Theo Ratliff life and biography

Career:

Selected by the Detroit Pistons in the first round (18th overall) of the 1995 NBA Draft … Traded by the Pistons along with Aaron McKie and a first round draft choice to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for Jerry Stackhouse and Eric Montross (12/28/97) … Traded by the 76ers along with Toni Kukoc, Nazr Mohammed and Pepe Sanchez to the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for Dikembe Mutombo and Roshown McLeod (2/22/01) … Traded by the Hawks along with Shareef Abdur-Rahim and Dan Dickau to the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for Rasheed Wallace and Wesley Person (2/9/04) … Traded by the Trail Blazers along with Sebastian Telfair and a second round draft pick to the Boston Celtics in exchange for Dan Dickau, Raef LaFrentz and the rights to Randy Foye (6/28/06) … Traded by the Celtics along with Al Jefferson, Gerald Green, Ryan Gomes, Sebastian Telfair and two first round picks to the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for Kevin Garnett (7/31/07) … Waived by the Timberwolves (2/29/08) … Signed as a free agent by the Detroit Pistons (3/4/08) … Signed as a free agent by the Philadelphia 76ers (8/20/08) … Signed as a free agent by the San Antonio Spurs (7/25/09) ... Traded by the Spurs to the Charlotte Bobcats in exchange for a protected future second round draft pick (2/18/10) ...Twice named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1999, 2004) … Led the league in blocked shots three times (2000-01, 2002-03, 2003-04) … One of seven players in NBA history to capture the blocked shots title three-or-more times (K. Abdul-Jabbar, G. Johnson, M. Eaton, H. Olajuwon, D. Mutombo and M. Camby) … Voted the starting center for the 2001 NBA All-Star Game (missed game due to a stress fracture in his right wrist) … Ranks 18th in NBA history in career blocks (1,963) … Is the last NBA player since Mutombo in 1995-96 (332 blocks, 74 games) to record 300-or-more blocks in a single season (300 blocks in 85 games, 2003-04) ... In his 15-year NBA career, has appeared in 800 regular season games (533 starts) averaging 7.3 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.45 blocks in 25.5 minutes ... Has recorded 16 career 20+ point games, 116 10+ rebound games and 79 double-doubles.

Background

2009-10: Appeared in 49 games (29 starts) last season with San Antonio and Charlotte, averaging 3.6 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.24 blocks in 16.4 minutes ... Acquired by the Bobcats from the Spurs 2/18 ... Started 26-of-28 games with Charlotte, averaging 5.1 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.54 blocks ... Ranked 12th among league leaders in blocks per 48 minutes (3.63) ... Scored in double-figures six times ... Totaled 10+ rebounds once ... Recorded 3+ blocks in eight games ... Scored a season-high 11 points (4-6 FG) 3/6 vs. Golden State ... Totaled five points, a season-high 11 rebounds and three blocks 11/21 vs. Washington ... Posted a season-high four blocked shots 3/24 vs. Minnesota, 2/26 at Memphis, 2/24 at Utah and 10/31 vs. Sacramento ... Appeared in four playoff games (all starts), averaging 1.8 points and 0.8 rebounds in 12.0 minutes.

2008-09: Appeared in 46 games with Philadelphia, averaging 1.9 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.02 blocks in 12.6 minutes … Shot .531 (34-64) from the field … Scored a season-high 10 points (5-5 FG) 3/7 at Memphis … Blocked a season-best four shots three times: 2/19 at Washington, 12/31 at LA Clippers and 4/7 at Charlotte … Logged 34 DNP-CDs and missed one game due to the flu (12/23 at Boston) … In six postseason games, averaged 3.3 points and 3.8 rebounds in 15.7 minutes … Shot .818 (9-11) from the field in the postseason.

2007-08: Appeared in 26 games with Minnesota and Detroit, averaged 4.3 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.42 blocks in 16.8 minutes … Shot .482 (41-85) from the field ... In 10 games with Minnesota, averaged 6.3 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.90 blocks in 21.4 minutes … Twice scored a season-high 14 points: 11/2 vs. Denver and 11/10 at Sacramento … Recorded a season-high six blocks 11/10 vs. Sacramento ... Appeared in 12 playoff games with Detroit, averaging 1.3 points and 2.3 rebounds in 10.9 minutes.

2006-07: Appeared in two games (both starts) with Boston, averaging 2.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.50 blocks in 22.0 minutes … Had season-ending lower back surgery on January 23rd.

2005-06: Appeared in 55 games (19 starts) with Portland, averaging 4.9 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.60 blocks in 23.7 minutes ... Shot .571 from the field ... Missed 27 games with a left ankle injury ...Scored in double-figures six times ... Recorded one double-double and two 10+ rebound games ... Posted 3+ blocked shots 11 times including a season-high five blocks 2/12 at Toronto, 2/3 vs. Minnesota and 11/27 at Atlanta ... Grabbed a season-high 14 rebounds 11/11 vs. Detroit ... Posted 11 points and 12 rebounds 1/25 vs. Denver ... Scored a season-high 14 points 4/7 vs. Oklahoma City.

2004-05: Appeared in 63 games (45 starts) with Portland, averaging 4.8 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.51 blocks in 27.5 minutes ... Ranked 4th in the NBA in blocks ... Scored in double-figure four times ... Posted 10+ rebounds seven times ... Posted two double-doubles ... Totaled nine games of 5+ blocked shots including seven blocks 1/28 vs. LA Clippers and eight blocks 2/11 at Memphis ... Recorded a career-high tying nine blocks 11/5 at LA Clippers (tying Blazers franchise record) ... Missed the final 16 games of the season due to a bruised right shoulder ... Totaled a season-high 13 points and 12 rebounds 12/27 vs. Philadelphia ... Tallied 10 points, a season-high 13 rebounds and five blocks 12/9 vs. Boston.

2003-04: Appeared in a combined 85 games (83 starts) with Atlanta and Portland, averaging 7.9 points, 7.2 rebounds and 3.61 blocks in 31.1 minutes ... In 32 games after joining the Trail Blazers, averaged 4.41 blocks ... Led the NBA in blocks per game ... Finished third in voting for the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year ... Named to the All-Defensive Second Team ... Recorded eight double-doubles ... Scored in double-figures 27 times ... Totaled 10+ rebounds 20 times ... Recorded 5+ blocks 29 times ... Posted a season-high 18 points, nine rebounds and six blocks 3/27 vs. Oklahoma City ... Recorded 11 points, 11 rebounds and eight blocks 3/12 vs. Sacramento ... Posted a career-high tying nine blocks 2/2 at Orlando.

2002-03: Appeared in 81 games (81 starts), averaging 8.7 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.23 blocks in 31.1 minutes ... Led the NBA in blocked shots ... Finished ninth in balloting for NBA Defensive Player of the Year ... Recorded nine double-doubles ... Scored in double-figures 33 times including one 20+ point game ... Recorded 10+ rebounds 16 times ... Posted a career-high tying nine blocks 3/22 vs. Indiana ... Scored a season-high 20 points (9-15 FG) 3/8 vs. Toronto ... Totaled 16 points, 14 rebounds and a career-high tying nine blocks 2/14 at Indiana ... Recorded nine points, nine rebounds and a career-high tying nine blocks 2/2 vs. Orlando ... Pulled down a career-high tying 17 rebounds 11/16 vs. New Orleans.

2001-02: Appeared in three games (two starts) with Atlanta, averaging 8.7 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.67 blocks in 27.3 minutes ... Started first two games of season before undergoing surgery on his right hip to repair a small cartilage tear (placed on injured list until 1/11/02) ... Returned to record his 1,000th career block 1/15 at Toronto before missing the rest of the season do to the injury.

2000-01: Appeared in 50 games (50 starts) with Philadelphia, averaged career-highs of 12.4 points and 8.3 rebounds in 36.0 minutes ... Averaged a league-high 3.74 blocks ... Voted starting center for Eastern Conference All-Star team ... Recorded 12 double-doubles ... Suffered a stress fracture of the right wrist 2/7, missing the remainder of the season and All-Star game due to injury ... Traded to Atlanta 2/22/01 but did not appear in a game for the Hawks in 2000-01 ... Scored in double figures 38 times including 20+ points three times ... Totaled 10+ rebounds 15 times ... Posted a season-high 22 points, 12 rebounds and eight blocks 2/4 at New Jersey ... Tallied 18 points, eight rebounds and a career-high nine blocks 11/29 vs. Washington ... Totaled 21 points and 13 rebounds 2/2 vs. Orlando ... Scored 21 points 11/20 at Boston ... Recorded 14 points and a career-high tying 17 rebounds 11/3 at Orlando.

1999-00: Appeared in 57 games (56 starts), averaging 11.9 points, 7.6 rebounds and 3.00 blocks in 31.5 minutes ... Ranked 4th in the NBA in blocks per game ... Missed 25 games due to various ankle problems ... Posted 18 double-doubles ... Totaled 10+ rebounds 18 times ... Scored in double-figures 42 times including 20+ points five times ... Totaled 10 points, 13 rebounds and a season-high eight blocks 4/9 at Orlando ... Recorded 11 points and a season-high 14 rebounds 3/24 vs. Boston ... Scored a season-high 25 points (12-17 FG) 2/3 at Houston ... Totaled a season-high 25 points, 13 rebounds and five blocks 2/1 at Dallas ... Posted 18 points, a season-high 14 rebounds and five blocks 1/14 vs. Orlando.

1998-99: Appeared in 50 games (50 starts), averaging 11.2 points, 8.1 rebounds and 2.98 blocks in 32.5 minutes ... Named NBA All-Defensive Second Team ... Ranked 4th among league leaders in blocks ... Only Sixer to start all 50 games ... Scored in double-figures 29 times including two 20+ point games ... Recorded 11 double-doubles ... Posted 16 10+ rebound games ... Recorded 21 points, 13 rebounds and eight blocks 2/16 vs. Milwaukee ... Totaled a season-high 23 points, 11 rebounds and seven blocks 3/12 vs. New Jersey ... Tallied 16 points, eight rebounds and a career-high tying nine blocks 3/24 at Vancouver ... Recorded 15 points and a season-high 15 rebounds 4/16 vs. Indiana.

1997-98: Appeared in 82 games (67 starts) with Detroit and Philadelphia, averaging 9.9 points, 6.7 rebounds and 3.15 blocks in 29.8 minutes ... In 58 games with the 76ers, averaged 11.2 points and 7.3 rebounds ... Ranked 4th among league leaders in blocks ... Scored in double-figures 45 times including three 20+ point games ... Recorded 13 double-doubles and 16 10+ rebound games ... Scored a career-high 27 points 3/22 at Boston ... Totaled 17 points, a season-high 14 rebounds and five blocks 3/13 vs. Atlanta ... Tallied seven points, 13 rebounds and a season-high tying eight blocks 1/19 vs. Sacramento ... Recorded 20 points, 10 rebounds and a season-high tying eight blocks 1/4 at LA Lakers.

1996-97: Appeared in 75 games (38 starts), averaging 5.8 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.46 blocks in 17.0 minutes ... Shot .531 from the field ... Ranked 19th among league leaders in blocks per game ... Scored in double-figures 18 times including one 20+ point game ... Posted two double-doubles and two 10+ rebound games ... Led Pistons in blocks for second consecutive season ... Totaled 16 points, 10 rebounds and a season-high eight blocks 1/25 vs. Philadelphia ... Recorded season-highs in points (25) and rebounds (12) to go with five blocks 4/16 vs. Milwaukee.

1995-96: Appeared in 75 games (two starts), averaging 4.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.55 blocks in 17.4 minutes ... Shot .557 from the field ... Led Pistons in blocks ... Logged six DNP-CDs and missed one game due to illness ... Scored in double-figures eight times including one 20+ point game ... Recorded three double-doubles and three 10+ rebound games ... Totaled 10 points and 11 rebounds 4/18 at Chicago ... Tallied 10 points and 13 rebounds 2/3 vs. Sacramento ... Posted season-highs in points (21) and rebounds (15) 11/15 vs. Seattle ... Recorded a season-high five blocks 3/4 vs. Atlanta and 11/10 vs. Cleveland.

College: Played four seasons at Wyoming … Named to the 1995 Western Athletic Conference First Team and selected the conference’s Defensive Player of the Year as a senior ... Left Wyoming as the NCAA’s second all-time leading shot blocker behind only Georgetown’s Alonzo Mourning ... Finished his career with 425 blocked shots (now tied for the 10th highest total in NCAA history) ... His career average of 3.83 blocks per game ranked third in NCAA history at the time of his graduation ... Concluded his time at Wyoming as the school’s 15th all-time scorer (1,142 points) and its 10th all-time leading rebounder (655) ... As a senior, averaged 14.4 points, 7.5 rebounds and 5.14 blocks in 28 games ... Twice named to the All-WAC Defensive Team … Career average of 3.83 blocks per game is now 15th best in NCAA history.

Personal

Full name is Theophalus Curtis Ratliff ... Theo and his wife, Kristina, have six children: Adonis, Darius, Stacia, Yasmeen, Alexis and Sasha ... His mother’s name is Camilla and he has two brothers, Thad and Tim ... Boyhood idols were Magic Johnson and Walter Payton ... A member of the NBA’s All-Star Reading Team, he has been a frequent participant in the league’s Read To Achieve program ... In the summer of 1993, played on USA Basketball’s Under-22 World Championship Team ... Was a communications major at Wyoming.

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