Theo Ratliff

Theophalus Curtis Ratliff (born April 17, 1973) is an American former professional basketball player who played 16 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA).

Born in Alabama, Ratliff played for and graduated from the University of Wyoming, before being selected by the Detroit Pistons in the 1995 NBA draft. He also played for the Philadelphia 76ers, the Atlanta Hawks, the Portland Trail Blazers, the Boston Celtics, the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Detroit Pistons, the San Antonio Spurs, the Charlotte Bobcats and the Los Angeles Lakers. Primarily a center, he was widely regarded as an excellent shot-blocker and led the league three times in blocks per game. As of 2024^[update], he was ranked 20th all-time in career blocks.

Recruited by Benny Dees, Ratliff played for the Wyoming Cowboys beginning in 1991. He saw limited playing time his freshman year, playing with frontcourt upperclassmen Brian Rewers, Reggie Slater, and Tim Breaux. Following Slater and Breaux's graduations, Ratliff saw increased playing time his sophomore season, and would establish himself as Wyoming's starting center for his junior and senior year. During his senior year, Ratliff accumulated 144 blocks in 28 games, averaging 5.14 per game.

Ratliff finished his college career as the second leading shot blocker in NCAA Division I history behind only Alonzo Mourning. His 425 blocked shots in his career as a Cowboy still stands as the most in school history, as of 2024^[update]. Ratliff was inducted into the University of Wyoming Athletics Hall of Fame in 2005.

Ratliff was selected with the 18th overall pick in the 1995 NBA draft by the Detroit Pistons, for whom he played 2½ seasons. In December 1997, Ratliff alongside teammate Aaron McKie, were traded to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for Eric Montross and Jerry Stackhouse. In Detroit, Ratliff had played mostly off the bench; Sixers first year coach Larry Brown immediately inserted Ratliff into his starting lineup and Ratliff's usage and production went up. On March 22, 1998, Ratliff scored a career-high 27 points during a 108–90 loss against the Boston Celtics.

In his first full season in Philadelphia, Ratliff posted 11.2 points, 8.1 rebounds and 3.0 blocks per game, while being named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team. Alongside McKie, Eric Snow and Allen Iverson, they helped lead Philadelphia to the playoffs for the first time in eight years, where they would win the opening series against the Orlando Magic before falling to the Indiana Pacers in the second round of the playoffs.

The following season, Ratliff only played 57 games due to a stress fracture in his left ankle, but averaged 11.9 points, 7.6 rebounds and 3.0 blocks per game to help the Sixers back to the playoffs, where they would again lose to the Indiana Pacers in the second round.

Ratliff was voted to his first All-Star Game in 2001, averaging 12.4 points, 8.3 rebounds, and a league-leading 3.7 blocks per game. Ratliff however was injured just prior to the All Star game and unable to play, instead requiring season-ending surgery. On February 22, Ratliff was traded to the Atlanta Hawks with Toni Kukoč, Nazr Mohammed, and Pepe Sánchez for Roshown McLeod and Dikembe Mutombo.