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| Terry Cummings | |
|---|---|
| Name | Terry Cummings |
| Birth date | March 15, 1961 |
| Birth place | New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Height | 6 ft 9 in |
| Weight | 220 lb |
| College | DePaul (1979–1982) |
| Draft year | 1982 |
| Draft team | San Antonio Spurs |
| Career start | 1982 |
| Career end | 2000 |
| Career position | Power forward / Small forward |
| Career number | 34, 34, 34 |
| Teams | San Antonio Spurs; Milwaukee Bucks; San Diego/Los Angeles Clippers; New York Knicks; Philadelphia 76ers; Detroit Pistons; Dallas Mavericks |
Terry Cummings
Terry Cummings (born March 15, 1961) is an American former professional basketball player who starred in college and in the National Basketball Association. A standout at DePaul University, he entered the 1982 NBA draft and enjoyed a 17-year NBA career highlighted by an NBA Rookie of the Year Award, multiple All-Star selections, and significant playoff contributions for franchises including the San Antonio Spurs and Milwaukee Bucks. Cummings later played for several teams across the National Basketball Association and remained active in community and coaching initiatives after retirement.
Cummings was born in New York City and raised in the South Bronx, where he attended Benjamin Franklin High School before transferring to Rice High School for his prep career. In high school he competed against players from programs such as Power Memorial Academy, produced alumni like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and faced regional rivals from Christ the King Regional High School and Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School. His performances garnered attention from collegiate programs including Villanova University, Marquette University, Georgetown University, and Syracuse University before he committed to DePaul University, coached by Ray Meyer.
At DePaul University, Cummings played under head coach Ray Meyer and alongside teammates like Mark Aguirre in the era when DePaul faced opponents such as Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball, UCLA Bruins men's basketball, and North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball. He helped DePaul secure victories against programs like Louisville Cardinals men's basketball and Memphis Tigers men's basketball while participating in the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament. Cummings earned All-American recognition and accolades from organizations including the Associated Press and the National Association of Basketball Coaches, boosting his status ahead of the 1982 NBA draft. His collegiate development paralleled other notable DePaul alumni and contributed to the program's national prominence during the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Selected second overall by the San Antonio Spurs in the 1982 NBA draft, Cummings won the NBA Rookie of the Year Award for the 1982–83 NBA season after averaging strong scoring and rebounding numbers against teams like the Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Celtics, Philadelphia 76ers, and Milwaukee Bucks. He was later traded to the Milwaukee Bucks, joining rosters featuring players such as Sidney Moncrief, Paul Pressey, and facing rivals like Larry Bird of the Boston Celtics and Isiah Thomas of the Detroit Pistons. While with the Bucks he earned NBA All-Star Game selections and posted seasons of 20-plus points per game, producing memorable performances versus franchises like the Chicago Bulls and Houston Rockets.
Cummings's later career included stints with the San Diego Clippers/Los Angeles Clippers, New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers, Detroit Pistons, and Dallas Mavericks, competing in conferences dominated by teams such as the Seattle SuperSonics, Phoenix Suns, Utah Jazz, and Orlando Magic. He appeared in multiple playoff series against opponents including the Denver Nuggets, Portland Trail Blazers, and Cleveland Cavaliers. Over his NBA tenure he accumulated career totals that placed him among productive forwards of his generation and shared locker rooms with veterans like Michael Jordan-era contemporaries and rising stars such as Karl Malone and Charles Barkley.
A 6-foot-9 forward, Cummings combined physicality with skill sets comparable to peers like Kevin McHale and Dominique Wilkins; his inside scoring, mid-range touch, and rebounding were hallmarks of his game when matched up against centers like Hakeem Olajuwon and forwards like Kevin Johnson in matchups. He earned honors including the NBA Rookie of the Year Award and multiple selections to the NBA All-Star Game, and he was frequently among league leaders in scoring and offensive rebounds during peak seasons. Cummings's durable scoring output and ability to adapt from starter to veteran role mirrored the career trajectories of players such as Alex English and Antoine Walker, while his readiness to provide bench scoring later in his career echoed the roles of veterans like John Salley.
While Cummings did not headline USA rosters like those for the 1984 Summer Olympics or Dream Team, he participated in international exhibition tours and contests that involved matchups against European club teams and national squads from countries such as Spain, Yugoslavia, and Soviet Union. He competed in preseason and midseason international exhibitions organized by the NBA that featured teams from Italy, France, and Argentina, contributing to the league's globalization during the 1980s and 1990s alongside ambassadors like Magic Johnson and Larry Bird.
Following his playing career, Cummings engaged in coaching, mentoring, and community outreach initiatives, working with youth programs in cities including Milwaukee, San Antonio, and New York City. He has appeared at alumni events for DePaul Blue Demons men's basketball and participated in charitable events affiliated with organizations such as the NBA Cares program and local foundations. Cummings's post-retirement activities included public speaking, basketball clinics, and occasional media appearances discussing eras featuring players like Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, and coaches such as Pat Riley and Phil Jackson. He has maintained ties to the basketball community and continues to be recognized by franchise halls of fame and alumni organizations.
Category:1961 births Category:Living people Category:American men's basketball players Category:DePaul Blue Demons men's basketball players Category:National Basketball Association players