Otis Smith

Lore & Background

Thorpe graduated in 1980 from Lake Worth Community High School in Florida. He played college ball at Providence College. He had the longest NBA career of any former Friars player. He ranks seventh all-time at the school in rebounds and was the school's first First-Team Big East player. During his tenure at Providence College he was also a two-time Honorable Mention All-America selection.

Reader's Guide

Thorpe was drafted by the Kansas City Kings as the ninth overall pick in the first round of the 1984 NBA draft. He was traded to the Houston Rockets in October 1988. While with the Rockets, Thorpe made an All-Star appearance in 1992. He played in 542 consecutive games between 1986 and 1992 and, at one time, held the longest streak of consecutive games played in the NBA.

On December 7, 1993, Thorpe scored a career-high 40 points in a win over the Charlotte Hornets. That season, he was an integral part of the Houston Rockets' trip to the 1994 NBA Finals and subsequent first NBA Championship. He holds the Rockets' all-time record for the highest field goal accuracy (55.9%). Thorpe was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers in a deal for Clyde Drexler and Tracy Murray.

He later played for the Detroit Pistons, Vancouver Grizzlies, returned to the Kings, then played for the Washington Wizards, Miami Heat, and Charlotte Hornets. He finished his career with over 17,000 points and 10,000 rebounds in the NBA.