Rolando Blackman

Rolando Blackman
Name	Rolando Blackman
Position	Shooting guard / Small forward
Weight lb	190
Birth date	26 January 1959
Birth place	New York City, New York, U.S.
High school	Andrew Jackson High School (Queens)
College	Kansas State University (1977–1981)
Draft year	1981
Draft team	New York Knicks
Career start	1981
Career end	1995
Years1	1981–1992
Team1	Dallas Mavericks
Years2	1992–1994
Team2	New York Knicks
Years3	1994–1995
Team3	Minneapolis Lakers
Highlights	* 4× NBA All-Star (1986–1989) * NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1986) * Kansas State retired number

Rolando Blackman is an American former professional basketball player and coach known for his scoring, defense, and long tenure with the Dallas Mavericks. A two-way shooting guard who became a four-time NBA All-Star and an influential figure in Kansas State University basketball history, he later transitioned to coaching and community work. Blackman’s career intersected with major figures and franchises across the National Basketball Association era of the 1980s and early 1990s.

Early life and education

Born in Manhattan and raised in the Queens borough of New York City, Blackman attended Andrew Jackson High School where he excelled in basketball alongside local peers. He emerged as a top prospect in the same New York high school basketball ecosystem that produced players linked to McDonald's All-American Game, St. John's University, Georgetown University, and Syracuse University recruits. Recruited by major programs, he ultimately committed to Kansas State University, joining a coaching lineage connected to figures from Big Eight Conference competition and the broader NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament landscape.

College career

At Kansas State University, Blackman starred under head coach Jack Hartman, contributing to competitive seasons in the Big Eight Conference that featured opponents like University of Kansas, Oklahoma State University, and University of Missouri. He established scoring and defensive credentials, earning conference honors and national attention from NBA draft scouts, sports media outlets such as Sports Illustrated, and analysts who tracked collegiate prospects for the United States basketball pipeline. His performances in NCAA tournament play and major non-conference matchups raised his profile ahead of the 1981 NBA draft.

NBA career

Selected ninth overall in the 1981 NBA draft by the New York Knicks, Blackman was traded on draft night to the expansion Dallas Mavericks, joining an organization amid its formative years under ownership ties to Mark Cuban's later-era comparisons. Over 11 seasons with the Mavericks, he teamed with contemporaries and opponents including Mark Aguirre, Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, and coaches like Don Nelson. Blackman was a four-time NBA All-Star (1986–1989) and received NBA All-Defensive Team recognition in 1986 while leading Dallas in seasons that culminated in playoff series against clubs such as the Los Angeles Lakers, San Antonio Spurs, Denver Nuggets, and Portland Trail Blazers. In 1992 he returned to New York Knicks as a veteran presence during the Pat Riley era, sharing rosters with players like Patrick Ewing and competing in Madison Square Garden against Eastern Conference rivals including Chicago Bulls and Cleveland Cavaliers. Blackman finished his professional playing tenure with international stints and brief domestic comebacks, closing a career that spanned multiple NBA eras.

Playing style and achievements

Blackman was a prototypical perimeter scorer and perimeter defender at 6 ft 5 in, combining a smooth jump shot, disciplined off-ball movement, and reliable free-throw ability—traits compared by commentators to guards who balanced scoring and defense such as Clyde Drexler and George Gervin. He averaged over 18 points per game in peak seasons, accumulated multiple 20-plus point performances against elite defenders like Michael Cooper and Kevin Johnson, and delivered playoff scoring in series versus the Lakers and Trail Blazers. His four consecutive NBA All-Star selections and inclusion on an NBA All-Defensive Team reflect recognition by coaches and media across the league era dominated by stars including Isiah Thomas, Dominique Wilkins, and Reggie Miller. Team accomplishments with the Mavericks included franchise scoring records and leadership through Dallas’ first sustained playoff runs.

Post-playing career

After retiring from playing, Blackman transitioned into coaching and development roles that connected him with institutions such as Kansas State University and organizations within the developmental circuits. He served as head coach for the KANSAS STATE BASKETBALL program in capacities tied to alumni engagement, worked with NBA front offices and community outreach programs allied with franchises like the Dallas Mavericks and New York Knicks, and participated in international basketball clinics associated with bodies such as USA Basketball and FIBA. His post-playing contributions included scouting, player development, and mentoring roles alongside former players-turned-coaches, linking him to coaching trees connected to figures like Rick Carlisle and Jeff Van Gundy.

Personal life and legacy

Blackman’s personal life includes family ties rooted in New York City and long-term residence connections to the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. He has been involved in philanthropic efforts with organizations focusing on youth sports and education, collaborating with community partners similar to Boys & Girls Clubs of America and local foundations tied to NBA philanthropic initiatives. His legacy endures in Kansas State’s retired numbers, the Dallas Mavericks franchise history, and in the retrospective evaluations of 1980s and 1990s NBA guards by historians and sportswriters from outlets such as ESPN, The New York Times, and The Sporting News.

Category:1959 births Category:Living people Category:American men's basketball players Category:Kansas State Wildcats men's basketball players Category:Dallas Mavericks players Category:New York Knicks players