Danny Manning

Danny Manning is a former professional basketball player and coach, best known for his storied collegiate career at the University of Kansas and a lengthy tenure in the NBA. He led the Kansas Jayhawks to the 1988 NCAA championship, earning Final Four Most Outstanding Player honors, before being selected first overall in the 1988 NBA draft by the Los Angeles Clippers. Manning's professional career, though impacted by injuries, spanned 15 seasons and included an All-Star selection in 1993 and the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award in 1998. He later transitioned to coaching, serving as head coach for the Tulsa Golden Hurricane and Wake Forest Demon Deacons.

Early life and college career

Born in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, Manning was the son of former NBA player Ed Manning. He attended Page High School in Greensboro, North Carolina, where he was a highly recruited prospect. He chose to play college basketball for coach Larry Brown at the University of Kansas. At Kansas, Manning became one of the most decorated players in Big Eight history, winning back-to-back conference Player of the Year awards in 1987 and 1988. His senior season culminated in a legendary performance in the 1988 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, where he willed the Kansas Jayhawks to the national title, defeating the Oklahoma Sooners in the championship game. For his efforts, he received the Naismith College Player of the Year, the John R. Wooden Award, and was a two-time consensus first-team All-American.

NBA playing career

Selected first overall by the Los Angeles Clippers in the 1988 NBA draft, Manning's promising start was interrupted by a serious ACL injury during his rookie season. He recovered to become the franchise's cornerstone, earning his only All-Star selection in 1993. After a brief stint with the Atlanta Hawks, Manning was traded to the Phoenix Suns, where he thrived in a reserve role and won the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award in 1998. He later played for the Milwaukee Bucks, Utah Jazz, Dallas Mavericks, and Detroit Pistons, providing veteran leadership. His career averages of 14.0 points and 5.2 rebounds per game are considered a testament to his skill and resilience, as he adapted his game following multiple knee surgeries.

Coaching career

Manning began his coaching career immediately after retirement, returning to his alma mater as an assistant under Bill Self with the Kansas Jayhawks from 2003 to 2012, contributing to the program's 2008 NCAA championship run. His first head coaching opportunity came with the Tulsa Golden Hurricane in 2012, where he won the Conference USA tournament and earned a bid to the NCAA tournament in 2014. He then accepted the head coaching position at Wake Forest, leading the Wake Forest Demon Deacons to the NCAA tournament in 2017. After his tenure at Wake Forest, he served as an assistant coach for the Maryland Terrapins under Mark Turgeon and later for the Louisville Cardinals under Chris Mack.

Personal life

Manning is married to Julie Manning, and the couple has two children. His father, Ed Manning, played in the ABA and NBA, and later served as an assistant coach at the University of Kansas. Manning has been involved in various charitable endeavors throughout his career and remains a prominent figure in the University of Kansas community. He has also participated in events for the National Basketball Retired Players Association.

Legacy and honors

Manning's legacy is anchored by his iconic college career, where his number 25 jersey was retired by the Kansas Jayhawks. He is remembered for one of the greatest individual performances in NCAA tournament history during the 1988 championship run. In the NBA, he is respected as a skilled big man who successfully reinvented himself as a premier reserve after significant injuries. His coaching career further cemented his connection to the game, guiding programs like the Tulsa Golden Hurricane and Wake Forest Demon Deacons to postseason success. Manning was inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008.

Category:American men's basketball players Category:Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball players Category:Los Angeles Clippers players Category:NBA All-Stars