Arizona Wildcats legend Mike Bibby turned 39 years old Saturday. But that's not why he celebrated.
Bibby earned a bachelor's degree in multidisciplinary studies from UNLV, the latest step in what he hopes will lead to a career in college or professional coaching. Bibby has been a state champion coach in at Shadow Mountain High School in Phoenix for the last four years. He aspires to do more.
“My dream was to be a professional athlete and school had to be part of that," Bibby said. "I realized my dreams of playing in the NBA and now my future includes coaching on the college and pro levels, so getting my college degree became a priority.
“I promised my mom that I would get it done and this is kind of a Mother’s Day gift for her. It feels really good.”
The longtime NBA point guard will spend this summer playing again. He is the team captain for the Ghost Ballers in the upstart BIG3 professional basketball league run by rapper and actor Ice Cube. The league starts June 25 in the Brooklyn; the championship game will be played August 26 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Bibby said its "kind of fitting" that he's graduating from UNLV, even though he may be the most well-know UA basketball player of all time. Bibby and fellow guard Miles Simon led the Wildcats to the 1997 National Championship. He left school following his sophomore season for the NBA. The Vancouver (now Memphis) Grizzlies selected Bibby in the first round of the 1998 draft; he went on to play for the Kings, Hawks, Wizards, Heat and Knicks. He averaged 14.7 points, 5.5 assists and 3.1 rebounds per game over a 17-year career.
“Growing up, the Runnin’ Rebels with Larry Johnson and Stacey Augmon and all of those guys were my team, so it’s kind of fitting that I end up being a UNLV graduate after all these years," Bibby said. "Thank you to all of the UNLV faculty who helped me reach my goal and especially my (academic) advisor, Tracy Johnson.”
Bibby is one of three former Wildcats to graduate this week. Former point guard Mustafa Shakur and ex-shooting guard Salim Stoudamire received their degrees at the UA's student-athlete convocation Thursday in McKale Center.
