A Clemson Tiger from the Past: Greg Buckner
Clemson basketball has had some versatile players, but one of the most versatile and consistent players in Tiger basketball history was Greg Buckner.
Greg Buckner came to Clemson from University Heights Academy in Hopkinsville, KY as an undersized 6’4 power forward in 1994. He originally signed with Providence College but was allowed to switch to Clemson, because the former Friar’s coach, Rick Barnes was named the new head coach at Clemson.
Buckner quickly became a starter on the famous “Slab Five” team that was the antithesis of the Michigan “Fab Five” from 1991. He was the leading scorer on a team that played hard physical defense, swept Duke, and finished sixth in the ACC regular season standings. He subsequently finished the season with averages of 12.0 points and 5.9 rebounds and the title of ACC Rookie of the Year.
For the 1995-96 season, Rick Barnes brought in his own fabulous freshman. Seven freshman joined the Clemson team and Buckner led them to their first ACC Tournament victory over North Carolina with a dunk with 0.6 seconds left in the game. Clemson won the game by the score of 75-73.
Clemson would later head to the NCAA Tournament and lose to Georgia in the first round. Buckner led them with 20 points in the game and finished with a 13.1 team leading scoring average.
The 1996-97 season would be another good year for Buckner and the young Tigers. They would again make the NCAA Tournament but this time advance to the Sweet Sixteen after wins over Miami(Ohio) and Tulsa before losing to a very good Minnesota team. Buckner scored 22 points in both the Miami(Ohio) and Minnesota games to lead the team and was the team’s leading scorer(15.6) for the third straight year. He was also named to the All-ACC second team.
Buckner’s final season was similar to his first three years. He led Clemson in scoring(16.3) and the team reached the post season once again. But the season ended with a disappointing 72-75 loss to Western Michigan in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. He was again named to the All-ACC second team.
After a successful career at Clemson, he was selected in the second round of the 1998 NBA Draft by the Dallas Mavericks. Buckner didn’t play with the Mavericks in 1998. Instead, he went to the CBA(Continental Basketball Association) and played for the Grand Rapids Hoops. After one season in the CBA, he signed with the Mavericks and played there from 1999-2002. Buckner would continue his professional career with the Philadelphia 76ers, Denver Nuggets, Dallas Mavericks(2006-07, 2009), Minnesota Timberwolves, and the Memphis Grizzlies.
He retired from the NBA in 2009 and was hired in 2011 as a player development coach for the Houston Rockets. Today, he is an assistant coach for the Rockets and has been in that position since the 2011-2012 NBA season.
Greg Buckner was a versatile player for Clemson basketball. He started as a power forward and played his last three years as a small forward. He was a strong driver, good mid range jump shooter, an effective post player, and a defensive stopper. He parlayed those talents into a solid 10 year NBA career and now he is a well respected young coach in the NBA. Ironically, one of the players that he gets to coach is former Clemson Tiger K.J. McDaniels, who is in his first full season with the Rockets.
A few of Greg Buckner’s Clemson career highlights.
- 4th All-Time with 1754 career points.
- Tied with Elden Campbell and Terrell McIntyre with 97 career double figure scoring games.
- 3rd All-Time in NCAA Tournament scoring with 72 total points.
- Only player to lead the team in scoring all four years and only the fifth player in ACC history to achieve that feat.
- 2nd only to Trevor Booker in games started in a career(122).
- Started for the 1997 World University games team.
- Member of the All-Time 100 Year Anniversary team.
- Member of the Athletic Hall of Fame(since 2005).
- Only player to be named ACC Rookie of the Year.
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