Steve Stipanovich was selected by the Indiana Pacers with the second pick of the 1983 NBA draft.
17 Facts About Steve Stipanovich
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Stephen Samuel "Stipo" Steve Stipanovich, son of Sam and Elaine Steve Stipanovich, was born and raised in the St Louis, Missouri area.
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Steve Stipanovich chose to attend the University of Missouri under coach Norm Stewart, after numerous colleges recruited him, including Notre Dame, Duke, St Louis, Kentucky and North Carolina.
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Steve Stipanovich was both an academic All American and a first team All American selection his senior year.
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Missouri won over 100 games and Steve Stipanovich averaged 14.3 points, 7.7 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 128 career games at Missouri.
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Steve Stipanovich played all four years alongside teammate and future NBA player Jon Sundvold.
7.
Steve Stipanovich initially told police that a masked intruder, wearing cowboy boots and a flannel shirt broke into his apartment on Sunrise Drive in Columbia, Missouri, and shot him while screaming obscenities about basketball players.
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The next day, Steve Stipanovich recanted the story and admitted that he shot himself by accident.
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Steve Stipanovich was taken by the Pacers with the second overall pick of the 1983 NBA draft, behind Sampson.
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Steve Stipanovich scored at least 20 points in 62 times and never missed more than three games in his five years.
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Later, Steve Stipanovich threw Ewing to the floor and jumped on him.
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Steve Stipanovich averaged 13.2 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.2 blocks under new coach Jack Ramsey.
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Steve Stipanovich scored a team-high 22 points with 13 rebounds in a Game 1 loss at the Atlanta Hawks.
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Steve Stipanovich averaged 13.8 points and 7.5 rebounds in the series, as the Pacers won their first ever NBA playoff game in Game 3, but ultimately lost the series in four games.
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Steve Stipanovich was forced to retire in 1989, at age 28, due to a dead spot in the bone of his left knee.
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Steve Stipanovich said the injury was so bad he "can't even cut the grass".
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Steve Stipanovich has undergone 13 surgeries, including six on his left knee and four shoulder operations since his retirement.