Chris Webber

American basketball player who starred at University of Michigan as part of the 'Fab Five' and later enjoyed a successful 15-year NBA career with multiple teams

Mayce Edward Christopher Webber III was born in Detroit, Michigan in 1973. He arrived at the University of Michigan as part of the Fab Five — the most celebrated freshman recruiting class in college basketball history, alongside Jalen Rose, Juwan Howard, Ray Jackson and Jimmy King. Michigan reached the national championship game in Webber's freshman year, losing to Duke, and returned the following year, losing to North Carolina. Webber averaged 19.2 points and 10.1 rebounds per game across two seasons. He was a consensus All-American and Naismith Award finalist. His most remembered moment is one he would rather forget: with Michigan trailing North Carolina by two points with 11 seconds remaining in the 1993 championship game, he called a timeout Michigan did not have — a technical foul that effectively ended his title hopes. The timeout call has been dissected endlessly in the decades since. It subsequently emerged that Webber had received impermissible benefits from a Michigan booster, leading to sanctions against the programme and the vacating of those tournament records. Golden State Warriors selected him first overall in the 1993 NBA Draft and immediately traded him to Washington. His Fab Five years — the baggy shorts, the black socks, the cultural identity — changed college basketball forever.

Webber was a versatile power forward who combined exceptional size and athleticism with refined basketball skills. He possessed excellent court vision and passing ability for a big man, often initiating offense from the post or high post position. His mobility, rebounding prowess, and ability to score both inside and from mid-range made him a matchup nightmare for opposing teams.

Webber and Michigan's Fab Five transformed college basketball culture, bringing a new level of style and swagger that influenced how the game was played and perceived. Their impact extended beyond basketball, as they became cultural icons who bridged sports and hip-hop culture.

• National Championship runner-up 2x (1992, 1993)
• All-American
• Naismith Award finalist
• First overall pick (1993)
• Big Ten Freshman of the Year (1992)
• Associated Press All-American First Team (1993)
• USBWA All-American (1993)