Last Updated on April 17, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Here’s the detailed information about Danny Manning:

Player Profile

  • Full Name: Daniel Ricardo Manning.
  • Nickname: Danny.
  • Nationality: American.
  • Date of Birth: May 17, 1966.
  • Hometown: Lawrence, Kansas. (University of Kansas)
  • Height: 6’10” (2.08 m).
  • Weight: 234 lb (106 kg).
  • Wingspan: —
  • Shoe Size: US 15. (Los Angeles Times)
  • Jersey Number: College — #25 (Kansas). NBA — #25 (Los Angeles Clippers, Milwaukee Bucks), #5 (Los Angeles Clippers, Atlanta Hawks, Detroit Pistons), #15 (Phoenix Suns, Utah Jazz), #6 (Dallas Mavericks). (University of Kansas)
  • Position: Power forward / center.
  • High School: Page High School (Greensboro, North Carolina); Lawrence High School (Lawrence, Kansas). (Wake Forest University Athletics)
  • College: Kansas (1984–1988).
  • NBA Draft: Los Angeles Clippers, 1988, 1st overall pick.
  • Teams Played For:
    • Kansas (1984–1988)
    • Los Angeles Clippers (1988–1994)
    • Atlanta Hawks (1994)
    • Phoenix Suns (1994–1999)
    • Milwaukee Bucks (1999–2000)
    • Utah Jazz (2000–2001)
    • Dallas Mavericks (2001–2002)
    • Detroit Pistons (2002–2003)
  • Championship Rings: 0 NBA championship rings; won the 1988 NCAA championship with Kansas. (John R. Wooden Award)
  • Parents: Ed Manning and Darnelle Manning. (KU Sports)
  • Children: Taylor Manning and Evan Manning. (Wake Forest University Athletics)
  • Siblings: No reliably sourced public record located.
  • Athlete Relatives: Ed Manning (father; former NBA/ABA player). His son Evan played basketball at Kansas, and his daughter Taylor played volleyball at Kansas. (Wikipedia)

Player Archetype / Play Style

Danny Manning’s player archetype was that of a skilled, versatile scoring forward who could function as a primary option in college and later as a polished frontcourt creator in the NBA. Offensively, he mixed face-up drives, mid-range touch, post scoring, and enough passing feel to punish one-dimensional coverage, while defensively he brought size, length, and sound fundamentals that let him guard bigger forwards, help around the rim, and contribute as a team defender rather than a pure stopper. Physically, Manning stood 6-foot-10 with a strong, coordinated frame, and his game was built more on balance, footwork, skill, and all-around feel than on raw explosiveness. The best summary of his style is that he was a smooth, well-rounded frontcourt player whose adaptability made him effective in multiple roles, from dominant college star to productive NBA scorer and high-level sixth man. (UPI)

Fun Facts

  • Danny Manning had an illustrious basketball career but was unfortunately hampered by injuries, including multiple ACL tears. Despite this, he was a two-time NBA All-Star (1993, 1994) and won the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award in 1998.
  • Following his playing career, Manning transitioned into coaching, serving as the head coach at Tulsa, Wake Forest, and an assistant coach at other programs.

Sources:

NBA.com — Danny Manning | Forward-Center
KU Athletics — Danny Manning – 1987-88 – Men’s Basketball – University of Kansas
Wake Forest Athletics — Danny Manning – Men’s Basketball Coach – Wake Forest University Athletics
John R. Wooden Award — Danny Manning
UPI Archives — Danny Manning, deemed the NBA’s No. 1 draft pick…
Los Angeles Times — Really Big Shoe : Fashion: When 7-foot center Don Peck jogs onto the Cypress College basketball court in his Size 20 Nikes, the crowd knows it is in for a . . .
Kansas Athletics — Taylor Manning – 2011 – Women’s Volleyball – University of Kansas
Kansas Athletics — Evan Manning – 2015-16 – Men’s Basketball – Kansas Athletics