CHRIS Dudley attended Yale, played in the NBA for 16 years and was almost elected governor of Oregon.

And the 6-foot-11 NBA journeyman center did it all while living with Type 1 diabetes.

Chris Dudley had a 16-year NBC career
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Chris Dudley had a 16-year NBC careerCredit: Getty

The journeyman center had two spells with the Portland Trail Blazers
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The journeyman center had two spells with the Portland Trail BlazersCredit: Getty

Dudley ran for governor of Oregon in 2010
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Dudley ran for governor of Oregon in 2010Credit: Getty
Dudley averaged just 3.6 points per game in his career and was famed for his inept free-throw shooting.

In April 1990, Dudley set an NBA record by missing 13 consecutive free throws in a game against the Indiana Pacers.

He scored a lamentable 1-18 (5.6 per cent) from the charity stripe for that game.

But thanks to his skills as a rebounder and shot blocker, he was able to have a lengthy career in the NBA.

He played for the Cleveland Cavaliers, New Jersey Nets, Portland Trail Blazers (twice), New York Knicks and Phoenix Suns, earning $32.5 million.

Dudley took part in the NBA Finals with the Knicks in 1999 as the team lost 4-1 to the San Antonio Spurs.

After retiring from the NBA in 2003, Dudley made his home in Portland, Oregon, and became a financial advisor.

And despite having no previous political experience, he secured the Republican ticket to run for Oregon governor in 2010.

Politics runs in Dudley’s family – his grandfather was the ambassador to Denmark during the Nixon administration.

A former treasurer for the National Basketball Players Association, Dudley demonstrated an incredible ability to raise money, netting $10.5 million for his campaign.

Among the contributors to Dudley’s campaign were NBA commissioner David Stern, Nike founder Phil Knight; NBA coaches P.J. Carlesimo and Rick Carlisle, and former Blazers teammates Clyde Drexler and Terry Porter.

Dudley came within 1.5 percentage points of beating Democrat John Kitzhaber in the gubernatorial election.

It was the closest a Republican had come in the previous seven gubernatorial elections, all of which have been won by Democrats.

Kitzhaber resigned in disgrace in 2015 amid allegations of criminal wrongdoing.

In 2012, Dudley gave up his political ambitions and relocated to Southern California with his family.

Dudley returned to the spotlight when he pushed back against allegations of sexual misconduct and drinking leveled against Supreme Court member Brett Kavanaugh during his time at Yale.

“I went out with him all the time,” Dudley told the Washington Post.

“He never blacked out. Never even close to blacked out.

“There was drinking, and there was alcohol. Brett drank, and I drank.

“Did he get inebriated sometimes? Yes. Did I? Yes.

“Just like every other college kid in America.”