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American basketball coach and player (1964–2024) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Joseph James Wolf (December 17, 1964 – September 26, 2024) was an American professional basketball player and coach. Wolf played eleven seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for seven different teams. He played college basketball for the North Carolina Tar Heels, where in 1987 he was named first-team All-ACC. Prior to UNC, Wolf was one of the most successful high school players in Wisconsin state history.[1]
Wolf in 2014 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 17, 1964 Kohler, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Died | September 26, 2024 (aged 59) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) |
| Listed weight | 230 lb (104 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Kohler (Kohler, Wisconsin) |
| College | North Carolina (1983–1987) |
| NBA draft | 1987: 1st round, 13th overall pick |
| Selected by the Los Angeles Clippers | |
| Playing career | 1987–1999 |
| Position | Power forward / center |
| Number | 24, 42, 6, 43, 12, 23, 17, 30 |
| Coaching career | 2003–2024 |
| Career history | |
| As player: | |
| 1987–1990 | Los Angeles Clippers |
| 1990–1992 | Denver Nuggets |
| 1992 | Boston Celtics |
| 1992–1993 | Portland Trail Blazers |
| 1993–1994 | León |
| 1994–1995 | Charlotte Hornets |
| 1995–1996 | Orlando Magic |
| 1996–1997 | Milwaukee Bucks |
| 1997–1998 | Denver Nuggets |
| 1999 | Charlotte Hornets |
| As coach: | |
| 2003–2004 | William & Mary (assistant) |
| 2004–2006 | Idaho Stampede |
| 2006–2008 | Colorado 14ers |
| 2008–2013 | Milwaukee Bucks (assistant) |
| 2014–2017 | Brooklyn Nets (assistant) |
| 2017–2018 | UNC Wilmington (assistant) |
| 2018–2020 | Greensboro Swarm |
| 2023–2024 | Wisconsin Herd (assistant) |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
| Career NBA statistics | |
| Points | 2,485 (4.2 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 1,933 (3.3 rpg) |
| Stats at NBA.com | |
| Stats at Basketball Reference | |
Wolf was born on December 17, 1964 and raised in Kohler, Wisconsin.[2] He led Kohler High School to three Wisconsin state basketball championships.[3][4]
In February 2005, a vote was conducted by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel to select the all-time Wisconsin high school boys basketball team. As a result of this vote. Wolf was named Wisconsin's all-time greatest high school basketball player based on his dominant four-year performance at Kohler High School.[1]
He played college basketball at the University of North Carolina and reached the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament all four years under coach Dean Smith. He earned the Carmichael-Cobb Award as UNC's outstanding defensive player and the Jimmie Dempsey Award as UNC's overall statistical leader as a senior in 1987. Lastly, he was elected ACC First Team and ACC All-Tournament Team.[citation needed]
Wolf played in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was the 13th overall pick of the 1987 NBA draft, selected by the Los Angeles Clippers. He averaged 4.2 points and 3.3 rebounds per game throughout an 11-year professional career.[citation needed]
Wolf served as head coach of the Idaho Stampede of the CBA and the Colorado 14ers of the NBA Development League. He also worked with the Milwaukee Bucks as an assistant coach to Scott Skiles.[5] For the 2014–15 season, Wolf was hired by the Brooklyn Nets as an assistant to new head coach Lionel Hollins.[6] In his first season with the team, Wolf and the coaching staff helped lead the Brooklyn Nets to the Eastern Conference Playoffs. After one season as an assistant at UNC Wilmington, he was hired as the head coach of the Greensboro Swarm of the NBA G League, the affiliate of the Charlotte Hornets.[7] On June 30, 2020, the Swarm did not extend Wolf's contract.[8]
On October 5, 2023, Wolf was hired as an assistant coach by the Wisconsin Herd of the NBA G League.[9]
Wolf died on September 26, 2024, at the age of 59.[10]
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987–88 | L. A. Clippers | 42 | 26 | 27.1 | .407 | .200 | .833 | 4.5 | 2.3 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 7.6 |
| 1988–89 | L. A. Clippers | 66 | 15 | 22.0 | .423 | .143 | .688 | 4.1 | 1.7 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 5.8 |
| 1989–90 | L. A. Clippers | 77 | 19 | 17.2 | .395 | .200 | .775 | 3.0 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 4.8 |
| 1990–91 | Denver | 74 | 38 | 21.5 | .451 | .133 | .831 | 5.4 | 1.4 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 7.3 |
| 1991–92 | Denver | 67 | 0 | 17.3 | .361 | .091 | .803 | 3.6 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 3.8 |
| 1992–93 | Boston | 2 | 0 | 4.5 | .000 | .000 | .500 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 |
| 1992–93 | Portland | 21 | 0 | 7.4 | .465 | .000 | .857 | 2.1 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 2.5 |
| 1994–95 | Charlotte | 63 | 6 | 9.3 | .469 | .333 | .750 | 2.0 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 1.4 |
| 1995–96 | Charlotte | 1 | 0 | 18.0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| 1995–96 | Orlando | 63 | 8 | 16.6 | .515 | .000 | .724 | 2.9 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 4.6 |
| 1996–97 | Milwaukee | 56 | 7 | 9.4 | .449 | .143 | .737 | 2.0 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 1.7 |
| 1997–98 | Denver | 57 | 8 | 10.9 | .331 | .200 | .500 | 2.2 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 1.5 |
| 1998–99 | Charlotte | 3 | 0 | 4.0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Career | 592 | 127 | 16.3 | .423 | .164 | .770 | 3.3 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 4.2 | |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983–84 | North Carolina | 30 | - | 13.7 | .481 | - | .758 | 2.8 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 3.4 |
| 1984–85 | North Carolina | 30 | - | 30.5 | .566 | - | .781 | 5.3 | 1.9 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 9.1 |
| 1985–86 | North Carolina | 34 | 34 | 25.1 | .532 | - | .712 | 6.6 | 2.1 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 10.0 |
| 1986–87 | North Carolina | 34 | 34 | 29.6 | .571 | .575 | .793 | 7.1 | 2.9 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 15.2 |
| Career | 128 | 68 | 24.9 | .551 | .575 | .765 | 5.5 | 1.9 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 9.6 | |
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