One of the most talented big men of his generation, Chris Webber is remembered as the leader of the University of Michigan’s iconic Fab Five, a five-time NBA All-Star, and as a Hall of Famer.

Chris’ blend of size, skill, and passing vision made him an icon in his glory days, while his Detroit roots shaped both his identity and his drive.

He’s a man that was brought up playing basketball in Detroit, including at Detroit Country Day school, where he played high school ball and helped lead the team to winning three state championships ahead of him being awarded National High School Player of the Year in 1991.

Webber remained local to Detroit after graduating high school, signing on with the University of Michigan in 1991.

The line-up at that time was impressive: Jalen Rose, Juwan Howard, Jimmy King, and Ray Jackson, with Chris Webber rounding out what would go on to be known as the Fab Five.

They brought the swagger with their baggy shorts, black socks, and fearless playing style, going on to define early 1990s college basketball.

Webber was Michigan’s leader and most dominant player, helping the team reach the NCAA Championship games in 1992 and 1993.

Although the team lost both times, the Fab Five still had a major impact on the culture of the era.

He may be most famous among college fans for getting Michigan a timeout in the 1993 NCAA title game against North Carolina and committing a technical foul, but beyond that iconic moment, his Michigan years established him as one of the best college players to ever walk across the court.

Webber was a NO. 1 overall pick in the 1993 NBA Draft for the Orlando Magic, who then traded him to the Golden State Warriors.

He was a key member of one of the NBA’s most exciting teams and won NBA Rookie of the Year in 1994.

Webber, who was by then a five-time All-Star and five-time All-NBA selection, was a power forward who scored, rebounded, and passed with an effortless precision.

Size, skill, and unselfish play defined his power forward position, and his skill set made the early 2000s teams he played for have several playoffs runs.

In 2007, Webber came home to play for the Detroit Pistons, allowing fans to see their hometown hero in Piston’s blue.

He brought veteran leadership to the Pistons and helped them reach the Eastern Conference Finals near the end of his career.

Detroit fans saw it as a symbolic return – one of their own coming back to help the city revive its proud basketball tradition.

Webber then retired in 2008 and worked in broadcasting, business, and philanthropy.

As an NBA analyst, he invested in real estate and cannabis before going on to start the Chris Webber Foundation, which funds youth programs in education and leadership.

The journey of Chris Webber is triumphant and human – an unmatched high school ball player turned college star, an NBA powerhouse, and a man whose legacy stretches far beyond the court.

Inspiring a generation of players, he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2021, an honor that put him among the game’s greats.

Today, Webber remains a star athlete and a cultural icon – a symbol of talent and toughness and proof that a kid from the Motor City can make basketball history.

Victoria Jackson (Editor In Chief)

Victoria Jackson is a lifelong student and sharp-eyed documentarian of all things Detroit, from its rich musical roots and cultural icons to its shifting neighborhoods, storied architecture, and underground legends. With her finger firmly on the pulse of both the city’s vibrant past and its rapidly unfolding future, she brings a deeply personal, historically grounded lens to every piece she writes.

Published on: August 23, 2025