 Huffman in 2014. | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1975-04-02)April 2, 1975 Battle Creek, Michigan, U.S. |
| Died | October 15, 2015(2015-10-15) (aged 40) Battle Creek, Michigan, U.S. |
| Listed height | 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) |
| Listed weight | 245 lb (111 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Lakeview (Battle Creek, Michigan) |
| College |
|
| NBA draft | 1997:undrafted |
| Playing career | 1997–2003 |
| Position | Center |
| Number | 14, 7 |
| Career history | |
| 1997–1998 | Idaho Stampede |
| 1998–1999 | Fuenlabrada |
| 1999–2002 | Maccabi Tel Aviv |
| 2002–2003 | Toronto Raptors |
| Career highlights | |
| |
Stats at NBA.com  | |
| Stats atBasketball Reference | |
Nathaniel Thomas Huffman (April 2, 1975 – October 15, 2015) was an American professionalbasketball player, who played most of his career withMaccabi Tel Aviv. He was the 2001Israeli Basketball Premier League MVP, as well as the 2001FIBA SuproLeague Player of the Year.
Huffman played forLakeview High School and then forLansing Community College (where in '94–'95 he averaged 29.8 points, 14.5 rebounds, and 6 blocks per game while shooting 66.8% from the field, and was named to the JUCO All America team). He then played forCentral Michigan University from 1995 until 1997 (where in '96–'97 he averaged 17.2 points, 11 rebounds (leading the Mid-America Conference in rebounding), and 1.8 blocks per game, and was named to the MAC Conference 1st team).
After college, Huffman signed as a free agent with theLos Angeles Clippers, but did not make the team. In the 1997–98 season, he played for theIdaho Stampede of theCBA.[1] He was second in the league in blocked shots per game (1.8), 6th in field goal percentage (.553), 8th in rebounds per game (7.6), and 10th in free throw percentage (.801). He was selected to the CBA All-Rookie Team in 1998.[2]
He then moved to Europe, and played forBaloncesto Fuenlabrada of theSpanish ACB League.
In the 1999–00 season, he was signed byMaccabi Tel Aviv. During his time in Israel, he won threeIsraeli Premier League championships andIsraeli State Cups, and one EuropeanFIBA SuproLeague title (2001; when he averaged 17.5 points and 9 rebounds, while playing 30 minutes per game, as the team was 21–3). He was named theFIBA SuproLeague Player of the Year, as well as the "Best American Player in Europe", byBasket News, in 2001.[3]
After his successes in Israel, he was signed in July 2002, by theToronto Raptors of theNBA to a 3-year, $5.2 million contract (the third year being a team option), and appeared in 7 games, averaging 3.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and 10.9 minutes.[4] Shortly after, Huffman was released by Toronto which terminated his contract in January 2003, because team management charged that he hid a knee injury from them when he signed the contract. Huffman responded by suing them in 2003. In February 2004 an arbitrator ruled that the Raptors were responsible for Huffman's contract.[5]
After his basketball career, he decided to fund a basketball camp for children in 2005, with retired Romanian-Israeli basketball playerConstantin Popa. Huffman was awarded in 2010, by the Michigan Jewish Sports Foundation, with theBook of Life Award.
On September 29, 2015, Huffman announced that he had Stage 4bladder cancer, and his "condition is terminal".[6] He died on October 15, 2015.[7]
· Basketball Reference