Last Updated on April 17, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Here’s a detailed profile on Kendall Gill, a former professional basketball player:

Player Profile

  • Full Name: Kendall Cedric Gill
  • Nickname: “Cold World”
  • Nationality: American
  • Date of Birth: May 25, 1968
  • Hometown: Matteson, Illinois, United States (University of Illinois Athletics)
  • Height: 6’5″ (1.96 m) (NBA)
  • Weight: 216 lb (98 kg) in NBA listings; Illinois roster listed him at 195 lb as a senior in college (NBA)
  • Wingspan: Not publicly listed
  • Shoe Size: Not publicly listed
  • Jersey Number: #13 — Illinois Fighting Illini; #13 — Charlotte Hornets; #13 — Seattle SuperSonics; #13 — New Jersey Nets; #13 — Miami Heat; #9 — Minnesota Timberwolves; #13 — Chicago Bulls; #12 — Milwaukee Bucks (University of Illinois Athletics)
  • Position: Shooting guard / small forward
  • High School: Rich Central High School (Olympia Fields, Illinois) (University of Illinois Athletics)
  • College: Illinois (1986–1990)
  • NBA Draft: Charlotte Hornets, 1990, Round 1, Pick 5 (NBA)
  • Teams Played For:
    • Illinois Fighting Illini — 1986–1990 (University of Illinois Athletics)
    • Charlotte Hornets — 1990–1993
    • Seattle SuperSonics — 1993–1995
    • Charlotte Hornets — 1995–1996
    • New Jersey Nets — 1996–2001
    • Miami Heat — 2001–2002
    • Minnesota Timberwolves — 2002–2003
    • Chicago Bulls — 2003–2004
    • Milwaukee Bucks — 2004–2005
  • Championship Rings: 0 (NBA)
  • Children: Two sons, Phoenix and Kota (Wikipedia)
  • Siblings: Not publicly listed

Player Archetype / Play Style

Kendall Gill’s player archetype was that of a two-way slashing wing who could score, defend, and create secondary offence without needing a system built entirely around him. Defensively, he was a disruptive perimeter stopper with quick hands, strong anticipation, and the versatility to check guards or wings, which showed up in both his steals numbers and his reputation as a tough on-ball defender. Offensively, he operated as an attacking scorer who could get downhill, finish in transition, pull up from mid-range, and contribute as a passer when defences collapsed. Physically, Gill brought good size for a wing at 6’5″, long-striding athleticism, and the kind of body control that made him dangerous in the open floor and hard to handle at the point of attack. His overall play style blended pressure defence, slashing, opportunistic shot creation, and all-around backcourt toughness, making him more than just a scorer and less one-dimensional than many wings from his era. (University of Illinois Athletics)

Sources:

University of Illinois Athletics — Kendall Gill
University of Illinois Athletics — 13 Kendall Gill – 1989-90 Men’s Basketball Roster
NBA.com — Kendall Gill | Guard
NBA.com — Most steals by a player in a single NBA game
NBA.com — Top 5 all-time Brooklyn Nets steals leaders
Basketball-Reference — Kendall Gill Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and more