Vernon Maxwell

Who is Vernon Maxwell?

Vernon Maxwell is a former American college and professional basketball player who was a shooting guard in the National Basketball Association for thirteen seasons during the late 1980s, 1990s, and early 2000s. Maxwell played college basketball for the University of Florida, and led the Florida Gators to their first-ever NCAA tournament appearances. He was selected by the Denver Nuggets in the second round of the 1988 NBA Draft, and then immediately traded to the San Antonio Spurs with his longest and most successful NBA tenure being with the Houston Rockets. The nickname "Mad Max" was bestowed upon Maxwell by color commentators for his clutch three-point shooting, which reached its pinnacle in the deciding game of the 1994 NBA Finals between Houston and New York. Maxwell is among just seven players to amass 30 points in a single quarter, accomplishing that feat en route to a 51-point outing January 26, 1991, against Cleveland. Aside from his basketball achievements, he was known for his erratic public behavior and various run-ins with the law.