Today we go back to a year before the Evil Emperor's Regime commenced, right when the Celtics under ML Carr were in full-blown tank-mode, trying to win the Tim Duncan draft. Just a decade after winning the East and having Robert Parish man the center spot, the 1997 Celtics trotted out this week's What the Hell Happened To featured player, 7'0 center Steve Hamer.
After setting the SEC record for rebounds in an SEC tournament game with 21 while playing for Kevin O'Neill's Tennessee Vols, Steve would be selected by the Celtics with the 38th pick in the 1996 NBA draft. He finished with over 1,400 points for his career and averaged 13.6 points while at Tennessee.
I don't recall what the expectations were for Steve after being drafted, although I'm sure the Buffoon somewhere talked him up, about how Boston was thrilled he slipped to them in the second round.
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| We'll be teammates in the pros 'Toine |
Steve would play 35 games for the Celts during that morbid season, starting 3 of them. He'd average 2.2 points and 1.7 rebounds in just under 8 minutes a game. Interestingly enough he actually attempted two three pointers (missing both), although my guess would be those were launched at the buzzer.
As I've mentioned before that 1997 squad really resembled the cast from Major League. I wonder what went through Steve's mind that year? Playing for the most storied franchise in NBA history while intentionally trying to lose every game is quite the paradox. Tim Duncan was the prize too, a guy who happened to play Steve's position (albeit it, much better).
I attended two games during the 1997 season: both in November, both at home against the 76ers and Sonics. However I wasn't fortunate enough to see Steve play in either game.
I don't remember too much of him playing. He's sort of been morphed into a combination of guys, like Alton Lister (on the Celtics) with a touch of Marty Conlon and Brett Szabo. I sort of remember him as moving real slow, like Acie Earl-slow.
Today Steve lives in Knoxville, TN and is very involved with the Apostolic Christian School and First Apostolic Church. He's an assistant coach with the basketball team at the school and he appears to also teach there (6th grade is what he teaches; thanks to chris428 below for the update!).Hamer became friends with head coach Gino Magdos and joined the church in 1999. ACS had won nine straight ETCSC regular-season and seven straight tournament titles. The fact that he'd begin with the Apostolic Church School in 1999, I'm wondering if Steve played anywhere else overseas or in any type of developmental leagues, since I didn't find any other information. Perhaps his time with the Celtics was really it.
PS: Shoutout to shamsports.com for going so far to look into what Steve Hamer is up to, that they found an online tribute to his deceased mother-in-law.
PS: Shoutout to shamsports.com for going so far to look into what Steve Hamer is up to, that they found an online tribute to his deceased mother-in-law.
For a complete list of the "What the Hell Happened To" Series please click here.
tb727
7/10/2011 11:59:00 AM
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Steve Hamer was very good basketball player and he is my teacher at apostolic christian school in 6th grade and he is christian and he told us about his life he starteed out in tennessee and ended back up in tennessee.
Thanks chris428! I will update the article since he's also a teacher!