks reach the Eastern Conference championship before losing to the eventual world champion Chicago Bulls. He closed out his NBA career in 1993-94, and spent the 1994-95 season playing in Europe.
