# Dennis Scott (basketball)
**Dennis Scott** (born 1968 in [Hagerstown, Maryland](https://www.edgepedia.org/hagerstown-maryland)) is an American former professional basketball player, nicknamed "3-D", who played ten seasons in the NBA as a 6-foot-8 forward and set an NBA single-season record with 267 three-point field goals in 1995-96.[1](https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/scottde01.html) • [2](https://www.nba.com/news/players-only-dennis-scott-nba-tv-tnt) He is best known for his seven seasons with the [Orlando Magic](https://www.edgepedia.org/orlando-magic), who drafted him fourth overall in 1990, and for his college career at [Georgia Tech](https://www.edgepedia.org/georgia-tech), where he was the 1990 Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year.[2](https://www.nba.com/news/players-only-dennis-scott-nba-tv-tnt) • [3](https://ramblinwreck.com/news/2024/06/13/georgia-tech-to-retire-dennis-scotts-no-4-061324)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1968, Hagerstown, Maryland; 6-8, 229 lb (203 cm, 103 kg)[1](https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/scottde01.html) |
| NBA career | 10 seasons, 1990-91 to 1999-00; 629 regular-season games[1](https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/scottde01.html) • [4](https://hoopsmatic.com/nba-born-died/player/dennis-scott/) |
| Career averages | 12.9 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists per game; 39.7% on three-pointers[1](https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/scottde01.html) |
| Signature record | 267 three-pointers made in 1995-96, an NBA single-season record until Ray Allen broke it in 2005-06[2](https://www.nba.com/news/players-only-dennis-scott-nba-tv-tnt) |
| Career threes | 1,214 three-point field goals[5](https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/dennis-scott-career-threes) |
| Draft | Orlando Magic, first round, 4th overall, 1990 NBA Draft[1](https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/scottde01.html) |
| College honors | 1990 ACC Player of the Year, consensus first-team All-American; 970 points in 1989-90 remains the ACC single-season record[3](https://ramblinwreck.com/news/2024/06/13/georgia-tech-to-retire-dennis-scotts-no-4-061324) |
| Honors after playing | Orlando Magic Hall of Fame; Georgia Tech retired his No. 4 jersey in 2024[6](https://www.scheller.gatech.edu/news/2024/from-nba-to-mba-dennis-scott-reflects-on-past-present-and-future-as-georgia-tech-retires-his-jersey.html) |
## College career at Georgia Tech
Scott played three seasons (1987-88 to 1989-90) for Georgia Tech under coach Bobby Cremins, forming the "Lethal Weapon 3" trio with Kenny Anderson and Brian Oliver that led the Yellow Jackets to the 1990 NCAA Final Four.[7](https://ramblinwreck.com/news/2001/06/11/kenny-anderson-marco-coleman-headline-tech-hall-of-fame-class) He played in the NCAA Tournament every year at Tech and won the 1989-90 ACC Tournament Championship.[6](https://www.scheller.gatech.edu/news/2024/from-nba-to-mba-dennis-scott-reflects-on-past-present-and-future-as-georgia-tech-retires-his-jersey.html)
His 1989-90 junior season was one of the most decorated in ACC history. He scored 970 points, which remains the ACC all-time single-season record, at a 27.7-point average that ranks second in Tech history only to Rich Yunkus (30.1 from 1968-71).[3](https://ramblinwreck.com/news/2024/06/13/georgia-tech-to-retire-dennis-scotts-no-4-061324) He was named ACC Player of the Year and a consensus first-team All-American by six organizations, and The Sporting News named him national Player of the Year.[3](https://ramblinwreck.com/news/2024/06/13/georgia-tech-to-retire-dennis-scotts-no-4-061324) Over 99 college games he averaged 21.4 points and shot 42.2% from three-point range.[8](https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/dennis-scott-1.html) His career totals at Tech include 2,115 points (fourth in school history despite playing only three seasons), 351 three-point field goals, and a school-record 42.2% career three-point percentage.[3](https://ramblinwreck.com/news/2024/06/13/georgia-tech-to-retire-dennis-scotts-no-4-061324) One signature game came in December 1989, when he scored a college career-high 42 points, including the game-winner at the buzzer, in a 93-92 win over [Pittsburgh](https://www.edgepedia.org/pittsburgh) in the ACC-Big East Challenge.[9](https://repository.gatech.edu/bitstreams/e5295051-6f74-47a7-bf27-9fc3b49e248a/download)
After his junior season he forwent his senior year to enter the 1990 NBA Draft.[10](https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1990/05/15/scott-of-georgia-tech-in-for-90-nba-draft/48c8403b-9e33-4a11-8a62-f44c47018e29/)
## NBA career
**Orlando Magic, 1990-1997.** The Magic selected Scott with the fourth pick of the 1990 draft, and he started 73 games as a rookie, averaging 15.7 points and earning All-Rookie First Team honors.[2](https://www.nba.com/news/players-only-dennis-scott-nba-tv-tnt) His second season was cut short to 18 games, but he averaged 19.9 points in those appearances.[1](https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/scottde01.html) After the Magic drafted [Shaquille O'Neal](https://www.edgepedia.org/shaquille-oneal) in 1992, Scott remained a central part of a young squad that eliminated [Michael Jordan](https://www.edgepedia.org/michael-jordan) and the [Chicago Bulls](https://www.edgepedia.org/chicago-bulls) en route to winning the Eastern Conference in 1995.[2](https://www.nba.com/news/players-only-dennis-scott-nba-tv-tnt)
The following season, 1995-96, was his peak. He made an NBA single-season record 267 three-pointers, a mark that stood until [Ray Allen](https://www.edgepedia.org/ray-allen) broke it in 2005-06.[2](https://www.nba.com/news/players-only-dennis-scott-nba-tv-tnt) That season included a career-high 11 three-pointers made against Atlanta on April 18, 1996.[11](https://www.nba.com/player/192/dennis-scott) His career scoring high of 41 points came earlier, against [Milwaukee](https://www.edgepedia.org/milwaukee) on April 13, 1993.[11](https://www.nba.com/player/192/dennis-scott)
**Later stops, 1997-2000.** Scott left Orlando after the 1996-97 season, having played 446 regular-season games for the franchise.[4](https://hoopsmatic.com/nba-born-died/player/dennis-scott/) In 1997-98 he appeared for the [Dallas Mavericks](https://www.edgepedia.org/dallas-mavericks) (52 games) and, after a trade, the [Phoenix Suns](https://www.edgepedia.org/phoenix-suns) (29 games); in 1998-99 he split the season between the [Minnesota Timberwolves](https://www.edgepedia.org/minnesota-timberwolves) (21 games) and the New York Knicks (15 games); and he closed his career with 66 games for the Vancouver Grizzlies in 1999-00, averaging 5.6 points.[4](https://hoopsmatic.com/nba-born-died/player/dennis-scott/) • [11](https://www.nba.com/player/192/dennis-scott) He retired in 2000 with career averages of 12.9 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.9 three-pointers made per game.[2](https://www.nba.com/news/players-only-dennis-scott-nba-tv-tnt) Basketball-Reference lists his career earnings at at least $25,095,000, including $3,240,000 in 1995.[1](https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/scottde01.html)
## Playing style
Scott's game was built around range. At 6-foot-8 he shot from deep at a volume unusual for his era, averaging 1.9 made three-pointers per game for his career at 39.7% accuracy, with a career total of 1,214.[1](https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/scottde01.html) • [5](https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/dennis-scott-career-threes) He wore jersey numbers 3 and 4 for most of his stops and 9 with the Grizzlies.[12](https://www.landofbasketball.com/nba_players/dennis_scott.htm)
## Life after playing
Scott moved into broadcasting, building a career with Turner Sports and [NBA TV](https://www.edgepedia.org/nba-tv) on programs such as NBA GameTime before joining ESPN and the [ACC Network](https://www.edgepedia.org/acc-network) as a college basketball analyst for game telecasts and studio shows.[13](https://espnpressroom.com/bio/dennis-scott/) As an analyst he commented on the evolution of long-range shooting, telling TIME in 2015 about [Stephen Curry](https://www.edgepedia.org/stephen-curry) that "We haven't seen someone able to make all shots they attempt."[14](https://time.com/4157445/stephen-curry-effect-explained-golden-state-warriors/)
He also returned to Georgia Tech as a student, completing an Executive MBA at the Scheller College of Business. In 2024 the institute announced it would retire his No. 4 jersey, and he was inducted into the Orlando Magic Hall of Fame.[6](https://www.scheller.gatech.edu/news/2024/from-nba-to-mba-dennis-scott-reflects-on-past-present-and-future-as-georgia-tech-retires-his-jersey.html) He entered the Georgia Tech Sports Hall of Fame in 2001.[15](https://ramblinwreck.com/georgia-tech-sports-hall-of-fame)
## References
1. [Dennis Scott Stats, Basketball-Reference](https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/scottde01.html)
2. [Players Only Bio: Dennis Scott, NBA.com](https://www.nba.com/news/players-only-dennis-scott-nba-tv-tnt)
3. [Georgia Tech to Retire Dennis Scott's No. 4, ramblinwreck.com](https://ramblinwreck.com/news/2024/06/13/georgia-tech-to-retire-dennis-scotts-no-4-061324)
4. [Dennis Scott: Age, Birthday and NBA Career, HoopsMatic](https://hoopsmatic.com/nba-born-died/player/dennis-scott/)
5. [Dennis Scott Career Threes, StatMuse](https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/dennis-scott-career-threes)
6. [From NBA to MBA: Dennis Scott Reflects on Past, Present, and Future as Georgia Tech Retires His Jersey, Georgia Tech Scheller College of Business](https://www.scheller.gatech.edu/news/2024/from-nba-to-mba-dennis-scott-reflects-on-past-present-and-future-as-georgia-tech-retires-his-jersey.html)
7. [Kenny Anderson, Marco Coleman Headline Tech Hall of Fame Class, ramblinwreck.com](https://ramblinwreck.com/news/2001/06/11/kenny-anderson-marco-coleman-headline-tech-hall-of-fame-class)
8. [Dennis Scott College Stats, Sports-Reference](https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/dennis-scott-1.html)
9. [Georgia Tech basketball media guide (Scott's 42-point game vs. Pitt), Georgia Tech Repository](https://repository.gatech.edu/bitstreams/e5295051-6f74-47a7-bf27-9fc3b49e248a/download)
10. [Scott of Georgia Tech in for '90 NBA Draft, The Washington Post](https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1990/05/15/scott-of-georgia-tech-in-for-90-nba-draft/48c8403b-9e33-4a11-8a62-f44c47018e29/)
11. [Dennis Scott player page, NBA.com](https://www.nba.com/player/192/dennis-scott)
12. [Dennis Scott Profile and Main Stats, Land of Basketball](https://www.landofbasketball.com/nba_players/dennis_scott.htm)
13. [Dennis Scott, ESPN Press Room](https://espnpressroom.com/bio/dennis-scott/)
14. [The Science Behind Stephen Curry's Dominance, TIME](https://time.com/4157445/stephen-curry-effect-explained-golden-state-warriors/)
15. [Georgia Tech Sports Hall of Fame, ramblinwreck.com](https://ramblinwreck.com/georgia-tech-sports-hall-of-fame)
---
*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Other team and ball sports › Basketball and court team sports › Basketball players and coaches (biographies) › NBA players, 1980–1995 › NBA forwards, 1980–1995*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license