A two-time selection to the All-Pac-10 Conference first team at Washington State, Mark Hendrickson was a second-round draft pick of the Philadelphia 76ers in 1996 and played in 29 games as a rookie. But he was not re-signed by the Sixers and began the 1997-98 season in the CBA before being signed by the Sacramento Kings, for whom he played in 48 games and started the season finale. He began the 1998-99 season in the CBA, but was signed by New Jersey on March 25 and played in 22 games for the Nets, averaging a career-high 5.3 points per game.
The 6-9 Hendrickson posted 43 double-doubles in 108 college games and finished first on Washington State's all-time list in field goal percentage (.567), second in rebounds (927) and minutes played (3,570) and third in points (1,496). He was only the second Cougar ever to lead the team in rebounding all four years. As a senior, Hendrickson was an All-Pac-10 first team selection and NABC District 14 first team pick. He finished second among Pac-10 players in rebounding (9.5) and field goal percentage (.572), and fifth in scoring (16.5). As a junior, he was named to the USBWA District 8 first team, was the Pac-10 field goal percentage leader (.627), which ranked seventh in the NCAA.
Hendrickson saw only limited action in his rookie NBA season after making the 76ers as a second-round draft pick, the 31st overall player selected in 1996. Much of his playing time came late in the season--he appeared in Philadelphia's final 13 games and logged double-figure minutes in the last 11.
After not being resigned by the Sixers, Hendrickson played in 13 games for the LaCrosse Bobcats of the CBA before signing with Sacramento on December 23, 1997. He played in 48 games for the Kings, averaging 3.4 points and 3.0 rebounds per game.
He played 12 games for the LaCrosse Catbirds of the CBA before joining the New Jersey Nets on the first of two 10-day contracts on March 25. He was signed for the remainder of the season by the injury-strapped Nets on April 14 and appeared in a total of 22 games, including six starts, averaging a career-high 5.3 ppg plus 3.1 rpg.
1999-2000 REGULAR SEASON
Signed to a 10-day contract by the New Jersey Nets on 4/7.
Signed to a second 10-day contract by the Cavaliers on 1/18
Signed to a 10-day contract by the Cavaliers on 1/8
Waived by the Cleveland Cavaliers on 1/5
Signed as a free agent by the Cleveland Cavaliers on 12/27
1998-1999 REGULAR SEASON
Posted a career-high 19 points (4-7 FG, 11-12 FT) and 5 rebounds in a 115-107 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on 5/5
Scored 14 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in a 102-91 victory over the Washington Wizards on 5/1
Recorded 15 points and 6 rebounds against the Orlando Magic on 4/30
Registered 12 points (5-9 FG, 2-2 FT) and 8 rebounds against the Detroit Pistons on 4/28
Signed to the first of two consecutive 10-day contracts by the Nets on 3/25 and signed for the remainder of the season on 4/14
Averaged 13.7 ppg and 6.9 rpg in 12 games for LaCrosse of the CBA
1997-1998 REGULAR SEASON
Totaled 8 points (4-6 FG), 4 rebounds and 4 assists in a 123-97 victory over the Toronto Raptors on 1/30
Registered 10 points, 8 rebounds and 3 steals in a 105-89 victory over the L.A. Clippers on 1/6
Recorded 7 points and 9 rebounds against the L.A. Lakers on 12/30
Signed as a free agent by the Sacramento Kings on 12/23
Averaged 11.2 ppg and 6.5 rpg in 13 games for the LaCrosse Bobcats of the CBA
1996-1997 REGULAR SEASON
Hendrickson played in 29 games as a rookie, including Philadelphia's final 13 games of the season, when he averaged 4.5 points and 5.2 rebounds. That raised his season stats to 2.9 points and 3.2 rebounds in 10.4 minutes per game.
He sat out 34 games due to injury, most because of a lumbar spine strain and sprain which he suffered in November and twice reaggravated. He also was a DNP-CD 19 times.
In his late-season spurt, Hendrickson twice scored a career-high 12 points, on April 4 against Washington and in the season finale on April 19 at Atlanta. He grabbed a career-high 11 rebounds three times in the last seven games--against Atlanta on April 9, against Washington on April 14 and against Boston on April 18.
