 Wolf in 2014 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1964-12-17)December 17, 1964 Kohler, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Died | September 26, 2024(2024-09-26) (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 theLos 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 atBasketball Reference | |
Joseph James Wolf (December 17, 1964 – September 26, 2024) was an American professionalbasketball player and coach. Wolf played eleven seasons in theNational Basketball Association (NBA) for seven different teams. He playedcollege basketball for theNorth Carolina Tar Heels, where in 1987 he was named first-teamAll-ACC. Prior to UNC, Wolf was one of the most successful high school players in Wisconsin state history.[1]
Wolf was born on December 17, 1964, and raised inKohler, Wisconsin.[2] He ledKohler High School to three Wisconsin state basketball championships.[3][4]
In February 2005, a vote was conducted by theMilwaukee 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 atKohler High School.[1]
He playedcollege basketball at theUniversity of North Carolina and reached theNCAA Division I men's basketball tournament all four years under coachDean 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 theNational Basketball Association (NBA). He was the 13th overall pick of the1987 NBA draft, selected by theLos 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 theIdaho Stampede of theCBA and theColorado 14ers of theNBA Development League. He also worked with theMilwaukee Bucks as an assistant coach toScott Skiles.[5] For the 2014–15 season, Wolf was hired by theBrooklyn Nets as an assistant to new head coachLionel 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 atUNC Wilmington, he was hired as the head coach of theGreensboro Swarm of theNBA G League, the affiliate of theCharlotte 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 theWisconsin Herd of theNBA 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992–93 | Portland | 2 | 0 | 10.0 | .500 | .000 | .000 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 1.0 |
| 1994–95 | Charlotte | 1 | 0 | 3.0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| 1995–96 | Orlando | 11 | 0 | 7.7 | .348 | .333 | .750 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 1.8 |
| Career | 14 | 0 | 7.7 | .360 | .333 | .750 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 1.6 | |
| 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 | |
