Newz Forum: BASKETBALL: Elliott fifth Spur to have jersey raised to rafters

SAN ANTONIO -- Sean Elliott, among San Antonio's all-time leading scorers and the first NBA player to return to action after a major organ transplant, will have his number retired by the Spurs in March, the team announced Wednesday.

Elliott's No. 32 will be the fifth to be hoisted to the rafters at the SBC Center. Already there are the numbers of James Silas (13), Johnny Moore (00), George Gervin (44) and David Robinson (50).

"Any professional athlete in any sport would consider this a great honor," said Elliott, who's now a Spurs broadcaster. "It's overwhelming. It's really awesome."

The retirement ceremony will take place March 6, when San Antonio hosts Utah.

Elliott, who spent 11 of his 12 NBA seasons with San Antonio, is fourth in career scoring for the Spurs with 9,659 points and sixth in career rebounding with 2,941. He also is in the top 10 all-time in games, assists, steals and blocks.

He also ranks among the most popular Spurs ever.

"From Day 1 that Sean arrived to this day, he has operated with class and has found a place in the hearts of everyone in San Antonio," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said.

His most famous moment came in Game 2 of the 1999 Western Conference Finals, when he hit a corner 3-pointer while tiptoeing along the sideline with 9 seconds left to lift the Spurs to an 86-85 win over Portland.

Three months later, shortly after helping the Spurs to their first NBA title, Elliott underwent a kidney transplant because of a rare degenerative condition.

He returned to the court in March 2000, playing in 19 games that season and another 52 in 2000-01 before he retired.

Elliott, 36, was selected by San Antonio with the third overall pick in the 1989 NBA draft. After averaging 17.2 points in 1992-93, he and David Wood were traded to Detroit for Dennis Rodman.

After a season with the Pistons, he came back to San Antonio in a trade for Bill Curley.

His best season came in 1995-96, when he averaged 20 points and 5.1 rebounds. For his career he averaged 14.2 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 742 games.

source

ESPN

[Edited on 12/16/2004 by Gibbs Baby!!!]