When Coleman entered the NBA, he was compared to elite power forwards such as Karl Malone and Charles Barkley, and expected to put up similar numbers, only with the added ability to shoot from three-point range.

Coleman made the 1994 NBA All-Star team, but his career was overshadowed by numerous injuries and attitude problems.

[3] Coleman joined the Orangemen[a] in the 1986-87 season and was a prototypical Big East Conference power forward for the Orange.

The Nets were an up-and-coming team as well, with young players like Coleman, Kenny Anderson, Chris Morris and Mookie Blaylock teaming up with solid veteran players like Sam Bowie, Chris Dudley, Terry Mills and Dražen Petrović.

In 1995, the Nets traded Coleman, Rex Walters, and Sean Higgins to the Philadelphia 76ers for Shawn Bradley, Tim Perry, and Greg Graham.

In 2001, he was reacquired by the Philadelphia 76ers in a three-team trade involving the Golden State Warriors, where the Hornets acquired Chris Porter, Robert Traylor, George Lynch, and Jérôme Moïso.

Coleman is one of only four players in NBA history to record a five-by-five in a game with at least 20 points and 10 rebounds (the other being Hakeem Olajuwon, Draymond Green and Victor Wembanyama.