Perdue to be inducted into Vanderbilt’s Sports Hall of Fame

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Former San Antonio Spurs center Will Perdue is to be inducted into Vanderbilt’s Sports Hall of Fame.

While at Vanderbilt, Perdue won the SEC’s player and athlete of the year awards in 1988 while averaging 18.3 points, 10.1 rebounds and shooting 63.4 percent — stats that made him an All-American and a first-round draft pick of the Chicago Bulls.

Perdue came to San Antonio in a trade with Chicago which sent Dennis Rodman to the Bulls in 1995. He played with the Spurs from 1995-1999, where he helped the Spurs win their first NBA title against the New York Knicks in the lockout shortened 1999 season.

His best season as a Spur came in 1996-1997 when he averaged 8.7 points, 1.6 blocks, 9.8 rebounds, shot 56% from the field in 65 games.

He would end up winning four NBA titles, three with the Bulls and one with the Spurs, during his 13 years in the NBA. Of course he did have the luxury of playing with three of the games best ever players – David Robinson, Tim Duncan and Michael Jordan.

“I still tell people that I’ve been fortunate enough to win four NBA championships — three with Chicago and one with San Antonio,” the 7-footer said. “But some of the best times of my life were the five years I spent at Vanderbilt. I feel very fortunate that I made the right college decision.”

Not bad for someone who nearly flunked out of Vanderbilt. Congratulations to Perdue. Well deserved.