Lawrence and Danny Manning would seem an imperfect fit.
Manning, an eight-year veteran of the NBA, shuns the spotlight more than anyone in the high-profile league. But he still chooses to make Lawrence – the fish-bowl town in which he achieved stardom first as a high schooler and later as the college basketball player of the year at Kansas University – his offseason home.
“I like coming back just to get away for a change,” Manning said Thursday in a rare offseason interview in the Central Junior High office of his friend and former coach, Ted Juneau. “Most people know me, but they don’t bother me. It’s nice to come back. I have a lot of friends here.”
Occasionally, there is a Manning sighting around town. He’s seen at the grocery store or on the ball field playing city-league softball. And he surfaces for a whole week to run his youth basketball camp.
But for the most part, Manning and his family – wife, Julie, and children Taylor (5 years old) and Evan (3) – keep a low profile in their offseason home of eight seasons.
“Yes, I am very private,” said Manning, who just completed the injury-shortened first year of a six-year deal with the Phoenix Suns. “I think a lot of athletes put up a facade of images they want people to see. I’ve never cared for publicity. I enjoy playing basketball. I don’t like being bothered with my family. That’s their time.”
Two major reconstructive knee surgeries have limited Manning’s NBA playing time. He tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during his rookie season with the Losa Angeles Clippers, the team that selected him with the first overall pick in the 1988 draft.
Manning played 5 1/2 seasons with the Clippers and was traded midway through the 1993-94 season to Atlanta. He signed with the Suns as a free agent the following year and tore the ACL in his left leg after 46 games.
Rehabilitation from the second ACL surgery kept Manning out of the first 42 games of last season, and when he returned he averaged 13.4 points and 4.3 rebounds off the bench.
“The season went OK,” Manning said. “I was very happy to make it back on the court after two knee surgeries.”
He underwent another minor knee surgery a month ago to fix complications of the ACL repair.
“They found some roughness under the kneecap,” Manning said. “It was sore, and it limited my range of motion. So they scoped it out, and it feels very good.”
Manning turned 30 last month. The milestone doesn’t have him pondering his NBA mortality.
Over his eight pro seasons, the two-time all-star (in 1993 and ’94) has averages of 19 points and 6.2 rebounds per game.
“My contract says I’ve got five more years,” Manning said. “So I’ll be there five more years … and hopefully longer than that.”
Manning’s camp runs July 8-12 at Lawrence High School, where Manning played for one year. There are still openings available.
“I have fun with it,” Manning said. “I enjoy working with the kids. It’s a chance to get out and work in the community.”
For the rest of the summer, Manning plans a simpler schedule.
“I like to play softball, I work out and spend time with my family,” Manning said. “And I don’t like to be bothered.”
