By Joseph Staszewski
Induction into the St. John’s University Athletics Hall of Fame is about celebrating much more than his accomplishments on the court for Chris Mullin.
The school’s legendary men’s basketball star associates his connection to the school with the people he came in contact with during his four years there and those he remains close with decades later.
“My years at St. John’s and my relationships there have developed over 30 years and are very special to me,” Mullin said in a phone interview. “My teammates, coach [Lou] Carnesecca and his staff Brian Mahoney and Ron Rutledge I’ve known since I was 10 years old. It’s much more than a four-year playing career and four-year student at St. John’s.”
He was enshrined during a ceremony on campus Saturday. Former major league pitcher C.J. Nitkowski, PGA golfer Andrew Svoboda, women’s hoops stand out Kia Wright, gold medal fencer Tina Loven, tennis star Erick Scharf and the Brennan family were also inducted. Mullin, who lives in California said the honor may have come sooner had he and the school logistically worked out his being able to accept it.
Mullin, 51, is the programs’ all-time leading scorer with 2,440 points. His senior year the dead-eye shooter led the Johnnies to the 1985 Final Four and won the Wooden Award for the best player in college basketball. Mullin, who graduated from Xaverian, played 16 seasons in the NBA, 13 with the Golden State Warriors and was a five-time all star. He was a member of the 1992 Dream Team and was inducted into the National Basketball Hall of Fame in 2011.
“When I went on those visits, whether it be to Virginia, Duke, Villanova, it was really compared to what I thought I had in St. John’s and being home and being able to play for Coach Carnesecca,” Mullin said. “I felt it was the best place for me.”
When Mullin is outside of New York people remember him for his pro career he says. Inside the five boroughs is a different story. They are always asking him about how his former teammates are and bring up the Final Four squad.
“It just shows you that when you do something in New York it has some longevity,” Mullin said. “I still walk around town when I am in the city and people bring up St. John’s all the time.”
He is happy with keeping his connection to the school strictly as an alumnus.
Mullin is the former general manager of the Golden State Warriors and the current adviser to the chairman of the Sacramento Kings. He does think the current team has a good chance to make the NCAA tournament and could beat anyone in the country on any given night. He, however, has no interest in coaching the Red Storm in the future if the opportunity arises.
“That’s not something I am thinking of, or ever thought of,” Mullin said. “I’ve been in the NBA for 30 years now. It’s not something I think of.”
The thing he cannot keep his mind from when thinking about St. John’s is the people there who influence his life to this day, especially Carnesecca. He credits him for his St. John’s team’s success as much as his former teammates. Playing for him and leaving a legacy at home made too much sense then and now.
“I’m a New Yorker so it was just a natural fit.” Mullin said. “It was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
