Nick Van Exel

Lore & Background

Van Exel was selected by the Los Angeles Lakers in the second round as the 37th overall pick of the 1993 NBA draft. He played for the Lakers from 1993 to 1998, then was traded to the Denver Nuggets on June 24, 1998. He later played for the Dallas Mavericks, Golden State Warriors, Portland Trail Blazers, and San Antonio Spurs.

Reader's Guide

Van Exel played college basketball for the Cincinnati Bearcats, earning third-team All-American honors as a senior in 1993. He led Cincinnati with 18.3 points and 4.5 assists per game in his senior year, as the team went 27–5 and advanced to the NCAA Elite Eight. He became Cincinnati's all-time leader in three-point field goals made (147), three-point field goals attempted (411), and three-point field goal percentage (.358). He was inducted into the University of Cincinnati Athletics Hall of Fame in 2018 and graduated with degrees in interdisciplinary studies in 2023.

Did You Know?

• Van Exel was nicknamed 'Nick the Quick' for his shooting streaks, buzzer-beating shots, and speed.
• In 1996, during a game against the Denver Nuggets, he pushed a referee, resulting in a seven-game suspension and $187,000 fine.
• Van Exel averaged 14.9 points per game and 7.3 assists per game during his career with the Lakers.
• He was a finalist for the Wooden Award for player of the year in his senior season at Cincinnati.