{{Short description|American basketball player (born 1961)}} {{about|the basketball player|the baseball player|Bob Hansen (baseball)|other people with similar names|Robert Hansen (disambiguation)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}} {{Infobox basketball biography | name = Bob Hansen | image = Bobby Hansen 1988-89.jpg | width = | caption = Hansen, circa 1988 | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 6 | weight_lb = 190 | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1961|01|18}} | birth_place = Des Moines, Iowa, U.S. | high_school = {{nowrap|Dowling (West Des Moines, Iowa)}} | college = Iowa (1979–1983) | draft_year = 1983 | draft_round = 3 | draft_pick = 54 | draft_team = Utah Jazz | career_start = 1983 | career_end = 1992 | career_position = Shooting guard | career_number = 20 | years1 ={{nbay|1983|start}}–{{nbay|1989|end}} | team1 = Utah Jazz | years2 ={{nbay|1990|start}}–{{nbay|1991|start}} | team2 = Sacramento Kings | years3 ={{nbay|1991|full=y}} | team3 = Chicago Bulls | highlights = * NBA champion (1992) | stat1label = Points | stat1value = 3,952 | stat2label = Rebounds | stat2value = 1,282 | stat3label = Assists | stat3value = 947 | bbr = hansebo01 | medal_templates = {{MedalSport | Men's basketball}} {{MedalCountry|{{flagu|United States}}}} {{MedalCompetition|FIBA U19 World Championship}} {{MedalGold| 1979 Salvador | National team}} }} '''Robert Louis Hansen II''' (born January 18, 1961) is an American former professional basketball player. A {{height|ft=6|in=6}} guard, he played nine seasons (1983–1992) in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Hansen is currently a commentator for Iowa Hawkeyes basketball broadcasts.
==Early years== Hansen attended Christ The King Elementary school and was a four-year starter at West Des Moines Dowling High School in the late 1970s. As a senior, he averaged 26 points and eleven rebounds per game to lead his team to an Iowa Class 4-A boys' basketball championship in 1979.
==College career== His success in high school made him a prized recruit for head coach Lute Olson and the Iowa Hawkeyes, where Hansen played a key role on the team that reached the 1980 Final Four.
Hanson averaged 5.6 ppg as a freshman in 1979–1980 as Iowa reached the Final Four. He averaged 8.4 in 1980–1981 as Iowa finished 21–7. He led the 21–8 Hawkeyes with 12.0 ppg in 1981–1982. As a senior in 1982–1983, he helped lead Iowa to the NCAA Sweet 16, averaging 15.4 points and 5.7 rebounds.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/iowa/1980.html|title=1979–80 Iowa Hawkeyes Roster and Stats|website=College Basketball at Sports Reference|accessdate=4 February 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/iowa/1981.html|title=1980–81 Iowa Hawkeyes Roster and Stats|website=College Basketball at Sports Reference|accessdate=4 February 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/iowa/1982.html|title=1981–82 Iowa Hawkeyes Roster and Stats|website=College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com|accessdate=4 February 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/iowa/1983.html|title=1982–83 Iowa Hawkeyes Roster and Stats|website=College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com|accessdate=4 February 2026}}</ref>
As a senior in 1983, he was named as the Hawkeyes' Most Valuable Player.
==Professional career== Hansen was selected by the Utah Jazz in the third round of the 1983 NBA draft, the 54th overall pick.<ref name="Media_Guide">{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/jazz/media/UtahJazz_MediaGuide11-12_v1.0.pdf|title=Utah Jazz Media Guide 2011–12|website=NBA.com|access-date=July 22, 2012|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121112062204/http://www.nba.com/jazz/media/UtahJazz_MediaGuide11-12_v1.0.pdf|archivedate=November 12, 2012}}</ref> Hansen appeared in 55 games during his rookie season with the Jazz, averaging 2.7 points per game and 7.6 minutes per game. By the 1985–86 season, Hansen was a regular starter for the Jazz. He was also one of three Jazz players named NBA Player of the Week (March 6, 1986) during the season, joining teammates John Stockton and Karl Malone.<ref name="Media_Guide" /> Hansen's highest scoring average, 9.7 points per game, came during the 1986–87 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/historical/playerfile/index.html?player=bob_hansen|title=NBA.com:Bob Hansen Info Page|access-date=July 22, 2012|work=NBA.com}}</ref> During the 1990 All-Star weekend, Hansen participated in the three-point challenge, finishing fourth.
During a New Year's Eve party to ring in 1989, Hansen and teammate Bart Kofoed got into a fight, with Kofoed breaking Hansen's cheekbone. Hansen couldn't play for a month. Two days after the incident, the Jazz waived Kofoed.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jones |first=Matt |date=August 1, 2011 |title=10 Most Bizarre Moments in Utah Jazz History |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/785952-nba10-bizarre-moments-in-utah-jazz-history |access-date=2024-08-22 |website=Bleacher Report |language=en}}</ref>
Hansen never missed the playoffs in his tenure with the Jazz, while reaching the Western Conference semifinals in both 1984 and 1988. On June 25, 1990, Hansen was involved in a three-team deal in which the Jazz acquired Jeff Malone from the Washington Bullets, the Bullets acquired Pervis Ellison from the Sacramento Kings, and the Kings acquired Hansen, Eric Leckner, and two draft picks from the Jazz.<ref name="Media_Guide" />
To begin the 1990–91 season, Hansen suited up for the Kings, where he would play for chiefly one season, appearing in just two games for the 1991–92 Kings before Hansen and the Kings' 1992 second-round pick were traded for Dennis Hopson of the Chicago Bulls.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-11-05-sp-855-story.html|title=Names in the News|date=5 November 1991|access-date=22 July 2012|newspaper=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> In his final NBA season, and perhaps his best known, Hansen appeared in 66 regular season games and, along with Craig Hodges, served as back-up guard to Michael Jordan.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1992/03/11/hansens-turn-as-hodges-cools/|title=Hansen's Turn as Hodges Cools|last=Isaacson|first=Melissa|date=11 March 1992|access-date=22 July 2012|newspaper=Chicago Tribune}}</ref> Hansen, who averaged 2.5 points per contest heading into the 1992 NBA Playoffs, would have arguably his most memorable professional contribution during the 1992 NBA Finals. During Game 6, the Bulls, who held a 3–2 series lead over the Portland Trail Blazers, were trailing by 15 points after three quarters. Head coach Phil Jackson decided to pull Jordan from the game in favor of Hansen,<ref name="Remembering">{{cite news|url=http://thegazette.com/2012/06/13/five-minutes-20-years-ago-ex-hawkeye-hansen-has-unforgettable-career-finale/|title=5 minutes, 20 years ago: ex-Hawkeye Hansen has unforgettable career-finale|newspaper=The Gazette|date=13 June 2012|accessdate=22 July 2012|last=Hlas|first=Mike}}</ref> hoping for an extra jolt to start what looked to be the final corner of a Finals looking to require seven games to determine a champion. According to longtime Bulls writer Sam Smith, Jackson may have wanted to rest his starters considering no team had ever come back from a 15-point deficit to win an NBA championship,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/bulls/news/bullsclassics_smith_111206.html|title=June 14, 1992|publisher=NBA.com|work=Bulls.com|date=6 December 2011|accessdate=22 July 2012|last=Smith|first=Sam}}</ref> and Hansen started the fourth quarter with a three-pointer, his only field goal of the game, and a steal off Jerome Kersey. Hansen confirmed with the defending Finals MVP Jordan whether he wanted to re-enter the game, but Jordan declined.<ref name="Remembering" /> Scottie Pippen led a 14–2 Bulls rally,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/765582036/20-years-ago-Ex-Jazzman-Bobby-Hansen-keys-Finals-run.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120617021756/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/765582036/20-years-ago-Ex-Jazzman-Bobby-Hansen-keys-Finals-run.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 17, 2012|title=20 years ago: Ex-Jazzman Bobby Hansen keys Finals run|date=20 June 2010|accessdate=22 July 2012|newspaper=Deseret News}}</ref> and, along with Hansen and fellow reserve big man Stacey King, helped the Bulls get within three points by the time Jordan was put back in the game to replace Hansen. The Bulls completed the comeback, eventually rallying for a 97–93 victory and winning their second consecutive NBA championship. Hansen was the only player on the roster who had not won a ring with the Bulls during the 1991 Finals and after the Game 6 win, Jordan repeatedly stated, "I'm glad for Bobby Hansen."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/bulls/history/ten_great_shots.html|title=The Ten Greatest Bulls Shots|accessdate=22 July 2012|publisher=NBA.com|work=Bulls.com}}</ref> When Hansen gave Jordan the game ball, Jordan replied, "I told you I'd get you that ring."<ref name="Remembering" /> Hansen had logged 5 minutes of game time, while Jordan played in 43 minutes.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1992-06-19/sports/9202240515_1_scottie-pippen-blazers-had-six-players-jerome-kersey|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131101074724/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1992-06-19/sports/9202240515_1_scottie-pippen-blazers-had-six-players-jerome-kersey|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 1, 2013|title=1992 NBA Finals Box Score|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|date=19 June 1992|accessdate=22 July 2012}}</ref>
==After retirement== Having won his championship ring, Hansen retired from the NBA in 1992. Hansen is a color-commentator for Iowa Hawkeyes' basketball broadcasts. He calls games with Gary Dolphin. He has also run many summer basketball camps for Chicago-area children.<ref name="auto">{{cite web|title=Bob Hansen to Sing 7th Inning Stretch at Wrigley|url=http://www.hawkeyesports.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/082612aaa.html|publisher=hawkeyesports.com|access-date=December 3, 2013|date=August 26, 2012}}</ref>
Former joins Iowa teammates Kevin Boyle and Steve Carfino as basketball analysts. Mark Gannon is also a former analyst.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/sports/basketball/2016/12/07/darsee/95095640/|title=Ex-Hawkeye coach Lute Olson made big impact on basketball media|website=Des Moines Register}}</ref>
Hanson sang "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" at Wrigley Field for the 7th Inning Stretch of the Chicago Cubs' game on August 31, 2012.<ref name="auto"/><ref name="auto1">[https://archive.today/20130121113747/http://desmoinesregister.com/sports/extras/hall/hansen.html Hansen in Iowa Sports Hall of Fame], at the ''Des Moines Register''</ref>
==Career statistics== {{NBA player statistics legend|champion=y|leader=y}}
===NBA=== Source<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/h/hansebo01.html|title=Bob Hansen NBA stats|website=Basketball Reference|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|accessdate=4 February 2026}}</ref>
====Regular season==== {{NBA player statistics start}} |- | style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1983}} | style="text-align:left;"|Utah | 55 || 0 || 7.6 || .448 || .000 || .643 || .9 || .8 || .3 || .1 || 2.7 |- | style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1984}} | style="text-align:left;"|Utah | 54 || 4 || 13.0 || .489 || .143 || .556 || 1.3 || 1.4 || .5 || .0 || 4.8 |- | style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1985}} | style="text-align:left;"|Utah | '''82''' || style="background:#cfecec;"|'''82'''* || 24.8 || .476 || .340 || .720 || '''3.0''' || 2.4 || '''.9''' || .1 || 8.7 |- | style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1986}} | style="text-align:left;"|Utah | 72 || 72 || 20.3 || .453 || '''.356''' || '''.760''' || 2.8 || 1.4 || .6 || .1 || '''9.7''' |- | style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1987}} | style="text-align:left;"|Utah | 81 || 51 || 22.2 || '''.517''' || .330 || .743 || 2.3 || 2.2 || .8 || '''.2''' || 9.6 |- | style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1988}} | style="text-align:left;"|Utah | 46 || 9 || 21.0 || .467 || .352 || .560 || 2.8 || 1.1 || .8 || .1 || 7.4 |- | style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1989}} | style="text-align:left;"|Utah | 81 || 81 || '''26.8''' || .467 || .351 || .516 || 2.8 || 1.8 || .6 || .1 || 7.6 |- | style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1990}} | style="text-align:left;"|Sacramento | 36 || 24 || 22.5 || .375 || .275 || .500 || 2.7 || '''2.5''' || .6 || .1 || 6.4 |- | style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1991}} | style="text-align:left;"|Sacramento | 2 || 2 || 20.0 || .444 || .000 || — || 2.0 || .5 || .5 || .0 || 4.0 |- | style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;"|{{nbay|1991|nolink=y}}† | style="text-align:left;"|Chicago | 66 || 0 || 11.7 || .444 || .280 || .364 || 1.1 || 1.0 || .4 || .0 || 2.5 |- class="sortbottom" | style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"|Career | 575 || 325 || 19.3 || .468 || .323 || .662 || 2.2 || 1.6 || .6 || .1 || 6.9 {{s-end}}
====Playoffs==== {{NBA player statistics start}} |- |style="text-align:left;"|1984 |style="text-align:left;"|Utah | 4 || || 4.5 || .286 || '''.667''' || .500 || 1.8 || .5 || .0 || .0 || 1.8 |- |style="text-align:left;"|1985 |style="text-align:left;"|Utah | 8 || 0 || 4.3 || .250 || – || .625 || .5 || .8 || .4 || .0 || 1.1 |- |style="text-align:left;"|1986 |style="text-align:left;"|Utah | 4 || 4 || 35.0 || '''.730''' || '''.667''' || '''.889''' || 4.5 || 2.8 || '''.8''' || .3 || '''16.0''' |- |style="text-align:left;"|1987 |style="text-align:left;"|Utah | 5 || 5 || 28.4 || .429 || .400 || .850 || 3.0 || 2.2 || .2 || .2 || 12.2 |- |style="text-align:left;"|1988 |style="text-align:left;"|Utah | '''11''' || '''11''' || 37.1 || .496 || .528 || .727 || 3.5 || '''2.9''' || .6 || .0 || 15.4 |- |style="text-align:left;"|1989 |style="text-align:left;"|Utah | 3 || 3 || '''41.0''' || .314 || .333 || .800 || '''5.7''' || 1.3 || .3 || '''.7''' || 11.0 |- |style="text-align:left;"|1990 |style="text-align:left;"|Utah | 5 || 5 || 29.0 || .488 || .500 || .250 || 2.8 || 1.0 || .6 || .0 || 10.0 |- |style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;"| 1992† |style="text-align:left;"|Chicago | 9 || 0 || 7.7 || .409 || .500 || .333 || 1.0 || 1.1 || .1 || .0 || 2.4 |- class="sortbottom" |style="text-align:center;" colspan=2|Career | 49 || 28 || 22.0 || .476 || .500 || .731 || 2.5 || 1.7 || .4 || .1 || 8.5 {{s-end}}
==Honors== He was named to the ''Des Moines Register'' Iowa Sports Hall of Fame in 1999.<ref name="auto1"/>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{Portal|Biography|Sports}} * [https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/h/hansebo01.html Stats at basketball-reference.com]
{{Chicago Bulls 1991–92 NBA champions}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hansen, Bob}} Category:1961 births Category:Living people Category:American men's basketball players Category:Basketball players from Des Moines, Iowa Category:Chicago Bulls players Category:Iowa Hawkeyes men's basketball players Category:Sportspeople from West Des Moines, Iowa Category:Sacramento Kings players Category:Shooting guards Category:Utah Jazz draft picks Category:Utah Jazz players Category:20th-century American sportsmen