Last Updated on April 18, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Here are the details for Terry Cummings:

Player Profile

  • Full Name: Terry Porter Cummings
  • Nationality: American
  • Age: Born March 15, 1961
  • Hometown: Chicago, Illinois, USA
  • Height: 6 feet 9 inches (2.06 meters)
  • Weight: 220 pounds (100 kg)
  • Wingspan: 6 feet 10 inches
  • Shoe Size: Size 16 (US)
  • Number: Wore 34, 35, and 15 during his NBA career
  • Position: Power Forward
  • High School: Carver High School in Chicago, Illinois
  • College: DePaul University (1979–1982)
  • NBA Draft: 1982 NBA Draft, 2nd overall pick by the San Diego Clippers
  • Teams Played For:
    • San Diego Clippers (1982–1984)
    • Milwaukee Bucks (1984–1989, 1995–1996)
    • San Antonio Spurs (1989–1995)
    • Seattle SuperSonics (1996–1997)
    • Philadelphia 76ers (1997–1998)
    • New York Knicks (1998)
    • Golden State Warriors (1999–2000)
  • Championship Rings: None
  • Kids: Three sons: T. J., Shawn, and Dominique Cummings
  • Siblings: Not widely documented

Player Archetype / Play Style

Terry Cummings’ player archetype was that of a powerful scoring forward, an old-school interior-oriented four who blended polished mid-post offense with strong rebounding and dependable frontcourt toughness. Defensively, he worked as a physical interior forward who used size, strength, and effort to battle on the glass and hold his ground in the paint, while offensively he operated as a primary or secondary scorer who could punish defenders from the post, finish through contact, and produce consistently without needing flashy perimeter creation. Physically, Cummings stood 6-foot-9 and 220 pounds, giving him the frame and presence to play through contact and control space, and his overall play style was built on strength, touch, work on the boards, and steady inside scoring that made him one of the more productive power forwards of his era.

Fun Facts

  • Terry Cummings was a dominant scorer and rebounder during his prime and was a two-time NBA All-Star (1985, 1989).
  • He won the NBA Rookie of the Year Award in 1983 and finished his career with over 19,000 points and 8,600 rebounds.
  • Off the court, Cummings is an ordained minister and has pursued a career in gospel music.

Sources:

NBA.com — Terry Cummings | Forward
NBA.com — Season Review: 1982-83
NBA.com — Year-by-year All-NBA Teams
Encyclopaedia Britannica — Terry Cummings | American basketball player