Vernon Maxwell – also known as “Mad Max” – is a former professional basketball player who spent 13 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). A formidable shooting guard during the late 1980s, 1990s and right through to the early 2000s, Maxwell was given his nickname by colour commentators for his clutch shooting. He is one of only nine players in the history of the NBA to achieve 30 points in a single quarter, and from 1991 to 1993 he held the NBA’s record for the highest number of 3-pointers made in a season.

Hailing from Gainesville, Florida, Maxwell first played for his high school basketball team Buchholz Bobcats and was given the Florida Mr. Basketball award as a senior. Also a talented defensive back in football, Maxwell eventually focussed solely on basketball and won an athletic scholarship at the University of Florida. Whilst attending university he played for Norm Sloan’s Florida Gators

Maxwell was born in Gainesville, Florida. As a senior at high school he was the Mr. Basketball of the state of Florida and was awarded an athletic scholarship at the University of Florida. Whilst at the university the 6-foot-4 guard played for the Florida Gators and averaged 20.2 points, also going on to hold 15 Gators team records which he still holds today.

In 1988 the talented young player was drafted into the NBA by Denver Nuggets. After being traded to San Antonio Spurs he was sold to Houston Rockets two years later, becoming a key member of the 1994 championship team. Mad Max played for eight teams in thirteen years and cemented his reputation as one of the boldest players of his generation,