From NBA Champion To College Coach: The Story Of Scott Burrell
Discover how Scott Burrell went from playing alongside Michael Jordan to leading a college basketball program. Explore his NBA career, overseas journey, and coaching success in this inspiring profile.
Jul 24, 202525.1K Shares364.1K Views
Scott Burrellstood out early as one of Connecticut’s top athletes, excelling in basketball, baseball, and football. He chose UConn for college and became the first Husky to score over 1,500 points while also collecting 750 rebounds, 300 steals, and 275 assists all in one career. Burrell went on to enjoy an eight-year NBA career, including winning a championship with the Chicago Bulls in 1998. Later, he transitioned into coaching, bringing his experience back to Connecticut and leading Southern Connecticut State University’s basketball program.
Early Life
Scott Burrell was born in New Haven, Connecticut, and grew up in nearby Hamden. He attended Hamden High School, where he starred in basketball, played quarterback in football, and pitched in baseball. As a senior, he earned first-round draft selections in two major sports: the Seattle Mariners picked him in the 1989 MLB draft, and the following year the Toronto Blue Jays drafted him again.
Originally, he planned to play baseball at the University of Miami, but Connecticut assistant coach Howie Dickenman convinced him to join UConn’s basketball program instead. Scott’s choice helped shape his future, leading to a standout career at UConn and beyond.
College Career
Scott Burrell played for UConn under coach Jim Calhoun from 1989 to 1993. As a freshman in 1989–90, he averaged about 8.2 points and 5.5 rebounds per game. In his later seasons, his scoring rose steadily; he averaged a career-high 16.3 points as a junior and had his best rebounding year with about 7.5 per game.
He made UConn history: the first player in NCAA Division I to reach over 1,500 points, 750 rebounds, 275 assists, and 300 steals in his career. He finished with 1,562 points, 752 rebounds, 293 assists, and 310 steals, leading UConn in career steals. He led the nation in steals during the 1990–91 season with 112, and holds the school record for nine steals in a single game.
Burrell played a key role in UConn’s 1989–90 "Dream Season": they won their first Big East regular-season and tournament titles, and reached the Elite Eight in the NCAA Tournament. He is best remembered for a full-court pass at the buzzer that led to the famous "Shot" by Tate George, upsetting Clemson in the Sweet 16.
He earned Big East All-Rookie and three All-Big East First Team honors. By graduation, he ranked No. 8 in career scoring and No. 13 in rebounding at UConn. He returned later to complete his degree and was honored in 2001 by being named to UConn’s All‑Century Team and inducted into the Huskies of Honor in 2018.
Professional Career
Scott Burrell was selected by the Charlotte Hornets with the 20th pick in the first round of the 1993 NBA Draft. In his rookie season, he averaged 4.8 points per game but missed 31 games due to injuries to his knee, ankle, and Achilles tendon.
In his second season (1994–95), Burrell became a regular starter, playing in 65 games and averaging 11.5 points and 5.7 rebounds per game. He earned third place in voting for Most Improved Player and also finished third in the NBA’s long-distance shootout contest.
The following season (1995–96) was hardest: Burrell played only 20 games due to injuries including Achilles surgery. He still posted 13.2 points per game in the games he played. After that, he played mostly off the bench.
In the 1996–97 season, he split time between the Hornets and Golden State Warriors, combining for around 5.9 points per game. Late in 1997, he was traded to the Chicago Bulls for Dickey Simpkins.
Burrell’s highlight came in 1998 with the Bulls, where he won his only NBA championship as part of Michael Jordan’s team. Afterward, he played three more years—first with the New Jersey Nets and then briefly returning to the Hornets—in roles off the bench before retiring in 2001.
Over his eight seasons in the NBA with four teams, he appeared in 383 regular-season games, starting 122. He averaged about 6.9 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game and shot 41.8% from the field.
After his NBA career, Burrell played professionally in Japan, Spain, the Philippines, and China until 2006. He later shifted into coaching, serving as an assistant at Quinnipiac University before becoming head coach at Southern Connecticut State University in 2015.
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