Mateen Cleaves is a retired American professional basketball player. During his college career, Cleaves led Michigan State University to the 2000 NCAA championship, where he was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four. He is widely regarded as one of the best players in college basketball history. He was a three-time All-American, two-time Big 10 Player of the Year, and was voted to the Top 75 All-Time March Madness Team in 2013.
Cleaves was selected 14th overall in the 2000 NBA draft by the Detroit Pistons. He played three seasons with the Pistons before being traded to the Sacramento Kings in 2003. Cleaves also spent time with the Boston Celtics, Seattle SuperSonics, and Cleveland Cavaliers over his NBA career.
After his playing career, Cleaves became a basketball analyst and commentator for various media outlets, including SiriusXM Radio and CBS Sports Network. He currently runs Leadership Development for UWM, the Nation's #1 mortgage lender, and works closely with his former MSU teammate Mat Ishbia, the CEO of UWM and new Owner of the Phoenix Suns.
