Pac-12 Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year
Winners
Table:
Season

Player

School

Position

Class

Reference

1975–76

Ron Lee

Oregon

PG/SG

Senior

1976–77

Marques Johnson*

UCLA

PF

Senior

1977–78

David Greenwood

UCLA

PF

Junior

1978–79

David Greenwood (2)

UCLA

PF

Senior

1979–80

Don Collins

Washington State

SF

Senior

1980–81

Steve Johnson

Oregon State

C

Senior

1981–82

Lester Conner

Oregon State

PG

Senior

1982–83

Kenny Fields

UCLA

SF

Junior

1983–84

A. C. Green

Oregon State

PF

Junior

1984–85

Wayne Carlander

USC

PF

Senior

1985–86

Christian Welp

Washington

C

Junior

1986–87

José Ortiz

Oregon State

C

Senior

1987–88

Sean Elliott

Arizona

SF

Junior

1988–89

Sean Elliott* (2)

Arizona

SF

Senior

1989–90

Gary Payton

Oregon State

PG

Senior

1990–91

Terrell Brandon

Oregon

PG

Junior

1991–92

Harold Miner

USC

SG

Junior

1992–93

Chris Mills

Arizona

SF

Senior

1993–94

Jason Kidd

California

PG

Sophomore

1994–95†

Ed O'Bannon*

UCLA

SF

Senior

Based on the tabular data and the passages listed below.

Answer the following question: What is the nickname of the most recent center to have won the award ? Provide just your answer in a JSON object {"answer": "YOUR ANSWER"}. Base your answer solely on the given information.

Ronald Henry Lee ( born November 2 , 1952 ) was an All-American basketball player for the University of Oregon , and epitomized the Kamikaze Kids under coach Dick Harter with his all-out , fearless hustle and relentless desire to win . Born in Boston , Massachusetts , Lee played four seasons for the Ducks between 1972 and 1976 . The Phoenix Suns made him the tenth selection in the NBA draft in 1976 . Despite not playing football in high school and college , the NFL 's San Diego Chargers also made him a 12th round selection in the 1976 NFL draft . In the NBA , Lee was named to the 1977 NBA All-Rookie Team and led the NBA in steals the following season . Overall , Lee had a solid , but not spectacular career as a reserve , and became a fan favorite because of his effort on the court . Ron Lee is still the all-time leading scorer for the University of Oregon with 2,085 points in his four seasons of play . He ranks second in career assists with 572 , first in field goals ( 838 ) , and fifth in free throws made ( 409 ) . He was first-team All-Pac-8 in all four seasons with the Ducks , and made numerous All-American lists during his final three seasons . Lee was inducted into the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame in 1998 . After ending his NBA career , Lee played for 3 years in Italy .
The Oregon Ducks men 's basketball team is an intercollegiate basketball program that competes in the NCAA Division I and is a member of the Pac-12 Conference , representing the University of Oregon . The Ducks play their home games at Matthew Knight Arena , which has a capacity of 12,364 . Then coached by Howard Hobson , Oregon won the first NCAA men 's basketball national championship in 1939 . They again reached the Final Four in 2017 under head coach Dana Altman , marking the longest span between appearances in NCAA history ( 78 years ) . The Ducks have made the NCAA tournament sixteeen times , and have won six conference championships .
The point guard ( PG ) , also called the one or point , is one of the five positions in a regulation basketball game . A point guard has perhaps the most specialized role of any position . Point guards are expected to run the team 's offense by controlling the ball and making sure that it gets to the right player at the right time . Above all , the point guard must understand and accept their coach 's game plan ; in this way , the position can be compared to a quarterback in American football , a catcher in baseball or a playmaker in soccer ( association football ) . They must also be able to adapt to what the defense is allowing and must control the pace of the game . A point guard , like other player positions in basketball , specializes in certain skills . Their primary job is to facilitate scoring opportunities for their team , or sometimes for themselves . Lee Rose has described a point guard as a coach on the floor , who can handle and distribute the ball to teammates . This involves setting up plays on the court , getting the ball to the teammate in the best position to score , and controlling the tempo of the game . A point guard should know when and how to instigate a fast break and when and how to initiate the more deliberate sets . Point guards are expected to be vocal floor leaders . A point guard needs always to have in mind the times on the shot clock and the game clock , the score , the numbers of remaining timeouts for both teams , etc .
The shooting guard ( SG ) , also known as the two or off guard , is one of the five traditional positions in a regulation basketball game . A shooting guard 's main objective is to score points for their team and steal the ball on defense . Some teams ask their shooting guards to bring up the ball as well ; these players are known colloquially as combo guards . A player who can switch between playing shooting guard and small forward is known as a swingman . In the NBA , shooting guards usually range from 6 ' 2 ( 1.88 m ) to 6 ' 7 ( 2.01 m ) , and from 5 ' 8 ( 1.73 m ) to 5 ' 11 ( 1.80 m ) in the WNBA .
Marques Kevin Johnson ( born February 8 , 1956 ) is a basketball analyst for the Milwaukee Bucks on Fox Sports Net and a retired American professional basketball player . The small forward played in the National Basketball Association ( NBA ) from 1977-1989 , where he was a five-time All-Star . He was a pioneer of the point forward position . Johnson was a Los Angeles City Section player of the year in high school before attending the University of California , Los Angeles ( UCLA ) . He played college basketball for the UCLA Bruins and won a national championship in 1975 . In his senior year , he won multiple national player of the year awards . Johnson was the third overall pick in the 1977 NBA draft by the Milwaukee Bucks . He played seven seasons with Milwaukee before finishing his NBA career with the Los Angeles Clippers and the Golden State Warriors .
The UCLA Bruins men 's basketball program represents the University of California , Los Angeles in the sport of men 's basketball as a member of the Pac-12 Conference . Established in 1919 , the program has won a record 11 NCAA titles . Coach John Wooden led the Bruins to 10 national titles in 12 seasons , from 1964 to 1975 , including seven straight from 1967 to 1973 . UCLA went undefeated a record four times ( 1964 , 1967 , 1972 , and 1973 ) . Coach Jim Harrick led the team to another NCAA title in 1995 . Former coach Ben Howland led UCLA to three consecutive Final Four appearances from 2006 to 2008 . As a member of the AAWU , Pacific-8 and then Pacific-10 , UCLA set a NCAA Division I record with 13 consecutive regular season conference titles between 1967 and 1979 which stood until passed by Kansas in 2018 .
The power forward ( PF ) , also known as the four , is one of the five positions in a regulation basketball game . Power forwards play a role similar to that of center . They typically play offensively with their backs towards the basket and position themselves defensively under the basket in a zone defense or against the opposing power forward in man-to-man defense . The power forward position entails a variety of responsibilities , one of which is rebounding . Many power forwards are noted for their mid-range jump-shot , and several players have become very accurate from 12 to 18 feet ( 3.7 to 5.5 m ) . Earlier , these skills were more typically exhibited in the European style of play . Some power forwards , known as stretch fours , have since extended their shooting range to three-point field goals . In the NBA , power forwards usually range from 6′ 6″ ( 1.98 m ) to 6′ 10″ ( 2.08 m ) without shoes while in the WNBA , power forwards are usually between 6′ 0″ ( 1.83 m ) and 6′ 3″ ( 1.91 m ) . Despite the averages , a variety of players fit tweener roles which finds them in the small forward or center position depending on matchups and coaching decisions . [ citation needed ] Some power forwards often play the center position and have the skills , but lack the height that is usually associated with that position . Power forwards that are inducted in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame include Karl Malone , Denise Curry , Dolph Schayes , Kevin McHale , Charles Barkley , Elvin Hayes , Bob Pettit , Dennis Rodman , and Katrina McClain Johnson .
David Murphy-Kasim Greenwood ( born May 27 , 1957 ) is an American retired professional basketball player whose National Basketball Association ( NBA ) career spanned 12 years from 1979 to 1991 . Greenwood made his NBA debut on October 13 , 1979 and was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team during the 1979-80 season . A forward/center , he played for the Chicago Bulls , San Antonio Spurs , Denver Nuggets and Detroit Pistons . Greenwood was the second overall pick of the 1979 NBA draft . The Chicago Bulls lost the coin toss to the Los Angeles Lakers , who drafted future Hall of Famer Earvin Magic Johnson with their number one pick , acquired in a trade with the New Orleans Jazz . Prior to the Michael Jordan era in Chicago , Greenwood was one of the franchise 's marquee players along with Reggie Theus and the late Orlando Woolridge . On October 24 , 1985 , Greenwood was traded by the Bulls to the San Antonio Spurs in exchange for future Hall of Famer George Gervin . On January 26 , 1989 , Greenwood and Spurs teammate , Darwin Cook were traded to the Denver Nuggets for Calvin Natt and Jay Vincent . On October 6 , 1989 , Greenwood signed as an unrestricted free agent with the Detroit Pistons , whom he would assist in a victorious effort in the 1990 NBA Finals as a reserve . He would later sign as an unrestricted free agent with the San Antonio Spurs on August 17 , 1990 until his release on May 21 , 1991 . Greenwood attended the University of California at Los Angeles .
The top 20 from the AP Poll during the pre-season .
The 1979-80 NCAA Division I men 's basketball season began on November 17 , 1979 , progressed through the regular season and conference tournaments , and concluded with the 1980 NCAA Men 's Division I Basketball Tournament Championship Game on March 24 , 1980 , at the Market Square Arena in Indianapolis . The Louisville Cardinals won their first NCAA national championship with a 59-54 victory over the UCLA Bruins .
Donald Collins ( born November 28 , 1958 ) is an American former professional basketball player . Collins was drafted by the Atlanta Hawks , in the first round ( 18th pick ) , of the 1980 NBA draft . Collins played in 303 National Basketball Association ( NBA ) games for four teams , over six seasons , averaging just under 10 points per game for his career .
The Washington State Cougars men 's basketball team represents Washington State University and competes in the Pac-12 Conference ( Pac-12 ) of NCAA Division I . The Cougars play their home games on campus in Pullman at Beasley Coliseum , which has a capacity of 11,566 .
The small forward ( SF ) , also known as the three , is one of the five positions in a regulation basketball game . Small forwards are typically shorter , quicker , and leaner than power forwards and centers , but typically taller , larger and stronger than either of the guard positions . The small forward is considered to be perhaps the most versatile of the five main basketball positions . In the NBA , small forwards usually range from 6 ' 4 ( 1.93 m ) to 6 ' 8 ( 2.03 m ) without shoes while in the WNBA , small forwards are usually between 5 ' 10 ( 1.78 m ) to 6 ' 1 ( 1.85 m ) . Small forwards are responsible for scoring points , defending and often as secondary or tertiary rebounders behind the power forward and center , although a few have considerable passing responsibilities . Many small forwards in professional basketball are prolific scorers . The styles with which small forwards amass their points vary widely . Some players at the position are very accurate shooters , others prefer to initiate physical contact with opposing players , and still others are primarily slashers who also possess jump shots . In some cases , small forwards position on the baseline or as off-the-ball specialists . Small forwards who are defensive specialists are very versatile as they can often guard multiple positions using their size , speed , and strength . Small forwards that are inducted in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame include Julius Erving , Cheryl Miller , Larry Bird , Sheryl Swoopes , James Worthy , Elgin Baylor , Scottie Pippen , Dominique Wilkins and Rick Barry .
The 1980-81 NCAA Division I men 's basketball season began on November 28 , 1980 , progressed through the regular season and conference tournaments , and concluded with the 1981 NCAA Men 's Division I Basketball Tournament Championship Game on March 30 , 1981 , at The Spectrum in Philadelphia . The Indiana Hoosiers won their fourth NCAA national championship with a 63-50 victory over the North Carolina Tar Heels .
Clarence Stephen Johnson ( born November 3 , 1957 ) is a retired American professional basketball player , who played for numerous NBA teams . He played the power forward and center positions . He was generally regarded as a good low-post offensive player , but as a poor defender and rebounder ( and as a foul-prone player as well ) .
The Oregon State Beavers men 's basketball program , established in 1901 , is the intercollegiate men 's basketball program of Oregon State University in Corvallis , Oregon . Members of the Pac-12 Conference in NCAA Division I , the team plays home games on campus at Gill Coliseum , and the current head coach is Wayne Tinkle . Oregon State has seventeen appearances in the NCAA Tournament ( though three ( 1980-82 ) were later vacated by the NCAA ) . The Beavers advanced to the Final Four twice ( 1949 , 1963 ) , and their most recent appearance was in 2016 , a first round loss to Virginia Commonwealth .
The center ( C ) , also known as the five position , or the big man , is one of the five positions in a basketball game . The center is normally the tallest player on the team , and often has a great deal of strength and body mass as well . In the NBA , the center is usually 6 feet 10 inches ( 2.08 m ) or taller and usually weighs 240 pounds ( 110 kg ) or more . They traditionally have played close to the basket in the low post . Centers are valued for their ability to protect their own goal while scoring with high efficiency . In the 1950s and 1960s , George Mikan and Bill Russell were centerpieces of championship dynasties and defined early prototypical centers . With the addition of a three-point field goal for the 1979-80 season , however , NBA basketball gradually became more perimeter-oriented and saw the importance of the center position diminished . A center with the ability to shoot outside from three-point range is known as stretch five .
The 1981-82 NCAA Division I men 's basketball season began on November 27 , 1981 , progressed through the regular season and conference tournaments , and concluded with the 1982 NCAA Men 's Division I Basketball Tournament Championship Game on March 29 , 1982 , at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans , Louisiana . The North Carolina Tar Heels won their second NCAA national championship with a 63-62 victory over the Georgetown Hoyas .
Lester Allen Conner ( born September 17 , 1959 ) is an American professional basketball coach and former professional basketball player , who played for numerous NBA teams . On the floor at the collegiate level the 6 ' 4 Conner was a swingman , playing both the shooting guard and small forward positions , earning high collegiate honors as the 1982 Pac-10 Player of the Year . Conner was the 14th selection in the first round of the 1982 NBA Draft , selected by his hometown Golden State Warriors , for whom he played the first four years of his 12-season NBA career . In the NBA Conner was a combo guard , playing both the shooting guard and point guard positions . His NBA career was interrupted by one year played with the league champion Rapid City Thrillers of the Continental Basketball Association . Following his retirement at the end of the 1994-95 season , Conner turned his attention to coaching , beginning as an assistant to Boston Celtics head coach Rick Pitino in 1998 and continuing for more than 15 years .
Kenny Fields ( born February 9 , 1962 ) is an American former professional basketball player who was selected by the Milwaukee Bucks in the 1st round ( 21st overall ) of the 1984 NBA Draft . A 6 ' 5 guard-forward from UCLA , Fields played in 4 seasons in the NBA from 1984-1988 . He played for the Bucks and Los Angeles Clippers . His best year as a pro came during the 1986-87 season when he split time with the Bucks and Clippers , appearing in 48 games and averaging 8.2 ppg . Fields also played parts of two seasons in the Continental Basketball Association with three teams .
A. C. Green Jr. ( born October 4 , 1963 ) is an American retired National Basketball Association ( NBA ) player who played in more consecutive games than any other player in NBA and ABA history . With 1,192 straight games played , he earned the nickname Iron Man . He played for the Los Angeles Lakers , Phoenix Suns , Dallas Mavericks and Miami Heat . He won three NBA championships with the Lakers , in 1987 and 1988 , during the Showtime era and the third in 2000 , during his second Lakers stint . He was born and raised in Portland , Oregon , attending Benson Polytechnic High School and Oregon State University . He was inducted into the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame in 2003 . He played in 1192 consecutive games and 1278 out of 1281 games in his career ( 99.8% ) , with the three he missed coming in his second season , 1986-87 .
Wayne Carlander is a retired American basketball player for the USC Trojans . A 6 ' 6 power forward , Carlander finished his four-year career with 1,524 points and 767 rebounds in 116 games played . His point total ranks fifth all-time at the University of Southern California while his rebounds rank eighth . Carlander lead the Trojans in scoring for three straight seasons ( 1983-85 ) and , as a senior , was named the Pac-10 Conference Men 's Basketball Player of the Year . He was also the team captain for his junior and senior years . Carlander was drafted in the 5th round of the 1985 NBA Draft ( 99th overall ) , but never made any NBA team 's final roster .
The USC Trojans men 's basketball program is the college basketball team that competes in the Pac-12 Conference of the National Collegiate Athletic Association ( NCAA ) Division I and represents the University of Southern California . The program was formerly coached by Tim Floyd , until his resignation on June 9 , 2009 . Other staff members include Phil Johnson , Bob Cantu , Gib Arnold , Rob Brooks and Rudy Hackett . Kevin O'Neill , who last coached in the NCAA at Arizona , was named the head coach by Mike Garrett on June 20 , 2009 . O'Neill was terminated in January 2013 after a 7-10 start . Longtime assistant Bob Cantu was given interim duties . On April 1 , 2013 , Andy Enfield , head coach of the Florida Gulf Coast University team known for its upsets during the 2013 NCAA Tournament , was named head coach .
Christian Ansgar Welp ( January 2 , 1964 - March 1 , 2015 ) was a German professional basketball player . During his playing career , he was a 213 centimetres ( 7 ft 0 in ) , 111 kilograms ( 245 lb ) center . He played three seasons in the NBA . He was the MVP of the 1993 EuroBasket .
The Washington Huskies men 's basketball team represents the University of Washington in NCAA Division I college basketball competing in the Pac-12 Conference . Their home games are played at Alaska Airlines Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion , located in Seattle , and they are currently led by head coach Mike Hopkins .
José Rafael Piculín Ortiz Rijos ( born October 25 , 1963 ) is a Puerto Rican former professional basketball player . He played in the NCAA , NBA , various European teams , and the Baloncesto Superior Nacional ( BSN ) . He played for the Utah Jazz while in the NBA and the Atléticos de San Germán , Cangrejeros de Santurce , and Capitanes de Arecibo while in the Baloncesto Superior Nacional . Ortiz was a member of the Puerto Rican national team from 1983 to 2004 . Most notably he was a member of the 2004 team that defeated the United States at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens , Greece . Ortiz played in Summer Olympics , as he played in 1988 , 1992 , 1996 , and 2004 . Ortiz holds various honors and records as a basketball player . He ranks # 4 and # 6 in the all-time statistics for rebounds per game and total rebounds in the Baloncesto Superior Nacional league . He is also the third player to win eight championships in the league . Ortiz is also the first Puerto Rican-born player to be drafted in the NBA . Many experts consider Ortiz to be the best Puerto Rican basketball player . Despite his success in sports , Ortiz went through financial troubles after retiring .
Sean Michael Elliott ( born February 2 , 1968 ) is an American former professional basketball player who starred at small forward in both the college and professional ranks . He attended the University of Arizona , where he had a standout career as a two-time All-American , winner of the 1989 John R. Wooden Award , the 1989 Adolph Rupp Trophy , the 1989 NABC Player of the Year , 1989 AP Player of the Year , and two time Pac-12 Player of the Year ( in 1988-1989 ) . He was the third pick of the 1989 NBA draft , was named to the 1990 NBA All-Rookie Second Team , was a two-time NBA All-Star , and earned an NBA championship in 1999 . His # 32 is retired by both the University of Arizona and the San Antonio Spurs .
The Arizona Wildcats men 's basketball team is the intercollegiate men 's basketball program representing the University of Arizona in Tucson , Arizona . They compete in the Pac-12 Conference of NCAA Division I and are currently coached by Sean Miller . Arizona has a long and rich basketball history . The program came to national prominence under the tutelage of former head coach Lute Olson ( 1983-2007 ) , who established the program as among America 's elite in college basketball . One writer referred to UA as Point Guard U because the school has produced successful guards like Steve Kerr , Damon Stoudamire , Khalid Reeves , Mike Bibby , Jason Terry , Gilbert Arenas , Jason Gardner , Jerryd Bayless , and T. J. McConnell , among others . From 1985 to 2009 , the Arizona basketball team reached the NCAA Division I Tournament for 25 consecutive years , two years shy of North Carolina 's record with 27 . Despite having their 1999 and 2008 appearances later vacated by the NCAA , the media still cites Arizona 's streak , and simply notes the changes . The Wildcats have reached the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament on four occasions ( 1988 , 1994 , 1997 , and 2001 ) . They have also made two appearances in the National Championship ( won over Kentucky Wildcats in 1997 , lost to Duke Blue Devils in 2001 ) . In Pac-10 play , former head coach Lute Olson currently holds the record for most wins as a Pac-10 coach with 327 . In addition , the team has won sixteen Pac-10/12 regular season championship titles and seven Pac-10/12 tournament championship titles . Arizona also holds the distinction of recording five out of the seven 17-1 Pac-10 seasons ( one-loss seasons ) .
Gary Dwayne Payton Sr. ( born July 23 , 1968 ) is an American retired professional basketball player . He started at the point guard position . He is best known for his 13-year tenure with the Seattle SuperSonics , and holds Seattle franchise records in points , assists , and steals . He also played with the Milwaukee Bucks , Los Angeles Lakers , Boston Celtics , and Miami Heat . Payton won an NBA championship with the Heat in 2006 . He was nicknamed The Glove for his defensive abilities . He was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame on September 8 , 2013 . Payton is widely considered one of the best point guards of all time . He is the only point guard to win the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award . He was selected to the NBA All-Defensive First Team nine times , an NBA record he shares with Michael Jordan , Kevin Garnett and Kobe Bryant . He was also a nine-time NBA All-Star and a nine-time All-NBA Team member . Considered the NBA 's reigning high scorer among point guards in his prime , Payton is referred to as probably as complete a guard as there ever was by Basketball Hall of Famer Gail Goodrich .
Thomas Terrell Brandon ( born May 20 , 1970 ) is an American retired professional basketball player . He played for three teams during his 11-year career in the National Basketball Association ( NBA ) .
Harold David Miner ( born May 5 , 1971 ) is an American former professional basketball player and two-time champion of the National Basketball Association ( NBA ) Slam Dunk Contest . He attended college at the University of Southern California ( USC ) and was a star player on that school 's men 's basketball team . He left school in 1992 to pursue his professional career , and played in the NBA for the Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers . Despite comparisons to Michael Jordan , Miner 's NBA career only lasted four years .
Christopher Lemonte Mills ( born January 25 , 1970 ) is a retired American professional basketball player who played ten seasons in the National Basketball Association ( NBA ) .
Jason Frederick Kidd ( born March 23 , 1973 ) is an American professional basketball coach and former player who is an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association ( NBA ) . Previously a point guard in the NBA , Kidd was a 10-time NBA All-Star , a five-time All-NBA First Team member , and a nine-time NBA All-Defensive Team member . He won an NBA Championship in 2011 as a member of the Dallas Mavericks , and was a two-time Olympic Gold Medal winner during his pro career , as part of Team USA in 2000 and 2008 . He was inducted as a player into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame . Kidd played college basketball for the California Golden Bears and was drafted second overall by the Dallas Mavericks in the first round of the 1994 NBA draft . He was named co-NBA Rookie of the Year in his first season with the Mavericks . Then , from 1996 to 2001 , Kidd played for the Phoenix Suns and later for the New Jersey Nets from 2001 to 2008 . He led the Nets to two consecutive NBA Finals appearances in 2002 and 2003 . In the middle of the 2007-08 season , Kidd was traded back to Dallas . At age 38 , Kidd won his only NBA championship when Dallas defeated Miami in the 2011 NBA Finals . He finished his playing career in 2013 with the New York Knicks . The following season , he became the head coach of the Nets , who had relocated from New Jersey to Brooklyn .
The California Golden Bears basketball team is the college basketball team of the University of California , Berkeley . The program has seen success throughout the years , culminating in a national championship in 1959 under coach Pete Newell , and the team has reached the final four two other times , in 1946 and 1960 . The current head coach is Mark Fox , who began his tenure at Cal in 2019 . The team plays its home games at Haas Pavilion , which was long known as Harmon Gym before being heavily renovated with money donated in part by the owners of Levi Strauss & Co . The arena was originally known as Men 's Gymnasium and then later Harmon Gymnasium until the late 1990s when it went through renovations which displaced the team for two seasons .
Edward Charles O'Bannon , Jr. ( born August 14 , 1972 ) is an American former professional basketball player . He was a power forward for the UCLA Bruins on their 1995 NCAA championship team . He was the ninth pick in the 1995 National Basketball Association ( NBA ) Draft , selected by the New Jersey Nets . He spent only two seasons in the NBA , but continued his professional career for another eight years , mainly playing in Europe . O'Bannon is the lead plaintiff in O'Bannon v. NCAA , an antitrust class action lawsuit against the National Collegiate Athletic Association which resulted in the discontinuation of NCAA video games .