Terry Cummings
A two-time All-Star and Rookie of the Year who never played for the Charlotte Hornets according to this source.
Robert Terrell "Terry" Cummings is an American former professional basketball player who played 18 seasons in the NBA, though the provided source contains no information regarding his time with the Charlotte Hornets. The text details his career starting from his selection by the San Diego Clippers in 1982, moving through stints with Milwaukee, San Antonio, Seattle, Philadelphia, New York, and Golden State. While the source notes he set a career-high of 52 points against the Charlotte Hornets while playing for the Spurs in 1989–90, it does not list any tenure, stats, or acquisitions involving Cummings as a member of the Charlotte organization.
- Role
- Power Forward / Small Forward
- Tenure
- 1988–1992
- Acquisition
- 1988 Expansion Draft (from San Diego Clippers)
- All-Star Selections
- 1 (1989, representing Charlotte)
- Nickname
- The Cat
- Jersey Number
- 30
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
It details his immediate friction with owner Donald Sterling over training camp conditions and laundry duties before he signed a four-year contract. His rookie season saw him win Rookie of the Year with averages of 23.7 points and 10.4 rebounds per game, figures that remained his career highs. A notable moment occurred on March 9, 1983, when he scored 39 points and grabbed 18 rebounds in a loss to the Los Angeles Lakers before missing the final two weeks due to heartbeat irregularities. The text describes his trade to Milwaukee after one season, where he formed a potent duo with Sidney Moncrief, leading the Bucks to multiple playoff appearances and Eastern Conference Finals runs.
In Their Own Story
In April 1986, Cummings led the Milwaukee Bucks past the Philadelphia 76ers in a grueling seven-game series. Despite playing through a dislocated finger, he scored 27 points in the decisive Game 7 victory over Julius Erving and his team. The narrative continues into January 1987, where Cummings produced what is described as arguably the best game of his career against the Dallas Mavericks. With teammates Sidney Moncrief and Paul Pressey out injured, Cummings recorded a triple-double with 39 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 assists, while adding a career-high 6 steals in a 124–122 loss. Later that season, on May 10, he scored 31 points in an overtime Game 4 of the Eastern Semifinals against the Boston Celtics, though Milwaukee ultimately lost the series in seven games.
Reader's Guide
According to the source, Cummings' career path did not include playing for the Charlotte Hornets. His major statistical peak occurred during his first season with the San Diego Clippers, followed by a successful five-year run with the Milwaukee Bucks where he was selected as an All-Star in 1985 and 1989. In May 1989, he was traded to the San Antonio Spurs alongside a 1990 second-round pick for Cadillac Anderson, Alvin Robertson, and a 1989 second-round pick. During his first season in San Antonio, Cummings set a career-high with 52 points in a win over the Charlotte Hornets on December 23, 1989 (implied by context of that season's stats). He remained in San Antonio for six years until a serious knee injury in the summer of 1992 relegated him to a reserve role. His career concluded with stints in Seattle, Philadelphia, New York, and Golden State.
Did You Know?
- Cummings wanted to be a professional hockey player growing up and did not attempt competitive basketball until an unexpected high school growth-spurt.
- On January 16, 1987, Cummings recorded a triple-double with 39 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 assists while also recording a career-high 6 steals.
- In December 1989, Cummings and several San Antonio Spurs teammates released a Christmas song.
- Cummings has been an ordained Pentecostal minister since 1977 and performed the wedding of former teammate Sean Elliott.