Random Pacer – Haywoode Workman

It’s the off-season and basketball news is kind of on the back-burner, unless you’re talking about Ricky Rubio or “Shaq Vs.” I have already profiled a few other random Pacers and I have received great feedback. Today I am profiling Haywoode Workman, the guy had a motor and just wanted to play basketball. I wish the Pacers had a guy like this on their team this year.

He started his NBA career out in 1989 by getting drafted by the Hawks in the 2nd round. It wasn’t the most ideal team for him, since Doc Rivers and Spud Webb was already in the backcourt for Atlanta. He didn’t last very long with the team, he was cut very early that season. He then bounced around the CBA, Washington Bullets (nice productive season), and in Italy. His NBA career never really started until Donnie Walsh took a chance on him.

He was signed by the Pacers after flourishing in Italy. He was signed to help back-up Pooh Richardson and Byron Scott. He did a great job, averaging 8 pts and 6 assists per game. This was the Pacers first of many Eastern Conference Finals appearances during the 90’s. The next off-season the Pacers acquired Mark Jackson, but Workman still got quality minutes. He was a scorer who played great defense. He would stick on his guy and leave him frustrated. I believe Travis Best learned a lot from him, he would later take Workman’s spot in the rotation due to injury. He spent his last few seasons dealing with a lingering knee injury. He would retire from the NBA as a Toronto Raptor in 1999, but would later try to play in Israel, but didn’t last long.

What is Workman doing these days?  Well, he’s still in the NBA, but he is not a coach. He is now a referee for the NBA. He was the third ex-player to become an NBA referee in the history of the game. Just a quick question, do you think that he is hard on Doc Rivers now? I mean, Rivers was the reason why he was initially cut from the Atlanta Hawks. I have a feeling that he doesn’t officiated many Celtics games.

Tags: byron scott, doc rivers, haywoode workman, mark jackson, pooh richardson, spud webb, travis best