Chris Dudley’s Story

Chris Dudley was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at the age of 16.  He was a sophomore in high school and was diagnosed soon after his basketball season was over. Chris was devastated. One of his biggest fears was not being able to play the sport he loved: basketball. Thanks to a supportive healthcare team, Chris was not only able to play basketball again but went to the pinnacle of the sport and became the first person with Type 1 Diabetes to play in the NBA. Chris played 16 years in the league with Diabetes where many players only last for a few years due to the intense competition to make an NBA squad.  Chris started the Chris Dudley Foundation, a nonprofit organization, in 1994 for people living with diabetes.  The Chris Dudley Foundation was a way Chris could help to encourage kids to follow their dreams.  In 1996, he started the internationally renowned basketball camp and provided many basketball clinics throughout the country in an effort to educate, inspire and empower kids to live active with Diabetes.  Chris often talks about how he has diabetes but Diabetes doesn’t have him. Chris never let Diabetes destroy his dreams and continues to share his experiences of living active with diabetes.

“Chris Dudley epitomizes everything an NBA player should be. He worked extremely hard. He shared his gift of being a pro basketball player with children in the community and did tremendous work with pediatric diabetes. Chris always sacrificed for the good of the team. In my time in the NBA, there is no better role model for children than Chris Dudley, who persevered over all odds to have an outstanding NBA career. It was a pleasure to coach him in New York and the NBA is going to miss him,” said New York Knicks Head Coach Jeff Van Gundy.

NBA Career History

1987-1990 • Cleveland Cavaliers
1990-1993 • New Jersey Nets
1993-1997 • Portland Trail Blazers
1997-2000 • New York Knicks
2000-2001 • Phoenix Suns
2001-2003 • Portland Trail Blazers

AWARDS & ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

 1996 • J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award
1997 • USA Today’s Most Caring Athlete Award
2013 • American Diabetes Association Father of the Year 2022 • Legends of Ivy League Basketball