Lindsey Hunter

3.1. NBA draft and early career

The Detroit Pistons selected Lindsey Hunter as the 10th overall pick in the 1993 NBA draft. In the same draft, the Pistons also selected Allan Houston with the 11th pick. As a rookie during the 1993-94 NBA season, Hunter played in all 82 regular season games, averaging 10.3 points and a career-high 4.8 assists per game. He quickly became a significant part of the Pistons' roster, playing alongside star forward Grant Hill. During the 1996-97 NBA season, Hunter achieved a career-high average of 14.2 points per game. In the playoffs that year, he maintained a playoff career-high of 15 points per game, though the Pistons ultimately lost in the first round to the Atlanta Hawks in a five-game series. His initial tenure with the Detroit Pistons lasted from 1993 to 2000.

3.2. Championship success

Hunter was a contributing member of the Los Angeles Lakers team that won the NBA championship in 2002. Following that season, he returned to the Detroit Pistons for the 2003-04 NBA season. As a key reserve player, he played an important role in the Pistons' run to the 2004 NBA championship. During both of the Pistons' Finals appearances, Hunter was lauded for his tenacious on-ball defense, often being assigned to guard elite opposing point guards such as Jason Kidd, Kobe Bryant, and Tony Parker. The Pistons reached the NBA Finals again in 2005, but were defeated by the San Antonio Spurs in a seven-game series.

3.3. Team changes and notable stints

Lindsey Hunter's career involved several trades and stints with multiple NBA teams. After his initial period with the Detroit Pistons from 1993 to 2000, he was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for Billy Owens. During his single season with the Bucks in 2000-01, he served as a key role player, logging the fifth-most minutes on the team as they advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals, where they lost in seven games. The following season, he was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Greg Foster.

Following his championship win with the Lakers, Hunter was traded on 2002 draft night to the Toronto Raptors, along with the rights to Chris Jefferies, in a deal that sent Tracy Murray and Kareem Rush to Los Angeles. In August 2003, the Pistons re-acquired Hunter by trading Michael Curry to the Raptors. In February 2004, Hunter was traded again, this time to the Boston Celtics, as part of a larger transaction that included Chucky Atkins and Detroit's 2004 first-round draft pick in exchange for Mike James. This move was primarily made to balance salary cap figures, facilitating the Pistons' acquisition of Rasheed Wallace. Hunter never played a game for the Celtics; he was immediately released and re-signed by Detroit just one week later.

On November 13, 2008, Hunter signed a one-year non-guaranteed contract with the Chicago Bulls. He re-signed with the Bulls on July 13, 2009, for the veteran minimum of 1.30 M USD. At 39 years old, Hunter was the oldest active player during the 2009-10 NBA season. During his time with the Bulls, he was noted for mentoring younger players on the team, including then-rookie Derrick Rose. He was waived by the Bulls on March 3, 2010, to make room on the roster for Chris Richard.

3.4. Playing style and attributes

Lindsey Hunter was widely recognized for his exceptional defensive abilities. He was considered a tenacious on-ball defender, often tasked with guarding the opposing team's primary ball-handler. His defensive prowess was particularly evident in his ability to generate steals, a category in which he frequently ranked among the league's top players. In addition to his strong defense, Hunter was also known for his accurate three-point shooting, making him a valuable "3-and-D" player throughout his career.

3.5. NBA suspension

On March 7, 2007, Lindsey Hunter was suspended by the NBA for ten games. The suspension followed a positive test for phentermine, a substance banned by the league. Hunter stated that the positive test was a result of using his wife's diet pills.

4.1. NBA assistant and interim head coach

Two days after being waived by the Chicago Bulls on March 3, 2010, Lindsey Hunter was hired by the Bulls as a player development assistant on March 5, 2010. On August 28, 2012, he joined the Phoenix Suns as an assistant coach, with a specific focus on player development. After the Suns began the 2012-13 season with a record of 13 wins and 28 losses, Hunter was named the team's interim head coach on January 20, 2013, replacing Alvin Gentry. In his debut as head coach, he led the Suns to a 106-96 victory over the Sacramento Kings. In May 2013, Hunter was replaced by Jeff Hornacek as the permanent head coach. On September 18, 2013, Hunter joined the Golden State Warriors as an assistant coach. He later served as an assistant coach on Nate Oats' staff at the University at Buffalo, a position he took on June 13, 2016.

4.2. Collegiate head coaching

On April 20, 2019, Lindsey Hunter was appointed the head coach of the men's basketball team at Mississippi Valley State University. During his three-year tenure leading the Delta Devils, the team compiled an overall record of 7 wins and 74 losses. Hunter stepped down from his position in March 2022.

5.1. NBA regular season statistics

5.2. NBA playoffs statistics

5.3. Head coaching record

This section details Lindsey Hunter's head coaching career, covering his tenures in both NCAA Division I and the NBA.