Chris Dudley Runs for Oregon Governor

Former Knick Chris Dudley has been on the campaign trail after winning over the Republican nomination for Oregon governor in May.

Dudley, who enjoyed a 16 year NBA career from 1987-2003, spent three seasons with the Knicks, from 1997-2000.

He has also been a longtime Oregon citizen and participated in two stints with the Portland Trailblazers, from 1993-1997 and 2001-2003.

Best known by Knicks fans as Patrick Ewing's injury replacement, Dudley started many games during the Knicks last NBA Finals run in 1999.

Retired since 2003, Dudley is now making a run of his own.

via New York Times

"A former treasurer for the National Basketball Players Association, Dudley said he was growing more comfortable as a politician. He has shown an ability to raise money, netting $2.73 million to Kitzhaber’s $1.76 million, according to the Oregon secretary of state’s office, which has allowed Dudley to run a steady diet of unchallenged television ads (the most recent features the head of the players union, Billy Hunter).

Among the contributors to Dudley’s campaign are N.B.A. Commissioner David Stern; the founder of Nike, Phil Knight; the coaches P. J. Carlesimo and Rick Carlisle; and his former Blazers teammates Clyde Drexler and Terry Porter.

“The voters of this state don’t get too excited about Republican governors, I can tell you that right now,” said Porter, who is a member of the campaign’s finance committee. “But he’s going to put in the tireless effort that he’s always been known for on the basketball court.” "

Dudley, a Yale graduate, was always known as man of intelligence throughout his time as a player. Since retiring from the NBA, Dudley has worked as a financial adviser, in addition to starting his own foundation that supports children with diabetes.

The foundation's cause hits close to home for Dudley, who played his entire career while combating the disease.

Dudley and his 6 foot, 11 inch frame, were featured in photos spawled out across the front and back pages of the sports section in today's edition of NYT.

That may very well be a remarkable first for the NBA veteran, who averaged just 3.9 points during his career.