Rex Chapman (born 1968) is a former NBA basketball player from Lexington, Kentucky. Chapman played for various NBA teams through his 14 year career.

Chapman is probably better known by basketball fans because of one particular moment: During the 1997 NBA playoffs, the Phoenix Suns were trailing the Seattle Supersonics two games to one, and by three points with seconds to go in game four at America West Arena in Phoenix. With the ball seemingly on its way to go out of bounds, Chapman saved the ball and was able to throw a three pointer, making the shot as time expired and sending the game into overtime.

The Suns still lost the game and wound up being eliminated, and Chapman has declared publicly he does not like to be reminded of the moment too much, because the Suns still lost. On informal polls made by the NBA and NBA teams among fans, however, that moment often comes out as one of the top moments in NBA history.

A high school basketball star in Kentucky, Chapman was heavily recruited by many universities. He chose, however, to stay close to home when he signed with the University of Kentucky.

After three years with Kentucky, Chapman became was selected in the 1988 NBA draft and became the first player ever signed by the Charlotte Hornets in the franchise's history. Chapman was popular among basketball fans in Charlotte, as he averaged 16.9 points per game his first season there. He could not help the Hornets win many games, however, as the expansion team went 21-61 that year.

During the 1989-1990 season, Chapman, whose matinee idol looks helped increase his popularity in North Carolina, entered the NBA all star dunk competition. Despite performing a two hands and two balls dunk stunt, he lost to Dominique Wilkins in the competition. Chapman averaged 17 points per game that year, but the Hornets were not much better than a year earlier. After one more year with the Hornets, Chapman was traded, before the start of the 1991-1992 season, to the Washington Bullets. He was injured, however, and could only participate in one game that year. This would turn to be the first of a number of injuries that gave Chapman trouble during the rest of his career.

Chapman was returned to the Hornets that season, but he could only play in the team's final 21 games. He then returned to the Bullets for the 1992-1993 season.

Chapman played 65 games for the Bullets that season, 60 games during the 1993-1994 season and 45 games during the 1994-1995 season. He had his second major injury during the latter season, after which he was traded to the Miami Heat. By the time Chapman was with the Heat, he was losing his hair considerably, a fact that later on helped take the decision to shave off his head hair completely and sport a bald look. Chapman averaged 14 points per game that year, but he was placed on the injured list again and only participated in 56 games. After that season, he was traded to the Suns.

As with many other Suns players, Chapman became a fan favorite upon his arrival in Phoenix for the 1995-1996 season. He played in 65 games, and scored 13 points per game. His popularity in Phoenix was enhanced by the game tying shot in game four of the 1996-1997 season first round playoffs against the Supersonics.

Chapman played 68 games during the 1997-1998 season for the Suns, scoring almost 16 points per game. But he would be injured again during the strike shortened 1999 season, playing 38 games.

Chapman would play 53 games during the 1999-2000 season, but he became re-injured and decided to retire from the NBA then.

Chapman played a total of 666 regular season NBA games, scoring 9,731 points for an average of 14.6 points per game, with 1,798 assists for an average of 2.7 assists per game, and 1,645 rebounds, for 2.5 rebounds per game.

Chapman and his wife own a restaurant in Lexington.

External links

NBA.com page on Chapman