Mike Bibby

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Bibby's defining moment as a King came during the 2002 Western Conference Finals against the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Lakers. After the Kings easily defeated the Utah Jazz and Dallas Mavericks in the first two rounds, they faced the Lakers in a series that became one of the most memorable in league history. Bibby's performance throughout the series, most notably his Game 5 game-winner, cemented his reputation as a clutch performer. The Kings ultimately lost the series in seven games, but Bibby's heroics that postseason earned him a 7-year, $80.5 million contract extension.

In Their Own Story

The 2002 Western Conference Finals between the Sacramento Kings and Los Angeles Lakers was one of the most memorable in league history. In Game 5, with the series tied 2-2, Mike Bibby took the ball at the top of the key. The clock ticked down. He rose up and released a shot that found nothing but net, giving the Kings a crucial victory. The shot became an instant classic, and Bibby's reputation as a clutch performer was sealed. The Kings would eventually lose the series in seven games, but Bibby's game-winner remains one of the most iconic moments in franchise history.

Reader's Guide

Mike Bibby played for the Sacramento Kings from 2001 to 2008, a period that marked the peak of the franchise's modern competitiveness. He was acquired from the Vancouver Grizzlies on June 27, 2001, in a trade for Jason Williams and Nick Anderson. In his first season, he and Chris Webber guided the Kings to an NBA best-record at 61–21 and a Pacific division title. The Kings reached the Western Conference Finals in 2002, where Bibby hit a memorable game-winner in Game 5 against the Los Angeles Lakers. He signed a 7-year, $80.5 million contract after that season. Bibby averaged a career-high 21.1 points per game during the 2005-06 season. He was honored by the Kings as a guest of honor on November 20, 2014, sitting courtside alongside former teammate Chris Webber.

Did You Know?

• Bibby was drafted second overall by the Vancouver Grizzlies in the 1998 NBA draft, despite being seen as the favorite to be selected first overall by the Los Angeles Clippers.
• He twice tied Vancouver's franchise record for steals in a single game with seven, doing so on January 16, 2000, and April 2, 2000.
• Bibby and his father Henry are one of four father-son duos to each win an NCAA basketball championship.
• He scored a career playoff-best 36 points in Game 5 of the 2004 first-round series against the Dallas Mavericks, though the Kings won that elimination game.
• Bibby was made a guest of honor by the Sacramento Kings on November 20, 2014, sitting courtside alongside former teammate Chris Webber.

College Dominance at Arizona

Before entering the NBA, Mike Bibby played college basketball for the Arizona Wildcats under coach Lute Olson. As a freshman, he helped lead the Wildcats to the NCAA championship in 1997, scoring 19 points in the overtime, 84–79 NCAA Championship Game win versus the University of Kentucky. He was named to the ’97 All-Final Four Team and was named Pac-10 Freshman of the Year after posting averages of 13.5 ppg, 5.2 apg and 3.2 rpg. His sophomore year, he was named Pac-10 Player of the Year (1997–98), after averaging 17.2 ppg, 5.7 apg, and 3.0 rpg (.464 FG%, .387 3FG%, .755 FT%). He started all 69 games during his Wildcat career and earned First-Team All-America honors after his sophomore campaign. Bibby and his father Henry are one of four father-son duos to each win an NCAA basketball championship.

The Sacramento Kings Era

Bibby's most defining professional chapter occurred after his trade from Vancouver to the Sacramento Kings on June 27, 2001. Teaming up with Chris Webber, he formed one of the league's best duos, immediately guiding the team to an NBA best-record at 61–21 and a Pacific division title. This era is best remembered for the intense 2002 Western Conference Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers, where Bibby solidified his reputation as a clutch performer by hitting a game-winning shot in Game 5. Although the series ultimately went to seven games before falling to the eventual champions, his leadership earned him a 7-year, $80.5 million contract extension. Despite battling injuries in the 2002-03 season that limited him to 55 games, he still averaged 15.9 points per game with the Kings going 59–23. For the 2003-04 season, Bibby posted some of the best numbers of his career, scoring 1,506 points (18.4 per game). He averaged a career-high 21.1 points per game during the 2005-06 season. Bibby was made a guest of honor by the Sacramento Kings on November 20, 2014, sitting courtside alongside former teammate Chris Webber.

Rookie Success and Franchise Records

Entering the NBA Draft in 1998, Bibby was seen as the favorite to be selected by the Los Angeles Clippers with the first overall pick, but was instead selected by the Vancouver Grizzlies with the second overall pick. He immediately made an impact, averaging 13.2 points, 6.5 assists and 2.7 rebounds per game during a lockout-shortened rookie season that earned him a spot on the NBA All-Rookie First Team. Over his first three seasons in Vancouver, he consistently improved his scoring output while establishing himself as a primary playmaker, reaching a career-high of 8.4 assists per game by the 2000-01 campaign. On January 16, 2000, and April 2, 2000, Bibby twice tied Vancouver's franchise record for steals in a single game with seven. Despite these individual achievements, the team struggled to find consistent success, leading to his trade to Sacramento on June 27, 2001.

Resurgence with Atlanta

After leaving Sacramento in 2008, Bibby joined the struggling Atlanta Hawks on February 16, 2008, in exchange for Shelden Williams, Anthony Johnson, Tyronn Lue, Lorenzen Wright and a 2008 second-round draft pick. Battling injuries and joining a Hawks team that was 22–28, Bibby put up 14.1 points and 6.6 assists per game to lead the Hawks to their first playoff berth in eight years. As an eighth-seed underdog, he helped the Hawks force an improbable seven-game series against the Boston Celtics, who went on to win the NBA Championship. The next season, Bibby averaged 15 points, 5 assists and 1.2 steals per game to help the Hawks win their first playoff series since 1999, against the Miami Heat. Bibby was also selected as a participant for the Three Point Shooting Competition. On July 7, 2009, Bibby and the Hawks agreed to a three-year deal worth about $18 million.