Michael Kidd Gilchrist

High school career

Kidd-Gilchrist was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and grew up in Somerdale, New Jersey. He was raised by his mother, Cindy Richardson, and his stepfather, Vincent Richardson, after Kidd-Gilchrist's father died before Michael's third birthday. While attending basketball powerhouse St. Patrick High School in Elizabeth, New Jersey (where he played with Kyrie Irving), he was considered one of the best basketball players in the United States. He was ranked as the #3 player by ESPN.com, and Rivals.com; while Scout.com ranked him as the #1 player at his position. In July 2010, Gilchrist, along with former Kentucky teammate Marquis Teague, were a part of the gold medal winning team in the FIBA U-17 World Championships in Hamburg, Germany. Gilchrist's senior year at St. Patrick High School was a pivotal storyline in the HBO documentary Prayer for a Perfect Season.

High school awards and honors

College career

Gilchrist committed to attend the University of Kentucky on April 14, 2010.

In the first game of the 2011–12 season and his career as a Wildcat, Kidd-Gilchrist was a starter and scored 15 points on 5 of 9 shooting against the Marist Red Foxes. In his second game against the 11th ranked Kansas Jayhawks, Kidd-Gilchrist scored 12 points and pulled down nine rebounds in a 75-65 victory in Madison Square Garden. In a rivalry game against the 5th ranked North Carolina Tar Heels in Rupp Arena, Kidd-Gilchrist led Kentucky in scoring with 17 points and had 11 rebounds, giving him his first double double as a Wildcat. Against the 4th ranked Louisville Cardinals, Kidd-Gilchrist turned in his most dominating performance of the season with 24 points and 19 rebounds, shooting a career high 13 free throws and having his first zero-turnover game at Kentucky. This was enough to lead Kentucky to a 69-62 victory in Lexington.

College awards and honors

2012–13 season

In April 2012, Kidd-Gilchrist declared for the 2012 NBA draft. On June 28, he was drafted second overall by the Charlotte Bobcats. On July 7, 2012, the Bobcats signed Kidd-Gilchrist to a rookie scale contract.

On November 10, 2012, Kidd-Gilchrist recorded his first career double-double in a 101-97 win against the Dallas Mavericks. He had 25 points and 12 rebounds. This makes him one of only five players under the age of 20 to record 25+ points and grab 12+ rebounds in their careers, and the second youngest to do it behind LeBron James.

On February 2, 2013, Kidd-Gilchrist suffered a concussion after a collision with Jeffery Taylor in a game against the Houston Rockets.

On May 14, 2013, the NBA named Kidd-Gilchrist to the 2012–13 All-Rookie second team.

2013–14 season

On October 31, 2013, the Bobcats exercised their third-year team option on Kidd-Gilchrist's rookie scale contract, extending the contract through the 2014–15 season. He went on to average 7.2 points and 5.2 rebounds for Charlotte in 2013–14.

Kidd-Gilchrist had a very good performance during Game 2 of the Bobcats' Eastern Conference First Round match-up against the Miami Heat. He recorded 22 points, 10 rebounds and shot 9-of-13 from the field. The Heat went on to sweep the Bobcats and the franchise later changed their name to the Hornets.

2014–15 season

Over the 2014 offseason, Kidd-Gilchrist worked with Hornets' assistant coach Mark Price to help re-develop his jump shot. On October 29, 2014, the Hornets exercised their fourth-year team option on Kidd-Gilchrist's rookie scale contract, extending the contract through the 2015–16 season.

Kidd-Gilchrist returned to action on December 10 against the Boston Celtics after missing 12 games because of a stress reaction in his right foot. In 19 minutes of action, he recorded 9 points and 6 rebounds in a 96–87 win. On February 21, 2015, Kidd-Gilchrist scored a season-high 20 points in a 110–103 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

2015–16 season

On August 26, 2015, Kidd-Gilchrist signed a four-year, $52 million contract extension with the Hornets. On October 3, he suffered a separated right shoulder in a preseason contest against the Orlando Magic. Two days later, he was ruled unlikely to play in 2015–16 after requiring surgery. He made a much earlier than expected return to the court on January 29, 2016, recording 13 points and 7 rebounds as a starter in a 109–91 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers. On February 11, he was deemed unlikely to play again in 2015–16 due to another right shoulder injury. He was ruled out for the rest of the season five days later after his torn labrum required another round of surgery.

2016–17 season

In the Hornets' season opener on October 26, 2016, Kidd-Gilchrist recorded 23 points and 14 rebounds in a 107–96 win over the Milwaukee Bucks. On March 2, 2017, he recorded a career-high six steals in a 120–103 loss to the Phoenix Suns.

Personal life

Gilchrist's father died August 11, 1996 from multiple gunshot wounds. He watches the movie The Lion King once a week because he watched it almost every day with his father until he was three years old. Gilchrist committed to Kentucky on April 14, 2010, which would have been his father's 44th birthday.

Gilchrist's father played alongside Milt Wagner on a state championship team at Camden High in 1981. Wagner's son, former NBA player Dajuan Wagner, is Gilchrist's cousin.

On July 7, 2011, Gilchrist announced via Twitter that he had legally changed his last name to Kidd-Gilchrist, in order to honor the other important man in his life, his uncle Darrin Kidd. Kidd died on the day Gilchrist was set to sign his letter of intent to play at the University of Kentucky.

Kidd-Gilchrist suffers from stuttering. Due to his stutter, he has developed an anxiety in front of media, although he has made tremendous strides in overcoming his condition.