Slater center put together solid NBA career
Missouri heroes and legends series
Joe Kleine Slater, Missouri
Joe Kleine began his long list of basketball accomplishments at Slater High School in 1977 where he is still the leading scorer and rebounder in school history. Kleine is in the top 15 among the list of all-time scorers in the Show-Me State with a 25.99 per game average in four seasons. His rebounding total of 1,667 is second on the all-time Missouri rankings.
A three-time all-state selection, Kleine helped Slater to a second place finish in Class 2A in 1980 and was named a McDonald's and a Parade All-American.
In 1980, he was named one of the National High School Athletic Coaches Association top ten academic All-Americans. After a year at the University of Notre Dame, he went on to the University of Arkansas where he was the Southwest Conference Newcomer of the Year in 1983. He led the Razorbacks in scoring and rebounding in 194 and 1985 and was team MVP and an All-American in 1985.
Kleine was a member of the 1984 U. S. Olympic gold medal winning basketball team and went on to be a first round NBA draft choice for the Sacramento Kings in 1985.
His National Basketball Association career spanned 15 seasons from 1986 through 2000. Kleine played 965 games for Sacramento, Boston, Phoenix, Los Angeles Lakers, New Jersey Nets, Chicago, and Portland. Kleine who did an outstanding job defending top centers in the league scored 4,666 points and pulled down 3,991 rebounds.
Kleine was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 1990.
Missouri heroes and legends series
Joe Kleine Slater, Missouri
Joe Kleine began his long list of basketball accomplishments at Slater High School in 1977 where he is still the leading scorer and rebounder in school history. Kleine is in the top 15 among the list of all-time scorers in the Show-Me State with a 25.99 per game average in four seasons. His rebounding total of 1,667 is second on the all-time Missouri rankings.
A three-time all-state selection, Kleine helped Slater to a second place finish in Class 2A in 1980 and was named a McDonald's and a Parade All-American.
In 1980, he was named one of the National High School Athletic Coaches Association top ten academic All-Americans. After a year at the University of Notre Dame, he went on to the University of Arkansas where he was the Southwest Conference Newcomer of the Year in 1983. He led the Razorbacks in scoring and rebounding in 194 and 1985 and was team MVP and an All-American in 1985.
Kleine was a member of the 1984 U. S. Olympic gold medal winning basketball team and went on to be a first round NBA draft choice for the Sacramento Kings in 1985.
His National Basketball Association career spanned 15 seasons from 1986 through 2000. Kleine played 965 games for Sacramento, Boston, Phoenix, Los Angeles Lakers, New Jersey Nets, Chicago, and Portland. Kleine who did an outstanding job defending top centers in the league scored 4,666 points and pulled down 3,991 rebounds.
Kleine was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 1990.
