Happy Birthday - July 4 - Horace Grant, Henri Leconte, Mark Lenzi

Sport360 staff 16:11 04/07/2016
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  • (L-R) MARK LENZI, HENRI LECONTE, HORACE GRANT

    Having had a glittering 17-year-long career in NBA, Grant is regarded as a legend in Basketball and was declared as the ‘Greatest Clemson Basketball Player’ of all time in 2012 as well as an ‘ACC legend’ in 2015. In addition to the awards he collected, Grant was a high spirited leader and talented player.

    Starting his basketball career with Clemson, he was part of his college team right from the freshman year in the 1983-84 season, he looked like any other skinny boy, but what differentiated him from the others was his work ethic. Within his first year, Horace replaced the forward Murray Jarman and scored 16 points and 4-4 for free throws.

    During college basketball, coach Foster worked for a brief point of time with Clemson, who Horace saw him as a role model, he took the team on road trips, historical places and cared a lot for the team. He was replaced by Cliff Ellis.

    His road to the NBA came once he was a senior in the 1986-87 season and he was awarded the Most Valuable Player for ACC.

    He was then selected by the Chicago Bulls and went on to have a illustrious career playing for Chicago Bulls alongside Orlando Magic, Seattle Supersonics and LA Lakers.

    Horace ended his career as a four-time NBA Champion, four time All NBA Defensive Team Member, an All-Star and a Clemson legend.

    Here’s who else is celebrating their birthday:

    1963: Henri Leconte, the last Frenchman to reach the French Open final back in 1988 (53).

    1968: Mark Lenzi, was an American Olympic gold medalist in diving at the 1992 Games (44).

    1973: Keiko Ihara, a race car driver and one of the few Japanese women to race at a high level (43).

    1986: Omer Asik, a centre for New Orleans and guided Turkey to a silver medal at the World Championship (30).

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