| 16 September 2011
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SEDALE THREATT Position: Point Guard Height: 6' 2" Weight: 175 lbs. Jersey Number: 3 College: West Virginia Tech Seasons with Lakers: 1991-96 Averages as a Laker: 48.6% FG / 29.5% 3Pts. / 82% FTs / 11.8 PPG / 2.3 RPG / 5.2 AST / 1.4 STL / .2 BLK / 1.5 TO / 2.5 PF / 28.9 MPG |
Sedale came to the Lakers via a trade from the Seattle Supersonics in exchange for 3 future 2nd-round picks as a backup for Magic. Little do the Lakers know that they had just saved their franchise from more misery with that single move.
Threatt was accepted by Laker fans almost immediately because he was one of the most exciting player to watch on both sides of the floor. He had a sweet juke-then-cross-over move that even Gary Payton (who was Sedale's teammate and good friend in Seattle for 4 seaons) couldn't stop nearly enough. He also possessed a deadly pull-up jumper that was difficult to defend because of his quick elevation and by keeping the ball high up over his head for the release. When it comes to passing, Sedale could run a fast-break as well as anyone in the league and could dish-out a nasty dime in traffic, as well.
Defensively, Threatt was a nightmare for bigs and for anyone under the rim. He could snatch the ball out of anyone's hands going up for a layup without the player even knowing it. His ability to come from the blindside and his timing to steal the ball was more advanced than Payton. To top it off, his lateral quickness combined with his quick hands make him an undesirable defender for the opposing point guard, also.
In the summer of 1993, the Lakers had decided it's time for a new, younger starting point guard in the form of a 2nd-round pick out of the University of Cincinnati, Nick Van Exel. Threatt became a solid backup for Van Exel averaging 11.9 points and 4.2 assists per game during the 1993-94 season. However, a stress fracture in his right foot forced him to miss about 22 games the following year. That injury, along with his age, eventually led to the Lakers deciding to not protect him for the expansion draft in 1996.
On July 17, 1996, the Lakers renounced their free agent exeption rights to Sedale. Then on March 1, 1997, Threatt signed with the Houston Rockets as a free agent. He retired from the NBA after being cut by the Rockets exactly 3 months after joining them.
During his 13-year tenure in the league, Threatt played for the Philadelphia 76ers (their 6th-round pick), Chicago Bulls, Seattle Supersonics, Lakers and Houston Rockets. He then played overseas in France, Switzerland, and Greece.
Threatt is currently working with his eldest son, Sedale Threatt, Jr. for the Australian Basketball Digest.
Here's a short clip of Sedale Threatt going up against "The Glove":
Here's a 15-minute segment of a regular season game between the Lakers and the Clippers in 1992, featuring Threatt.
