TUCSON, Ariz. – Former Arizona players Miles Simon and Quinton Crawford, both assistant coaches with the Los Angeles Lakers, helped guide the Lakers to their 17th NBA Championship on Sunday night with a domination win over the Miami Heat and former 'Cats Andre Iguodala and Solomon Hill in Orlando.
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It marks the 27th and 28th time that former Arizona players have gone on to win the NBA Championship as a coach or player. It's also the first NBA title for both Simon and Crawford.
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Arizona has a player or coach competing in the NBA Finals for the sixth straight season and had someone come away with a ring in five of the last six seasons.
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Simon played for the Wildcats from 1994-98 and was named Most Outstanding Player of the 1997 Final Four when Arizona captured the National Championship.
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Crawford was a walk-on for the 'Cats for two seasons (2011-12, 2012-13), appearing in nine games as Arizona advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament in 2013.
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NBA Championships (28)
1996Â Â Â Â Â Â Steve Kerr, Jud Buechler (Chicago)
1997Â Â Â Â Â Â Steve Kerr, Jud Buechler, Brian Williams (Chicago)
1998Â Â Â Â Â Â Steve Kerr, Jud Buechler (Chicago)
1999Â Â Â Â Â Â Steve Kerr, Sean Elliott (San Antonio)
2003Â Â Â Â Â Â Stever Kerr (San Antonio)
2009Â Â Â Â Â Â Luke Walton (LA Lakers)
2010Â Â Â Â Â Â Luke Walton (LA Lakers)
2011Â Â Â Â Â Â Jason Terry (Dallas)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Andre Iguodala, Steve Kerr*, Luke Walton*, Bruce Fraser* (Golden State)
2016Â Â Â Â Â Â Channing Frye, Richard Jefferson, Brett Brielmaier* (Cleveland)
2017Â Â Â Â Â Â Andre Iguodala, Steve Kerr*, Bruce Fraser* (Golden State)
2018Â Â Â Â Â Â Andre Iguodala, Steve Kerr*, Bruce Fraser* (Golden State)
2020Â Â Â Â Â Â Miles Simon*, Quinton Crawford* (Los Angeles Lakers)
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*Indicates member of coaching staff
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