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| Danny Manning | |
|---|---|
| Name | Danny Manning |
| Position | Forward |
| Height in | 10 |
| Weight lb | 240 |
| Birth date | 17 May 1966 |
| Birth place | Kansas City, Missouri |
| College | University of Kansas (1984–1988) |
| Draft year | 1988 |
| Draft team | Los Angeles Clippers |
| Career start | 1988 |
| Career end | 2003 |
| Career number | 21, 24, 32 |
| Coach start | 2004 |
Danny Manning was an American professional basketball player and collegiate coach noted for his scoring, rebounding, and leadership. A national star in the 1980s at the University of Kansas, he led the Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball team to an unexpected national championship and later played in the National Basketball Association for multiple franchises. Manning transitioned into coaching with stops at several NCAA Division I programs and remained influential in college basketball circles.
Born in Kansas City, Missouri, he was the son of former Jayhawks standout Ed Manning and grew up in a household connected to college basketball and NBA circles. He attended De La Salle before transferring to Wyandotte High School, where he emerged as a highly recruited prospect, earning recognition from outlets such as Parade and selections to McDonald's All-American Game-type honors. Scouted by coaches and recruiters from programs including the University of Kansas, Duke University, and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, he committed to Kansas, joining a lineage of prominent Big Eight Conference and later Big 12 Conference prospects.
At the University of Kansas, he played under head coach Larry Brown and formed part of a core that included teammates like Greg Dreiling and later recruits who would shape the program. In 1988 he led the Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball to the 1988 NCAA Tournament title, earning the Most Outstanding Player honors for his performances in the Final Four matchups and the championship game against Oklahoma; that season he received national awards and consensus All-American recognition alongside peers such as Pervis Ellison and Danny Ferry. His collegiate accolades included conference awards in the Big Eight Conference, appearances on All-America teams, and a durable legacy in Allen Fieldhouse history that influenced recruiting and program prestige.
Selected first overall in the 1988 NBA draft by the Los Angeles Clippers, his professional trajectory included stints with the Atlanta Hawks, Phoenix Suns, Milwaukee Bucks, and Utah Jazz. His NBA career featured productive seasons with the Los Angeles Clippers and later impactful seasons with the Phoenix Suns where he teamed with players like Kevin Johnson and faced opponents such as Michael Jordan and Earvin "Magic" Johnson. Injuries affected his availability but he remained a valued veteran, contributing as a scorer and rebounder and participating in playoff series, including matchups against franchises like the Chicago Bulls and the Los Angeles Lakers. Over a 15-season career in the NBA, he compiled notable career totals and moments that linked him to league history, franchise records, and veteran leadership acknowledged by coaches and general managers across the league.
He represented the United States men's national basketball team at events that included qualifying and exhibition competition, connecting with national program staff and teammates from institutions such as University of Kentucky and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. His international experience also included participation in global tournaments and exhibition tours that brought him into contact with international federations like FIBA and national teams from Europe and the Americas, enhancing his profile beyond the NBA regular season and illuminating the transnational dimensions of high-level basketball competition in the 1980s and 1990s.
After retiring, he entered coaching with roles including assistant positions at programs such as University of Kansas before taking head coaching jobs at University of Tulsa and later at Wake Forest University. At Tulsa Golden Hurricane men's basketball, he succeeded previous staff and led the program through conference play involving Conference USA opponents; at Wake Forest Demon Deacons men's basketball, he coached in the Atlantic Coast Conference against teams like Duke Blue Devils men's basketball and North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball. His coaching tree included assistants who moved to staffs at schools such as Baylor University and University of Oklahoma, and he emphasized player development, recruitment, and program building rooted in his playing pedigree and connection to coaches including Bill Self and Roy Williams.
A member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame class, his legacy spans playing, coaching, and mentorship across college basketball and NBA communities. He influenced generations of players, leaving marks on institutions such as the University of Kansas and Wake Forest University and contributing to alumni and charity events that involved organizations like Coach for College and community foundations tied to Kansas City. His family includes relatives active in basketball and collegiate athletics, and his career is frequently cited in discussions of top collegiate players, NCAA Tournament history, and the transition from elite player to coach. Category:American basketball players