OU To Retire Mookie Blaylock's Jersey On Saturday

Jan. 22, 2001

Press Conference AudioBlaylock Photos

NORMAN, Okla. - Former University of Oklahoma star Mookie Blaylock will become the third former OU men's basketball player to have his jersey retired during a halftime ceremony of the Sooners' game versus Nebraska on Saturday, Jan. 27.

Blaylock, who wore No. 10, played two seasons at Oklahoma after transferring from Midland (Texas) Junior College. The guard wore the crimson and cream in both the 1987-88 and 1988-89 seasons. With his help, OU advanced to the 1988 national championship game and posted a two-year 65-9 (.878) record. A 1988-89 first-team All-American along with teammate Stacey King, Blaylock ranks first at OU in career steals (281) despite playing just those two seasons. He also ranks third in three-point attempts (446), fourth in three-pointers (169), fifth in assists (465), 10th in three-point percentage (.379) and 15th in points (1,338).

"In two years, Mookie established himself as one of the all-time great guards in the Big Eight Conference," said OU Head Coach Kelvin Sampson. "And then he went on to have a long, accomplished career in the NBA. You can tell how unique and special people are when they're recognized by one name. Around here, when you say, 'Mookie,' you're only talking about one person. I think Mookie is a great person, was an unbelievable player at the University of Oklahoma and is very deserving of this honor."

Said Blaylock, "This is a tremendous honor. I'm very happy and appreciative that OU would even consider retiring my jersey, especially since I will join such a short and distinguished list. I really cherished my time in Norman, where we certainly had some exciting and explosive teams that played a fun and entertaining style of basketball. Plus, we had a lot of success."

Now in his 12th NBA season, Blaylock still holds NCAA Division I records for steals in a game (13, twice), steals in a season (150) and steals average for a career (3.8). He also holds the OU single-season record for minutes played with 1,359 his senior year. Additionally, Blaylock is one of just three Sooners to ever record a triple-double in a game. He did it Dec. 15, 1988, when he totaled 31 points, 12 assists and 13 steals in a 136-103 win against Loyola Marymount.

Blaylock is a member of the Golden State Warriors and has also played for the Atlanta Hawks and New Jersey Nets. He was the 12th overall pick by New Jersey in the 1989 NBA Draft and has enjoyed a stellar professional career. Blaylock ranks eighth on the NBA's all-time steals list and eighth on the all-time three-point field goal chart (1,233). A six-time member of the league's first or second All-Defensive Team, Blaylock ranks first among active NBA players with his 2.4 career steals average. The 1994 NBA All-Star boasts career averages of 14.0 points, 6.9 assists and 2.4 steals per game.

OU greats Wayman Tisdale and Alvan Adams are the other two former Sooners who have had their Oklahoma jerseys retired.

Tip-off for Saturday's Oklahoma/Nebraska game is slated for 12:45 p.m. Blaylock will attend the game with his wife, Janelle, and sons, Daron, Zackary and Dominick.

Mookie Blaylock's Accomplishments and Honors

Played two seasons at OU (1987-88 and 1988-89)

First-Team All-American (1989)

Big Eight Newcomer of the Year (1988)

Holds NCAA Division I single-game record for steals (13, twice)

Holds NCAA Division I single-season record for steals (150)

Holds NCAA Division I record for career steals average (3.8)

Ranks first on OU career steals list (281)

Ranks third on OU career three-point attempts list (446)

Ranks fourth on OU career three-point field goals list (169)

Ranks fifth on OU career assists list (465)

Ranks 15th on OU career scoring list (1,338)

Holds the school single-season minutes played record (1,359)

One of three Sooners to ever register a triple-double (31 points, 13 steals, 12 assists)

12th pick in 1989 NBA Draft by New Jersey Nets

NBA All-Star in 1994 as a member of the Atlanta Hawks

Member of NBA's All-Defensive First Team twice and All-Defensive Second Team four times

Ranks eighth on NBA's career steals and three-point field goals lists

Leads all active NBA players with his 2.4 career steals average

BLAYLOCK'S OKLAHOMA STATISTICS

SEASON	G	FG-FGA	PCT	3FG-GA	PCT	FT-FTA	PCT	REB	AVG	AST	AVG	ST	AVG	TP	AVG
1987-88	39	241-524	.460	78-201	.388	78-114	.684	162	4.1	232	5.9	150	3.8	638	16.4
1988-89	35	272-598	.454	91-245	.371	65-100	.650	164	4.7	233	6.7	131	3.7	700	20.0
TOTALS	74	513-1122	.457	169-446	.379	143-214	.668	326	4.4	465	6.3	281	3.8	1338	18.1

University of Oklahoma Athletics

OU To Retire Mookie Blaylock's Jersey On Saturday

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