Michael Young (basketball, born 1961)
Michael Wayne Young (born January 2, 1961) is an American former professional basketball player. Nicknamed "the Silent Assassin," he spent 12 years playing in the NBA and overseas and later worked in basketball operations at the University of Houston, his alma mater.
Early life and college
- Born in Houston, Texas, Young played at Yates High School and then at the University of Houston.
- He was part of the Houston Cougars’ Phi Slama Jama era and earned Southwest Conference First Team honors twice.
- He played in the NCAA Final in 1983 (loss to NC State) and in 1984 (loss to Georgetown).
Professional career
- Young was drafted 24th overall in the 1984 NBA Draft by the Boston Celtics.
- He played in the NBA for three seasons: Phoenix Suns (1984–85), Philadelphia 76ers (1985–86), and Los Angeles Clippers (1989–90).
- He also played in the Continental Basketball Association for the Detroit Spirits, where he was the league’s Player of the Year in 1986.
- His overseas career included stints in the Philippines, Spain, Italy, France, and Israel.
- In France, with Limoges CSP, he won the EuroLeague title in 1993 and earned multiple league MVP honors in foreign play (including French League Foreign MVP in 1993 and 1994).
Post-playing career
- Young retired from playing in 1998 and returned to the University of Houston.
- He worked as an assistant coach, then as Houston’s strength and conditioning coach for five years, and later served as director of basketball operations and performance enhancement.
Personal life
- He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Houston in 2002.
- He and his wife, Tina, have five children: Michael Jr., Joe, Mayorca, Jacob, and Milan Maria.
- Joe Young played college basketball for Houston and Oregon and joined the Indiana Pacers in 2015. Jacob Young played at Texas and Rutgers before transferring to Oregon.
- In 2025, Young became head coach at the College of Biblical Studies in Houston.
See also
- List of second-generation NBA players
This page was last edited on 1 February 2026, at 21:26 (CET).