Rodger Smith
July 23, 2020
Winston Crite
- Nationality: USA
- Date of Birth: 20/06/65
- Place of Birth: Bakersfield, California (USA)
- Position: F/C
- Height (CM): 201
- Weight (KG): 106
- Junior Assoc:
- College: Texas A&M (1983–1987)
- NBL DEBUT: 21/04/89
- AGE AT DEBUT: 23
- LAST NBL GAME: 20/08/89
- AGE AT LAST GAME: 24
- NBL History: Brisbane 1989
- Championships: 0
- None
BIO: Winston Crite was born and raised in Bakersfield, California. He attended South High School Bakersfield, where, as a sophomore, he led his team to the San Joaquin Valley Championship. In his senior year, Crite was voted by the Bakersfield Californian as the All Area Player of the Year, and was later named to the All Northern California all-star team.
At 6’7″ (2.00 m) and 233 lb (106 kg), he played power forward and after a very successful career at Texas A&M University was selected with 53rd overall (7th in third round) pick in the 1987 NBA draft by the Phoenix Suns. He spent two following seasons in the NBA playing for Suns before playing the remainder of his career in Europe.
NBL EXPERIENCE
Winston Crite made his NBL debut with the Brisbane Bullets at 23 years of age. He scored 44 points in his first game.
The Brisbane Bullets entered the 1989 NBL campaign undergoing a period of change, having lost two of their top three scorers from the previous season—young star Shane Heal (to Geelong) and athletic import Emery Atkinson (to Canberra). In response, the club turned to American forwards Winston Crite and Greg Giddings to help fill the offensive void and provide strength in the post.
Leroy Loggins (22.8 points, 6.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 2.8 steals, and 1.1 blocks) once again led the team in scoring and defensive output. However, despite another standout individual year, he was left off the All-NBL First Team for the first time since 1981—a likely reflection of Brisbane’s slide down the standings. Crite (20.8 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks) produced strong numbers but wasn’t able to replicate the chemistry and impact of past imports alongside Loggins.
Long-time veterans Larry Sengstock (12.6 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 2.6 assists) and Ron Radliff (12.0 points, 1.8 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.4 steals) continued to be key contributors, although both began to show signs of decline as the season wore on.
One of the season’s major developments was the rise of Robert Sibley (15.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 1.9 assists), who significantly increased his production after a more limited role the year before. Sibley’s emergence as a reliable scorer and rebounder added much-needed depth to Brisbane’s frontcourt.
Despite these individual efforts, the Bullets failed to rediscover the form that had made them contenders throughout the decade. They finished the regular season with an 11–13 record, placing eighth on the ladder and missing the postseason for the first time since 1983.
Winston Crite played one season in the NBL. He averaged 20.8 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 0.9 assists in 20 NBL games.
NBL TOTAL STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 24 | Brisbane | 11-13 (8) | 20 | 640 | 416 | 150 | 18 | 48 | 102 | 20 | 28 | 61 | 80 | 171 | 301 | 57% | 1 | 3 | 33% | 73 | 106 | 69% | 59% | 57% | 44 | Totals | 20 | 640 | 416 | 150 | 18 | 48 | 102 | 20 | 28 | 61 | 80 | 171 | 301 | 56.8% | 1 | 3 | 33.3% | 73 | 106 | 68.9% | 60% | 57% | 44 |
NBL PER GAME STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 24 | Brisbane | 11-13 (8) | 20 | 32.0 | 20.8 | 7.5 | 0.9 | 2.4 | 5.1 | 1.0 | 1.4 | 3.1 | 4.0 | 8.6 | 15.1 | 57% | 0.1 | 0.2 | 33% | 3.7 | 5.3 | 69% | 59% | 57% | 44 | Total | 20 | 32.0 | 20.8 | 7.5 | 0.9 | 2.4 | 5.1 | 1.0 | 1.4 | 3.1 | 4.0 | 8.6 | 15.1 | 56.8% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 33.3% | 0.1 | 0.2 | 68.9% | 60% | 57% | 44 |
CAREER HIGHS
| POINTS | REBOUNDS | ASSISTS | STEALS | BLOCKS | TURNOVERS | TRIPLE DOUBLES | 44 | 13 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 9 | 0 |
|---|
NBA EXPERIENCE
Winston Crite was drafted by the Phoenix Suns with pick #53 in the 1987 NBA Draft.
Crite played 31 games in the NBA. He averaged 2.8 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 0.5 assists per game over his NBA career.
NBA TRANSACTIONS:
- June 22, 1987: Drafted by the Phoenix Suns in the 3rd round (53rd pick) of the 1987 NBA Draft.
-
December 27, 1988: Waived by the Phoenix Suns.
| Season | Team | PTS | AST | STL | BLK | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 94% | 53% | 81% | 97% | ||||||
| 2 | 0 | 44 | 5 | 4 | 3 | ||||||
| Total | 171 | 301 | 56.8% | 1 | 3 | 33.3% |
NBA TOTAL STATISTICS
| YEAR | AGE | TEAM | POS | GP | GS | MINS | PTS | TRB | AST | ORB | DRB | STL | BLK | TOV | PF | FG | FGA | FG% | 3P | 3PA | 3P% | FT | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988-89 | 23 | Phoenix | SF | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | 0% | |||
| 1987-88 | 22 | Phoenix | SF | 29 | 0 | 258 | 87 | 64 | 15 | 27 | 37 | 5 | 8 | 25 | 42 | 34 | 68 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 25 | 55% | 50% | Total | 31 | 0 | 264 | 87 | 65 | 15 | 28 | 37 | 5 | 8 | 26 | 43 | 34 | 71 | 48% | 0 | 0 | 19 | 25 | 76% |
NBA PER GAME STATISTICS
| YEAR | AGE | TEAM | POS | GP | GS | MINS | PTS | TRB | AST | ORB | DRB | STL | BLK | TOV | PF | FG | FGA | FG% | 3P | 3PA | 3P% | FT | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988-89 | 23 | Phoenix | SF | 2 | 0 | 3.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 1.5 | 0% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 0% | ||
| 1987-88 | 22 | Phoenix | SF | 29 | 0 | 8.9 | 3.0 | 2.2 | 0.5 | 0.9 | 1.3 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.9 | 1.4 | 1.2 | 2.3 | 50% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.9 | 55% | 50% | Total | 31 | 0 | 8.5 | 2.8 | 2.1 | 0.5 | 0.9 | 1.2 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.8 | 1.4 | 1.1 | 2.3 | 48% | 0.6 | 0.8 | 76% |
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
- Philippines - Manila Pure Foods (1990) | Spain - Grupo IFA Granollers (1991) | France - ASA Sceaux (1992–1993), Cholet Basket (1993), BCM Gravelines (1994–1995), Montpellier Basket (1995–1996) | Argentina - Racing de Avellaneda (1996–1997)
Winston Crite joined Manila Pure Foods for the 1990 Philippine Basketball Association season, playing his first season in the Philippines.
Crite moved to Spain in 1991, joining Grupo IFA Granollers for the 1991 season and beginning a run of European stops that continued through the mid-1990s.
In 1992–1993, Crite played in France with ASA Sceaux in the country’s second division (Pro B), where he was named French 2nd Division Foreign Player’s MVP in 1993 and helped the club win the French second division championship that season.
Crite remained in France for 1993 with Cholet Basket before returning for a longer stint that included BCM Gravelines in 1994–1995 and Montpellier Basket in 1995–1996.
For the 1996–1997 season, Crite played in Argentina with Racing de Avellaneda, closing out his documented overseas career with the Buenos Aires club.
COLLEGE
Winston Crite played college basketball at Texas A&M from the 1983–84 season through the 1986–87 season, finishing his four-year career with 123 games played and 118 starts as a steady frontcourt scorer and rebounder in the Southwest Conference under head coach Shelby Metcalf.
As a freshman in 1983–84, Crite was part of a Texas A&M team that went 16–14 overall (7–9 SWC), and the official season stat sheet listed him in 30 games with 105 made field goals on 198 attempts (53.0%) and 56 made free throws on 83 attempts (67.4%).
In that 1983–84 campaign, he totaled 266 points (8.8 per game) and 184 rebounds (6.1 per game), with 35 assists, 70 turnovers, 26 steals, and a season-high 25 points against UT, while Texas A&M scored 1,881 points across 30 games (62.7 per game) and allowed 1,921 (64.0 per game).
Crite moved into a full-time starting role as a sophomore in 1984–85, and the official Texas A&M season totals listed him as starting all 30 games while helping the Aggies finish 19–11 overall and 10–6 in SWC play.
Across those 30 games in 1984–85, he logged 1,004 minutes, shot 140-for-247 from the field (56.7%), made 83-of-128 free throws (64.8%), collected 245 rebounds (8.2 per game), and produced 363 points (12.1 per game) with 65 blocks, 31 steals, 37 assists, and a season-high 26 points against Arkansas.
As a junior in 1985–86, the Aggies finished with a 20–12 team record with a 12–4 mark in league play, and Crite appeared in all 32 games with 31 starts during a season that also ended with an NIT appearance for the Aggies.
In that 1985–86 season, he played 1,046 minutes (32.7 per game), hit 166-of-286 field goals (58.0%), converted 94-of-134 free throws (70.1%), and finished with 426 points (13.3 per game) and 256 rebounds (8.0 per game) alongside 45 blocks, 32 steals, 52 assists, 86 turnovers, and a season-high 26 points against Prairie View.
Crite closed his Texas A&M career as a senior in 1986–87 on a 17–14 team that went 6–10 in the SWC before winning the SWC Tournament, a run that the official Texas A&M Hall of Fame bio notes included him earning tournament MVP honors as the Aggies advanced to the NCAA Tournament as the league’s automatic qualifier.
The official 1986–87 stat sheet credited him with starting all 31 games and averaging 16.8 points on 203-for-362 shooting (56.1%), with 115 made free throws on 173 attempts (66.5%) and 228 rebounds (7.4 per game), plus 40 assists, 67 turnovers, 25 steals, and a team-high 62 blocks, with his season best of 30 points listed as his high in the points column.
Texas A&M’s NCAA Tournament ended in the Midwest First Round with a 58–51 loss to Duke, and the 1986–87 stat report also specified that Crite’s 62 blocks accounted for the majority of the team’s 103 blocks on the season and that he had 32 of the team’s 52 blocks in SWC games.
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