 Bardo at the 2014 World Basketball Festival | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1968-04-05)April 5, 1968 (age 57) Henderson, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Listed height | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) |
| Listed weight | 190 lb (86 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Carbondale (Carbondale, Illinois) |
| College | Illinois (1986–1990) |
| NBA draft | 1990: 2nd round, 41st overall pick |
| Drafted by | Atlanta Hawks |
| Playing career | 1990–2000 |
| Position | Shooting guard |
| Number | 42, 23, 25 |
| Career history | |
| 1990–1991 | Quad City Thunder |
| 1991 | Atlanta Eagles |
| 1991–1992 | Quad City Thunder |
| 1992 | San Antonio Spurs |
| 1992–1993 | Dallas Mavericks |
| 1993 | Wichita Falls Texans |
| 1993 | Levallois |
| 1993–1994 | Teamsystem Fabriano |
| 1994 | Wichita Falls Texans |
| 1994–1995 | Chicago Rockers |
| 1995 | Joventut Badalona |
| 1995–1996 | Detroit Pistons |
| 1996 | Chicago Rockers |
| 1996–2000 | Toshiba Brave Thunders Kanagawa |
| Career highlights | |
| |
Stats at NBA.com  | |
| Stats atBasketball Reference | |
Stephen Dean Bardo (born April 5, 1968) is an American retired professionalbasketball player who played 3 seasons in theNational Basketball Association (NBA). He is currently a college basketball analyst.
During his standout career at theUniversity of Illinois, 6'5" Bardo scored 909 points and compiled 495assists. He was part of theFlyin' Illini team that qualified for the 1989NCAA men's basketball tournamentFinal Four. ThatFighting Illini team gained the moniker "Flyin' Illini" byDick Vitale while broadcasting a game during the 1988–89 season. Bardo was namedBig Ten defensive player of the year in 1989. Along with Bardo, the other starting members of that team includedNick Anderson,Kendall Gill,Lowell Hamilton,Kenny Battle, and key reserveMarcus Liberty.
Bardo was selected in the1990 NBA draft by theAtlanta Hawks, but never played for the team, playing one game (one minute) with theSan Antonio Spurs during the1991–92 NBA season. He also appeared for theDallas Mavericks andDetroit Pistons, amassing 32 moreregular season games, and leaving theNational Basketball Association with per-game averages of 2 points, 2rebounds and one assist.
Bardo also played in France, Italy, Japan, Spain, Venezuela overseas as well as theContinental Basketball Association (CBA). He was selected as CBA Defensive Player in 1993 and 1994.[1] Bardo was named to the All-CBA First Team in 1993, All-CBA Second Team in 1992 and 1994, and All-Defensive Team in 1992, 1993 and 1994. He enjoyed a 10-year professional playing career.[1]
| Season | Games | Points | PPG | Assists | APG | Steals | Big Ten Record | Overall Record | Postseason |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986–87 | 31 | 119 | 3.7 | 85 | 2.7 | 23 | 13–2 | 23–8 | NCAA First Round |
| 1987–88 | 33 | 216 | 6.5 | 125 | 3.8 | 41 | 11–7 | 21–10 | NCAA Second Round |
| 1988–89 | 36 | 293 | 8.1 | 148 | 4.4 | 34 | 14–4 | 31–5 | NCAA Final Four |
| 1989–90 | 29 | 281 | 9.7 | 137 | 4.7 | 37 | 11–7 | 21–8 | NCAA First Round |
| Totals | 129 | 909 | 7.0 | 353 | 3.0 | 203 | 49–20 | 96–31 | 4 appearances |
Since retiring in 2000, Bardo has worked in broadcasting. He has served as a color analyst for the Illini Sports Network, a sports reporter forWBBM-TV in Chicago, an analyst and reporter forCBS Sports, and a color analyst for college basketball onESPN[2] andBig Ten Network. He has also participated onESPN First Take. Additionally, he works as a motivational speaker,[3][4] and authored the bookHow To Make The League Without Picking Up The Rock.[2] In 2021, Bardo began filling in as an analyst onBally Sports Wisconsin'sMilwaukee Bucks broadcasts for regular color commentatorMarques Johnson.
In May 2015, Bardo, who is African-American, publicly criticized theUniversity of Illinois's athletic department over the lack of diversity among prominent head coaches at the university.[5]
· Basketball Reference