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MAURICE TAYLOR

Forward
Height: 6-9; Weight: 260
College: Michigan '97
Born: October 30, 1976 in Detroit, Michigan
High School: Henry Ford (Michigan)
Pro Experience: 4th NBA Season
How Acquired: Signed as a free agent on August 25, 2000

1999-2000
Averaged career highs of 17.1 points and 6.5 rebounds in 62 games with the LA Clippers ... ranked first on the Clippers in scoring and third in rebounding for the second straight season ... overall, set career highs in points, field goals made and attempted, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks ... reached 30 points in scoring for the first time in his career at Denver on Dec. 28 and then scored a career-high 31 points in the following game at Houston on Dec. 30 ... collected a career-high four steals at Portland on. Feb. 9 ... scored at least 20 points on 23 occasions ... led Los Angeles in points 20 times and rebounds eight times ... grabbed a season-high 15 rebounds at Dallas on April 8 ... also compiled a career-high 10 double-doubles ... missed seven games with a strained ligament in his left foot and 10 games with left ankle injuries.

As a Professional
Holds career averages of 14.8 points and 5.2 rebounds in 179 games with the Los Angeles Clippers ... has increased his scoring and rebounding averages in each of his first three NBA seasons ... ranks fourth amongst the 1997 NBA Draft class in both career points and scoring average, trailing only Tim Duncan, Keith Van Horn and Ron Mercer in these categories ... displayed significant improvement in each of his first two seasons in Los Angeles ... as a rookie, averaged 11.5 points (on a career-high .476 shooting) in just 21.3 minutes per game and was selected to the 1997-98 Schick All-Rookie Second Team ... scored 12 points with six rebounds in the Schick Rookie Game during the All-Star Weekend ... became a starter the following season and responded with increases in nearly every statistical category ... in the 1998-99 season, led the Clippers in scoring with a 16.8 points per game average ... also ranked third on the team in rebounds, blocked shots and field goal percentage during his second NBA season ... on Feb. 16, 1999, recorded his first 20-20 game, scoring 21 points with a career-high 20 rebounds vs. Vancouver.

As a Collegian
Averaged 12.9 points and 6.1 rebounds in 97 career games at the University of Michigan ... helped lead Michigan to the National Invitation Tournament Championship and earned Third Team All-Big Ten honors as a junior ... was named Michigan's Most Valuable Player and received Second Team All-Big Ten recognition after averaging a career-high and team-leading 14.0 points and 7.0 rebounds as a sophomore ... initially experienced success in his first year at Michigan, when he was voted the consensus Big Ten Freshman of the Year.

Personal
Full name is Maurice DeShawn Taylor ... nicknamed "Big Mo" ... grew six inches between his freshman and sophomore year in high school ... did not play organized basketball until his sophomore year, when he was encouraged by his grandfather, Leroy Taylor, to play for his high school team ... has two younger brothers and a younger sister ... his son, Maurice, Jr, was born this summer ... played for USA Basketball's 22-and-under team in scrimmages against the 1996 Olympic Team, which featured Charles Barkley and Hakeem Olajuwon ... while in college, developed his game by playing against Derrick Coleman and Chris Webber during the summers in Detroit.

Career Transactions
Drafted by the Los Angeles Clippers in the first round of the 1997 NBA Draft (14th pick overall). Signed with the Rockets on August 25, 2000.