Chris Dudley

American basketball player (born 1965) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Christen Guilford Dudley (born February 22, 1965) is an American former professional basketball player and politician. He played 886 games across 16 seasons in the NBA for the Cleveland Cavaliers, New Jersey Nets, Portland Trail Blazers, New York Knicks, and Phoenix Suns. A journeyman center, he was known primarily for his defensive skill as a rebounder and shot blocker. In his second season with the Knicks, he played in the 1999 NBA Finals.

BornChristen Guilford Dudley
(1965-02-22) February 22, 1965 (age 61)
EducationYale University (BA)
Listed height6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
Quick facts Personal details, Born ...
Chris Dudley
Dudley in 2013
Personal details
BornChristen Guilford Dudley
(1965-02-22) February 22, 1965 (age 61)
PartyRepublican
EducationYale University (BA)
Basketball career
Personal information
Listed height6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
Listed weight235 lb (107 kg)
Career information
High schoolTorrey Pines
(San Diego, California)
CollegeYale (1983–1987)
NBA draft1987: 4th round, 75th overall pick
Drafted byCleveland Cavaliers
Playing career1987–2003
PositionCenter
Number22, 24, 52, 14
Career history
19871990Cleveland Cavaliers
19901993New Jersey Nets
19931997Portland Trail Blazers
19972000New York Knicks
2000–2001Phoenix Suns
20012003Portland Trail Blazers
Career highlights
Career NBA statistics
Points3,473 (3.9 ppg)
Rebounds5,457 (6.2 rpg)
Blocks1,027 (1.2 bpg)
Stats at NBA.com Edit this at Wikidata
Stats at Basketball Reference
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In 2010, he was the Republican nominee for Governor of Oregon, narrowly losing to Democrat John Kitzhaber, and is a candidate for the 2026 election.[1]

Early life and education

Dudley was born in Stamford, Connecticut, the son of Elizabeth Josephine (née Kovacs, c.1941present), a teacher, and Guilford Dudley III (c. 1932present), a minister.[2][3][4][5] His maternal grandfather, also a minister, immigrated from Hungary, and his maternal grandmother's parents were also Hungarian.[6] His paternal grandfather was Guilford Dudley, who was U.S. ambassador to Denmark under the Nixon and Ford presidential administrations.[3][7]

Dudley played high school basketball at Torrey Pines High School in San Diego, California.[8] He was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 16.[9] Like his parents, grandfather, and uncle, Dudley attended Yale University. At Yale he played NCAA basketball for the Bulldogs from 1983 to 1987, was a member of Timothy Dwight College, and earned a degree in political science and economics.[10][11]

NBA career

Cleveland Cavaliers (1987–1990)

Dudley began playing with the Cleveland Cavaliers during the 1987–88 NBA season. During his rookie season, he played in 55 of 82 games, averaging three points per game.[8]

New Jersey Nets (1990–1993)

Chris Dudley, playing for the New Jersey Nets, squares off with Michael Jordan of the Chicago Bulls on January 23, 1991

During the 1989–1990 season, he was traded to the New Jersey Nets for a 1991 second-round pick and a 1993 second-round pick. He played three years with the Nets, including the 1990–91 season, in which he produced a career-best 7.1 points per game in 61 contests.[8] The 1991–1992 season marked the first time he played all 82 games in a season, a feat he would replicate three seasons later with the Blazers. In the 1992–1993 season, he was a bench contributor as the Nets went to their second playoff spot in two years.[8]

Portland Trail Blazers (1993–1997)

During the 1993 offseason, Dudley signed a seven-year, $11-million free agent contract with the Portland Trail Blazers, but he suffered a broken ankle on December 10 in the Blazers' victory over the Los Angeles Lakers, ending his season after just six games.[12] He returned for all 82 games in 1994-95 and missed only three games in the next two seasons.

New York Knicks (1997–2000)

After playing 161 games for the Blazers between 1995 and 1997, Dudley was traded to the New York Knicks in a three-team deal with the Toronto Raptors, sending John Wallace from New York to Toronto, a 1998 first-round pick from New York to Portland, a 2007 second-round pick from Toronto to Portland and a 2000 first-round pick from Toronto to New York. During his stint with the Knicks, Dudley primarily backed up Patrick Ewing for three seasons.[8] On March 28, 1999, in a game against the Los Angeles Lakers, Shaquille O'Neal made a dunk while guarded by Dudley, whom O'Neal subsequently physically thrust himself upon and shoved to the ground. Dudley responded by angrily throwing the ball at O'Neal. Both men received technical fouls for their actions.[13][14] The next month, on April 16, he grabbed his 5,000th NBA rebound during a game between the Knicks and the Detroit Pistons.[8]

In 1999, Dudley reached the NBA Finals for the only time in his career. The 1999 Knicks, the first 8th seeded team in NBA history to reach the Finals, lost to the San Antonio Spurs, four games to one. Dudley's Finals averages were 1.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, 0.6 blocks, and 2.8 fouls across 15.6 minutes per game.[15]

Phoenix Suns (2000–2001)

After his stint with the Knicks, Dudley was traded to the Phoenix Suns for Luc Longley, participating in 53 games in the 2000–01 season. During this season, he averaged 1.4 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.1 fouls in 11.6 minutes per game.

On July 18, 2001, Dudley, along with superstar point guard Jason Kidd, was traded back to the New Jersey Nets in exchange for Soumaila Samake, Johnny Newman, and Stephon Marbury. He was waived by the Nets the following month.

Return to Portland (2001–2003)

Dudley returned to the Trail Blazers in 2001 as a free agent. In his first season back, he played 43 games (two starts), with averages of 1.1 points and 1.9 rebounds per game, alongside 40% field goal shooting. Dudley retired after playing 11 total minutes in three games during the 2002–03 season.[8]

Player profile

In a career total of 886 NBA games, Dudley scored 3473 points (3.9 points per game), had 375 assists (0.4 assists per game), blocked 1027 shots (1.2 blocks per game) and had 5457 rebounds (6.2 rebounds per game).[8]

In 1990, Dudley missed 13 consecutive free throws, setting an NBA record.[10][16] In 1989, he set the record for most free throws missed in a single trip to the foul line, missing five consecutive free throws after the opposing team committed three lane violations.[17]

NBA Honors

He was the recipient of the NBA's J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award in 1996,[7] and USA Today's Most Caring Athlete Award in 1997.[18]

Post-NBA

Dudley meeting with President George W. Bush

In 1994, he created the Chris Dudley Foundation, an Oregon-based group intended to improve the lives of diabetic children and in the summer of 1996 the Foundation started a basketball camp for children with diabetes. He received an NBA award as well as other community awards for founding the organization. From 2005 to 2007, he was a volunteer assistant coach for the Lake Oswego High School boys' basketball team, where he mentored UCLA-bound star Kevin Love.[19]

In early 2006, Dudley became vice president of M Financial Wealth Management.[20] Since October 2008, he has been a wealth management partner with Filigree Advisors.[21]

Political career

2010 Oregon gubernatorial campaign

Lawn sign in Hillsboro during the primary campaign
Dudley at the 2010 Dorchester Conference in Seaside, Oregon

In the summer of 2009, Dudley, a Lake Oswego resident, was encouraged by the Republican Party to consider a run for the U.S. House of Representatives. Dudley declined to run for Congress, preferring to spend more time in the state.[22] On October 11, 2009, The Oregonian reported that Dudley was considering entering the Republican primary for Oregon governor in 2010.[23] In November 2009 he formed a campaign committee and raised roughly $340,000 by early December of the same year.[24] Dudley formally announced his entry into the race on December 16.[25][26] On March 6, 2010, The Oregonian reported Dudley had raised over $1 million, aided by a $50,000 donation from Nike co-founder Phil Knight.[27]

In May 2010, Dudley won 39% of the vote in a crowded Republican primary to win the GOP nomination, and prepared to face former governor John Kitzhaber in the November general election.[28] On September 29, 2010, The Register-Guard reported that Chris Dudley's campaign had received $5.6 million, more than twice what was raised by the Kitzhaber campaign. His primary sponsors included the national Republican Governors Association, in-state timber companies, industry trade groups, and Portland area business executives.[29] Nike chairman and co-founder Phil Knight gave Dudley's campaign $400,000.

Kitzhaber beat Dudley 49%–48%, or just over 22,000 votes.[30] While Dudley carried the majority of Oregon's counties, he was unable to overcome a deficit of over 120,000 votes in Multnomah County, the most populous in the state.[31] Dudley raised and spent a total of $10.3 million, the largest amount ever in an Oregon governor's campaign.[32] Kitzhaber raised and spent $7.4 million.[32] The combined $17.7 million was the most ever spent on an Oregon political race until it was surpassed by the 2018 gubernatorial election.

2026 Oregon gubernatorial campaign

On November 1, 2025 at the Reagan Dinner, Dudley hinted that he was considering another run for governor.[33] On January 26, 2026, Dudley officially announced his intention to seek the Republican nomination for Oregon governor again.[1][34]

Personal life

Dudley and his wife, also named Chris, have two sons and one daughter.[9] In April 2012, Dudley announced that his family was moving from Lake Oswego, Oregon, to San Diego, California so that his wife could pursue a business opportunity. He also indicated that his political career was likely over.[35] Dudley closed his Oregon campaign committee, which could have been used for future races, in April 2014.[36]

During his playing career, Dudley donated $300,000 to a non-profit organization to help pay the cost of college tuition for a class of fourth-graders at Vernon Elementary School in Portland.[3]

Two of Dudley's children have been associated with Division I college basketball. His son Charles was on the roster of the 201718 Bryant Bulldogs, but never played.[37] Dudley's daughter Emma was a reserve forward for the Utah State Aggies from 20182020. During 29 career games over two seasons, she averaged 0.9 points and 1.4 rebounds across 6.3 minutes per game.[38]

Alleged altercation

In October 2018, it was reported that Dudley and current United States Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh were in a bar fight in September 1985,[39][40][41][42] which involved throwing ice and a drinking glass at a man who allegedly resembled Ali Campbell of UB40.[43][44] Through an article published in The Guardian, Campbell wrote that whomever Dudley and Kavanaugh fought was not him, and that he was not at the bar that night.[43]

Career statistics

NBA

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high
 *  Led the league

Regular season

More information Year, Team ...
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
1987–88 Cleveland 5519.3.474.5632.6.4.2.33.1
1988–89 Cleveland 6128.9.435.000.3642.6.3.1.43.0
1989–90 Cleveland 372218.5.389.3385.5.5.51.15.0
New Jersey 27824.9.441.3058.1.7.81.16.1
1990–91 New Jersey 612525.6.408.5348.4.6.62.57.1
1991–92 New Jersey 822123.2.403.4689.0.7.52.25.6
1992–93 New Jersey 711619.7.353.5187.2.2.21.53.5
1993–94 Portland 6314.3.240.5004.0.8.7.52.3
1994–95 Portland 82*82*27.4.406.000.4649.3.4.51.55.5
1995–96 Portland 802124.1.453.000.5109.0.5.51.35.1
1996–97 Portland 811422.7.430.4747.3.5.51.23.9
1997–98 New York 512216.8.406.4465.4.4.31.03.1
1998–99 New York 461614.9.440.4754.2.2.3.82.5
1999–00 New York 4739.8.343.3332.9.1.1.41.2
2000–01 Phoenix 533311.6.397.3893.5.3.3.51.4
2001–02 Portland 4327.6.400.000.5331.9.3.1.51.1
2002–03 Portland 303.7.000.7.0.0.0.0
Career 88633118.4.412.000.4586.2.4.41.23.9
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Playoffs

More information Year, Team ...
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
1988 Cleveland 406.0.500.5001.5.5.0.01.3
1989 Cleveland 104.0.000.0.0.0.0.0
1992 New Jersey 4019.3.357.5006.5.8.52.53.5
1994 Portland 4220.3.400.5003.8.01.5.02.3
1995 Portland 3319.7.667.3755.0.3.0.32.3
1996 Portland 5018.4.385.6675.4.2.4.42.8
1997 Portland 4017.3.455.3337.0.8.51.33.0
1998 New York 638.8.333.5003.0.0.2.31.3
1999 New York 18616.3.421.3934.6.3.5.42.4
2000 New York 528.6.5001.0002.4.4.2.2.8
2001 Phoenix 308.7.5002.3.0.3.3.7
2002 Portland 201.5.000.5.0.0.0.0
Career 591618.4.407.4554.0.3.4.52.0
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College

More information Year, Team ...
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
1983–84 Yale 261930.2.464.4675.1.4.3.74.7
1984–85 Yale 262630.6.446.53310.2.8.72.012.6
1985–86 Yale 262629.1.539.4829.81.0.31.416.2
1986–87 Yale 242431.2.569.54213.3.6.62.817.6
Career[45] 1029527.4.513.5129.5.7.51.712.6
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Electoral history

More information Party, Candidate ...
2010 Oregon Republican gubernatorial primary[46]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Chris Dudley 122,855 39.11
Republican Allen Alley 99,753 31.76
Republican John Lim 47,339 15.07
Republican Bill Sizemore 23,522 7.49
Republican William Ames Curtright 12,497 3.98
Republican Rex O. Watkins 3,060 0.97
Republican Write-ins 2,001 0.64
Republican Clark Colvin 1,206 0.38
Republican Darren Karr 1,127 0.36
Republican Bob Forthan 727 0.23
Total votes 314,087 100.00
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More information Party, Candidate ...
2010 Oregon gubernatorial election[47]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic John Kitzhaber 716,525 49.29% −1.43%
Republican Chris Dudley 694,287 47.76% +5.01%
Constitution Greg Kord 20,475 1.41% −2.23%
Libertarian Wes Wagner 19,048 1.31% +0.09%
Write-ins 3,213 0.22%
Majority 22,238 1.53% −6.45%
Turnout 1,453,548
Democratic hold Swing
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References

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