Darrell Armstrong

Darrell Armstrong got his start in college at Fayetteville State University after playing only one year in high school. He was not chosen in the NBA draft, and ended up playing with the Global Basketball Association instead, getting his court time in overseas. He finally got his chance in the USA big leagues when he signed with the Orlando Magic in 1995.

An award winning basketball player, he eventually moved up to the starting point guard position with the Orlando Magic. In 2003, he became a free agent again, signing on with the New Orleans Hornets. That didn't last long - he was traded to the Dallas Mavericks, taking them all the way to the NBA Finals in 2006, only to be traded one more time to the Indiana Pacers.

During the trading frenzy surrounding Armstrong, he was arrested for resisting arrest and assaulting a female police officer outside of a night club in Chicago on July 7, 2003. The arrest never made it to trial - the charges were eventually dropped for lack of concrete evidence. The arrest was said to play a big part in the reason for his being traded away from the Hornets to the Mavericks in 2004.

Since his arrest he has been in trouble only once more, for disorderly conduct. He grabbed a microphone before one of the Mavericks games against the Minnesota Timberwolves. He yelled "How about those Redskins!" This was in reference to the earlier trouncing of the Dallas Cowboys by the Redskins, and a slur against his own team. He was fined for the disturbance to the tune of $1000.

Armstrong is most noted for his late start to basketball, and for winning two awards at the same time: the NBA Sixth Man Of The Year Award and the NBA Most Improved Player Award, both in 1999. He has also become well known around the NBA as a key defense man, with a hard edge, known for drawing charges.

This hard edge may be what contributes to some of his rash decision making. In February 2007 he was ejected from a game against Denver then suspended later that week at a game against the LA Clippers. Both times he was harassing the game referees. In the Denver game, he was ejected for the way he disagreed with a call, following the referee and haranguing him about the call, eventually needing to be restrained by his team mates.

The ensuing suspension was for harassing the refs at the Clippers game, as well as publicly criticizing the referees and the NBA officials who made the ejection decision. The Pacers have been trying to overcome a reputation as NBA thugs and brawlers since their 2004 season, a fact Armstrong referenced in his public outcry against the NBA officials.