Basketball's Most Wanted: NBA Lists

Basketballs
Most Wanted
TM
II
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Also by David L. Hudson, Jr.
Boxings Most Wanted
TM
: The Top 10 Book of Champs,
Chumps, and Punch-Drunk Palookas (with Mike
Fitzgerald, Jr.)
The Fourteenth Amendment: Equal Protection Under
the Law
The Bill of Rights: The First Ten Amendments of the
Constitution
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Basketballs
Most Wanted
TM
II
The Top 10 Book of More Hotshot
Hoopsters, Double Dribbles, and
Roundball Oddities
David L. Hudson, Jr.
Potomac Books, Inc.
Washington, D.C.
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Copyright 2005 by Potomac Books, Inc.
Published in the United States by Potomac Books, Inc.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be
reproduced in any manner whatsoever without
written permission from the publisher, except in the
case of brief quotations embodied in critical
articles and reviews.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Hudson, David L., 1969
Basketballs most wanted II : the top 10 book
of more hotshot hoopsters, double dribbles, and
roundball oddities / David L. Hudson, Jr.1st ed.
p. cm.(Most wanted)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 1-57488-950-8 (pbk. : alk. paper)
1. BasketballMiscellanea. I. Title:
Basketballs most wanted 2. II. Title: Basketballs
most wanted two. III. Title. IV. Series.
GV885.H79 2005
796.357dc22 2005007482
Printed in Canada on acid-free paper that meets
the American National Standards Institute
Z3948 Standard.
Potomac Books, Inc.
22841 Quicksilver Drive
Dulles, Virginia 20166
First Edition
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
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To Bill Clarka former basketball star,
the best free throw shooter Ive ever encountered,
a mentor and a great friend.
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Contents
Photographs xiii
Acknowledgments xv
National Championship Game Performances 1
Final college game heroics
Great Game 7s in NBA Finals 6
Final pro game heroics
NCAA Upsets 11
They werent supposed to win
Freshman Phenoms 16
Immediate college stars
They Played Great in College But Not in the Pros 20
From college great to pro op
Transfer Talents 26
A positive change of scenery
Played For One Team 32
Their only pro squad
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viii Contents
They Coached One College Team 36
These were their schools
Three-Point Kings (NBA) 40
Long distance pro marksmen
Three-Point Kings (NCAA) 44
Long distance college marksmen
Court Thieves 47
Stealing the ball
Terric Trios 51
It takes three to be great
Sixth Men 56
Instant spark off the bench
She Can Hoop, Too 60
Female b-ballers with famous relatives
Unlikely NBA and ABA Record Holders 65
Surprise record holders
Undrafted Stars 70
Unlikely route to the pros
Terrible Trades 74
Lopsided deals
Clipping Talents 80
Bad decisions by a lowly franchise
Sultans of Swat 84
They blocked many shots
Not a Scorer 88
Players who didnt score much but contributed in
other ways
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ix Contents
Small Packages II 92
Tiny talents
Same Name Game 97
They shared the same name
Their Rookie Years Were Their Best 102
Starting off strong
Player-Coaches 106
They played and coached at the same time
Their College Teams Lost But They Won Top
Honors 110
Great NCAA tournament performances from
players on losing teams
Married to Stars 114
Not the only celebrity in the family
Legal Stars 118
From the basketball court to a court of law
They Turned Their Teams Around 123
Immediate positive impact
They Coached Their Sons 127
Father knows best
High School Teammates 132
From high school to the pros
Charity Kings 139
Automatic from the foul line
Charismatic Pro Owners 142
Unique owners
Brothers in the NBA 148
Bloodlines in the pro ranks
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x Contents
Sibling Teammates in College 153
They played together
Born on the Same Day 157
Birthday trivia
Basketball Musicians 162
A little string music
All-Jones Team 167
More name game trivia
All-Johnson Team 171
Even more name games
Academic and Athletic All-Stars 175
Brains as well as brawn
Hawkeye Glory 180
Great Iowa players
Famous Quotes 185
They said it
The Best of Al McGuire 190
Notable quotes from a famous coach
Asian Invasion 195
Basketball stars from the Far East
Globetrotter Favorites 199
Favorite players from Americas favorite team
Best Basketball Movies 204
B-Ball at the box ofce
Worst Basketball Movies 208
Box ofce bombs
High School 100-Point Scorers 211
They bested the century mark in high school
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xi Contents
Draft Oddities 214
Unusual draft selections
When Basketball and Wrestling Collide 218
Hoops and the hulks
Basketball Tragedies 222
Sadness on and off the court
ABA Uniqueness 226
A wild league
Enforcers 232
They were intimidators
Sexual Misconduct 236
The wrong kind of headlines
They Played in One Pro Game 240
They didnt get many minutes
Playground Legends 243
Kings of the street
Pro Basketball Mascots 249
The wild and woolly
Cameron Crazies 253
Those devilish Duke fans
Bibliography 257
Index 259
About the Author 271
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Photographs
Butch Lee 22
Desmond Cambridge 48
Wilt Chamberlain 76
Trenton Hassell 137
James Fitzgerald with Bob Lanier 146
The Savoy Big Five 165
Al McGuire 192
Curley Boo Johnson 203
David Thompson 228
James Fly Williams 246
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Acknowledgments
T
he author wishes to thank the following people:
John Heacock, Bill Clark, Jay Jackson, Mike Wil-
liamson, Marshall Terrill, Chris Collins, Sean Stormes,
Sean Foley, Brad Emerson, Greg Korn, and, most of
all, my sportswriting mentor Mike Fitzgerald.
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National
Championship Game
Performances
T
he crown jewel of college basketball remains the
Final Four, where four teams battle it out for Na-
tional Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) suprem-
acy in the season-ending tournament. Several players
have starred on March Madnesss biggest stage. These
players saved their best for the NCAA championship
game.
1. BILL WALTON
Bill Walton, the Big Redhead, dominated college bas-
ketball during his days at UCLA, proving to be a worthy
successor to Lew Alcindor (later Kareem Abdul-
Jabbar). In 1973, Walton led the Bruins to a win over
Indiana in the seminals and a convincing 8766
thumping of Memphis State in the nals. In the champi-
onship game, Walton scored 44 points, hitting 21 out
of 22 shots. Walton grabbed 13 rebounds in the title
game en route to earning Most Outstanding Player
(MOP) honors. Many consider Waltons titlegame per-
formance as the greatest single game effort by a col-
lege basketball player.
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2 Basketballs Most Wanted
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2. PERVIS ELLISON
The 1986 title game featured the high-ying Louisville
Cardinals against the best team in college basketball
that year, the Duke Blue Devils. Dukeled by senior
stars Johnny Dawkins, Mark Alarie, David Henderson,
and Jay Bilaslost only one game the entire regular
season. However, in the title game Duke had no answer
for Louisville freshman center Pervis Never Nervous
Ellison. Ellison scored 24 points on 10 for 14 shooting,
and also grabbed 11 rebounds. Ellison became only
the second freshman to earn the tournaments MOP
award.
3. JACK GIVENS
In 1978, Kentucky battled Duke for the national cham-
pionship. Kentucky had an outstanding guard in Kyle
Macy, their oor leader, and a bruising big man in Rick
Robey. But the star of the show was their smooth-
shooting forward Jack Goose Givens, who never
played better than in the 1978 title game. He scored 41
points, shooting 18 for 27 from the eld.
4. GAIL GOODRICH
In the 1965 title game, UCLA captured its second
straight national championship with a 9180 victory
over the University of Michigan. In the battle of shoot-
ers, UCLAs Gail Goodrich outgunned Michigan star
Cazzie Russell 4228. Goodrich shot 12 for 22 from the
eld and an amazing 18 out of 20 from the free throw
line for his impressive nal game performance. Amaz-
ingly, Goodrichs nal game performance failed to earn
him the tournaments MOP award. Thats because
Princetons Bill Bradley scored 87 points during the
Final Four, including 58 points in a single game.
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3 National Championship Game Performances
5. GLEN RICE
No one could have predicted that Michigan would win
the 1989 NCAA tournament. Just prior to the tourna-
ment their coach, Bill Frieder, was replaced after he re-
vealed he was taking the head job at Arizona State.
Assistant coach Steve Fisher was installed as interim
coach and the Wolverines rolled to the title, including a
thrilling 8079 overtime win over Seton Hall. The Wol-
verines won largely because of sharp-shooting star for-
ward Glen Rice. In the nal game Rice connected for
31 points, including ve three-pointers. During the six
games he scored a record 184 points. The record still
stands as the most points by an individual in a single
NCAA tournament.
6. LEW ALCINDOR
Lew Alcindor may have been the most dominant force
in the history of college basketball. He was college bas-
ketballs Most Valuable Player (MVP) all three years of
his college career (freshman were not eligible in Al-
cindors day), and UCLA captured national titles in all
three of those years. In 1969, Alcindor led the Bruins to
a 9272 destruction of Purdue. The hapless Boilermak-
ers could only watch as Alcindor scored 37 points and
grabbed 20 rebounds in the title game. The year before,
Alcindor scorched North Carolina for 34 points and 18
rebounds.
7. BOB KURLAND
Oklahoma State University won consecutive NCAA
championships in 1945 and 1946 due to their towering
6 10 center, Bob Foothills Kurland. He was the MVP
in both tournaments. In the nal game of the 1945 title
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game, Kurland scored 22 of his teams 49 points. The
next year, Kurland scored 23 of his teams 43 points to
lead them to a 4340 win over North Carolina.
8. ALEX GROZA
In 1949 Alex Groza, Kentuckys All-American, led the
Wildcats to a 4636 win over Oklahoma State. Other
players have scored more total points in a title game,
but no player ever scored a higher percentage of his
teams total points. Groza, a 6 7 center, scored 25
points in the championship game, more than half his
teams total points. Grozas dominance can be seen in
that Kentuckys next highest scorers during the game
scored only 5 points each.
9. CLYDE LOVELLETTE
In 1952 the University of Kansas defeated St. Johns
University 8063 to capture the NCAA title. The Jay-
hawks rode the back of their 6 9 center Clyde Lovel-
lette. Lovellette, the nations leading scorer during the
regular season, did not disappoint in the nal game. He
scored 33 points and grabbed 17 rebounds. Lovellette
went on to play in three National Basketball Associa-
tion (NBA) All-Star games during an eleven-year pro-
fessional career.
10. ARNIE FERRIN
In 1944 the University of Utahs so-called Blitz Kids
defeated Dartmouth 4240 in the rst overtime title
game in the tournaments history. Utah was led by their
star freshman forward, Arnie Ferrin. He scored 22 of
this teams 42 points to capture the tournaments top
player award. Ironically, Utah was entered into the
NCAA tournament only after the University of Arkansas
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5 National Championship Game Performances
had to pull out when several of its starters were injured
in an automobile accident. Utah, which had lost in the
National Invitation Tournament (NIT), accepted the
substitute bid and made the most out of their second
chance. Ferrin did not fare as well in the professional
ranks, playing only three years for the Minneapolis
Lakers.
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Great Game 7s in
NBA Finals
I
n the NBA Finals, a team has to win the best of seven
games, or four games. Many times in NBA history a
series nal has been tied 33, with a deciding Game 7
in the balance. These players delivered in the clutch to
enshrine themselves in NBA lore.
1. JAMES WORTHY 1988
The Los Angeles Lakers of the 1980s featured the
Showtime attack of point guard Magic Johnson, cen-
ter Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and small forward James
Worthy. In 1987 the Lakers captured the title by defeat-
ing the Celtics in six games. Coach Pat Riley guaran-
teed that his team would repeat. In the 1988 NBA
Finals the Lakers proved Riley prescient, but not after a
erce ght from the Detroit Pistons. In Game 7, James
Worthy lived up to his nickname of Big Game James
by delivering one of the biggest games in NBA history.
Worthy scored 36 points, grabbed 16 rebounds, and
handed out 10 assists for a magnicent triple double.
His nal game heroics garnered him Finals MVP
honors.
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7 Great Game 7s in NBA Finals
2. WALT FRAZIER 1970
In the 1970 NBA Finals, the New York Knicks squared
off against the mighty Los Angeles Lakers, who were
led by Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry West, and Elgin Baylor.
The situation looked bleak for the Knicks after their star
center Willis Reed injured his knee in Game 5. The
mighty Chamberlain seized on Reeds absence from
the action to dominate Game 6 and even the series.
Most people remember Game 7 for Reeds historic en-
trance onto the court for the start of the game. Hobbling
up and down the court, Reed nailed the rst two shots
of the game, which energized the Knicks. From there,
Reed did not score again, but he didnt have to. The
game belonged to the Knicks fabulous point guard,
Walt Clyde Frazier. Frazier scored 36 points, handed
out an unbelievable 19 assists, and made 5 steals.
3. BILL RUSSELL 1960
In the 1960 NBA Finals, the Boston Celtics faced off
against the St. Louis Hawks for the third time in four
years. The rivalry featured some of the games greatest
players, such as the Celtics point guard Bob Cousy
and the Hawks great power forward Bob Pettit. The
Hawks won Game 6 in St. Louis to force a deciding
Game 7 in Boston. In Game 7, the Celtics had many
stars. None shone brighter than their center Bill Russell,
who scored 22 points, grabbed an astonishing 35 re-
bounds, and dished out 4 assists.
In the NBA Finals of the 196162 season, the mighty
Boston Celtics faced off against their newest rivals, the
Los Angeles Lakers. The growing Celtic dynasty met a
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stiff challenge from a talented Laker team that featured
Mr. Inside Elgin Baylor and Mr. Outside Jerry West.
In Game 5 in the nals Baylor scorched the Celtics for
an NBA Finalsrecord of 61 points. In Game 7, the
Celtics prevailed in a 110107 overtime thriller. The
dominant force was none other than the ultimate win-
ner Bill Russell, who scored 30 points and grabbed an
amazing 40 rebounds.
In 1966 the Boston Celtics were seeking their eighth
straight NBA title. Standing in their way once again
were the Los Angeles Lakers led by Elgin Baylor and
Jerry West. In Game 7, the Celtics edged the Lakers
9593. The dominant force yet again was Bill Russell,
who scored 25 points and grabbed 32 rebounds.
6. DAVE COWENS 1974
In the 1974 NBA Finals, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar led the
Milwaukee Bucks against Dave Cowenss Boston Celt-
ics. Milwaukee won Game 6 on a last-second skyhook
shot by Abdul-Jabbar in double overtime. The series
returned to Milwaukee for the nal game. Cowens and
the Celtics would not be denied, and they defeated the
Bucks 10287 behind Cowenss 28 points. It was per-
haps the nest moment of Cowenss outstanding ca-
reer.
7. HAKEEM OLAJUWON 1994
In the 1994 NBA Finals, the Houston Rockets and New
York Knicks engaged in a defensive lockdown. No
team scored more than 100 points in any game. The
Knicks, led by their great center Patrick Ewing, looked
on the verge of a title after taking a 32 series lead.
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9 Great Game 7s in NBA Finals
However, the Rockets captured Game 6 to force the
deciding game. In the nal game, Rockets center Ha-
keem The Dream Olajuwon proved dominant once
again. He tallied 25 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists, and
3 blocks. Olajuwon captured his rst NBA title and
earned a measure of redemption against Ewing, who
had defeated him for an NCAA title nearly ten years
before in 1984.
8. CEDRIC MAXWELL 1984
The Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers waged a
pitched battle for NBA supremacy for much of the
1980s. The 1984 NBA Finals featured the premier ri-
valry in the sport between the Celtics Larry Bird and
the Lakers Earvin Magic Johnson. Larry Bird out-
played Magic for much of the series, averaging 27
points and 14 rebounds per game. However, Game 7
featured the emergence of the Celtics other starting
forward, Cedric Cornbread Maxwell, the MVP of the
Celtics triumph over the Houston Rockets in the 1981
nals. In 1984 Maxwell, who had been quiet the entire
series, erupted for a solid all-around game of 24 points,
8 rebounds, and 8 assists to lead his team to victory.
9. CONNIE HAWKINS 1968
Connie Hawkins entered the American Basketball As-
sociation (ABA) in its inaugural season at the age of
27. He had been banned by the NBA for his alleged
association with gamblers. The ABA allowed Hawkins
to play, and he dominated the league. He led the Pitts-
burgh Pipers to the championship against the New Or-
leans Buccaneers. In Game 7, Hawkins scored 20
points, grabbed 16 rebounds, and dished out 9 assists.
It was a tting end to an MVP season. Hawkins played
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one more year in the ABA before moving to the Phoe-
nix Suns of the NBA, effectively lifting its ban on
Hawkins.
10. ZELMO BEATY 1971
Zelmo Beaty was a star center in the NBA for several
years before moving to the Utah Stars. His rst year in
the ABA, Beaty led the Stars to the championship
round against the powerful Kentucky Colonels. In
Game 7, Beaty scored 36 points and grabbed 16 re-
bounds to lead the Stars to a 131121 triumph.
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NCAA Upsets
T
he NCAA tournament may well be the crown jewel
of basketball, generating so much excitement that
it has been dubbed March Madness. Since 1985, 64
teams are invited to participate in the tournament each
year. The tournament is divided into four regions with
16 seeds in each region. Normally, higher seeded
teams prevailbut not always. Every year there are
teams that pull at least one upset, and the following are
ten memorable upsets.
1. MTSU OVER KENTUCKY 1982
It was supposed to be the ultimate matchup of basket-
ball powerhouses in the second round of the 1982
NCAA tournament in Nashville, Tennessee. Shirts were
even printed featuring the pending showdown between
Kentucky and Louisville. The problem was that some-
one forgot to tell the Middle Tennessee State University
Blue Raiders and their ery coach, Stan Ramrod
Simpson. The Blue Raiders, a 11 seed, shocked a
powerful Kentucky team led by future NBA players Dirk
Minnieeld and Melvin Turpin. Jerry Beck, the Ohio
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Valley Conference (OVC) Player of the Year, led the Blue
Raiders to an unbelievable 5044 upset. Beck and fresh-
man guard Edward Pancakes Perry played all forty
minutes of the game. The Raiders hung with Louisville
in the second-round game for a half before falling 8156.
2. VILLANOVA OVER GEORGETOWN 1985
In 1985 the mighty Georgetown Hoyas, led by Player
of the Year Patrick Ewing, were the odds-on choice to
win the title. In fact they had won the championship the
year before and were even better in 1985. In fact they
were the best team in the country for most of the year.
A 1 seed, the Hoyas manhandled a talented St.
Johns team in the seminals to reach the champion-
ship game against another team from the Big East
Conference (BEC)the upstart Villanova Wildcats.
Georgetown had defeated Villanova twice during the
season, but Villanova appeared to be something of a
team of destiny. It defeated Dayton by 2 points, Michi-
gan by 4 points, and Maryland by 3 points in its rst
three tournament games. Most believed that Villano-
vas only chance of winning the title was to play a per-
fect game. The 8seed Wildcats played a near-
perfect game, missing only six eld goal attempts the
entire game. Villanova won 6664.
3. NORTH CAROLINA STATE OVER HOUSTON 1983
The Houston Cougars were the most talented team in
the country in 1983. The teamnicknamed Phi Slamma
Jammafeatured future NBA Hall of Famers Hakeem
The Dream Olajuwon and Clyde The Glide Drexler.
It also featured Michael Young, Larry Mr. Mean
Micheaux, Alvin Franklin, and the explosive Benny An-
ders. However, the Cougars faced a team of destiny led
by Wolfpack coach Jimmy Valvano and his pair of
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13 NCAA Upsets
experienced guards, Derrick Whittenburg and Sidney
Lowe. North Carolina State squeaked out a rst-round,
double overtime win over Pepperdine and gradually
improved with each game. It led Houston 3325 at half-
time and then withstood a Cougar second-half rally.
With seconds remaining and the score tied 5252,
Whittenburg launched a 30-footer. The shot was an air
ball but, with one second remaining, forward Lorenzo
Charles slammed the ball home for an improbable
5452 victory.
4. CANISIUS OVER NORTH CAROLINA STATE 1956
Heading into the 1956 NCAA tournament, North Caro-
lina State looked primed to make a serious run at the
national championship. The Wolfpack had compiled a
formidable 243 season record and was ranked 2 in
the country by the Associated Press. All that stood in
its way in the rst round on March 12, 1956, in Madison
Square Garden, was tiny Canisius College from Buf-
falo, N.Y. However, Canisius outlasted North Carolina
State 7978 in four overtimes. The underdogs
prevailed on a last-second shot by reserve Frank Cor-
coran.
5. PRINCETON OVER UCLA 1996
The UCLA Bruins won the 1995 NCAA championship,
and they aimed to repeat their magic in 1996, as they
faced the 13 seed Princeton Tigers of the Ivy League
in the rst round. Princeton coach Pete Carril was
known as a basketball genius, but hardly anyone
thought that the talented Bruins would lose the game.
The 4 seeded Bruins led 4134 with just more than
ve minutes to play; however, the Bruins would not
score again. With seconds remaining, Princeton sopho-
more center Steve Goodrich fed freshman forward
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Gabe Lewullis on a backdoor layup to win the game
4341.
6. COPPIN STATE OVER SOUTH CAROLINA 1997
Only four times in NCAA history has a 15 seed de-
feated a 2 seed. In three of those games the nal
score was close. In the 1997 NCAA tournament, 15
seeded Coppin State dominated the 2 seed South
Carolina 7865. The Gamecocks were rated 6 in the
country with the talented trio of B. J. McKie, Melvin
Watson, and Larry Davis. Still, Antoine Brockingham
and Terquinn Mott led the Pirates to a stunning upset.
7. UAB OVER KENTUCKY 1981
In 2004 the University of Alabama-Birmingham (UAB)
surprised Kentucky in a second-round upset. But 23
years earlier, UAB pulled an even more shocking sur-
prise. In 1981 it was the Ides of March for the mighty
Kentucky Big Blue basketball team. In the second
round of the NCAA tournament, UAB defeated the
Wildcats 6962 on March 15. The victory was espe-
cially remarkable given that UAB was in only its third
year of basketball competition. Led by star guard Oli-
ver Robinson, the teams rst full basketball scholar-
ship athlete, and coach Gene Bartow, UAB pulled the
upset led by Robinsons game-high 18 points.
8. MTSU OVER FLORIDA STATE 1989
In the 1989 NCAA tournament, the powerful Florida
State Seminoles featured a lethal offensive scoring
punch led by star guard and future NBA three-point
specialist George McCloud. The heavily-favored Semi-
noles were a huge favorite over the 13-seeded Middle
Tennessee State Blue Raiders, and the Seminoles
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15 NCAA Upsets
dominated the action for much of the game. In fact, at
one point they led by 17 points in the second half. Then
a strange thing happened. MTSU freshman Mike Buck
caught re from long range, connecting on four straight
three-pointers in one stretch. Buck scored 23 of his
game-high 26 points in the second half to lead the Blue
Raiders to a shocking upset, with a nal score of 97
83. Buck never matched his one-game magic in an
otherwise mediocre four-year career.
9. CLEVELAND STATE OVER INDIANA 1986
In the 1986 NCAA tournament, Cleveland State, the
14 seed in the East region, shocked national power
Indiana, the number 3 seed, by a score of 8379. The
upstart Vikings posted a record of 273 coming into
the tournament, but most experts thought that Indiana,
with star guard Steve Alford and ery head coach Bob
Knight, would prevail. Instead, the Vikings used their
superior speed to press the entire game and force the
action. Led by freshman guard Ken Mouse McFad-
den, Cleveland State did not stop after defeating Indi-
ana. They beat St. Josephs in the second round to
advance to the Sweet Sixteen, where they narrowly lost
to a David Robinsonled Navy team by 1 point.
10. SANTA CLARA OVER ARIZONA 1993
In the 1993 NCAA tournament, Arizona looked to re-
deem itself after losing to 14 East Tennessee State in
the 1992 tournament. This time Arizona was a 20-point
favorite over the Santa Clara Broncos, a team that had
limped to a 1511 regular season record. However, the
15-seed Broncos paid no attention to the oddsmakers
and shocked the 2 seed 6461 behind star point
guard Steve Nash.
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Freshman Phenoms
F
or many years, freshman were not allowed to com-
pete on college varsity squads. The freshman eligi-
bility rule was designed to give youngsters a chance to
adapt to the rigors of the college academic environ-
ment. In 1973, the NCAA changed course and allowed
freshman to compete in athletics. These players took
advantage of the rule change and made huge impacts
on their schools basketball programs. As such, they
deserve the billing of freshman phenoms.
1. JAMES FLY WILLIAMS
The rst year that freshman were allowed to play in
years was 1973, and what a year it was for former New
York City playground legend James Fly Williams and
the tiny OVC team called Austin Peay University. As-
sistant coach Leonard Hamilton convinced Williams to
come to the school in Clarksville, Tennessee. Williams
had an immediate and indelible impact on the Austin
Peay program and the Lake Kellycoached team. He
set a freshman scoring record, averaging a league-best
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17 Freshman Phenoms
29.4 points per game. For his remarkable scoring efforts,
Williams earned OVC Player of the Year honors. He led
Austin Peay to their rst-ever NCAA tournament, in-
cluding a 7775 win over Jacksonville. Williams then
led his team to a near-upset of the powerful Kentucky
Wildcats, who prevailed 106100 in overtime.
2. CHRIS JACKSON
Louisiana State University has had its share of basket-
ball greats, including such luminaries as Bob Pettit,
Pistol Pete Maravich, and Shaquille ONeal. Also
worthy of mention on this exclusive list is none other
than Chris Jackson. The mercurial point guard from
Gulfport, Mississippi, took the Southeastern Confer-
ence (SEC) by storm by averaging a league-best 30.2
points per game. In December, Jackson amazed
college basketball experts with a 53-point outburst
against Florida. His efforts earned him Southeastern
Conference (SEC) MVP honors. Jackson still holds the
NCAA career scoring record by a freshman. He later
changed his name to Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf and played
in the NBA.
3. CARMELO ANTHONY
In 2003, Carmelo Anthony took the Big East and col-
lege basketball by storm. He led the Syracuse Orange-
man to an improbable NCAA championship, and in the
Final Four, Anthony took it to an even higher level. He
scored a career-high 33 points against Texas in the
seminals. He added 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 as-
sists in the title game against Kansas, and was only the
third freshman ever named the MOP of an NCAA Final
Four.
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4. JASON KIDD
In 1993, point guard prodigy Jason Kidd led the Uni-
versity of California Bearcats to the NCAA tournament.
Kidd earned Pacic-10 (PAC-10) Freshman of the Year
honors with 13 points and nearly 8 assists per game.
He also set an NCAA record for a freshman by averag-
ing 3.79 steals per contest. In the Big Dance, Kidd led
his team to a stunning 8277 win over two-time NCAA
defending champions, the Duke Blue Devils.
5. PERVIS ELLISON
Pervis Ellison entered the national spotlight in 1986 as
a freshman center for the Louisville Cardinals. Nick-
named Never Nervous, Ellison lived up to his nick-
name in the NCAA tournament as he handled the
pressure of the moment better than any other player on
the court. He led the Cardinals to the national champi-
onship with a 7269 win over the Duke Blue Devils.
Ellison scored 25 points and grabbed 11 rebounds on
his way to earning Final Four MOP honors.
6. JAY EDWARDS
Jay Edwards earned Big 10 Freshman of the Year hon-
ors in 1988 for his sterling play at Indiana University.
He led the Hoosiers to the Big 10 title with last-second
shots over Purdue and Michigan. Among his many ac-
complishments that year, Edwards set an NCAArecord
that still stands by averaging 53.6% from three-point
territory.
7. SIDNEY MONCRIEF
Sidney Moncrief was a 6 4 junior guard/forward who
led the University of Arkansas Razorbacks to the 1978
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19 Freshman Phenoms
Final Four. Moncrief was spectacular as a freshman in
1976 when he averaged 66.5% from the eld, an un-
beaten NCAA record.
8. KENNY ANDERSON
NewYork high school basketball legend Kenny Anderson
lived up to his billing when he earned national Freshman
of the Year honors for Georgia Tech in 1990. He also re-
ceived all-conference honors in the Atlantic Coast Con-
ference (ACC). Anderson triggered the Yellow Jackets
potent offensive attackknown as Lethal Weapon III for
its three main stars Anderson, Brian Oliver, and Dennis
Scott. Anderson guided his teamto the Final Four, where
they lost to the eventual champion UNLV.
9. BERNARD KING
Bernard King dominated college basketball the day he
stepped on the court for the University of Tennessee
Volunteers. In his rst college game in November 1974,
King scored 42 points against Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
King averaged better than 26 points per game on his
way to earning SEC Player of the Year honors in 1975
as a freshman.
10. FAB FIVE
The 1991 recruiting class of the University of Michigan
Wolverines basketball squad was one of the most her-
alded of all time. The so-called Fab Five included Chris
Webber, Juwan Howard, Jalen Rose, Jimmy King, and
Ray Jackson. The Fab Five earned their place in col-
lege basketball history by becoming the rst team in
NCAA history to make it to the championship game
with ve freshman starters. They led the defending
champion Duke Blue Devils 3130 at halftime but fal-
tered in the second half, losing 7151.
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They Played Great
in College But Not
in the Pros
O
ftentimes great college basketball players turn
into outstanding professionals. Pete Maravich led
college basketball in scoring for three straight years at
LSU, and then also had success in the NBA (though
not as much as he had in college).
However, other players often reach the pinnacle of
success at the college level but cannot reach the same
level of greatness in the pros. These ten players domi-
nated college basketball but had less than awe-inspir-
ing professional careers.
1. BUTCH LEE
Butch Lee had a great college career at Marquette, in-
cluding a major role in leading the team to the 1977
national championship with a 6759 win over North
Carolina. Lee garnered MOP of the Final Four for his
efforts, and the next year he won the Naismith Award
as college basketballs nest player. However, Lee
could not match such accomplishments in the NBA.
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21 They Played Great in College But Not in the Pros
Lee played only 96 games over two seasons with three
different teams. He averaged only 8 points per game.
2. KEITH LEE
Keith Lee had one of the greatest college basketball
careers in his four years at Memphis State. Lee scored
more than 2,400 points and grabbed 1,330 rebounds,
and he was a three-time All-American. The Chicago
Bulls selected Lee at number eleven in the rst round
of the 1985 draft. Unfortunately, Lees sore knees
made him a bust in the NBA. He played only three sea-
sons, garnering anemic averages of 6.1 points and 4.7
rebounds per game.
3. JOHNNY NEUMANN
Johnny Neumannor Carl John Neumannwas a tre-
mendous scorer for the University of Mississippi in his
sophomore season of 1971. Neumann led the nation in
scoring at a remarkable clip of 40.1 points per game.
His season included a 48-point outburst against the
Kentucky Wildcats and their legendary coach Adolph
Rupp. Neumann left after his sophomore year, signing
with the Memphis Pros of the ABA. He had a few good
years of scoring, as in his second season when he aver-
aged 19.2 points per game. But Neumann is remem-
bered more for what he did not do on the court than
for his contribution. Many consider him a wasted talent
because he failed to stay in proper shape and played
poor defense. Fellow ABA player Dave Twardzik said
in Terry Plutos Loose Balls that it always bothered me
that Johnny Neumann never was the player he should
have been. Neumann has had a successful career as
a coach of minor professional league and foreign
teams. He twice led teams to the Continental Basketball
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Marquette University Archives
Butch Lee.
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Association (CBA) championship game, and has also
coached in Germany, Greece, Belgium, and Lebanon.
4. RICK MOUNT
Rick Mount was an Indiana high school basketball leg-
end who, in 1966, became the rst high schooler to
ever grace the cover of Sports Illustrated. He graduated
from Lebanon High School in Lebanon, Indiana, with
nearly 2,600 career points. He continued his scoring
assault at Purdue University, where he scored more
than 2,300 points in three years for a career scoring
average of 32.3 points per game. However, Mounts
pro career never amounted to the hype he generated
in high school and college. He signed with the Indiana
Pacers out of the ABA, but lasted only two years there.
His career scoring average in his ve-year professional
career was only 11.2 points per game. His nal scoring
total was 3,330 points, and he retired at the age of 28.
5. JEFF LAMP
Jeff Lamp had a great college basketball career scoring
more than 2,300 points from 19771981 for the Uni-
versity of Virginia Cavaliers. The school retired Lamps
number because of his great career, but Lamp opped
in the NBA. Drafted in the rst round at number fteen
by the Portland Trailblazers, Lamp never made an im-
pact. He posted a pathetic career scoring average of
1.5 points per game.
6. KENT BENSON
Kent Benson had a great career with Indiana University
from 19731977, scoring more than 1,700 points and
grabbing more than 1,000 rebounds. Part of Indianas
undefeated championship team in 1976, Benson won
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the Final Four MOP award for his stellar play. The Mil-
waukee Bucks selected Benson with the overall num-
ber one pick in the 1977 NBA draft. Benson had a
journeymans career in the NBA, posting career aver-
ages of 9.1 points and 5.7 rebounds per game.
7. SCOTT MAY
Scott May scored nearly 1,600 points for the Indiana
Hoosiers from 197376. He won the Naismith Award in
1976 as college basketballs nest player, and his ef-
forts led the Chicago Bulls to select him as the number
two pick in the 1976 NBA draft. Mays NBA career
began with promise when he averaged 14.6 points per
game in his rookie season. However, that was as good
as it got for May in the NBA. In four of his seven NBA
seasons he did not even average double gures. Per-
haps his son Sean, who led North Carolina to the 2005
NCCA title, will have a better NBA career.
8. WALTER BERRY
Walter Berry was considered by most experts to be the
best college basketball player during the 1986 season.
In his sophomore season in 1985, he helped Chris Mul-
lin lead St. Johns to the Final Four. The following year,
Berry averaged 23 points per game and dominated the
interior with his amazing assortment of inside spin
moves. As a collegian, Berry lived up to his nickname
of The Truth. He won the prestigious Wooden Award
as a junior, left school after his junior year, and was
selected in the rst round at number fourteen by the
Portland Trailblazers. He played three NBA seasons
with four teams. He averaged as much as 17 points per
game and shot 56.3% from the eld in 198687, but
his defense was lacking. Berry left to play professional
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basketball in Europe where he had some great years in
Italy and Spain, but he never reached his potential in
the NBA.
9. ALFREDRICK HUGHES
Alfredrick Hughes was one of college basketballs all-
time great scorers. Playing for Loyola-Chicago from
198185, Hughes tallied more than 2,900 career
points. He led Loyola to the Sweet Sixteen and was
named the Midwestern Collegiate Conference (MCC)
Player of the Year three times. The San Antonio Spurs
selected Hughes in the rst round at number fteen, but
he never made an NBA roster and never played in an
NBA game.
10. LARUE MARTIN
Another product of Loyola-Chicago proved to have a
great college basketball career but little success in the
professional ranks. Larue Martin played at Loyola from
196972, scoring more than 1,200 points and grab-
bing 1,072 rebounds in three seasons. One year, he
scored 18.7 points and grabbed more than 17 re-
bounds a game. In 1972, the Portland Trailblazers
made one of the NBA drafts biggest blunders (as men-
tioned in the original Basketballs Most Wanted
TM
) by
selecting Martin as the number one pick. Martin played
only four seasons and posted anemic averages of 5.3
points and 4.6 rebounds.
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Transfer Talents
S
ometimes college players just want a change of
scenery. Whether its a personality difference with
a coach or a desire for greater playing time, many play-
ers leave for what they feel will be greener pastures. For
example, Kentucky great Kyle Macy actually played
his freshman year at Purdue University before transfer-
ring and nding success in the Bluegrass State. These
players all made great impacts on their new teams.
1. ELGIN BAYLOR
Elgin Baylor, dubbed the man of a thousand moves,
dazzled fans in the NBA for many years, earning ac-
claim as one of the greatest players ever. But Baylor
was not a known commodity coming out of Washing-
ton, D.C., as a high school player. In fact, he went to
the College of Idaho to play football. Baylor played
basketball for one year at the College of Idaho, and
averaged more than 30 points per game. Baylor then
transferred to Seattle University. In the 195758 sea-
son, Baylor took Seattle all the way to the NCAAcham-
pionship game against the University of Kentucky.
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27 Transfer Talents
Although Kentucky defeated Seattle 8472, Baylor
was named the tournaments MOP. In his last season at
Seattle, Baylor averaged 32.5 points per game and
19.3 rebounds per game.
2. LAWRENCE ROBERTS
Power forward Lawrence Roberts starred at Baylor
University his rst two years of college where he led
the team in scoring and rebounding. He was an all-
conference selection both years. However, in 2003, the
Baylor program was rocked by tragedy and scandal.
Baylor player Brian Dennehy was found murdered, and
another Baylor player was charged with the crime. Fur-
thermore, Baylors coach at the time, Dave Bliss, re-
signed after facing intense scrutiny related to the
running of the program. Normally transfers have to sit
out a year before playing for a new school, but in light
of the highly unusual circumstances, the NCAA made
a special exemption for players who transferred from
Baylor. Roberts transferred to the Mississippi State
Bulldogs in Starkville, Mississippi. He made an imme-
diate impact, leading the team in scoring and rebound-
ing. His on-court accomplishments earned him SEC
Player of the Year honors for 200304. He led the Bull-
dogs back to NCAA tournament in his senior year in
200405.
3. BILLY MCCAFFREY
Billy McCaffrey surprised many college basketball ex-
perts when he transferred from the defending cham-
pion Duke Blue Devils to the Vanderbilt Commodores.
McCaffrey played a key role in Dukes championship
squad in 199091. He averaged 11.6 points per
game and earned NCAA All-Tournament honors. Still,
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McCaffrey transferred to Vanderbilt, ostensibly to re-
ceive more playing time and the chance to play point
guard. The transfer turned out well for McCaffrey and
Vanderbilt. In his rst year there, McCaffrey averaged
20.6 points per game, earned co-MVP of the SEC, and
led the Commodores to a national ranking and the
Sweet Sixteen. His senior year, he also averaged more
than 20 points per game and led the Commodores to
the NIT championship game.
4. TRAVIS FORD
Travis Ford played high school basketball in Madison-
ville, Kentucky, earning Parade All-American honors
for his play. However, he signed to play for the Univer-
sity of Missouri because the University of Kentucky did
not recruit him. He stayed at Missouri for only year be-
fore he transferred to Kentucky. In his junior and senior
seasons of 199293 and 199394, Ford earned First-
Team All SEC honors and MVP of the SEC tournament
twice. Ford, though standing only 5 9, had a large im-
pact on the game with his deadly three-point shooting.
Coach Rick Pitino called him one of the best shooters
he had ever seen. Ford served as the head coach at
Eastern Kentucky University until the end of the
200405 season. He now coaches at the University of
Massachusetts.
5. JOHN LUCAS III
John Lucas III, the son of University of Maryland and
NBA great John Lucas, scored more than 3,000 points
in a great high school career in Houston, Texas. He
signed up to play for Baylor University. He played there
for two years, averaging 12 and 13 points per game
each season as the teams point guard. However,
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29 Transfer Talents
Lucas transferred in 2003 after the murder of Brian De-
nnehy and the resulting scandal with the schools bas-
ketball program. Lucas transferred to Oklahoma State,
where he earned Big 12 First Team All-Conference
honors. Lucass heady play and last-second heroics
guided the Cowboys all the way to the Final Four.
6. JAMES SCOONIE PENN
Point guard Scoonie Penn signed with Boston College
after a great high school career in Salem, Massachu-
setts. Penn made an immediate impact with the Eagles
in 199596, earning Big East Rookie of the Year hon-
ors. The next year he led the Eagles to the Big East
tournament title. However, Boston Colleges coach Jim
OBrien left the school to take over the head job at Ohio
State University. Penn transferred to OSU in large part
to play for his coach. After sitting out a year, Penn per-
formed even better than before. In the 199899 season,
Penn earned Big 10 Player of the Year, became an All-
American and led the Buckeyes to the Final Four.
Penns transfer helped the Buckeyes make one of the
most dramatic one-year turnarounds in NCAA history.
The year Penn sat out the Buckeyes endured a misera-
ble 822 record. In Penns rst year of play the team
made the Final Four.
7. DAN DICKAU
Dan Dickaus two seasons with the University of Wash-
ington left him unsatised. In his freshman year he
didnt see much playing time, while an injury cut short
a promising sophomore campaign. Dickau transferred
after the 199899 season to Gonzaga, which ran a
more up-tempo offense and had achieved recent suc-
cess in the NCAA tournament. Dickau prospered under
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Gonzagas fast-paced offensive system. He averaged
more than 20 points per game in his two seasons with
Gonzaga, and he became a rst-round pick in the 2002
NBA draft.
8. DARRYL BEDFORD
Darryl Bedford, a 6 8, 260-plus pound forward who
shot three-pointers like a shotputter, began his college
career at the University of Arkansason the bench. In
two years at Arkansas he averaged less than 10 min-
utes per game and less than 3 points per game. Bed-
ford transferred to Austin Peay University in Clarksville,
Tennessee. After sitting out the 198485 season, he
played his nal two years for the Governors. Bedford
saved his best for last, averaging more than 16 points
per game in his senior year. He led Austin Peay to the
OVC tournament title, earning MVP honors and his
team an automatic NCAA bid.
In the Big Dance, Bedford and his teammates
looked like they were headed for an early exit when
they, as the 14 seed, were paired against the 3 seed
Illinois. At halftime the game was tied 3232, and an-
nouncer Dick Vitale declared that if the Governors won
the game he would stand on his head. The burly Bed-
ford shocked Vitale, the Illini, and much of the college
basketball world by nailing ve three-pointers and
racking up 24 points. True to his word, Vitale later
stood on his head. The Governors lost in the next round
to the Providence Friars in overtime, after Bedford
fouled out of the game.
9. DEREK ANDERSON
Swingman Derek Anderson played his rst two years of
college ball at Ohio State University. After the program
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31 Transfer Talents
went through much adversity in coach Randy Ayerss
nal years, Anderson looked for greener pastures. He
found themin the Bluegrass State, playing for Rick Piti-
nos Kentucky Wildcats. In his rst year playing for the
Wildcats, Kentucky captured the national champion-
ship with a victory over Syracuse. In his senior season
Anderson averaged more than 17 points per game,
until he suffered a season-ending knee injury. His injury
likely cost the Wildcats a back-to-back national title,
as they lost to Arizona in the nal game in overtime. A
healthy Kentucky squad with Anderson in the lineup
likely would have won the game. Anderson now plays
in the NBA with the Portland Trailblazers.
10. LARRY FOGLE
Larry Fogle began his college basketball career as a
freshman at the University of Southwestern Louisiana.
He transferred after one year to Canisius University.
The transfer seemed to pay dividends for Fogle, and
he led the nation in scoring in his sophomore season
(197374) with an average of 33.4 points per game. In
197576 Fogle played only two games for the New
York Knicks. He played minor league pro ball after that,
but never played again in the NBA.
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Played For One Team
M
ost NBA players ply their craft for multiple teams
during their career. Every so often, a player
often the franchises star playerwill stay with the
same team for an entire career. For instance, Patrick
Ewing came to symbolize the New York Knicks for
much of the 1980s and 1990s, amassing 16 seasons
with the squad. However, as with many superstars,
Ewing also played a season or two with another team
when he was well past his prime. These ten players
played their entire career for the same team.
1. JOHN STOCKTON
John Stockton played nineteen seasons for the same
teaman NBA record. In 1984, the Utah Jazz drafted
Stockton in the rst round. Many experts laughed at the
Jazz for taking Stockton, who was a relative unknown
from a then-obscure school called Gonzaga. Stockton
proved his critics wrong, retiring in 2003 as the NBAs
all-time leader in assists and steals.
2. REGGIE MILLER
The 200405 season was Reggie Millers eighteenth
NBA season, and his eighteenth with the Indiana Pacers.
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33 Played For One Team
Drafted in 1987 out of UCLA, Miller has terrorized op-
posing defenses with his clutch three-point shooting
and non-stop movement without the ball. He is the
NBAs all-time leader in three-point shooting, and he
has scored more than 25,000 career points.
3. JOHN HAVLICEK
John Havlicek played all sixteen of his NBA seasons
with the Boston Celtics from 1962 to his retirement in
1978. During his tenure, the teamwon eight NBA titles,
and he scored more than 26,000 points. He played in
thirteen All-Star games and was named First Team All-
Defense ve times. He was elected to the Hall of Fame
in 1983.
4. LARRY BIRD
Larry Legend donned the Celtic green and white for all
thirteen of his NBA seasons. To many, Bird epitomized
Celtic pride, leading the team to NBA titles in 1981,
1984, and 1986. Bird earned twelve trips to the NBA
All-Star game in his career.
5. MICHAEL COOPER
Michael Cooper terrorized offensive players for twelve
seasons in the NBA, all with the Los Angeles Lakers.
He was selected to the NBA All-Defensive Team nu-
merous times. His playing days over, Cooper now is an
assistant coach with the Denver Nuggets.
6. FRED BROWN
Downtown Fred Brown played for the Seattle Super-
sonics all thirteen years of his NBA career, which
spanned from 1971 until 1984. Brown was known for
his nearly unlimited range. In the 197576 season he
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averaged more than 23 points per game. He played in
one All-Star game and scored more than 14,000 points
in his career.
7. EARVIN MAGIC JOHNSON
Earvin Magic Johnson played thirteen seasons for
the Los Angeles Lakers, and led the team to ve NBA
championships. Johnson personied the Lakers
Showtime fast break with his pinpoint passing and
clutch performances. Johnson played twelve straight
seasons from1979 to 1991, retiring after he discovered
he was HIV-positive. Johnson later returned to the Lak-
ers for part of the 199596 season.
8. DAVID ROBINSON
David Robinson anchored the San Antonio Spurs fran-
chise for fourteen NBA seasons, from 1989 until his
retirement in 2003. Robinson could have added two
more seasons to his career, but he had to spend two
years in the United States Navy after graduating from
the Naval Academy. Known as The Admiral, Robin-
son became the face of the Spurs franchise. His coach
Gregg Popovich said it best: I have never been around
a more remarkable human being.
9. BYRON BECK
Byron Beck has a strong connection to the city of Den-
ver; he played college basketball at Denver University.
He didnt have to move very far when he graduated to
the professional ranks because he stayed in Denver to
play for the ABAs Nuggets. He played all nine years of
the ABAs existence with the Nuggets and one year
after the Nuggets moved to the NBA.
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35 Played For One Team
10. TOM BOERWINKLE
Tom Boerwinkle dominated the paint with his 7 frame
at the University of Tennessee. He started with the Chi-
cago Bulls in 1968 and did not retire until 1978. In his
ten-year NBA career, Boerwinkle averaged double
gures in two seasons.
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They Coached One
College Team
N
ormally, college coaches get their start at the high
school level or as an assistant coach at a univer-
sity. Coaches will often work at several universities be-
fore nding their dream jobs. However, a special few
coaches have landed at one college and stayed there
for their entire careers. Such was the case for the fol-
lowing ten coaches.
1. ADOLPH RUPP
The Baron of the Bluegrass, Adolph Rupp coached
for forty-one years at the University of Kentucky, from
19311972. Rupp coached at high schools in Kansas,
Iowa, and Illinois before being hired as the coach of
Kentucky in May 1930. He was only twenty-nine years
old. He won 876 games and lost only 190, and his
teams won four national championships.
2. RAY MEYER
Ray Meyer ran the squad at DePaul University as head
coach for forty-two seasons from 19431984. He as-
sumed the head-coaching position after serving as an
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37 They Coached One College Team
assistant coach during the 194142 season. Meyer
never won a national championship but took his teams
to thirteen NCAA and eight NIT tournaments. Two of
his teams, in 1943 and 1979, made the Final Four.
Upon his retirement, his son Joey Meyer became the
new head coach of DePaul.
3. DON HASKINS
Don Haskins coached at Texas-El Paso (formerly Texas
Western) for thirty-eight seasons from 19621999.
Previously, he coached high school basketball in Ben-
jamin, Texas, and then at Hedley High School in Hed-
ley, Texas. Haskinss greatest moment came in the
1966 NCAAchampionship game when his Texas West-
ern squad, which started ve African American play-
ers, defeated Adolph Rupps all-white Kentucky squad
7265 to win the title.
4. ED DIDDLE
Ed Diddle became the head basketball coach of West-
ern Kentucky in 1923 after coaching two years of high
school ball. Diddle never left the Hilltoppers, coaching
there until 1964. He won 759 games and lost 302. His
teams made three NCAA tournaments. Diddle was
known for carrying a red towel that he would throw into
the air when protesting an ofcials call.
5. PAUL D. TONY HINKLE
Tony Hinkle graduated from the University of Chicago
and lettered in basketball, football, and baseball. After
his graduation, he was hired to coach all three sports at
Butler University in Indiana. Hinkle coached at Butler
from 19271942 and again from 19461970. His
coaching career was only interrupted by his service in
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the Navy during World War II. In 1965, Butlers gymna-
sium was renamed Hinkle Fieldhouse. He won 591
games in his coaching career.
6. DEAN SMITH
The legendary Dean Smith coached at the University
of North Carolina for thirty-six seasons from 1962
1997. He led UNC to thirteen ACC championships,
eleven Final Fours, and two national titles in 1982 and
1993. His teams made a record twenty-three consecu-
tive trips to the NCAA tournament. Before assuming
the mantle at North Carolina, he served as assistant
coach there from 1958 through 1961.
7. GUY LEWIS
Guy Lewis played basketball at the University of Hous-
ton and graduated in 1947. He returned to the school
as an assistant coach in 1953, and in 1957 he became
head coach, where he remained for thirty seasons until
1986. He led his teams to ve Final Fours, but he was
never able to win an NCAA title. He was named the
Associated Presss National Coach of the Year twice, in
1968 and 1983.
8. DENNY CRUM
Denny Crum coached for thirty years at the University
of Louisville from 19722000. He won two national
championships in 1980 and 1986, and he coached six
teams that went to the Final Four. Before assuming the
head job at Louisville, Crum was an assistant coach at
his alma mater UCLA under the legendary John
Wooden. He also coached junior college basketball in
Los Angeles.
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39 They Coached One College Team
9. AMORY T. SLATS GILL
Amory T. Slats Gill was head coach at Oregon State
University from 19291964, the only college head
coaching position he held. He coached two years of
high school basketball in Oakland, California, and then
he was the coach for Oregon States freshman team.
As head coach, he compiled a record of 599 wins and
392 losses. His teams made two Final Fours, in 1949
and 1963. The coliseum on Oregon States campus is
named in Gills honor.
10. WARD L. PIGGY LAMBERT
Ward L. Piggy Lambert coached high school basket-
ball after doing graduate work at the University of Min-
nesota. In 1916, he became head coach at Purdue
University. After serving in World War I, Lambert re-
turned to Purdue in 1919 where he coached until 1942.
He compiled a record of 351 wins and 172 losses. His
193132 squad went 171 and was named national
champions by the Helms Athletic Foundation.
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Three-Point Kings
(NBA)
I
n 1979, the NBA adopted the three-point shot. The
shot has become a staple in the league, as teams like
the Sacramento Kings and Dallas Mavericks have used
the three-point shot as a fearsome offensive weapon.
These ten NBA players are perhaps best known for
their ability to nail the three-pointer.
1. REGGIE MILLER
No one has hit more three-pointers in the history of the
NBA than the Indiana Pacers Reggie Miller, who has
nailed more than 2,400 in his career. During the
199697 season Miller hit an amazing 229 three-
pointers. He also is the NBAs all-time three-point king
in playoff games, with more than 300 shots. Most im-
pressive, though, is Millers uncanny knack for nailing
treys in the clutch.
2. LARRY BIRD
Larry Bird won the NBAs rst Long Distance Shootout
competition in 1986. Bird won the three-point competi-
tion all three years he entered, from 1986 until 1988.
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41 Three-Point Kings (NBA)
Bird led the league in successful three-pointers during
the 198586 season with 82. Many consider Bird one
of the greatest, if not the greatest, shooter in NBA his-
tory.
3. CRAIG HODGES
Craig Hodges earned fame for his three-point shooting
while he was a member of the Chicago Bulls. Hodges
captured the NBAs Long Distance Shootout award in
three consecutive years, from 1990 until 1992. He is
the only man besides Larry Bird to win three such com-
petitions in a row. At one point during the competition,
he nailed an amazing 19 consecutive three-pointers.
He has hit more than 500 three-pointers in NBA regular
season games.
4. FRED BROWN
Downtown Freddie Brown achieved this nickname
for his patented long range bombs as a guard for the
Seattle Supersonics. Brown was a streak shooter with
unlimited range. During the 197980, the rst year the
NBA adopted the three-point rule, Brown led the
league in three-point eld goal averages.
5. STEVE KERR
Steve Kerr parlayed his deft outside shooting touch into
a seventeen-year NBA career that netted him ve
championship ringsthree with the Chicago Bulls and
two with the San Antonio Spurs. Kerrs role was to pro-
vide deadly outside shooting. In the 199495 season,
Kerr hit an amazing 52.4% of his three-pointers. The
next year he hit 51.5% of his treys. In his last year in the
league, Kerr became a surprise hero for the San Antonio
Spurs during the Western Conference Championships
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against the Dallas Mavericks, when he came off
the bench to hit four three-pointers. Kerrs unlikely
emergence enabled the Spurs to advance to the NBA
Finals.
6. DALE ELLIS
Dale Ellis played seventeen years in the NBA for six
different teams. His trademark was consistent, long-
range bombing. Ellis won the NBAs Long Distance
Shootout competition in 1989. Ironically, the 6 7 Ellis
scored the majority of his points in the paint while star-
ring for the University of Tennessee Volunteers. In the
professional ranks, Ellis changed his game. He hit a
total of 1,703 three pointers for an amazing career av-
erage of 40.3%.
7. TIM LEGLER
TimLegler earned his spot on an NBA roster for several
years because of his accurate jump shot. His best year
came during the 199596 season when he hit 52.2% of
his three-pointers. That year he captured the NBAs
Long Distance Shootout competition during All-Star
Weekend. Legler defeated Orlandos Dennis Scott
2014 in the nal round.
8. GLEN RICE
Glen Rice was one of the best pure shooters in NBA
history, tallying more than 1,500 three-pointers from
1989 until his retirement during the 200304 season.
During the 199697 season for the Charlotte Hornets,
Rice hit 207 three-pointers and shot 47% from behind
the arc. Rice captured the NBAs Long Distance Shoot-
out competition during All-Star Weekend in 1995.
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43 Three-Point Kings (NBA)
9. CHRIS FORD
On October 12, 1979, Chris Ford of the Boston Celtics
hit the NBAs rst three-pointer in league history. That
year, Ford hit 70 of 164 trey attempts for 42.7%. Fords
career three-point totals do not reect his ability as a
shooter because he played seven full NBA seasons be-
fore the league adopted the three-point rule.
10. PEJA STOJAKOVIC
Peja Stojakovic of the Sacramento Kings is considered
by many experts to be the best shooter in the NBA
today. Twice at All-Star Weekend, in 2002 and 2003,
Peja won the Long Distance Shootout competition. In
2004, he nished second. For his career, Stojakovic
has averaged nearly 40% from the three-point line.
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Three-Point Kings
(NCAA)
C
ollege basketball instituted the three-point shot on
a wide-scale basis in 1986, but it was used experi-
mentally before that. On February 7, 1945, Columbia
and Fordham played a game with a twenty-one-foot
three-point line. The teams combined for 20 long
goals, as they were then called. Columbia won the
game 7358. Then in 1980, the Southern Conference
instituted the three-point line for a season. On Novem-
ber 29, 1980, Western Carolinas Ronnie Carr nailed a
three-pointer against Middle Tennessee State Univer-
sity. Now, the three-point line is a regular staple of the
game. The following ten individuals were noteworthy
for their three-point marksmanship in college.
1. CURTIS STAPLES
Curtis Staples scored 1,757 points for the University of
Virginia from 199498. More than 1,200 of those
points came from behind the long-distance arc, as Sta-
ples nailed 413 three-pointers in his 122-game career.
He is college basketballs all-time leader in successful
three-pointers.
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45 Three-Point Kings (NCAA)
2. DARRIN FITZGERALD
Darrin Fitzgerald was a senior guard for Butler Univer-
sity when college basketball introduced the three-point
rule change. Though he only had one year to play
under the rule, Fitzgerald made the most of it. He nailed
158 three-pointers in the 198687 season for an un-
beaten NCAA record, averaging an amazing 5.64
three-pointers per game.
3. TERRENCE WOODS
Terrence Woods of Florida A&M nailed 139 three-
pointers during his junior season (200203), and 140
three-pointers during his senior season (200304). In
March 2004, Woods won college basketballs Three-
Point Challenge, defeating Oregons Luke Jackson
2320 in the nal round.
4. GLENN TROPF
In the 198788 season, Holy Crosss junior guard
Glenn Tropf nailed 52 of 82 three-point shots for an
amazing 63.4%. The record still stands as the best suc-
cess rate in the history of NCAA Division I basketball.
5. JEFF FRYER
On March 18, 1990, Loyola Marymounts Jeff Fryer
connected on 11 three-pointers in his teams upset of
defending national champion Michigan in the second
round of the NCAA tournament. In the tournament the
year before, Fryer set another NCAA record when he
attempted 23 three-point eld goals in a single game
against Arkansas. He nished his college career with
363 three-pointers.
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6. KEITH VENEY
On December 14, 1996, Marshall Universitys Keith
Veney nailed 15 three-pointers in a game versus More-
head State. With that rash of long bombs, Veney set
an NCAA record for the most three-pointers in a single
game.
7. FREDDIE BANKS
During the 198687 season, UNLVs Freddie Banks
nailed 152 three-pointers in 39 games. In a Final Four
game against Indiana University, Banks hit 11 of 19
three-pointers to keep the game close against the Hoo-
siers, who went on to win the NCAA title that year.
8. DENNIS SCOTT
Dennis Scott was one of the NBAs best three-pointer
shooters, hitting ten in a single game. However, Scott
was also deadly behind the arc in college for the Geor-
gia Tech Yellow Jackets. In 1990, Scott led the nation
with 137 three-pointers.
9. TONY BENNETT
For his college career, Tony Bennett of Wisconsin
Green Bay connected on 290 out of 584 three-pointers
for a career 49.8%. No player who has made at least
200 treys has ever shot a better percentage.
10. BRUCE SEALS
Manhattans Bruce Seals could be dubbed the Mad
Bomber, at least for one game against Canisius on Jan.
31, 2000. He nailed 9 out of 27 three-pointers in the
game on his way to 41 points. However, Canisius won
the game 10598 in the fourth overtime.
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Court Thieves
A
n old saying claims that defense wins champion-
ships. A key part of an effective defense is forcing
the other team to turn the ball over, and one way to
force turnovers is to steal the ball from the opponent.
These players made a habit of thievery on the court.
1. DESMOND CAMBRIDGE
Desmond Cambridge set an NCAA record in 2002 for
most steals in a season when he made an incredible
160 steals in 29 games as a senior guard for Alabama
A&M. Cambridges phenomenal season amounted to
5.52 steals per gamemore than many teams aver-
age. Cambridge also owns the all-time career record
for average steals per game at 3.93. In 2005, Cam-
bridge played for the Nashville Rhythm of the ABA.
2. MOOKIE BLAYLOCK
Mookie Blaylock was consistently among the leaders
in steals at both the college and pro levels. In his two
years at the University of Oklahoma, Blaylock nabbed
281 steals for an average of 3.8 per gamesecond
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A. Carlton Rice, Huntsville, AL
Desmond Cambridge.
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49 Court Thieves
only to Desmond Cambridge. He set the NCAA record
for the most steals in a single game at 13, in games
against Centenary and Loyola Marymount. As a pro-
fessional ballplayer, Blaylock snagged 2,075 steals
with a career average of 2.33 per game.
3. JOHN LINEHAM
John Lineham stood only 5 9, but he stood tall at
Providence with his knack for taking the ball away from
his opponents. Lineham is the NCAAs career leader in
total steals with 385.
4. EDWIN GREEDY DANIELS
Edwin Greedy Daniels had to be included in this list,
if for no other reason than his nickname. On December
30, 2000, Danielsa guard for Texas Christian Univer-
sitypilfered 12 steals against Arkansas Pine Bluff.
Daniels led the nation in the 200001 season with 108
steals and an average of 4.32 per game.
5. ALVIN ROBERTSON
Alvin Robertson made a career out of stealing the ball
from his opponents. He remains the all-time NBA
leader in steals per game with an amazing 2.71. He had
2,112 steals in 779 career games. In the 198586 sea-
son, he had 301 steals and an average of 3.67 per
game for an NBA record, and in six separate seasons,
he had at least 200 steals.
6. MICHAEL RAY RICHARDSON
The talented Michael Ray Richardson nabbed 1,463
steals in only 556 games, for an average of 2.63 per
game. Richardson led the league in total steals four
times in his short career.
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7. JOHN STOCKTON
John Stockton retired in 2003 as the NBAs all-time
leader in career steals with 3,265. During the course of
his long career, he led the NBA in total steals twice, and
had more than 200 steals for ve consecutive seasons.
8. MICHAEL JORDAN
Michael Jordan is second of all-time in career steals
with 2,514. In three separate seasons he was the NBA
leader in total steals, and had six seasons with at least
200 steals.
9. DON BUSE
Don Buse was a tough 6 4 guard who played for the
Indiana Pacers, the Phoenix Suns, and the Portland
Trailblazers. In his prime, Buse played for the Pacers in
both the ABA and NBA. In the 197576 season, Buse
grabbed an amazing 346 steals. In the Pacers rst year
in the NBA (197677), Buse led his new league in
steals with 281.
10. TED MCCLAIN
On December 26, 1973, McClainwhile a member of
the Carolina Cougarsnabbed a record 12 steals in a
single game against the New York Nets. The 12 steals
were the all-time record for the ABA, and he led the
ABA in steals with 250 during the 197374 season.
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Terric Trios
O
ne player cannot win an NCAA or NBA champi-
onship. The great Oscar Robertson did not win an
NBA title until he was a teammate of Kareem Abdul-
Jabbar. The incomparable Michael Jordan did not win
his rst NBA title until his younger teammates Scottie
Pippen and Horace Grant developed their skills. It has
often been said that a team needs at least a three-
pronged attack to be great, and these famous trios
proved it.
1. BOSTONS BIG THREE: LARRY BIRD,
KEVIN MCHALE, AND ROBERT PARISH
The Boston Celtics of the 1980s were a dominant force,
battling the Los Angeles Lakers for NBA supremacy.
The Celtics relied on an imposing front line called the
Big Three, which consisted of small forward Larry
Bird, power forward Kevin McHale, and center Robert
Parish. Bird provided great offense and solid rebound-
ing. He was the NBAs MVP for three straight years from
198486. McHale possessed some of the nest post
moves in the game. His long arms and great footwork
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confounded defenses. Robert Parish, affectionately
called Chief, did the dirty work in the paint and was
one of the leagues top centers.
2. THE TRIPLETS
The University of Arkansas Razorbacks made the
NCAA Final Four in 1978 on the backs of three 6 4
players, Sidney Moncrief, Ron Brewer, and Marvin
Delph. They were dubbed The Triplets for their simi-
lar height and build by the great Al McGuire. All three
averaged more than 16 points a game. Moncrief later
earned fame in the NBA as an All-Star with the Milwau-
kee Bucks. Brewer also starred in the NBA, playing
eight years for seven different teams. In the 198182
season with the Cleveland Cavaliers, he averaged
nearly 19 points a game. Delph was a deadly outside
shooter who, upon his graduation in 1978, left as Ar-
kansass all-time leading scorer (Moncrief passed him
the next year). He never played in the NBA.
3. LETHAL WEAPON III
Georgia Tech reached the Final Four in 1990 because
of its high scoring trio of point guard Kenny Anderson,
off-guard Brian Oliver, and small forward Dennis Scott.
Nicknamed Lethal Weapon III because of their potent
offensive attack, the trio all averaged more than 20
points per game during the regular season. The Jack-
ets lost to eventual champion UNLV Running Rebels in
the seminals 9081. All three members of Lethal
Weapon III played in the NBA after leaving Georgia
Tech.
4. GAIL GOODRICH, JERRY WEST, AND
WILT CHAMBERLAIN
The 197172 Los Angeles Lakers dominated the NBA,
with a then-record 69 wins during the regular season.
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53 Terric Trios
They also won a record 33 consecutive games. The
Lakers defeated the defending champion New York
Knicks 41 in the nals, led by their high-scoring
guards, Gail Goodrich and Jerry West, and their domi-
nant force in the middle, Wilt Chamberlain. Goodrich
averaged 25.9 points per game, while West averaged
25.8. Chamberlain averaged only 14.8 points per
game, but he led the NBA in rebounding (19.2 per
game) and eld goal percentage. Many still consider
the 1972 Lakers the greatest single-season team in the
history of the NBA.
5. MICHAEL JORDAN, SCOTTIE PIPPEN, AND
DENNIS RODMAN
For three straight years from 199698, the Chicago
Bulls captured the NBA championship with a terric
trio. It consisted of the incomparable Michael Jordan,
the versatile Scottie Pippen, and the rebounding ma-
chine Dennis Rodman. The trio led the Bulls to an NBA-
best 72 wins in the 199596 regular season.
6. RUN TMC: TIM HARDAWAY, MITCH RICHMOND
AND CHRIS MULLIN
The Golden State Warriors of the early 1990s featured
the explosive Run TMCa clear play on words from
the pioneering rap group Run DMC. The Warriors fea-
tured point guard Tim Hardawaywith a devastating
crossover dribbleshooting guard Mitch Richmond,
and small forward Chris Mullin. In the 199091 season,
Mullin averaged 25.7 points per game, Richmond 23.9
per game, and Hardaway 22.9.
7. GEORGE MIKAN, VERN MIKKELSEN, AND
JIM POLLARD
The Minneapolis Lakers dominated the NBA in its early
days, winning world titles in 1950, 1952, 1953, and
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1954. The Lakers achieved success largely because of
its imposing front line6 10 center George Mikan,
6 7 power forward Vern Mikkelsen, and 6 5 small
forward Jim Pollard. All three were inducted into the
Basketball Hall of Fame and appeared in multiple All-
Star games.
8. ALEX ENGLISH, KIKI VANDEWEGHE, AND
DAN ISSEL
The Denver Nuggets of the early 1980s were the high-
est scoring team in the NBA. During the 198182 sea-
son, the Nuggets averaged more than 126 points a
game. Most of those points came from the trio of Alex
English, Kiki Vandeweghe, and Dan Issel. The Nuggets
big three all averaged more than 20 points per game
each for multiple years. In 198283, English and Van-
deweghe nished in rst and second place in scoring
for the entire league. It was the rst time that team-
mates had nished back-to-back in the scoring race
since the 195455 season.
9. DALE ELLIS, TOM CHAMBERS, AND
XAVIER MCDANIEL
The Seattle Supersonics of the mid- to late-1980s fea-
tured a potent offensive combination of sharpshooting
guard Dale Ellis and forwards Tom Chambers and Xa-
vier McDaniel. In the 198687 season, all three aver-
aged at least 23 points per game. They were the rst
trio in NBA history to have three players average that
many points per game.
10. THE THREE JS
Not all trios live up to their talent. Such was the case for
the Dallas Mavericks young triumvirate of point guard
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55 Terric Trios
Jason Kidd, shooting guard Jimmy Jackson, and small
forward Jamal Mashburn. The Mavericks thought that
the addition of lottery draft picks Jackson (1992), Kidd
(1993) and Mashburn (1994) would lead the team to
the upper echelon of the NBA. It did not work out that
way, because egos clashed between the young stars.
All three players were traded by 1996. We were
young, Jamal Mashburn told ace NBA writer David
Aldridge for his April 2005 story for ESPN.com, and
everybody wanted the limelight just a little bit too
early.
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Sixth Men
J
ohn Starks, who won an NBA Sixth Man of the Year
Award, once said: Its not how much time youre
in the game, its what you do with that time. During the
200304 season, Antawn Jamison came off the Dallas
Mavericks bench for the rst time in his career. For-
merly, Jamison was a high-scoring forward for the
Golden State Warriors. He sacriced his playing time in
Dallas for the benet of the team and was rewarded
with the Sixth Man of the Year award. These ten players
were ideal Sixth Men, providing their teams with an in-
stant spark off the bench.
1. FRANK RAMSEY
Frank Ramsey became the rst great Sixth Man in the
195556 when Boston Celtics legendary coach Arnold
Red Auerbach brought him off the bench to provide
extra scoring punch.
2. JOHN HAVLICEK
John Havlicek became the Celtics second super Sixth
Man, replacing the great Frank Ramsey. For his rst six
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57 Sixth Men
seasons, Havlicek came off the bench to spark his
team. Havlicek made the All-Star team thirteen times
and played a total of sixteen seasons. He scored more
than 26,000 points in his career.
3. KEVIN MCHALE
Kevin McHale became one of the NBAs all-time great-
est power forwards. Charles Barkley often called him
the toughest player he ever had to guard. When McHale
came to the Celtics as a rookie in 1980, the Celtics
power forward was Cedric Cornbread Maxwell. McHale
came off the bench for the rst four years of his career.
He excelled in the Sixth Man role, capturing Sixth Man
of the Year Awards in 1984 and 1985.
4. BOBBY JONES
Bobby Jones of the Philadelphia 76ers excelled as a
Sixth Man. The NBA began awarding the Sixth Man of
the Year Award in 1983, and for his efforts off the
bench, Jones captured the inaugural award. Jones was
known as one of the games premier defensive players,
and he made the leagues All-Defensive First Team
several times.
5. RICKY PIERCE
Ricky Pierce played fteen years in the NBA for several
teams. During his prime, he starred for the Milwaukee
Bucks and captured two Sixth Man of the Year Awards
in 1987 and 1990. Pierce was known for his deadly
mid-range jumper and his strong upper body, which
enabled him to drive effectively to the hoop.
6. DETLEF SCHREMPF
Detlef Schrempf was a versatile 6 10 forward from
Germany who played collegiately at the University of
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Washington. Drafted by Dallas, Schrempf played there
for several years before going to the Indiana Pacers. As
a Pacer, Schrempf created a niche for himself as an
ideal Sixth Man. He embodied the role so much that he
won back-to-back Sixth Man of the Year Awards in
1991 and 1992. Schrempf later started for the Seattle
Supersonics and was named to three All-Star games in
his career.
7. VINNIE JOHNSON
Vinnie The Microwave Johnson never won a Sixth
Man of the Year Award during his great career with the
Detroit Pistons, but he was a dynamite Sixth Man com-
ing off the bench to supply instant offense. Johnsons
shot was unblockable, and when he got hot he could
literally take over a game. He played a key role on
the Pistons championship teams of 198990 and
199091.
8. DELL CURRY
Dell Curry was not a great rebounder, defender, or
passer. He was in the league for primarily one reason
his shooting. Curry had great range, a super-quick re-
lease, and condence. His performance during the
199394 seasonhe averaged 16.3 points per game
off the benchearned him the NBAs Sixth Man of the
Year Award.
9. JOHN WILLIAMS
John Hot Rod Williams starred for the Cleveland
Cavaliers as a back-up power forward and center. Wil-
liams often played behind center Brad Daugherty and
power forward Larry Nance, but he played great as a
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59 Sixth Men
Sixth Man, averaging double gures and contributing
mightily in rebounds and blocked shots.
10. TONI KUKOC
Croatias Toni Kukoc starred on three championship
teams for the Chicago Bulls from 19961998. Kukoc
did not start because Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rod-
man were the regular forwards. However, Kukoc
played a key role for the Bulls with his shooting, ball-
handling and great passing. He is called The Server
for his ability to serve up teammates with easy buckets.
In 200405, Kukoc still served up assists for his team-
mates on the Milwaukee Bucks.
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She Can Hoop, Too
B
asketball is no longer just a guys game. One need
only see the popularity of college and professional
womens basketball to acknowledge that females can
play ball. As with other sports, athletic genes seem to
run in the family. These ten female b-ballers have male
relatives who could also play a little basketball.
1. CHERYL MILLER
Cheryl Miller is considered by some experts to be the
greatest womens basketball player of all time. She was
an All-American all four years at the University of
Southern California, and was named the national
Player of the Year her last three years there. She scored
more than 3,000 points in her illustrious college career
and won a gold medal at the 1984 Olympics. She
coached two years at USC and then coached several
years in the WNBA with the Phoenix Mercury. She is
now a commentator for NBA games.
Despite all of her many accomplishments, many
only know Cheryl as the sister of Indiana Pacer great
Reggie Miller.
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61 She Can Hoop, Too
2. CHERYL FORD
Cheryl Ford has established herself as one of the top
young stars of the WNBA, and she helped lead the De-
troit Shock to their rst championship in 2003. For her
efforts, Ford was a near unanimous selection as the
WNBAs Rookie of the Year. Cheryls father is none
other than NBA great Karl Malone. Ford followed in her
fathers footsteps by playing college ball at Louisiana
Tech. She was twice the conference Player of the Year
in college.
3. DEBRA RODMAN
Before Dennis The Worm Rodman gained fame with
his rebounding skills as a Detroit Piston, his sister
Debra carried the family name quite well under the
boards. Debra Rodman played for Louisiana Tech in
the early 1980s. In the 198283 season, Debra led the
Lady Techsters with 10.7 rebounds per game. She
helped carry her team to the national championship
game, where they lost to a Cheryl Millerled USC squad
6967. In the 198384 season, Debra again led her
team in rebounding. Debra and Denniss sister Kim
Rodman also starred in college basketball at Stephen
F. Austin State University.
4. TAMIKA CATCHINGS
Tamika Catchings is an All-Star forward with the
WNBAs Indiana Fever. She made the leagues All-
WNBA team in 2002 and 2003. In 2003, she was run-
ner-up for both the MVP and Defensive Player of the
Year Awards. In 2004, Tamika won the MVP award. She
played collegiately at the University of Tennessee, where
she was part of two NCAA tournament championships.
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Tamika and her twin sister Tauja got their basketball
bloodlines from their father, former NBA player Harvey
Catchings. Harvey played in the league from1973 until
1985. Known as a defensive stopper and shotblocker,
he played for the Philadelphia 76ers, Milwaukee Bucks,
New Jersey Nets, and the Los Angeles Clippers.
5. KHARA SMITH
Khara Smith, along with her cousin Charlene, is a star
player for the DePaul Blue Demons womens basket-
ball team. Smith earned Freshman of the Year honors
in Conference USA in her freshman season. She aver-
aged more than 20 points per game and nearly 12 re-
bounds per game as a sophomore. She was named an
honorable mention All-American in 200304. Smiths
father is Ken Norman, a former All-America basketball
player at the University of Illinois. Norman played for
the Illini from 19831987. He played eight years in the
NBA, including time with the Los Angeles Clippers, Mil-
waukee Bucks, and Atlanta Hawks.
6. NATALIE WILLIAMS
Natalie Williams is one of the top players in womens
professional basketball. She is a three-time All-Star
selection and led the WNBA in rebounding in 2000 with
11.6 rebounds per game. Williams began her WNBA
career with the Utah Starzz and then moved to the Indi-
ana Fever. She played collegiately at UCLA, where she
was an All-American in both basketball and volleyball.
Her father, Nate Williams, played eight seasons in the
NBA with the Cincinnati Royals, the Kansas City Kings,
the New Orleans Jazz, and the Golden State Warriors.
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63 She Can Hoop, Too
7. KANDYCE GREEN
Kandyce Green is a star guard for Lake Forrest College
in Chicago. As a freshman, Green scored 25 points in
one game and led her team in scoring at nearly 12
points per game. In 200304, she averaged more than
13 points per game and earned First-Team All-Confer-
ence honors. Kandyce is the daughter of former NBA
point guard Rickey Green, who starred for the Utah
Jazz and Charlotte Hornets.
8. STACEYANN CLAXTON
The basketball programs at Hofstra University owe a
large debt of gratitude to the Claxton family. Thats
because Staceyann Claxton and her brother Craig
Speedy Claxton were starting point guards for their
respective teams at Hofstra. Staceyann played from
200004, leading her team in assists and steals.
Speedy played at Hofstra from 19962000, scoring
more than 2,000 points in his stellar career. Speedy
has moved on to the NBA, logging time with the Phila-
delphia 76ers, San Antonio Spurs, and Golden State
Warriors. He was part of San Antonios championship
squad in 200203.
But Speedy is not the only star in the family. As
Staceyanns college coach said of her: She has cer-
tainly made a name for herself.
9. MFON UDOKA
Mfon Udoka played basketball for the WNBAs Houston
Comets. Prior to that, she played with the Detroit
Shock. She played collegiately at DePaul University
where she scored more than 1,500 points in her career.
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Mfon, along with her brother Ime, became the rst
brother-sister duo in the WNBA and the NBA. Ime, who
played collegiately at Portland State, played a few
games in the 200304 season with the Los Angeles
Lakers.
10. MARGARET RIAK DECIMAN
Margaret Riak DeCiman stands 6 7, and she domi-
nated junior college basketball with her blocking at
Seward County Community College in Kansas. In Feb-
ruary 2004 she announced that she would play for Lou-
isiana Tech University. DeCimans uncle is none other
than Manute Bol, the 7 7 center who played ten years
in the NBA, leading the league his rst year in blocked
shots with nearly 5 per game. He played with the Wash-
ington Bullets, Philadelphia 76ers, Golden State War-
riors, and Miami Heat during his career.
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Unlikely NBA and ABA
Record Holders
M
any of the NBAs and ABAs greatest records
have been set by players that would surprise both
the casual and expert fan alike. These unlikely players
have their names etched in NBA and ABA history for
some impressive records.
1. SCOTT SKILES
When thinking of assists, one thinks of Earvin Magic
Johnson, Bob Cousy, or the all-time leader, John
Stockton. One certainly doesnt think of Scott Skiles,
the head coach of the Chicago Bulls. Skiles played for
ve teams in ten years, and his highest season assist
average was 8.4. However, on December 30, 1990,
Skiles dished out 30 assists to lead the Orlando Magic
to a 155116 win over the Denver Nuggets. Bryan Bur-
rell puts it best in At The Buzzer: The Greatest Moments
in NBA History: Out of all the point guards in NBA
history, the idea that Scott Skiles would become the
record holder for most assists in a game is as unlikely
as a house painter ending up in the Louvre.
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2. JERRY HARKNESS
Jerry Harkness made one three-pointer during the in-
augural ABA season of 196667, but that one shot has
landed him in the annals of basketball folklore. On No-
vember 13, 1967, the Dallas Chapparels held a 118
116 lead over Harknesss Indiana Pacers with only 1
second remaining. The Pacers inbounded the ball to
Harkness who threw up a 92-foot hook shot. Amaz-
ingly, the ball banked in off the glass and the Pacers
won by a single point. As Harkness says in Terry Plutos
entertaining book about the ABA, Loose Balls: The
irony is that I wasnt much of an outside shooter. In fact,
that was the only three-pointer I made that season.
3. SLEEPY FLOYD
In the May 1987 playoff series between the powerful
Los Angeles Lakers and the upstart Golden State War-
riors, the Lakers were ahead 20 and well on their way
to a three-game sweep. However, in the second half,
Warriors guard Eric Sleepy Floyd awoke in a major
way. He erupted for 29 points in the nal quarter and
51 for the game. Floyds 29 points were the most ever
scored by an NBA player in one quarter in a playoff
game. Floyd never averaged more than 20 points per
game in a single NBA season, but he gave the NBA one
of its greatest single-game individual performances.
4. BOB HANSEN
Bobby Hansen was a career 32.3% three-point shooter
in his ten-year NBA career. He never led the league in
any shooting category during his entire career. But for
some reason, Hansen had the three-point stroke during
the playoffs. In the 198788 playoffs with the Utah
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67 Unlikely NBA and ABA Record Holders
Jazz, Hansen shot 19 out of 36. For his career, Hansen
sank 38 of 76 three-point shots in the playoffs for an
impressive 50%.
5. JAMES DONALDSON
James Donaldson was a hulking 7 2 center who
played for ve teams in his fourteen-year career. He
led the league in eld-goal percentage in the 198485
season while he was a member of the Los Angeles Clip-
pers. It may come as some surprise, however, that
Donaldson is the NBAs all-time eld goal percentage
leader in playoff history. Donaldson made 153 out of
244 shots for 62.7%. The next highest playoff total is
by Kurt Rambis at 57.4%.
6. LARRY KENON and KENDALL GILL
Neither Larry Kenon nor Kendall Gill rank among the
NBAs top 30 players in steals per game in their career.
Kenon never led the league in steals in any season of
his career from 19731983. However, Larry Special
K Kenon nabbed 11 steals in a December 26, 1976
game against the Kansas City Kings while he was a
member of the San Antonio Spurs. The record still
stands in the NBA, though Gill matched it in a 1999
game against the Miami Heat, while he was a member
of the New Jersey Nets.
7. CHARLIE SCOTT
The wide-open ABAfeatured some of professional bas-
ketballs greatest scorers. Among them were Rick
Barry, George Gervin, Julius Erving, Dan Issel, and
Spencer Haywood. But the highest scoring average in
the history of the ABA belonged to Charlie Scott. In his
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second season with the Virginia Squires in 197172,
Scott averaged 34.6 points per game. Scotts next
highest season scoring average was during his rst
year in the ABA at 27.1 points per game.
8. NATE THURMOND
Nate Thurmond was a bruising 6 11 Hall of Fame cen-
ter who played with several teams from 19631977 in
the NBA. He was often overshadowed by other more
dominant centers, such as Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Rus-
sell, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. But on the opening
night of the 1974 season, Thurmond recorded the rst
quadruple double (double gures in four categories) in
NBA history with 22 points, 14 rebounds, 13 assists
and 12 blocked shots.
9. KOBE BRYANT
Kobe Bryant has never been considered one of the
NBAs best three-point shooters. In two of his seasons,
he shot under 30% from outside. On January 7, 2003,
Bryant unleashed perhaps the greatest single-game
shooting performance in NBA history when he drained
12 threes against the Seattle Supersonics. His amazing
performance included nine straight three-pointers with-
out a miss. His then-coach Phil Jackson called it the
greatest shooting streak hed ever seen. Opposing
coach Nate McMillan said: I dont think most guys
can do that in a gym by themselves, let alone a game
where youre being defended.
10. MICHEAL WILLIAMS
Micheal Williams never led the NBA in free-throw per-
centage in any season in his career. In his rookie season,
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69 Unlikely NBA and ABA Record Holders
he shot only 66% from the charity stripe. However,
from March to November of 1993, during the course of
two seasons, Williams was automatic. He made an
NBA record 97 consecutive free throws. The next high-
est total is 81 by Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf.
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Undrafted Stars
M
ost players enter the NBA via the draft held each
June. Originally consisting of as many as ten
rounds, the draft is now only two rounds, where teams
get to choose their next potential star. The following ten
players did not follow the traditional route; instead,
they made an NBA squad the hard way.
1. BEN WALLACE
Ben Wallace was not drafted in 1996 after playing col-
lege ball at Virginia Union. He did make the roster of
the Washington Bullets, but he played very little during
his rst season. Eventually, Wallace proved that all the
teams in the NBA made a mistake of epic proportions
in passing him up. Wallace led the NBA in rebounding
in the 200102 and 200203 seasons. He also earned
Defensive Player of the Year during that time. In 2003
04, Wallace anchored the Pistons defense, which car-
ried them to an NBA championship.
2. AVERY JOHNSON
Avery Johnson led the NCAA in assists during his last
two seasons at Southern University. His senior year in
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71 Undrafted Stars
198788, he averaged an amazing 13.3 assists per
game. However, he was not selected in the 1988 NBA
draft. Johnson played with the United States Basketball
Leagues (USBL) Palm Beach Stingrays before making
the Seattle Supersonics roster. He has played in the
NBA ever since. At the peak of his career, he was the
starting point guard and team leader for the San Anto-
nio Spurs. He hit the series-winning shot with 2.5 sec-
onds remaining in Game 5 of the 1999 championship
to lead his Spurs over the New York Knicks 41. He
now coaches the Dallas Mavericks.
3. DARRELL ARMSTRONG
Darrell Armstrong was not drafted after completing his
college career at Fayetteville State in 1991. Armstrong
played in the Global Basketball League, the USBL, the
CBA, Greece, and Spain before nally landing with the
Orlando Magic in 1995. His energetic play earned him
the respect of the entire league, and he averaged dou-
ble gures off the bench for four straight years.
4. BRAD MILLER
Despite a stellar career at Purdue University, no NBA
team picked 6 11 Brad Miller in the 1998 NBA draft.
Instead, Miller took his game to Italy, and eventually
landed on the Charlotte Hornets in 1999. He continued
on to the Chicago Bulls and then the Indiana Pacers.
Miller made his rst All-Star appearance with the Pac-
ers in the 200203 season. Traded to the Sacramento
Kings, Miller played even better, earning his second
straight All-Star game appearance. He averaged 14
points and 10 rebounds per game for the Kings.
5. JOHN STARKS
John Starks played collegiately at Oklahoma State, but
was not picked in the 1988 NBA draft. He played in 36
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games with the Golden State Warriors in the 198889
season. Even so, Starks still had to play in the CBA and
the World Basketball League (WBL) for much of 1989
and 1990. He landed in the NBA again with the New
York Knicks for the 199091 season, and he played
eight years with them. In 199394, he averaged 19
points per game and helped lead the Knicks to the
brink of an NBA title, before falling to the Houston
Rockets in a hotly contested seven-game series. In
199697, Starks was the NBAs Sixth Man of the Year.
6. BO OUTLAW
Charles Bo Outlaw was not drafted in 1993, even
after an outstanding career at the University of Hous-
ton. Instead, Outlaw played in Spain and the CBA be-
fore landing with the Los Angeles Clippers. A high-
energy, hustle player, Outlaw creates havoc on the
oor with his relentless pursuit of the basketball and
opposing players. His hustle has earned him a place in
the NBA for more than a dozen seasons.
7. ROBERT PACK
The super-quick Robert Pack was not drafted after his
college career at the University of Southern California.
Pack landed as a free agent with the Portland Trailblaz-
ers and has remained in the league since. In 31 games
with the Washington Bullets in 199596, Pack aver-
aged more than 18 points per game, once scoring 35
points in one game.
8. MARQUIS DANIELS
Despite leading Auburn University to the Sweet Sixteen
in the 2003 NCAA tournament, no NBA team drafted
Marquis Daniels. However, the 6 6 versatile rookie
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73 Undrafted Stars
made the Dallas Mavericks as an undrafted free agent.
He averaged 8.5 points per game off the bench for the
high-octane Mavs in the 200304 season. Then, in the
playoff series versus the Sacramento Kings, Daniels
averaged more than 15 points per game. The Maver-
icks coach Don Nelson said that Marquis was one of
the best rookies he has ever coached.
9. BRUCE BOWEN
Bruce Bowen was not drafted by any NBA, or even any
CBA, team after a four-year career at Cal State Fuller-
ton. Bowen played overseas in France for several
teams, and one year in the CBA. He nally latched on
with the Miami Heat at the end of the 199697 season.
He took his career to another level with the San Antonio
Spurs, and led the NBA in three-point eld goal per-
centage in the 200203 season. However, Bowen is
primarily known as a defensive stopper. He won the
NBAs Defensive Player of the Year award in 200304.
10. EARL BOYKINS
Earl Boykins was not drafted despite a stellar career at
Eastern Michigan University. Many scouts were likely
leery of his 5 5 frame, but they underestimated Boy-
kinss giant heart and amazing skills. Though he has
bounced around to seven teams in eight years, Boykins
seems to have found a home with the Denver Nuggets.
In the 200304 and 200405 seasons, Boykins aver-
aged double gures off the bench. He frequently sparks
the team and remains on the oor in the fourth quarter
when the game is on the line. In the rst round of the
200405 NBA playoffs, Boykins scored 32 points in
one game against the San Antonio Spurs.
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Terrible Trades
I
n the summer of 2004, the Los Angeles Lakers made
a monumental decision to trade their franchise center
Shaquille ONeal to the Miami Heat for Lamar Odom,
Brian Grant, and Caron Butler. Time will tell if this was
a terrible trade for either the Lakers or the Heat. How-
ever, the following ten trades were among the most lop-
sided in NBA history.
1. EARL MONROE FOR MIKE RIORDAN AND
DAVE STALLWORTH
In November 1971, the Baltimore Bullets traded their
star player Earl The Pearl Monroe to the New York
Knicks for Mike Riordan and Dave Stallworth. The
trade paid immediate dividends for the Knicks, who
placed Monroe in the backcourt with his former rival
Walt Clyde Frazier. Frazier and Monroe led the
Knicks to the 1972 NBA Finals where they lost to the
Lakers. Then, Monroe helped lead the Knicks to the
1973 title, defeating the Lakers 41 in a Finals re-
match. Riordan had two decent years with Baltimore
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75 Terrible Trades
before moving to Washington with the Bullets. Stall-
worth only averaged 6 points per game for Baltimore.
2. ROBERT PARISH AND A DRAFT PICK FOR TWO
DRAFT PICKS
In June 1980, Celtics general manager Arnold Red
Auerbach pulled off one of the best trades in NBA his-
tory. The Celtics traded away the number one and
number 13 upcoming draft picks to the Golden State
Warriors for center Robert Parish and the number three
pick in the draft. The Warriors used their two draft picks
to select center Joe Barry Carroll and power forward
Rickey Brown. Carroll actually had some ne years in
the NBA, averaging more than 24 points one season.
However, Brown proved relatively ineffective. The Celt-
ics, on the other hand, used their number three draft
pick to select Kevin McHale. McHale and Parish be-
came All-Stars and Hall of Famers. Along with Larry
Bird, they formed perhaps the greatest frontcourt in
NBA history.
3. WILT CHAMBERLAIN FOR THREE PLAYERS
AND CASH
On January 15, 1965, the San Fransisco Warriors
traded the great Wilt Chamberlain to the Philadelphia
76ers for Connie Dierking, Paul Neumann, Lee Shaffer,
and cash. They plummeted to a record of 1763 after
trading Chamberlain, who had led the league in scoring
the previous six years. Chamberlain led the 76ers to an
NBA title in his second full season in 1968. Meanwhile,
the Warriors proted little from the three players it
picked up in the infamous trade.
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Harlem Globetrotters
Wilt Chamberlain with the Harlem Globetrotters.
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77 Terrible Trades
4. DIRK NOWITZKI AND PAT GARRITY FOR
ROBERT TRAYLOR
Don Nelson, the coach and general manager for the
Dallas Mavericks, made one of the greatest trades in
NBA history when he convinced the Milwaukee
Bucksthe team that Nelson coached for many
yearsto trade Dirk Nowitzki and Pat Garrity for power
forward Robert Tractor Traylor. The deal called for
Dallas to select Traylor with its number six pick in the
draft. The Bucks would select Nowitzki at number nine
and Garrity at number 19. The trade turned out to be
very lopsided; Traylor never developed into a star
player for the Bucks, or anywhere else, and Nowitzki
has become one of the NBAs best players. For exam-
ple, in the 200405 season, Nowitzki averaged 26
points per game for Dallas. Traylor averaged 5.5 for
Cleveland. Nelson later said that drafting Tractor
Traylor looks good on my trade resume. That was
quite an understatement.
5. VINNIE JOHNSON FOR GREG KELSER
In November 1981, the Seattle Supersonics traded
guard Vinnie Johnson to the Detroit Pistons for Greg
Special K Kelser. Kelser was the better known of the
two players, as he had teamed up with Magic Johnson
to win the NCAA title in 1979 for Michigan State. Mean-
while, Vinnie Johnson had labored in relative obscurity
at Baylor. However, the trade might have been his big
chance. Kelser never produced in Seattle or for the rest
of his NBA career. Johnson, meanwhile, became a
mainstay of instant offense for the Pistons off the bench.
Known as The Microwave for his ability to heat up on
his shooting, Johnson became a key ingredient on the
Pistons back-to-back NBA championship teams.
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6. BERNARD KING FOR MICHAEL RAY RICHARDSON
On October 22, 1982, the Golden State Warriors traded
forward Bernard King to the New York Knicks for the
talented but troubled guard Michael Ray Richardson
and a fth-round draft pick. At the time, the trade
seemed somewhat balanced, as both King and Rich-
ardson had battled substance abuse issues. However,
King resurrected his career with the New York Knicks,
leading the NBA in scoring. Richardson was another
story. He lasted only 33 games with the Warriors before
being traded to the New Jersey Nets, and he was even-
tually kicked out of the NBA for repeated positive drug
tests.
7. RICK MAHORN FOR DAN ROUNDFIELD
This was bad news for the Bullets and another great
trade for the Detroit Pistons. In June 1985, the Pistons
unloaded power forward Dan Roundeld for the Wash-
ington Bullets power forward Rick Mahorn. Roundeld
had been an All-Star power forward for many years for
the Atlanta Hawks, but he did not perform well as a
Piston. Roundeld didnt play well in Washington either,
and his best years were clearly behind him. Mahorn
helped turn the Pistons into the Bad Boys, making
them into the toughest and meanest team in the
league. Mahorn, as a starting power forward, played a
key role on the Pistons rst championship team of
198889.
8. KAREEM ABDUL-JABBAR FOR FOUR LAKERS
In June 1975, the Milwaukee Bucks traded their great
center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Walt Wesley to the
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79 Terrible Trades
Los Angeles Lakers for Elmore Smith, Junior Bridge-
man, Brian Winters, and Dave Meyers. The trade
proved momentous for the Lakers, as Kareem later led
the Lakers to ve NBA championships with the help
of Earvin Magic Johnson. The Bucks acquired some
decent players in Bridgeman and Winters, but they
were not Hall of Fame material. Simply stated, the
trade led to ve NBA championships for the Lakers and
not one for the Bucks.
9. ELVIN HAYES FOR JACK MARIN
In June 1972, the Houston Rockets traded Elvin Hayes
to the Baltimore Bullets for Jack Marin and future con-
siderations. The trade was one of the most lopsided in
NBA history. Hayes turned in numerous All-Star sea-
sons for the Bullets, while Marins production plum-
meted. Hayes helped lead the Bullets to three NBA
Finals appearances and a championship in 1978. He
retired with more than 27,000 career points.
10. CHARLES BARKLEY FOR JEFF HORNACEK,
TIM PERRY, AND ANDREW LANG
In June 1992, the Philadelphia 76ers traded the tal-
ented Charles Barkley to the Phoenix Suns for three
playerssharpshooting guard Jeff Hornacek, forward
Tim Perry, and center Andrew Lang. The trade paid im-
mediate dividends for the Suns, as Sir Charles led the
Suns to a 63-win season and a berth in the NBA Finals
against the Chicago Bulls. The 76ers, on the other
hand, struggled after the trade. Hornacek performed
well but lasted only two years with the 76ers before
moving to Utah. Perry was a disappointment, averag-
ing only nine points a game. Lang only played one year
for the 76ers and was never really a factor.
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Clipping Talents
T
he Los Angeles (formerly San Diego) Clippers
have been in the lower echelon of the NBA for a
long time. The team has had some good talent in its
history, but somehow manages to miss the playoffs
nearly every year. One problem is that the Clippers
have made some horrible draft selections. Another
problem has been a failure to hold on to talent. Here
are ten examples of Clipper catastrophes.
1. TERRY CUMMINGS
In 1984, the San Diego Clippers traded their best
player, Terry Cummings, in a multi-player deal to the
Milwaukee Bucks. The best player they received in re-
turn was former UCLA star Marques Johnson, who was
ve years older than Cummings. Cummings had aver-
aged more than 23 points per game for the Clippers in
his two seasons with the team. He went on to have a
long career with the Milwaukee Bucks and the San An-
tonio Spurs. Johnson, on the other hand, had two
decent seasons for the Clippers before injuries and age
took their toll.
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81 Clipping Talents
2. TOM CHAMBERS
The San Diego Clippers selected Tom Chambers with
the number eight pick in the 1981 NBA draft. He
played for two years before being traded to the Seattle
Supersonics. Chambers blossomed into a superstar at
Seattle and then at Phoenix, where he became a peren-
nial 20-point-per-game scorer. The Clippers should
never have let him go.
3. BYRON SCOTT
The San Diego Clippers selected guard Byron Scott of
Arizona State as the fourth pick in the 1983 NBA draft.
The Clippers then traded Scott to the Los Angeles Lak-
ers for veteran guard Norm Nixon. Nixon was talented,
but he was also injured often. Scott played ten years for
the Lakers, most of them as the starting shooting guard
on several championship teams. This was another bad
play for the Clippers.
4. DANNY FERRY
Hindsight is 20/20, but the Clippers should have seen
this coming. With the second pick in the 1989 NBA
draft, they selected Danny Ferry out of Duke. Rather
than play for the Clippers, Ferry went to Italy and
played professional basketball there. He eventually
began his NBA career in Cleveland. The Clippers
passed on such talents as Glen Rice, Sean Elliott, Moo-
kie Blaylock, and Tim Hardaway by using their number
two pick on Danny Ferry.
5. LORENZEN WRIGHT
In the 1996 NBA draft, the Clippers drafted Lorenzen
Wright out of Memphis State with the seventh pick in
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the draft. Wright played three years for the Clippers be-
fore moving to Atlanta and Memphis. Wright actually
has developed into a good player for Memphis, but the
Clippers could have drafted Kobe Bryant. Instead, the
crosstown Lakers selected Bryant with the thirteenth
pick, and the rest is history.
6. BENOIT BENJAMIN
In the 1985 NBA draft, the Los Angeles Clippers saw
potential in Creighton Universitys giant center Benoit
Benjamin. They selected Benjamin with the third pick
in the draft. They passed on many players who were
much better, however. For example, Utah selected Karl
Malone with the thirteenth pick, Seattle selected Xavier
McDaniel with the fourth pick, and the Los Angeles
Lakers selected A.C. Green with the twenty-third pick.
Benjamin had his moments but he never lived up to his
potentialor his high draft selection.
7. MICHAEL OLOWAKANDI
This might have been the dumbest draft decision the
Clippers have ever made, and that is saying a lot. In the
1998 NBA draft, the Clippers had the rst overall pick
in the draft and used it to select center Michael Olowa-
kandi out of Pacic. Olowakandi has a nice jump hook
but has never blossomed into a star. He is now a re-
serve for the Minnesota Timberwolves. Players the
Clippers passed on include stars such as Mike Bibby,
Antawn Jamison, Vince Carter, and Dirk Nowitzki.
8. WILCOX OVER STOUDAMIRE
In the 2002 NBA draft the Los Angeles Clippers used
their number eight pick to select Chris Wilcox, who en-
tered the pro ranks early fromthe University of Maryland.
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83 Clipping Talents
Wilcox has yet to develop into a consistent player or
even a starter. With the very next pick, the Phoenix
Suns selected Amare Stoudamire out of high school.
Stoudamire is a legitimate star in the league, and was
averaging 26 points per game in 200405.
9. DEHERE OVER CASSELL
In the 1993 NBA draft, the Los Angeles Clippers had
an unlucky number thirteen draft pick. The position
proved to be tting as they chose Terry Dehere from
Seton Hall who had a ne college career. However, De-
here never materialized in the NBA. The Clippers could
have chosen Florida States guard Sam Cassell who
ended up the number twenty-four pick for the Houston
Rockets. Cassell played a key role in the Rockets
back-to-back NBA titles in 1994 and 1995.
10. CRAIG HODGES
The San Diego Clippers selected Craig Hodges out of
Long Beach State in the third round of the 1982 NBA
draft. However, Hodges played only two years with the
Clippers before being shipped to Milwaukee. Hodges, a
deadly three-point shooter, later was a reserve on sev-
eral Chicago Bulls championship teams.
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Sultans of Swat
T
he last line of defense often resides with a shot-
blocking center or forward. Certain players have
been able to change games with their defensive pres-
ence and shot blocking. These skills have also led to
some intriguing nicknames. For example Marvin Web-
ster was known as the Human Eraser for his shot
blocking ability. These players deserve to be called the
Sultans of Swat.
1. ELMORE SMITH
Elmore Smith was a seven-footer out of Kentucky State
University. Drafted by the Buffalo Braves, Smith played
two seasons with them before being traded to the Los
Angeles Lakers in 1973. The 197374 season was the
rst time the NBA kept statistics for blocked shots.
That year Smith led the league with 393 blocks in 81
games, for an average of 4.85. On October 28, 1973,
Smith set an NBA record by blocking 17 shots in a
game against the Portland Trailblazers. Smiths single-
game record still stands.
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85 Sultans of Swat
2. KEITH CLOSS
Keith Closs was a slender 7 3 center for Central Con-
necticut State in 199496. In his two years there, he led
the NCAAin blocked shots. In his sophomore season in
1996, he blocked an astonishing 178 shots in 28
games, for an average of 6.36 per game. Closs later
played three seasons for the Los Angeles Clippers from
1997 to 2000. Despite playing limited minutes in a
total of 130 NBA games for his career, Closs blocked
163 shots.
3. DAVID ROBINSON
David Robinson, known as The Admiral, led the
NCAA in blocked shots his last two years at Navy. His
junior year (198586), he led the nation with 207
blocks in 35 games, for an average of 5.91. His senior
year (198687), he again led the country in blocks with
144 in 32 games, for an average of 4.5 per game. In
the professional ranks, he blocked more than 300 shots
in each of his rst three seasons. He led the league in
total blocks for the 199091 and 199192 seasons. His
efforts during the 199192 season earned him Defen-
sive Player of the Year honors. He retired with 2,954
blocks.
4. MARK EATON
Utahs hulking 7 4 center Mark Eaton blocked more
than 3,000 shots in his 11-year career with the Jazz.
Eaton led the NBA in total blocks for four seasons. In
the 198485 season, Eaton rejected an astonishing
456 blocks for an average of 5.56 per game.
5. MANUTE BOL
Manute Bol was a skinny 7 6 center who played colle-
giately at Bridgeport. Bol began his NBA career in
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1985 with the Washington Bullets. He led the NBA in
blocked shots with 397 in 198586 and 345 in
198889.
6. HAKEEM OLAJUWON
Hakeem The Dream Olajuwon is one of the greatest
centers in NBA history. He was perennially among the
leagues leaders in blocked shots. He led the league in
blocks twice in his career, in the 198990 and 199293
seasons. When Olajuwon retired after the 200102
season, he held the all-time record for blocks with
3,830.
7. DIKEMBE MUTOMBO
The 7 2 Dikembe Mutombo has been a defensive
demon in the NBA for many years. After blocking an
opponents shot, Mutombo taunts his opponents by
wagging his nger back and forth. He led the NBA in
total number of blocked shots for ve straight seasons
from 199293 through the 199798 season.
8. ADONAL FOYLE
Adonal Foyle blocked 492 shots during his three-year
college career at Colgate, from 19951997. In his ju-
nior season, Foyle swatted 180 shots in 28 games for
an amazing average of 6.43 per game. Though not a
starter, Foyle continues to block shots in the profes-
sional ranks with the Golden State Warriors. For exam-
ple, during the 200203 season, he blocked 205 shots.
9. BILL RUSSELL
Bill Russell was the legendary Celtics center who led
his team to 11 NBA titles in thirteen seasons. Though
the league didnt keep blocked shot statistics during his
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87 Sultans of Swat
career, many believe that he dominated the category.
Russell not only blocked shots, but he swatted them to
his teammates to start fast breaks. He is widely consid-
ered to be the greatest defensive player in NBA history.
10. THEO RATLIFF
Theo Ratliff is a 6 10 leaper out of the University of
Wyoming. In his nal year of college in 1995 he
blocked 144 shots in 28 games, for an average of 5.14
per game. He led the NBA in blocked shots in both the
200203 and 200304 seasons, and he has already
blocked more than 1,700 shots in his NBA career.
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Not a Scorer
M
ost basketball players like to shoot the ball and
score points because that is what generally draws
attention, acclaim, and applause. However, other play-
ers realize that their role is dened in other areas, such
as good defense or rebounding. The following ten pro-
fessional players have all grabbed more total rebounds
than points in their NBA careers.
1. NATE THURMOND
Hall of Fame center Nate Thurmond scored a respect-
able 14,437 points in fourteen NBA seasons. However,
Thurmonds bread-and-butter skills were tough de-
fense and rebounding. Thurmond grabbed a total of
14,464 rebounds in his career, and he led the NBA in
rebounding during the 196970 season. Thurmonds
career averages were remarkable15 points and 15
rebounds per game. He played his rst two seasons as
power forward for the San Francisco Warriors alongside
dominating center Wilt Chamberlain. Thurmonds de-
velopment was a factor in the Warriors decision to
trade Chamberlain in 1965.
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89 Not a Scorer
2. DENNIS RODMAN
Dennis Rodman was a 6 7 rebounding fool of a for-
ward who led the NBA in the category an amazing
seven seasons in a row, from the 199192 season
through the 199798 season. He collected nearly
12,000 rebounds in his career. By contrast, Rodman
scored 6,683 points in his career. He averaged double
gures in scoring only once in his entire career. Rod-
man was a lousy shooter who rarely took an outside
shot. His free-throw percentage was terrible, but he
may well have earned his ticket to the Hall of Fame
with his exceptional rebounding. His excellence under
the boards helped him lead two of his teams to a total
of ve NBA championshipstwo with the Detroit Pis-
tons and three with the Chicago Bulls.
3. BEN WALLACE
Big Ben Wallace is the best rebounder in the NBA
today, leading the league in rebounding in the 200102
and 200203 seasons. In the 200203 season, Wallace
averaged 15.4 rebounds per contestby far the best in
the league. At the end of the 200304 season, Wallace
had grabbed 5,654 rebounds. Meanwhile, Wallace has
scored only 3,309 points. He denitely knows his role
defense and rebounding. Perhaps that is one reason
why the Detroit Pistons won the 2004 NBA champion-
ship.
4. MANUTE BOL
Manute Bol was a razor-thin 7 6 defensive presence
whose primary role was to block shots. In his rookie
season with the Washington Bullets in 198586, Bol
tallied an amazing 397 blocked shots. In three separate
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seasons, he blocked 397 shots in 8586, 302 shots in
8687 and 345 shots in 8889. By contrast, the great-
est number of total points he scored in a single season
was 314. Bol had few offensive skills, posting a career
scoring average of 2.8 points per game. By contrast,
Bol has a career rebounding average of 4.2. Bol also
has more career blocked shots (2,086) than points
(1,599).
5. MARK EATON
Mark Eaton was a 7 4 defensive presence for the Utah
Jazz from 19841993. Eaton had few offensive skills,
but he led the league in blocked shots four times in his
career. Eaton rarely ever shot from more than ve feet
fromthe basket, but he still managed only a 45.8%eld
goal average in his career. He posted career averages
of 6 points and 7.9 rebounds per game.
6. MICHAEL CAGE
Michael Cage lasted fteen NBA seasons based on his
rebounding and winning attitude. He led the NBA in re-
bounding during the 198788 season. Heading into the
nal game of that season, Cage needed 29 rebounds to
pass Charles Oakley for the all-time rebounding title.
Cage eventually grabbed 30 rebounds to edge Oakley.
His career averages were 7.3 points and 7.6 rebounds
per game.
7. GEORGE JOHNSON
George Johnson played in thirteen NBA seasons from
19721986 because of his defensive skills. A three-
time league leader in shot blocking, Johnson posted
career averages of 4.8 points and 6.5 rebounds per
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91 Not a Scorer
contest. Johnson was a very limited offensive player
whose career eld goal average was a paltry 45.1%.
8. ERVIN JOHNSON
At the end of the 200304 season, 6 11 center Ervin
Johnson had lasted eleven NBA seasons. He posted
career averages of 4.3 points and 6.4 rebounds per
contest. In his 199697 season with the Denver Nug-
gets (his only season with the Nuggets), Johnson led
the league in total number of defensive rebounds. His
highest season scoring total was 8 points per game.
9. WILL PERDUE
Will Perdue played thirteen NBA seasons because of
his excellent attitude and ability to know and accept his
role. For his career, Perdue averaged 4.7 points and
4.9 rebounds per game. Perdue was often a substitute,
but he managed to collect four championship rings in
his careerthree with the Michael Jordan-led Chicago
Bulls and one with the San Antonio Spurs.
10. TREE ROLLINS
Wayne Tree Rollins played eighteen seasons in the
NBA from 19771995. A tough defensive presence,
Rollins was not ultimately a scorer. He posted career
averages of 5.4 points and 5.8 rebounds per game, and
he led the league in blocked shots with the Atlanta
Hawks in the 198283 season.
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Small Packages II
B
asketballs Most Wanted provided readers with a
top-ten list of short players who, nevertheless,
made a large impact on the game. But, there are many
more players of diminutive size who deserve mention
for their athletic ability. All of these players stood under
6 but stood tall against their competition.
1. SHAWNTA ROGERS
Shawnta Rogers stands only 5 4 inches tall, but that
didnt stop him from having a large impact in college
basketball for George Washington University. From
19951999, Rogers scored more than 1,700 points. In
his senior season of 199899, Rogers averaged more
than 20 points per game and led the nation in steals.
His efforts earned him Atlantic 10 Conference Player
of the Year honors. In 19992000, he played for the
Baltimore Bay Runners of the International Basketball
League (IBL). In 200304, Rogers played professional
basketball for Adecco Asvel in France, earning All-Star
honors.
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93 Small Packages II
2. EARL BOYKINS
Earl Boykins currently plays point guard for the Denver
Nuggets. Undrafted out of Eastern Michigan, where he
won the Francis Pomeroy Naismith award, the 5 5
Boykins has also played for the New Jersey Nets,
Cleveland Cavaliers, Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Clip-
pers, and the Golden State Warriors. He continues to
confound opposing teams with his amazing quickness
and clutch shooting. He came into his own with the
Warriors in 200203, averaging nearly 9 points a game
and getting in huge chunks of playing time during the
fourth quarter when games were on the line. In 2003
04, Boykins played in all 82 games for the Nuggets and
averaged more than 10 points a game.
3. KEITH JENNINGS
Keith Mister Jennings starred at East Tennessee
State University, leading the team to several NCAA
tournament bids. From 19871991, the 5 7 Jennings
scored 1,989 points. His senior year, he averaged more
than 20 points per game, led the nation in three-point
accuracy, and earned Second Team All-America hon-
ors. For his efforts, he was named the Frances Pom-
eroy Naismith award winnergiven to the outstanding
college senior 6 or under. Jennings played two sea-
sons for the Golden State Warriors in 199394 and
199495 seasons. As of 2004, he still plays profes-
sional basketball overseas.
4. MONTE TOWE
The 5 7 Towe started 86 consecutive games as point
guard for the North Carolina Wolfpack. He led the Wolf-
pack with David Thompson and Tom Burleson to the
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NCAA title in 1974, and in 1975 he captured the
Frances Pomeroy Naismith award. Upon graduation,
Towe played two seasons for the Denver Nuggets. After
his playing days ended, Towe turned to coaching and
is now the head basketball coach of the University of
New Orleans Privateers.
5. CHARLIE CRISS
Charlie Criss played for parts of eight NBA seasons
from 1977 until 1983 for the Atlanta Hawks, San Diego
Clippers and Milwaukee Bucks. The 5 8 Criss was un-
drafted after his college career at New Mexico State.
However, Criss persevered and became an NBA rookie
at the age of 28. In his rst season with the Hawks,
Criss averaged more than 11 points per game. In 2004,
Criss served as the director of the Atlanta Hawks Sum-
mer Basketball Camp.
6. LARRY BROWN
When people think of Larry Brown, they think of the
highly successful coach who led Kansas to the NCAA
championship and the Detroit Pistons to the 200304
NBA title. But Larry Brown was a great point guard in
college for the University of North Carolina, and then
for the New Orleans Buccaneers, Oakland Oaks, and
Washington Capitals of the ABA. The 5 9 Brown led
the ABA in assists for the rst three years of the
leagues existence. He made the second All-Star team
in 196768, and was the most valuable player in the
1968 ABA All-Star game, coming off the bench to
score 17 points and dish out 5 assists.
7. JOHN WOODEN
John Wooden is known as the greatest coach in the
history of college basketball. His UCLA Bruins became
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95 Small Packages II
a dynasty in college basketball, winning seven straight
NCAA titles. Before his legendary coaching, Wooden
was also a great basketball player. At Purdue Univer-
sity, the 5 10 Wooden became the rst player to be
named a consensus All-American three years in a row
from 19301932.
8. TYUS EDNEY
Tyus Edney will be best remembered for his coast-to-
coast, last-second shot over the University of Missouri
in the second round of the 1995 NCAA tournament to
help his UCLA Bruins escape with a win. With only 4.8
seconds left in the game and the Bruins down by 1
point, the 5 10 Edney raced the length of the court to
score and capture the win. UCLA then went on to win
the national championship. That year, Edney earned
the Frances Pomeroy Naismith award for his stellar
season. Edney played four seasons in the NBA with the
Sacramento Kings, the Boston Celtics, and the Indiana
Pacers. He now plays professional basketball in Eu-
rope.
9. BREVIN KNIGHT
Brevin Knight starred at Stanford University from 1993
until 1997, amassing more than 1,700 points. His sen-
ior year he earned All-America honors and captured
the Frances Pomeroy Naismith award. A rst-round
draft pick for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Knight has
played eight years in the NBA. In 200405, Knight
played for the Charlotte Bobcats and nished second in
the league in assists. He is known for his tenacious, on-
the-ball defense and ability to penetrate.
10. MICHAEL ADAMS
Michael Adams scored 1,650 points for the Boston Col-
lege Eagles from 19811985. He played eleven seasons
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in the NBA with the Sacramento Kings, the Washington
Bullets, the Denver Nuggets, and the Charlotte Hor-
nets. Adams was a nightmare to defend because of his
blazing quickness and shot-put three pointers. In the
199091 season with the Nuggets, Adams averaged
26.5 points per game and dished out 10.5 assists.
Adams holds an NBA record for making at least one
three-point shot in 79 consecutive games, and he once
scored 54 points in a single game. He coached the
Washington Mystics of the WNBA. He currently is an
assistant coach with Maryland.
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Same Name Game
M
any trivia experts like to play the name game and
here is a list to whet their appetites. The following
names were shared by multiple pro basketball players.
1. CHARLES SMITH
Three men named Charles Smith played in the NBA.
The best known was Charles Daniel Smith, the 6 10
forward out of the University of Pittsburgh who played
for the Los Angeles Clippers, New York Knicks, and
San Antonio Spurs between 1988 and 1997. He aver-
aged more than 20 points per game in two different
seasons in his pro career. Charles Cornelius Smith
played parts of ve seasons from 19972003 with sev-
eral teams. The 6 4 guard out of New Mexico started
only 32 games in his career. Finally, Charles Edward
Smith IV played parts of three seasons (8990, 9091,
and 9596) in the NBA with the Boston Celtics and the
Minnesota Timberwolves. The 6 1 guard out of
Georgetown played in a total of 73 NBA games.
2. CHARLES JONES
Three men named Charles Jones also played in the
NBA. The longest career belonged to the 6 9 forward
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out of Albany State. This Jones played from 1983 until
1997 with ve different teams. A defensive stopper, he
averaged only 1.5 points and 2.5 rebounds per game.
Charles Rahmel Jones was a 6 3 guard out of Long
Island University. At Long Island, the sharp-shooting
Jones led the NCAA in scoring for the 199697 and
199798 seasons, averaging nearly 30 points per
game. Unfortunately, Jones never could match his col-
legiate scoring in the NBA, as he averaged only 3.5
points per game in two seasons with the Chicago Bulls
and Los Angeles Clippers. Charles Alexander Jones
was a high-leaping 6 8 forward out of the University of
Louisville who played professionally from 19841988.
He averaged 5 points and nearly 4 rebounds a game.
3. GEORGE JOHNSON
There were three George Johnsons who played in the
NBA as well. The rst was George E. Johnson, a 6 11
center out of Stephen F. Austin State. He played four
years with three different teams from19701974, aver-
aging less than 3 points per game. The next was
George Thomas Johnson, who played from 1972 until
1986. He led the league in blocked shots in three sea-
sons, and played for seven teams in his long career.
Finally, George L. Johnson played parts of eight sea-
sons with ve different teams from 19781985. A 6 7
forward out of St. Johns University, he averaged more
than 9 points per game.
4. EDDIE JOHNSON
Edward Johnson, Jr. was better known by the nick-
name Fast Eddie, for his amazing quickness on the
basketball court. The point guard from Auburn Univer-
sity played nearly nine of his ten NBA seasons with the
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99 Same Name Game
Atlanta Hawks. He averaged as many as 19 points per
game in his prime.
Edward Arnet Johnson, known simply as Eddie
Johnson, enjoyed a longer NBA career that stretched
from 19811998. The sweet-shooting small forward
was known for his deadly outside shot. Three times in
his careertwice with the Kansas City Kings and once
with the Phoenix Sunshe averaged more than 20
points per game in a season. During the 198889 sea-
son Johnson won the Sixth Man of the Year award, av-
eraging 21.5 points per game for the Suns off the
bench.
5. BILL BRADLEY
Most basketball fans and the American public recog-
nize the name of former Princeton and New York Knick
basketball great Bill Bradley. He was an All-American,
a Hall of Famer, a U.S. Senator, and later a presidential
candidate in 2000. But, there was another Bill Bradley
who played professional basketball. This Bradley
starred at Tennessee State before playing with the Ken-
tucky Colonels during the 196869 season. He aver-
aged more than 9 points per game in his only season.
6. JOHN WILLIAMS
John Williams was the name of two solid NBA players
who entered the pro ranks in the same year1986.
John Hot Rod Williams was a 6 11 forward-center
out of Tulane who played thirteen seasons in the
league. He was a star Sixth Man for the Cleveland Cav-
aliers, and he averaged double gures in scoring all
seven years. John Sam Williams was a bulky 6 8 for-
ward out of Louisiana State University who never quite
reached his potential with the Washington Bullets, Los
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Angeles Clippers, or Indiana Pacers. He still managed
to average more than 10 points per game in his eight-
year pro career.
7. ROGER BROWN
Though he began his pro career at the ripe age of 25,
Roger A. Brown was one of the greatest players in the
history of the ABA. For the rst ve years of his pro
career with the Indiana Pacers, Brown was perhaps the
leagues best small forward. He averaged 17.4 points
per game for his eight-year career. In the 1970 champi-
onship series, Brown averaged 32.7 points and 10 re-
bounds per game, including a 53-point outburst. There
was another Roger Brown who played professional
basketball in the NBA and ABA from 19721980. He
stood 6 11 and played collegiately at Kansas. Brown
was a bench player whose best season scoring average
was 5 points per game.
8. LARRY JOHNSON
Most NBA fans will remember the Larry Johnson who
was a 6 6 undersized power forward out of UNLV who
starred for the Charlotte Hornets and New York Knicks
from 19912001. In his beginning years he teamed
with Alonzo Mourning to give the Hornets a dangerous
inside duo. Johnson averaged more than 20 points per
game in two separate seasons. After knee surgery,
Johnson was never quite the same player, though he
later expanded his range to the three-point line with the
New York Knicks. There was another Larry Johnson
who played in the NBA. This Larry Johnson was a 6 3
guard out of Kentucky who played in four NBA games
with the Buffalo Braves in the 197778 season. He av-
eraged 9.5 points in just those few games.
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101 Same Name Game
9. CHARLES DAVIS
Charles Lawrence, or Charlie, Davis played in the NBA
from 1971 through 1974 with the Cleveland Cavaliers
and the Portland Trailblazers. A 6 2 guard from Wake
Forest, he averaged 9 points per game in his career.
Charles Edward Davis, Jr. played eight seasons in the
NBA from 19811990. The 6 7 forward out of Vander-
bilt played for the Washington Bullets, the Milwaukee
Bucks, the San Antonio Spurs, and the Chicago Bulls.
He averaged more than 5 points per game in his career.
10. CLIFF ROBINSON
Two players named Cliff Robinson have played in the
NBA. Clifford Trent Robinson played from 19791992
after a college career at USC. He posted a career scor-
ing average of 17.2 points per game and a season high
of 20.2 with the Kansas City Kings. Clifford Ralph Rob-
inson has played fteen seasons and counting for sev-
eral teams, including the Portland Trailblazers, the
Phoenix Suns, the Detroit Pistons, and the Golden State
Warriors. He averaged more than 20 points per game
for three seasons in a row with Portland.
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Their Rookie Years
Were Their Best
M
ost players getting started at the professional level
have some growing pains on and off the court. As
one might expect, it takes time for players to adapt to
the grueling, 82-game professional schedule. However,
these ten players were different because their nest
seasons were their rookie seasons. For one reason or
another, they were never able to match the numbers
they put up in their initial seasons.
1. SPENCER HAYWOOD
Spencer Haywood was pro basketballs original hard-
ship case, leaving the University of Detroit after his
sophomore year for the professional ranks. Haywoods
best year was his rst with the Denver Nuggets in the
ABA. Haywood led the league with 30.8 points and
19.5 rebounds per game. His performance earned him
both Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player hon-
ors. He moved to the NBA the next year, and though
he had some great seasons, he never equaled the lofty
totals of his rookie year.
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103 Their Rookie Years Were Their Best
2. WALT BELLAMY
Walt Bells Bellamy had an incredible rookie season
with the Chicago Bulls in 196162. He averaged 31.6
points and 19 rebounds per game, and managed a
league-leading 51.1 shooting percentage from the
eld. His performance that year earned him Rookie of
the Year honors. Bellamy had a Hall-of-Fame, four-
teen-year career but he never scored as many points or
grabbed as many rebounds as he did in his rst year.
3. WALTER DAVIS
A sweet-shooting Walter The Greyhound Davis
teamed with Paul Westphal to become the Guns of the
Suns for three years in the late 1970s. Davis played
eleven years for the Suns in his 15-year career. His best
year statistically came in his rookie season of 197778.
That year, Davis averaged an amazing 24.2 points and
6 rebounds per gameboth career highs. His perform-
ance earned him Rookie of the Year honors.
4. BILL CARTWRIGHT
Bill Cartwright was an awkward 7 1 center who helped
lead the Chicago Bulls to three NBA titles in the early
1990s. Cartwright was a role player and defensive
stopgap for the Bulls, but in his early years with the
New York Knicks, Cartwright was an offensive force.
His best year statistically was his rookie season of
197980. He averaged a career-high 21.7 points and
8.9 rebounds in more than 38 minutes per game.
5. JAY VINCENT
Jay Vincent was a high-scoring forward for the Dallas
Mavericks in the early 1980s, who was overshadowed
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by teammates Mark Aguirre and Rolando Blackman.
Vincent, who played at Michigan State with Earvin
Magic Johnson, scored 21.4 points per game in his
rookie campaign of 198182. It was the only time Vin-
cent ever averaged more than 20 points per game in
his nine-year career.
6. ALVAN ADAMS
Alvan Adams played thirteen years with the Phoenix
Suns from 19751988. In his rookie season he aver-
aged 19 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 5.6 assists per
game. His performance that year earned him Rookie of
the Year honors.
7. FREDDIE BOYD
Freddie Boyd played seven years in the NBA with the
Philadelphia 76ers and the New Orleans Jazz. A 6 2
guard out of Oregon State, Boyds most productive
year was his rst. In his rookie year, Boyd had career
highs in minutes played, points per game, rebounds
per game, and assists per game. His rst year was the
only year of his pro career that he averaged double
gures in scoring. He posted a career scoring average
of 8.5 points per game.
8. TYUS EDNEY
The lightning-quick Tyus Edney played four years in
the NBA beginning in 1995. His best year by far as a
professional was in his rookie year with the Sacra-
mento Kings. He started 60 games that year, tallying
10.8 points and 6.1 assists per game. He started only
27 more games the rest of his career.
9. MATEEN CLEAVES
Mateen Cleavess has never reached the greatness ex-
pected of his pro career after he guided the Michigan
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105 Their Rookie Years Were Their Best
State Spartans to the NCAA crown in 2000. Cleavess
best year was his rookie season with Detroit, when he
played 16 minutes per game, and tallied 5 points and
nearly 3 assists per game. In other pro seasons he has
failed to average even 5 minutes per game.
10. ELSTON TURNER
Elston Turner was a high-scoring machine out of the
University of Mississippi, but he wasnt able to score at
nearly the same rate in the NBA. In his rookie year of
198182 with the Dallas Mavericks, Turner averaged
25 minutes and 8.3 points per game. The next highest
scoring average in his eight-year pro career was 5.1.
He started 62 games in his rookie year, while he started
only 35 games in his next seven years.
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Player-Coaches
O
ccasionally in professional basketball, a team has
chosen or has been forced to have one of its own
players coach the team. For instance, the Virginia
Squires in the ABA were in such bad nancial shape
that they had two different players coach their team
during the 197576 seasonMack Calvin and Willie
Wise. The following ten players were player-coaches in
the professional ranks.
1. HARRY BUDDY JEANETTE
Harry Buddy Jeanette was the rst player-coach to
win a professional basketball championship in 1947.
That year he led the Baltimore Bullets to the title in the
American Basketball League (ABL). The next year, the
Bullets left the ABL to join the Basketball Association
of America (BAA). Jeanette again served as player-
coach and led the Bullets to the 1948 BAA champion-
ship over the Philadelphia Warriors. He remains one of
two menalong with Bill Russellto serve as player-
coach and win a pro basketball championship.
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107 Player-Coaches
2. LENNY WILKENS
Lenny Wilkens is the only person inducted in the Bas-
ketball Hall of Fame for his success as an NBA player
(1989) and an NBA coach (1998). From 1969 to
1972, Wilkens served as both point guard and coach
for the Seattle Supersonics. He also served as player-
coach for the Portland Trailblazers during the 197475
season. Wilkens guided the Seattle Supersonics to the
1979 NBA title as a coach (but not as a player) and
holds the record for the most coaching victories in the
NBA.
3. BILL RUSSELL
Bill Russell was the centerpiece of the great Boston
Celtics dynasty, leading the team to 11 NBA titles in
thirteen years. For his nal two championships, Russell
had the honor of serving as player-coach and is recog-
nized as the rst player-coach to win an NBA title.
4. CLIFF HAGAN
Cliff Hagan was an All-Star and a Hall of Famer who
earned recognition for his success at the University of
Kentucky. He then went on to earn numerous All-Star
honors for his accomplishments with the St. Louis
Hawks. From 1967 to 1970, Hagan served as player-
coach for the ABAs Dallas Chapparels. In his rst
game as player-coach, Hagan scored 40 points. He
played in the ABAs rst All-Star game.
5. AL CERVI
Al Cervi was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame
as a tribute to his great playing days in the National
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Basketball League (NBL) and the NBA. The 5 11
guard earned MVP honors in the NBL for his great play
with the Syracuse Nationals. From 1948 to 1953, Cervi
served as player-coach for the Nationals, earning
coach of the year honors in 1949. He compiled a record
of 210120 as a player-coach.
6. RICHIE GUERIN
Richie Guerin was an outstanding player in the NBA,
averaging as many as 29.5 points per game in the
196162 season and playing in ve All-Star games.
Guerin served as player-coach for the St. Louis Hawks
for three seasons, from 1964 to 1967. The franchise
moved to Atlanta in 1967, where he served as player-
coach for two more years. He coached until 1972,
compiling a 327291 record.
7. DAVE DEBUSSCHERE
Dave DeBusschere played a key role on the New York
Knicks championship teams in 1970 and 1973. De-
Busschere later served as commissioner of the ABA for
two seasons. He became the youngest player-coach in
basketball history, at 24 years old, when he was hired
to coach the Detroit Pistons in 1964. He served in the
role of player-coach for three seasons, compiling a los-
ing record of 79143.
8. KEVIN LOUGHERY
Kevin Loughery was a hard-nosed player who twice av-
eraged more than 20 points per game with the Balti-
more Bullets. Loughery ended his playing days during
the 197273 season as a player-coach with the Phila-
delphia 76ers. The team did not fare well and Loughery
posted an abysmal mark of 526. Loughery rebounded
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109 Player-Coaches
to coach Julius Erving and the New York Nets to two
ABA championships. He was also Michael Jordans
rst professional coach with the Chicago Bulls.
9. DAVE COWENS
Dave Cowens was a hustling, whirling dervish of a cen-
ter. Though undersized for the position at 6 9, Cowens
played with remarkable energy and earned seven All-
Star appearances. During the 197879 season with the
Celtics, Cowens assumed the role of player-coach, re-
placing Satch Sanders after 14 games. The Celtics
went 2741 with Cowens as player-coach, and he later
coached the Charlotte Hornets and the Golden State
Warriors.
10. WILLIAM ROBERT SLICK LEONARD
Slick Leonard played seven seasons in the NBA, end-
ing his career as player-coach for the Chicago Zephyrs
in the 196263 season. Leonards record as player-
coach was 1329, but he rebounded nicely as a coach
when he guided the Indiana Pacers to three ABA cham-
pionships in the 1970s. He earned more victories in the
history of the ABA than any other coach.
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Their College Teams
Lost But They Won
Top Honors
T
he NCAA Final Four is arguably the biggest stage
in basketball, even greater than the NBA Finals.
Normally, a player from the winning team captures the
Most Outstanding Player award. In fact, the last player
to win the MOP award from a losing team was more
than twenty years ago. These ten players won top indi-
vidual honors even though their teams lost.
1. WILT CHAMBERLAIN
In the 1957 NCAA championship, the North Carolina
Tarheels defeated sophomore Wilt Chamberlain and
the Kansas Jayhawks in triple overtime, 5453. Tar-
heel coach Frank McGuire used slowdown tactics and
surrounded Chamberlain with several players to try to
stop the goliath scoring machine. Chamberlain still
managed 23 points and 14 rebounds in defeat. For his
two games in the Final Four, Chamberlain collected 55
points and 25 rebounds. He was named MOP.
2. ELGIN BAYLOR
In the 1958 NCAA championship, the University of
Kentucky defeated Seattle University 8472 to win the
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111 Their College Teams Lost But They Won Top Honors
title. Kentucky focused most of their attention on Seat-
tles junior forward Elgin Baylor and limited him to 9
for 32 shooting. Baylor still managed 25 points and 19
rebounds in the contest. For his two games in the Final
Four, he tallied 48 points and grabbed 41 rebounds.
Despite his poor shooting performance in the champi-
onship game, he was named MOP of the Final Four.
3. BILL BRADLEY
Princetons Bill Bradley won the MOP award of the
1965 Final Four, even though his team did not reach
the championship game. In the consolation game
against Wichita State, Bradley poured in an NCAA
Final Fourrecord 58 points. For his two games in the
Final Four, Bradley scored an incredible 87 points and
grabbed 24 rebounds. It was only the third time in
NCAA history that the MOP award went to a player that
did not participate in the championship game. It wont
be duplicated any time soon, either, as the NCAA no
longer offers a consolation game.
4. JERRY WEST
In the 1959 NCAA championships, the University of
California defeated West Virginia 7170. The defeat
was a bitter one for West Virginias Jerry West, who put
up 28 points and 11 rebounds. For the two games,
West scored 65 points and grabbed 25 rebounds and
was named the Final Fours MOP.
5. HAKEEM OLAJUWON
Hakeem Olajuwons heavily-favored Houston Cougars
lost 5452 to coach JimValvanos North Carolina State
Wolfpack on a last-second dunk by Lorenzo Charles.
Olajuwon dominated the paint for much of the game
with 20 points and 18 rebounds. For his efforts, he was
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named the Final Fours MOP. Olajuwon was the last
player from a losing team to win the award.
6. JIMMY HULL
In the inaugural NCAA championship in 1939, Oregon
defeated Ohio State 4633. Despite the defeat, Ohio
States Jimmy Hull captured MOP honors. In his two
Final Four games, the senior Hull scored 40 points: 28
points in the seminal game and 12 in the nal against
Oregon.
7. HAL LEAR
In the 1956 NCAA championship, San Francisco de-
feated Iowa 8371 to win the title. However, the MOP
in the Final Four was not from either San Francisco or
Iowa. Rather, it was Temples Hal Lear. Lear scored 32
points in the seminal game against Iowa and then a
whopping 48 points against Southern Methodist in the
consolation game. Lears two-game total of 80 points
ranks second to Bradleys 87. Lear became the rst
player to win MOP honors even though he did not par-
ticipate in the championship game.
8. JERRY LUCAS
In the 1961 NCAA championship game, Cincinnati de-
feated Ohio State 7065 in overtime to spoil the Buck-
eyes chances of a repeat title. Even though his team
lost, Jerry Lucas captured MOP honors, just as he did
the year before when Ohio State won the title. Lucas
scored 27 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in the 61
championship game.
9. ART HEYMAN
In the 1963 NCAA championship, Loyola of Chicago
upset Cincinnati 6058 in overtime to win the title. The
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113 Their College Teams Lost But They Won Top Honors
MOP of the Final Four was not from either champion-
ship team, however. Art Heyman of Duke University
was selected for his two-game total of 51 points and 19
rebounds. He became the second player to win the
MOP award despite not having played in the champion-
ship game.
10. JERRY CHAMBERS
In the controversial (at the time) 1966 NCAA champi-
onship, Texas-El Paso made history by defeating the
University of Kentucky 7265. Texas-El Paso went
down in the record books by starting ve African Amer-
ican players against Adolph Rupps all-white Kentucky
team. But Jerry Chambers of Utah captured the MOP
award, even though his Utah squad lost both a semi-
nal game to Loyola and the consolation game to Duke.
Chambers scored 70 points and grabbed 35 rebounds
in the two games. He is the only player in NCAA history
to win top individual honors in the Final Four while
playing for the fourth place team.
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Married to Stars
P
rofessional basketball players are celebrities in this
modern star-worshipping culture. Many NBA stars
meet celebrities from other walks of life in the enter-
tainment industry, so it shouldnt come as a surprise
that several NBA players have dated and married ce-
lebrities.
1. RICK FOX
This former Los Angeles Lakers forward is married to
the talented and beautiful Vanessa L. Williams. Wil-
liams won the coveted Miss America title in 1983, but
she was stripped of her title for nude photographs of
herself published in Penthouse Magazine. The contro-
versy did not affect Williamss career, and she has
achieved great success as both a singer and an actress.
2. GRANT HILL
Grant Hill is the multi-talented forward who played with
the Detroit Pistons and now plays with the Orlando
Magic. In 1999, he married the talented singer Tamia
Lee Washington, known by her rst name Tamia. Tamia
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115 Married to Stars
has earned three Grammy nominations for songs such
as Slow Jams with Babyface and Missing You with
Gladys Knight, Chaka Khan, and Brandy.
3. DENNIS RODMAN
Dennis Rodman was a unique, energetic forward who
played a key role on two championship teams with the
Detroit Pistons and then three more championships
with the Chicago Bulls. He made waves in gossip col-
umns and elsewhere for dating pop icon Madonna, and
in November 1998, Rodman married model-actress
Carmen Electra. The marriage did not end in happy
bliss, as Electra led for divorce in April 1999.
4. NORM NIXON
Norm Nixon was a star guard in the 1970s and 1980s
with the Los Angeles Lakers, and then with the Los
Angeles Clippers. Nixon married famed celebrity Deb-
bie Allen in 1984, and the couple has two children.
Allen achieved prominence for her creation of the 1982
hit movie Fame, which she both directed and starred in.
She has also been the director of such television hits as
The Parkers and The Jamie Foxx Show. Allen is the sis-
ter of Cosby Show star and Tony award-winner Phylicia
Rashad.
5. MARK JACKSON
Mark Jackson is one of the great passing point guards
in NBA history. He earned fame and his only All-Star
appearance early in his career with the New York
Knicks. Jackson married actress-singer Desiree Cole-
man. Coleman, known as Dez, is an accomplished
Broadway performer and singer. She has opened for
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R&B legend Patti LaBelle, and in 2001 she released a
Christian music album entitled Sing For Me.
6. RICKY PIERCE
Ricky Pierce, the former Sixth Man specialist (shooting
guard, sometimes small forward) for the Milwaukee
Bucks, twice won the NBAs Sixth Man of the Year
award. He made the NBA All-Star team even though
he never started for his own team. Pierces wife Joyce
is also a star. She is a former singer with the popular
music group Fifth Dimension. In February 1987, Joyce
sang the national anthem at one of her husbands
games. Apparently inspired, Pierce went out and hit 11
of 14 shots and tallied a then-career high 32 points.
His coach, Don Nelson, said to the Associated Press of
Pierces wife: She can sing anytime she wants to.
7. RONY SEIKALY
Rony Seikaly starred at Syracuse University and then
played nearly a dozen years in the NBA. In ve of his
rst six seasons, he averaged double gures in both
points and rebounds. A native of Beirut, Lebanon, Sei-
kaly married top model Elsa Benitez in 1999. Benitez
graced the cover of Sports Illustrateds popular Swim-
suit Issue in 2001. Seikaly has said of going out with
his stunningly beautiful wife in public: Im more of a
bodyguard than a husband.
8. JOHN BATTLE
John Battle played ten years in the NBA as a shooting
guard for the Atlanta Hawks and the Cleveland Cava-
liers. Battle was often instant offense off the bench, av-
eraging double gures in four seasons. In 1991, Battle
married recording star Regina Belle. Belle, a Grammy
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117 Married to Stars
nominee, has recorded such hits as Baby Come to
Me, Make It Like It Was, and A Whole New World
(the theme song of the Disney movie Aladdin).
9. GREG ANTHONY
Greg Anthony played twelve seasons in the NBA for six
different teams from 1991 to 2002. A former star at
UNLV, Anthony was best known for his aggressive play
and tenacious defense. He now has a successful career
as an NBA analyst for ESPN. His wife, Carla McCrary-
Anthony, is a successful writer. She has co-authored
two hit books: Homecourt Advantage with Rita Ewing,
the former wife of basketball player Patrick Ewing, and
Gotham Diaries: A Novel with Tonya Lewis Lee, the wife
of movie producer Spike Lee.
10. JASON KIDD
Jason Kidd is the point guard for the New Jersey Nets.
A perennial All-Star, Kidd is regularly among the
league leaders in assists, steals and triple doubles. His
wife, Joumana Kidd, has a burgeoning career in televi-
sion news. In 2002 she began working as a national
correspondent for the entertainment TV program Extra,
and is also a television reporter for NBA Entertainment.
In 2001 she starred in the movie Whiplash, which was
shown at the Sundance Film Festival.
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Legal Stars
S
ome basketball players have possessed both
brains and brawn. Many have exchanged the bas-
ketball court for another arenathe court of law. For
example, the NBAs rst great center, George Mikan,
obtained a law degree from his undergraduate alma
mater, DePaul University. The following is a list of ten
such individuals who starred both in basketball and in
law.
1. MORRIS K. UDALL
Morris Udalls middle name was King, and he lived a
life of regal accomplishments. A young Udall lost his
right eye at age seven, but he still became a great bas-
ketball player at the University of Arizona. His college
career was interrupted from1942 through 1945 for ser-
vice in World War II, but he returned to the university
to captain the basketball team and earn not only his
bachelors degree but also a lawdegree. The 6 5 Udall
then played one year of professional basketball for the
Denver Nuggets of the NBA, averaging 6.5 points
per game. In 1961 he was elected to the U.S. House of
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119 Legal Stars
Representatives and served an amazing sixteen terms.
He ran for the Democratic presidential nomination in
1976, nishing second to future president Jimmy
Carter.
2. JOHN ROCHE
John Roche was a two-time ACC Player of the Year for
the University of South Carolina, where he played point
guard for three seasons from 1969 to 1971. Roche then
played professional basketball for eight seasons, rst in
the ABA and then in the NBA with the Denver Nuggets.
Remarkably, Roche attended lawschool and graduated
while playing ball professionally. In 1981, Roche be-
came the rst licensed attorney to play in the NBA.
Roche is now an attorney with the law rm of Snell &
Wilmer L.L.P. in Denver.
3. R. MALCOLM GRAHAM
R. Malcolm, or Mal, Graham played college basket-
ball at New York University and was drafted in the rst
round by the Boston Celtics. Graham, a 6 1 guard,
played two years for the Celtics during the 196768
and 196869 seasons. Graham next sought a legal ca-
reer, earning his law degree from Boston College in
1974. He was appointed to a Massachusetts district
judgeship in 1982, and to the Superior Court in 1986.
He has served as president of the Massachusetts Black
Judges Association and received a Judicial Excellence
Award from the Massachusetts Judges Conference in
1998.
4. SONJA HENNING
Sonja Henning led the Stanford Cardinals to the womens
NCAA title in 1990, before embarking on a professional
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basketball career that included time in Sweden. Hen-
ning then earned a law degree from Duke University.
She tried out for the ABL in 1996 while still a practicing
attorney, and for many years she played professional
basketball and practiced law in the off-season. She
starred on the 1999 Houston Comets championship
team, and then played for the Seattle Storm and the
Indiana Fever. She retired in 2003 and practices law
full-time for the law rm of Tonkin Torp L.L.P.
5. LEN ELMORE
Len Elmore was an All-American during his career at
the University of Maryland, which included three All-
Conference seasons. He then played ten years of pro-
fessional basketballtwo in the ABA and eight in the
NBA. After retiring in 1984, Elmore attended the Uni-
versity of Harvard Law School. He earned his law de-
gree in 1987 and became an assistant district attorney
in Brooklyn, New York. Elmore then founded a sports
agency company, and later, an online test preparation
company. He now serves as a college basketball an-
nouncer for ESPN.
6. VALERIE ACKERMAN
Valerie Ackerman was a star basketball player for the
University of Virginia from 1977 to 1981. She was cap-
tain of the squad for three years and a four-year starter.
In addition, she was a two-time Academic All-Ameri-
can. After graduation, Ackerman played a year of pro-
fessional basketball in France. She then went to law
school at UCLA where she graduated in 1985. After two
years with a New York law rm, Ackerman became a
staff attorney for the NBA in 1988, and later she be-
came special assistant to NBA commissioner David
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121 Legal Stars
Stern. In 1996, she was selected as the president of the
WNBA.
7. JAMES BURNS
Jim Burns was a star at Northwestern University from
1964 to 1967. When he graduated, he was the schools
all-time leading scorer. Burns went on to play one sea-
son of professional basketball with the Dallas Chappar-
els in the ABA, and then played briey for the Chicago
Bulls during the 196768 season. Burns returned to
Northwestern to earn his law degree, and from 1993 to
1997 Burns served as U.S. attorney for the Northern
District of Illinois. In 2000, he became Illinoiss Inspec-
tor General.
8. ANN KIRWIN ANDERSON
Ann Kirwin Anderson was a star basketball player
for Bucknell University, graduating in 1987. After
Graduation she played professionally for two years in
Germany. When she ended her basketball career, An-
derson went to law school and earned a degree from
the University of Connecticut in 1994. She was a law
professor at Quinnepac Law School, and at her alma
mater Connecticut. In 1998 she was inducted into
Bucknells Sports Hall of Fame.
9. BARRY GOHEEN
Barry Goheen scored more than 1,500 points in a four-
year career with the Vanderbilt Commodores, from
1985 to 1989. But it was his timing and are that en-
shrined him in SEC basketball history. Goheen had an
uncanny knack for hitting buzzer-beater shots, some
from amazing distances. In November 1988, Goheen
hit a 45-footer at the buzzer to lift the Commodores
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over the nationally ranked Louisville Cardinals. After
his college career, Goheen worked for two years before
attending law school at Vanderbilt University Law
School. He worked at the Nashville law rm of Boult
Cummings, then transferred to the nationally known
Atlanta rm of King & Spalding.
10. PERRY WALLACE JR.
Perry Wallace Jr. made history by becoming the rst
African American basketball player in the history of the
SEC when he joined the Vanderbilt Commodores in
1966. He was an All-Star player for the Commodores,
scoring more than 1,000 points in his three-year ca-
reer. Wallace later earned a law degree from Columbia
University in 1975. He is now a law professor at Ameri-
can Universitys Washington College of Law. He teaches
courses in Environmental Law, Business Associations,
Law and Accounting, and Securities Regulation.
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They Turned Their
Teams Around
S
ometimes a single individualwhether a player or
a coachcan seemingly turn around an entire
teams fortune. They become the spark that lights the
re of success. Whether through individual talent, moti-
vational skills, or other intangible qualities, the follow-
ing ten individuals turned their teams around in a
positive direction.
1. BILL LAIMBEER
In 2002, the Detroit Shock stumbled to an anemic re-
cord of 923the worst record in the WNBA. However,
in their rst full season under coach Bill Laimbeer a for-
mer stalwart on the Detroit Pistons championship
teams the Shock electried the basketball world by n-
ishing with a league-best record of 259. The Shock
topped off their magical year by beating the defending
champion Los Angeles Sparks to win the title. It was a
true worst-to-rst nish. Star center Ruth Riley, the
MVP of the championship series, perhaps said it best:
It all starts with Coach.
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2. PHIL JACKSON
For several years, the Los Angeles Lakers possessed
perhaps the best talent in the NBA, but they could not
seem to live up to their potential. In the 199899 sea-
son they were swept 40 by the San Antonio Spurs in
the Western Conference seminals. In the off-season,
the Lakers hired former Chicago Bull coach, Phil Jack-
son. Jackson, or Zen Master as he is called, made an
immediate impact on Shaquille ONeal, Kobe Bryant,
and the rest of the Lakers. Under Jacksons leadership
the Lakers posted an NBA-best record of 6715, and
captured the NBA title with a victory over the Indiana
Pacers.
3. LARRY BIRD
Larry Joe Bird made an immediate impact on the Bos-
ton Celtics. Prior to Birds arrival, the Celtics had n-
ished with a dismal record of 2953. In his rookie
season, Bird carried the Celtics to a 6121 record. He
averaged 21.3 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 4.5 assists
per game. For his efforts, he won Rookie of the Year
honors.
4. TIM DUNCAN
Tim Duncan won the NBA Rookie of the Year award for
the 199798 season. He helped lead the San Antonio
Spurs to a 5626 recorda 36-game improvement
over the previous season when the Spurs suffered a
2062 record. The Spurs turnaround is the largest in
NBA history from one season to the next. In fairness,
part of the teams improvement dealt with David Rob-
insons return. He had missed 76 games with a back
injury.
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125 They Turned Their Teams Around
5. DAVID ROBINSON
In the 198889 season, the San Antonio Spurs limped
to a 2161 record. The next year saw David Robinson
playing for the Spurs, and he led them to a 5626 re-
cord on his way to capturing Rookie of the Year honors.
At the time, the Spurs 35-game improvement was the
largest in NBA history.
6. CARMELO ANTHONY
Carmelo Anthony left Syracuse after leading the Or-
angemen to an NCAA championship in his freshman
season. He made a similar impact on his professional
team, the Denver Nuggets. The year before Anthonys
arrival, the Nuggets struggled to an anemic 1765 re-
cord. In the 200304 season, Anthony helped lead the
Nuggets to a 4339 recorda 26-game improvement
over the previous season.
7. HUBIE BROWN
In the 200203 season, the Memphis Grizzlies strug-
gled to a 2854 mark. Then, general manager Jerry
West made arguably the best move in franchise history
when he hired Hubie Brown as head coach. Browns
ability to teach paid big dividends for the Grizzlies in
the 200304 season as they won 50 games and made
the playoffs for the rst time. For his efforts, Brown was
named NBA Coach of the Year.
8. LEW ALCINDOR
In the 196869 season, the Milwaukee Bucks nished
in the cellar of the Eastern Division with a 2755 re-
cord. The next year their number-one draft pick, Lew
Alcindor (later Kareem Abdul-Jabbar), took the oor
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and made an immediate impact. Aided by Alcindors
dominant talents, the Bucks nished the 196970 sea-
son with a record of 5626a 29-game improvement
over the previous season.
9. WILT CHAMBERLAIN
In the 195859 season, the Philadelphia Warriors n-
ished last in the Eastern Division with a record of 32
40. The next year, Goliath took the court in the form of
Wilton Norman Chamberlain. Chamberlain scored 43
points in his debut, and led the Warriors to a 4926
record. They nished second in the Eastern Division,
behind only the mighty Boston Celtics.
10. COTTON FITZSIMMONS
In the 198788 season, the Phoenix Suns limped to a
2854 record. The Suns then hired veteran coach Cot-
ton Fitzsimmons who had coached the team back in
the early 1970s. Fitzsimmons earned Coach of the Year
honors for guiding the Suns to a 5527 recordan im-
provement of 27 games. Fitzsimmons was greatly
helped by the free-agent acquisition of forward Tom
Chambers from Seattle, who was named to the second
team All-NBA.
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They Coached
Their Sons
W
hen kids play little league basketball, the coach
is often the parent of one of the players. This hap-
pens with less and less frequency as players climb the
levels of basketball play. However, the following ten
coaches had their sons as one of their college basket-
ball players.
1. PRESS and PETE MARAVICH
Press Maravich coached the Louisiana State University
Tigers in the late 1960s and early 1970s. In his rst
season as head coach of LSU, his team nished with a
dismal record of 323. The next year his sonPistol
Pete Maravichbecame eligible to play ball in his
sophomore season (freshmen were not eligible for the
varsity teams then). The team went 1412, 1313, and
2110 in Pistol Petes three years. Pete set scoring re-
cords in his college career that stand to this day. He
averaged 43.8, 44.2, and 44.5 points per game in his
three seasons with LSU. He is still the all-time scoring
leader in NCAA Division I basketball. Maravich went on
to become an All-Star player in the professional ranks.
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We win with Pete, Press said. If he gets special treat-
ment, its because he is so special.
2. HOMER and BRYCE DREW
Homer Drew coaches the Valparaiso Golden Eagles,
and from1995 to 1998 he had the privilege of coaching
his son, Bryce. Bryce Homer Drew was First-Team All-
Conference in 1996, 1997, and 1998. In 1998, he scored
a dramatic game-winning shot to edge Ole Miss 7069
and lift Valparaiso to the Sweet Sixteen. Homer still
coaches at Valparaiso, coming back after a one-year
retirement in 2002. He has been Mid-Continent Confer-
ence Coach of the Year four times. Bryce continues to
ply his craft in the NBA, playing for the Houston Rock-
ets and then the New Orleans Hornets.
3. TUBBY and SAUL SMITH
Tubby Smith has been a coaching success at several
schools, including Tulsa, Georgia, and the University of
Kentucky. In his rst season at the helm for Kentucky,
he won the 1998 NCAA championship. His 200203
team nished the SEC season with an unbeaten mark
and earned Smith national Coach of the Year honors.
His son, Saul Smith, played point guard for the Wild-
cats from 1997 until 2001. Saul later served as the
teams manager after his playing days were over.
Tubby also coached his older son, G. G. Smith, at the
University of Georgia for two years in 1996 and 1997.
4. BOBBY and PAT KNIGHT
The legendary Bobby Knight coached the Indiana Hoo-
siers to three NCAA championships and one NIT title
during his successful, but oftentimes stormy, tenure as
the Hoosiers head. He coached many great players that
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129 They Coached Their Sons
later starred in the NBA, including Kent Benson, Quinn
Buckner, Calbert Cheaney, and Isiah Thomas. But of
all the players he coached, it was not hard for him to
name his favorite player. Patrick Knight is my all-time
favorite Indiana player, Bobby said. Pat played at Indi-
ana from 1991 to 1995, though he did not see much
court time. Pat eventually followed his father into the
coaching profession. He has served as an assistant at
both Indiana and Texas Tech under his father.
5. JOHN and RONNY THOMPSON
John Thompson coached the Georgetown Hoyas for 27
years, winning 596 games and capturing a national
championship in 1984. From 1988 to 1992, his son
Ronny was a seldom-used reserve on his Hoyas teams.
Ronny was an assistant coach at the University of Ore-
gon, Loyola College in Maryland, and director of scout-
ing for the Philadelphia 76ers. Then in 1998, John
Thompson hired his son to join him as an assistant on
his staff. John retired in 1999. Ronny is now an assis-
tant basketball coach at the University of Arkansas.
Ironically, the current head coach of Georgetown is
Johns other son, John Thompson III.
6. WADE and ALLAN HOUSTON
Wade Houston coached the University of Tennessee
basketball program from 1989 to 1994. He took the
position after many years as an assistant at the power-
ful University of Louisville programunder Denny Crum.
Unfortunately, Houstons teams struggled at Tennes-
see, failing to make the NCAA tournament. One bright
spot, however, was the spectacular play of Wades son
Allan Houston. Allan became the all-time leading
scorer at the University of Tennessee. He played three
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seasons with the Detroit Pistons and nine seasons with
the New York Knicks, and remains one of the games
best pure shooters.
7. JERRY and DANNY TARKANIAN
Jerry Tarkanian, a.k.a. Tark the Shark, coached the
UNLV Runnin Rebels from 1973 until 1992. He led his
team to the 1990 NCAA championship, culminating in
a 30-point blowout of Duke University. He later coached
at his alma mater, Fresno State, from 1995 until 2001.
From 1981 to 1984, Danny Tarkanian played three
seasons as point guard for his father at UNLV. Danny
was a clever passer, amassing assist averages of 8.7,
9.2, and 8.5 per game. He was drafted in the eighth
round by the San Antonio Spurs in 1984, and was an
assistant coach for his father at both UNLV and Fresno
State.
8. DICK and TONY BENNETT
Dick Bennett coached WisconsinGreen Bay from
1985 to 1995, and the University of Wisconsin from
1995 to 2000. He took WisconsinGreen Bay to the
NCAA tournament several times, and he also took the
Badgers to the Final Four in 2000. Currently, he
coaches the Washington State Cougars. His son, Tony
Barrett, was a star guard on his WisconsinGreen Bay
teams from 1988 to 1992, scoring more than 2,200
points in his stellar career. Tony eventually played in
the NBA for the Charlotte Hornets. After his playing
days were over, he followed his father into coaching.
He was an assistant coach at Wisconsin and now
serves as an assistant under his father at Washington
State.
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131 They Coached Their Sons
9. DON and JERRY MEYER
Don Meyer has amassed more than 700 wins in thirty
seasons as a head basketball coach. He spent twenty-
four years coaching National Association of Intercolle-
giate Athletics (NAIA) ball at David Lipscomb Univer-
sity in Nashville, Tennessee. He won 41 games in the
198990 season and captured the NAIA national title
in 1986. In the early 1980s, Don coached his son Jerry
Meyer at David Lipscomb, where Jerry became college
basketballs all-time assist leader. Jerry followed in his
fathers coaching footsteps, and has served as an as-
sistant at Vanderbilt University. Currently, he coaches
high school basketball at Nashvilles prestigious Mont-
gomery Bell Academy.
10. ERNIE and JORDAN KENT
Ernie Kent coaches basketball at his alma mater the
University of Oregon where he graduated in 1977. He
has been the head coach at Oregon since 1997 and
has taken the Ducks to several NCAAtournaments. His
teams play fast-paced, up-and-down offensive game
that players such as Luke Ridenour of the Supersonics
and Luke Jackson of the Cavaliers excelled at. Kents
youngest son, Jordan, currently plays for the Ducks as
a 6 5 guard. Ernie and Jordan arent the only mem-
bers of the Kent family that support the Ducks. Ernies
daughter and Jordans sister McKenzie are cheerlead-
ers for the team. Jordans brother Marcusalso an OU
studentoften leads the cheers in the student section.
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High School
Teammates
O
n most high school teams, only a player or twoif
thatis skilled enough to play at a higher level.
However, some schools have featured so much talent
that multiple graduates end up playing not only at the
college level, but also at the professional level. These
individuals were high school teammates who later
played professional basketball in the NBA.
1. TYRONE BOGUES, DAVID WINGATE, REGGIE
WILLIAMS, and REGGIE LEWIS
NBA players Tyrone Muggsy Bogues, David Win-
gate, Reggie Williams, and Reggie Lewis were all high
school teammates at Baltimores Dunbar High in the
mid-1980s. In 1982, the four future professionals led
Dunbar to a perfect 280 record and a state champion-
ship. The next year, Wingate graduated but the other
three led Dunbar to a perfect 310 mark for coach Bob
Wade. Wingate played college ball at Georgetown
under John Thompson, then played more than four-
teen seasons in the NBA for six different teams. The
5 3 Bogues starred collegiately at Wake Forest and
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133 High School Teammates
then played fourteen years in the NBA. For most of his
career he was the starting point guard for the Charlotte
Hornets. Reggie Williams played at Georgetown Uni-
versity and then logged ten years in the NBA. Reggie
Lewis played at Northeastern and then six seasons for
the Boston Celtics. Lewis died tragically in 1993 at the
height of his career, having just completed a season in
which he averaged more than 20 points per game.
2. JALEN ROSE, VOSHON LEONARD, and
HOWARD EISLEY
NBA players Jalen Rose, Voshon Leonard, and Howard
Eisley were all teammates at Southwestern High
School in Detroit, Michigan. The teammates, coached
by Perry Watson, won state championships in 1990
and 1991. Their team was undefeated in 1990 and won
USA Todays mythical national championship for high
school basketball teams (there is no actual national
tournament for high school teams). Rose starred at the
University of Michigan as part of the famed Fab Five
recruiting class that won two straight NCAA champion-
ships. Rose now stars for the Toronto Raptors. Leonard
starred at Minnesota in college, and in 200304 he was
the starting shooting guard for the Denver Nuggets.
Eisley served as John Stocktons backup during the
Utah Jazzs two trips to the NBA championship series
against Michael Jordans Chicago Bulls. In the
200304 season, he played for the New York Knicks.
3. KEITH LEE and MICHAEL CAGE
Keith Lee and Michael Cage were teammates for West
Memphis High School in West Memphis, Arkansas. In
1980, Lee and Cage led their team to a 300 record
and the state championship. In the championship
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game, West Memphis defeated Little Rock Central
7574 on a last-second shot by Aaron Price, a reserve.
Lee starred at Memphis State, earning All-American
honors. He played only three years in the NBA before
knee injuries forced his retirement. Cage played col-
lege basketball at San Diego State, and then played
fteen seasons in the NBA. He led the league in re-
bounding in the 198788 season.
4. TYSON CHANDLER and TAYSHAUN PRINCE
Tyson Chandler and Tayshaun Prince were teammates
for one year at Dominguez High School in Compton,
California. The two played together when Prince was a
senior and the 7 Chandler was a freshman. Though
they had previously won two straight state champion-
ships, the team lost in the regionals to prevent a three-
peat in 199798. Chandler and Prince both joined the
NBA ranks in different ways. Prince went the more tra-
ditional route, starring at the University of Kentucky.
He then moved up to the Detroit Pistons and played a
key role on the championship team in 200304. Chan-
dler skipped college and went straight to the NBA. He
has played several seasons with the Chicago Bulls.
5. GARY PAYTON and GREG FOSTER
Gary Payton and Greg Foster were teammates at Sky-
line High School in Oakland, California, in the mid-
1980s. During their junior and senior years, the team
went 3912 against tough competition. Ironically, col-
lege scouts were more interested in the taller Foster
than in Payton. Foster starred at UCLA before playing
many years in the NBA as a reserve; in only one NBA
season has Foster ever started more than 10 games.
Payton, on the other hand, had a Hall of Fame career
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with the Seattle Supersonics. In the 200304 season he
became a member of the Los Angeles Lakers. Called
The Glove, Payton has been considered one of the
best point guards of his era.
6. MILT WAGNER and BILLY THOMPSON
Milt Wagner and Billy Thompson were not only high
school, but also college and professional teammates.
Wagner was one year ahead of Thompson at Camden
High School in Camden, New Jersey. In the 198081
season, the senior Wagner and junior Thompson led
Camden with a high-powered offense that averaged
more than 100 points per game. Wagner then went on
to the University of Louisville. Thompson followed the
next year, creating what sportswriters and others called
The Camden Connection. Wagner and Thompson
were both senior members of Louisvilles national
championship team in 1986 (Wagner had redshirted
the 1985 season). Then the teammates moved to the
NBA, where they were both members of the Los
Angeles Lakers 1988 NBA title team.
7. GUS JOHNSON and NATE THURMOND
NBA All-Stars Gus Johnson and Nate Thurmond were
high school teammates at Akron Central High in
Akron, Ohio in the late 1950s. The future legends
played for coach Joe Siegferth, who stressed the im-
portance of defense to his players. Thurmond played
center for the team, while Johnson began his career as
a 5 11 guard. Johnson eventually grew to become a
6 4 high school center. Thurmond became a Hall of
Fame center in the pro ranks and a premier rebounding
and defensive force. Johnson became a prototypical
power forward for the Baltimore Bullets.
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8. LAMAR ODOM and CRAIG SPEEDY CLAXTON
NBA players Lamar Odom and Craig Speedy Clax-
ton were high school teammates at Christ the King
High School in New York City. The pair led the team to
the city championship game, but eventually lost to
Rice. Odom moved to Rhode Island before moving on
to the NBA. He has played four seasons for the Los
Angeles Clippers and one for the Miami Heat. In the
summer of 2004, Odom was traded by the Heat to the
Los Angeles Lakers. Claxton starred at Hofstra Univer-
sity before his NBA career began. He has played for
the Philadelphia 76ers, the San Antonio Spurs, and the
Golden State Warriors.
9. TRENTON HASSELL and SHAWN MARION
NBA players Trenton Hassell and Shawn Marion were
teammates at Clarksville High School in Clarksville,
Tennessee. In 1996, the pair led their team to a 295
record. Marion then went to Vincennes University junior
college in Indiana and then to UNLV. He now plays for
the NBAs Phoenix Suns, averaging 19 points and more
than 9 rebounds per game. Hassell graduated from
high school a year after Marion. He stayed in Clarksville
to play for Austin Peay University. He then played two
years with the Chicago Bulls and now plays for the Min-
nesota Timberwolves.
10. ADRIAN DANTLEY and KENNY CARR
Adrian Dantley and Kenny Carr were teammates at De-
matha High School in Hyattsville, Maryland under leg-
endary coach Morgan Wooten. Dantley graduated in
1973, and Carr a year later in 1974. Dantley starred
collegiately at Notre Dame before embarking on a
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Austin Peay University
Trenton Hassell.
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fteen-season career in the NBA. Dantley was a seven-
time All-Star who averaged better than 30 points per
game in four seasons. Carr played college ball at North
Carolina State and then played ten seasons in the NBA.
Though his career was beset with injuries, Carr still av-
eraged better than 15 points per game in three different
seasons.
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Charity Kings
B
asketballs Most Wanted included a list entitled
Free Throw Woes. The list included players who
struggled mightily from the charity stripe. However, the
following list contains the oppositeplayers who were
dead-eye marksmen (or women) from the foul line.
1. RICK BARRY
Rick Barry may have been the greatest free throw
shooter of all time. His underhanded shot was as accu-
rate as it was distinctive. He led either the ABA or the
NBA nine times in his fourteen-year career, including
eight of his last ten years. His last three years he led the
league with percentages of 92.4, 94.7, and 93.5. His
career average was 89.3%.
2. CALVIN MURPHY
Calvin Murphy shot free throws with condence and it
undoubtedly showed in his percentages. In his thirteen-
year career, Murphy shot better than 90% for six sea-
sons. In the 198081 season he made 206 out of 215
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free throws, for an all-time season record of 95.8%. His
career free throw average was 89.2%.
3. MARK PRICE
Mark Price led the NBA in free throw percentage in
three of his twelve NBA seasons. In the 199192 sea-
son, he shot 94.7%, and in the 199293 season he shot
94.8%. He was a career 90.4% free throw shooter in the
professional ranks.
4. MAHMOUD ABDUL-RAUF
Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, formerly Chris Jackson, was a
deadeye shot from the free throw line. Twice he led the
NBA in free throw percentage. In the 199394 season,
he shot an amazing 95.6% from the free-throw line, the
second-best in NBA history. For his eight-year NBA
career, he shot an NBA-best 90.5% from the foul line.
5. GARY BUCHANAN
Gary Buchanan made 91.3% of his free throws in col-
lege, an NCAA record for individuals who made at least
300 free throws in their career. Buchanan made 324
out of 355 for his career at Villanova from 2000 to
2003. In the 200102 season as a sophomore, Bu-
chanan set a season record with 71 consecutive free
throws made. In that year, he made 97 out of 103 free
throws for 94.3%.
6. CRAIG COLLINS
Penn States Craig Collins holds the NCAA all-time
season free throw percentage mark, for hitting 95.9%
of his foul shots during the 198485 season. Collins
nailed 94 out of 98 free throws during his senior season
to set a mark that has yet to be broken.
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141 Charity Kings
7. BILL SHARMAN
Bill Sharman was a Hall of Fame guard who played all
but his rookie season with the Boston Celtics. In his
eleven-year career he led the league in free throw per-
centage seven times. In the 195859 season, he nailed
93.2% of his foul shots. He nished his career with an
overall average of 88.3%.
8. LARRY BIRD
Larry Bird did almost everything well during his stellar
thirteen-year career with the Boston Celtics. Foul
shooting was no exception, as Bird led the league in
free throw percentage in four seasons. In the 198990
season he averaged 93% from the line. His career aver-
age was 88.6%.
9. MICHEAL WILLIAMS
Micheal Williams set an NBA record by making 97 con-
secutive free throws from March 24, 1993, to Novem-
ber 9, 1993. He was a career 86.8% free throw shooter.
10. EVA NEMCOVA
Eva Nemcova merits inclusion on this list for her in-
credible foul shooting during the 1999 WNBA season
with the Cleveland Rockers. In 31 games Nemcova
made 62 of 63 free throws, for an astounding 98.4%.
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Charismatic
Pro Owners
M
any times, the public experiences a range of emo-
tions about a charismatic ballplayer, ranging from
outrage to admiration. The same feelings can occur
toward the owners of ball clubs, particularly if the
owner takes a hands-on approach to his or her fran-
chise. The following ten individuals are some highly
memorable owners of pro basketball teams.
1. PAT CROCE
Croces sports career started in the training room and
eventually rose to the ownership of an NBA franchise.
Croce was a physical therapist with an entrepreneurial
mind for sports medicine. He founded Sports Physical
Therapists, a sports medicine organization consisting
of forty clinics. After selling his company, Croce pur-
chased the lowly Philadelphia 76ers in 1996. With his
charisma, work ethic, and never-say-die attitude,
Croce built the 76ers into a title-contending franchise.
2. PAT BOONE
The Oakland Oaks only existed for the ABAs rst two
seasons. Before acquiring the Oaks, basketball junkie
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143 Charismatic Pro Owners
Boone had a team in a Hollywood Studio League that
included Bill Cosby and Denny Tarzan Miller. Boone
lent his name to the Oaks and was awarded 10% of the
teamwith an agreement indemnifying him from legal
responsibility for any debts incurred by the Oaks.
Boone was asked to sign a blank check to help out with
the teams expenses, and was told that the amount
would be around $250,000. The check was actually
made out for $1.3 million, and Boone was left holding
the bag. But as luck would have it, he was offered $2.5
million to sell and move the team to Washington, D.C.,
earning back his original investment and then some.
3. FRANKLIN MIEULI
The former owner of the San Francisco (later turned
Golden State) Warriors came up with several gimmicks
to promote his team and the sport of basketball. Mieuli
drafted a female high school player in 1969, and also
attempted to start a womens professional league that
played before and at halftime of Warriors games. In
1966, he unveiled a new basketball jersey for a road
game in New York. The jerseys featured cable cars
climbing up the players backs, including ve stars and
a picture of the Golden Gate Bridge.
4. MARK CUBAN
The Dallas Mavericks wealthy owner made it big in the
1990s technology boom, amassing multimillions as
the result of two successful startup rms. The rst rm,
Microsystems, Inc., made millions, and the second,
Broadcast.com, made Cuban a billionaire when
Yahoo.com purchased it in July 1999. With his earn-
ings from the Broadcast.com sale, Cuban purchased
the Dallas Mavericks. As the Mavericks colorful owner,
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Cuban has accumulated more than $1 million in nes
for his verbal battles with NBA ofcials.
5. JACK KENT COOKE
This Los Angeles Lakers owner was an accomplished
Canadian high school dropout. Words like amboyant,
generous, and mean have all been used to describe this
former Lakers owner, who earned his fortune in the
radio industry and became a millionaire by age thirty.
Cookes soap-operatic marital problems also made
headlines, with one divorce listed in the 1979 Guinness
Book of World Records as the largest divorce settle-
ment up to that time. In 1971, Cooke underwrote the
rst battle between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier,
billed as The Fight of the Century, and sold the
closed-circuit viewing rights to theaters worldwide.
Cook was also the owner of the NFLs Washington Red-
skins from 1985 until 1997, and his teams claimed
Super Bowls in 1988 and 1992.
6. CHARLIE O. FINLEY
The ABAs Memphis Pros had a miserable 197172
season and were on their way out of the league when
famed major league baseball owner Charlie O. Finley
purchased the franchise and renamed the team. Char-
lie O. held a contest to rename the franchise, and the
winning fan collected $2,500 for the name Tamsthe
franchise had followers in Tennessee, Arkansas, and
Mississippi. Finley named Adolph Rupp as the presi-
dent of the ball club and changed the teams colors to
be similar to the Oakland As (which he also owned).
Finley required mustaches for the players on the Tams
and Oakland As, and he held a Mustache Promotion
on February 25, 1973, giving away silver mustache
spoons to the winners.
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7. GORDON GUND
Former Cleveland Cavaliers owner Gordon Gund is
quite a remarkable person. When Gund and his brother
George purchased the Cavaliers in 1983, the team was
nicknamed the Cleveland Cadavers. They were a los-
ing team, averaging about 4,000 fans per game. Since
Gund took charge, the Cavs have reached the playoffs
ten times in thirteen seasons and average close to
18,000 fans per home game.
In 1970, Gunds vision began to falter, with a pro-
gressive degenerative disease of the retina known as
Retinitus Pigmentosa (RP) taking what remained of
Gordons vision at age 30. Gund lived the rst half of his
life with normal vision and the second half in complete
darkness, but it hasnt stopped the successful owner
from living a successful life. In 2004 Gund sold the
team to Dan Gilbert.
8. JAMES FITZGERALD
Fitzgerald headed the group that purchased the Mil-
waukee Bucks franchise in 1976 and produced a
young teamthat won six consecutive division titles with
the motto Green and Growing. Fitzgerald took own-
ership at a time in the NBA when games werent broad-
cast during prime time and many playoff games were
recorded to be aired at a later time. Fitzgerald later en-
tered the cable television business to help air more live
games, and was chairman of the NBA television com-
mittee during some wild and wooly times. Fitzgerald
sold the Bucks in 1986 and later purchased the Golden
State Warriors
9. TED TURNER
A brazen billionaire, Turner was a champion yachts-
man and started the Cable News Network (CNN) and
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Michael Fitzgerald, Jr.
James Fitzgerald with Bob Lanier.
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later Turner Network Television. Turner purchased both
the Atlanta Braves and the Atlanta Hawks in 1976, and
created the Goodwill Games in 1986. Known as The
Mouth of the South and Captain Outrageous for his
brashness, Turner was married to actress-political ac-
tivist Jane Fonda.
10. JOHN Y. BROWN
The former governor of Kentucky, Brown is truly an ac-
complished entrepreneur. Brown has previously owned
the Kentucky Colonels of the ABA, and later the Buf-
falo Braves and the Boston Celtics. He governed the
state of Kentucky from 1979 to 1983. John Y. also
gained notoriety for making fast-food chicken famous
in the 1960s as co-owner of Kentucky Fried Chicken,
Inc. In 1978, Brown pulled off one of the NBAs greatest
business deals, swapping the Buffalo Braves for the
Boston Celtics.
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Brothers in the NBA
M
ore than forty sets of brothers have played bas-
ketball in the NBA beginning with Dick and Al Mc-
Guire. They both made Halls of Fame, though Dick
went as a player and Al as a lengendary college coach.
Currently, Jarron and Jason Collins, twins who played
together at Stanford, both play in the NBA. The follow-
ing are ten sets of basketball-playing brothers who all
played in the NBA.
1. CALDWELL, CHARLES, MAJOR, and WIL JONES
No family has put more brothers in the NBA than the
Joneses of McGehee, Arkansas. All four brothers
played college basketball at Albany State in Georgia.
Caldwell was the tallest of the brothers and had, by far,
the most successful career. He played seventeen sea-
sons in the ABA and NBA for six different teams.
Charles Jones played nearly as long from1983 to 1998
for ve teams. Wil was the oldest of the Jones brothers,
and he played in the ABA most of his career. Major
Jones played for six years in the NBA with the Houston
Rockets and the Detroit Pistons.
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149 Brothers in the NBA
2. BRENT, DREW, and JON BARRY
The Barry boys havent exactly achieved the all-time
great level of their legendary father Rick Barry, who is
the only man to win scoring titles in the NCAA, ABA,
and NBA, but Jon and Brent have had ne pro careers
and are still playing. Brent is the most athletic of the
brothers, and won the NBAs dunk contest in 1996.
After playing for Oregon State, he played for the Los
Angeles Clippers, the Miami Heat, the Chicago Bulls,
and the Seattle Supersonics. In the summer of 2004,
he was traded to the San Antonio Spurs. Drew Barry
played college ball at Georgia Tech before playing in a
limited capacity for the Atlanta Hawks, Seattle Super-
sonics, and Golden State Warriors. Jon also starred for
Georgia Tech and has played for seven teams in thir-
teen NBA seasons.
3. CAMPY, FRANK, and WALKER RUSSELL
The Russell brothers all played in the NBA after starring
for different college teams in the state of Michigan.
Campy, a 6 8 forward, played at the University of
Michigan and had the most successful pro career. In
the 197879 season with the Cleveland Cavaliers, he
averaged 21.4 points per game. Frank, the oldest of
the three brothers, played college basketball at Detroit.
He played only one season (197273) with the Chi-
cago Bulls in the NBA. Walker played college ball at
Western Michigan. He played professionally in the
1980s with the Detroit Pistons, Atlanta Hawks, and In-
diana Pacers.
4. DICK and TOM VAN ARSDALE
Dick and Tom Van Arsdale are twins who were both
very solid players in the NBA. After playing together at
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Indiana University, the brothers both entered the pro-
fessional ranks in 1965. Dick played for the New York
Knicks and the Phoenix Suns. He appeared in three All-
Star games and scored more than 15,000 points in his
career. For three consecutive seasons, he averaged
more than 20 points per game. Tom also played in sev-
eral All-Star games, though he bounced around to
more teams in his career. He scored more than 14,000
points in his career, including two seasons at more than
22 points per game.
5. BERNARD and ALBERT KING
The King brothers were talented small forwards who
were excellent shooters. Bernard, the oldest brother,
had a Hall of Fame-caliber career in the NBA after stel-
lar play at the University of Tennessee. In ten different
seasons he averaged more than 20 points per game,
and in the 198485 season with the New York Knicks
he led the NBA in scoring at 32.9 points per game. He
scored nearly 20,000 points in his career. Albert was
a high school phenom who had a great career at the
University of Maryland. He didnt match his brothers
productivity at the professional level however. Alberts
best year was his second in the league when he aver-
aged 17 points per game.
6. CHUCK and WESLEY PERSON
The Person brothers both starred at Auburn University
and made their mark as perimeter shooters. Chuck, the
oldest brother, played in the NBA from 1986 to 2000.
In his rst seven years in the league, his lowest scoring
average was 16.8 points per game. Known as The Ri-
eman, he had a memorable shootout with Larry Bird
in the playoffs in 1991. Wesley entered the NBA in
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151 Brothers in the NBA
1994 and remains an NBA player. Wesley is best
known as a three-point specialist. In seven seasons he
has averaged better than 40% from behind the arc.
7. DOMINIQUE and GERALD WILKINS
Dominique and Gerald Wilkins are high-ying brothers
who played in the NBA for much of the 1980s and
1990s. Dominique, known as The Human Highlight
Film, electried crowds at the University of Georgia
before embarking on a Hall of Fame-caliber career with
the Atlanta Hawks. He nished with more than 26,000
career points. Gerald didnt y quite as high as his
brother though he had a respectable career. After play-
ing at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Ger-
ald began playing with the New York Knicks. He
averaged as many as 19 points per game in one sea-
son. He played for three other NBA teams in a career
that spanned from 1985 to 1999.
8. HORACE and HARVEY GRANT
Horace and Harvey Grant are twins who both went to
Clemson University after growing up in Georgia. Hor-
ace had a great career for the Tigers, but Harvey
transferred and eventually played very well for the
Oklahoma Sooner team that lost to Kansas and Danny
Manning in 1988. Horace played his rst seven seasons
with the Chicago Bulls. He helped Michael Jordan and
Scottie Pippen to the Bulls rst three-peat of champi-
onships in the early 1990s. Horace later teamed with
Shaquille ONeal in Orlando to lead the Magic to the
championship round, and went on to pick up a ring as
a Los Angeles Laker in the 200001 season. Harvey
was the more slender brother who was known more for
his perimeter jumpshot. Harvey had three straight
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seasons with the Washington Bullets where he aver-
aged better than 18 points per game.
9. JIM and JOHN PAXSON
Jim and John Paxson are brothers who played in the
NBA for eleven seasons each, and who are both now
general managers of NBA teams. Jim, a 6 6 shooting
guard, played in several NBA All-Star games while he
was a member of the Portland Trailblazers. He was the
general manager for the Cleveland Cavaliers until April
2005. Younger brother John did not garner the individ-
ual accolades that his older brother accumulated, but
he did obtain something that Jim did notthree cham-
pionship rings. John often played as the opposing
guard to Michael Jordan during the Bulls rst three
championships. He sank the series-clinching basket in
the 1993 NBA Finals when the Bulls were pressed by a
talented Charles Barkley-led Phoenix Suns team. John
is now the general manager of the Chicago Bulls.
10. GUS and RAY WILLIAMS
Gus and Ray Williams are high-scoring brothers who
played in the NBA in the 1970s and 1980s. Gus had
the more high-prole career, as he led the Seattle Su-
personics to the NBA championship in 1979. For three
straight years in Seattle Williams averaged at least 20
points per game. His brother Ray could also put points
on the board, though he never played for a champion-
ship team. He averaged better than 20 points per game
in two different seasons.
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Sibling Teammates
in College
T
eammates often have special bonds. A select few
have even stronger ties because they have the
privilege of playing with their sibling. The following are
ten sets of siblings who starred together in college:
1. KELLY and COCO MILLER
Kelly and Coco Miller are identical twins who led the
University of Georgia to the Final Four and the Elite
Eight in back-to-back years. Their efforts led them to
share the prestigious 1999 Sullivan Award, given to the
nations top amateur athlete. As seniors, Kelly was
named SEC Player of the Year and Coco nished third
in the running. Now both sisters play in the WNBA;
Kelly plays for the Indiana Fever and Coco plays for the
Washington Mystics.
2. PAULA and PAM MCGEE
Twin sisters Paula and Pam McGee were teammates
and stars at the University of Southern California where
they helped lead the Lady Trojans to two consecutive
NCAAchampionships in 1983 and 1984. The dominating
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duet, who played high school basketball in Michigan,
controlled the backboards for USC. Along with Cheryl
Miller and Cynthia Cooper, the McGee sisters played on
one of the most dominating womens basketball teams
ever.
3. ED and CHARLES OBANNON
Ed and Charles OBannon played together on UCLAs
1995 NCAA championship team. Ed, a senior, was the
leader of the team, while Charles was a talented under-
classman. Ed earned MOP honors in the Final Four,
scoring 30 points in the title game. Both brothers
played briey in the NBA. Ed played a total of two sea-
sons with the New Jersey Nets and the Dallas Maver-
icks. Charles also played two seasons with the Detroit
Pistons.
4. JARVIS and JONAS HAYES
Twins Jarvis and Jonas Hayes played together for three
years in college. They began their careers at Western
Carolina and then transferred to the University of Geor-
gia. The brothers had to split up in 2003 when Jarvis
left school a year early to enter the NBA draft, where
he was selected by the Washington Wizards.
5. RONELL and DONELL TAYLOR
Ronell and Donell Taylor are called The Wonder
Twins, and they play basketball for the University of
AlabamaBirmingham. They attracted the attention of
the nation during UABs stunning upset of top seed
Kentucky in the 2004 NCAA tournament. In that game,
Ronell stole the ball and threw it behind his head with-
out looking to see who would be on the receiving end
of his pass. Donell grabbed the ball and slammed home
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155 Sibling Teammates in College
two key points. Something in the back of my head
said throw it back, somebodys back there, Ronell told
reporters. Perhaps it was a special mental connection
that he has with his twin brother.
6. JASON and JARRON COLLINS
Twins Jason and Jarron Collins starred at Stanford Uni-
versity together for four years, from 1997 to 2001. The
two brothers, standing 6 11 and 7 tall respectively,
dominated the paint for Stanford. They both now play
in the NBA; Jason plays for the New Jersey Nets, and
Jarron for the Utah Jazz.
7. GIULIANA and GIOCONDA MENDIOLA
Guiliana and Gioconda Mendiola are sister teammates
who played for the University of Washington Huskies.
The youngest in a family of nine siblings, the Mendiola
sisters learned to play basketball by competing against
their older brothers. Guiliana was the better player,
earning All-American honors. She currently plays for
the WNBAs Sacramento Monarchs.
8. DAVID and D.J. HARRISON
David and D.J. Harrison played together at Colorado
University in 2002. D.J. played shooting guard and
David played center. Their father, Dennis Harrison,
played professional football in the NFL. David Harrison
played in the NBA in the 200405 season for the Indi-
ana Pacers after leaving school following his junior
year.
9. ROSCOE and CLIFTON PONDEXTER
Roscoe and Clifton Pondexter are brothers who led
Long Beach State in several great seasons in the early
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1970s. The pair took a Lute Olsen-coached team to a
242 record in 1974, but the Pondexters and the rest of
the Long Beach team did not get a chance to play in
the NCAA tournament because of team recruiting vio-
lations. Clifton played three years in the NBA for the
Chicago Bulls, while Roscoe played ten years in Eu-
rope and South America. Roscoes son, Quincy Ponde-
xter, is one of the top young high school basketball
players in the country.
10. JON and JOE CRISPIN
Jon and Joe Crispin played together at Penn State,
driving opposing defenses crazy with deadly outside
shooting. The brothers helped lead Penn State to the
2001 Sweet Sixteen. Joe, the oldest brother, graduated
to the NBA where he played one season total with the
Los Angeles Lakers and the Phoenix Suns. When his
older brother graduated, Jon transferred to UCLA
where he was a reserve.
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Born on the Same Day
M
any people are fascinated with astrology and the
twelve signs of the zodiac, reading newspapers
and websites daily to nd out if their horoscope predicts
anything of interest. Some of you trivia buffs with an
astrological interest may nd this list interesting. It
comprises pairs of former and current NBA players
who share the same birthday.
1. DIKEMBE MUTOMBO and WILLIS REED
Dikembe Mutombo and Willis Reed were both born on
June 25. Mutombo, a 7 2 defensive specialist, was
born in Kinaisha, Zaire, in 1966. Reed, a 6 9 Hall of
Famer, was born in 1942 in Hico, Louisiana.
2. GARY PAYTON and ANTOINE CARR
Gary Payton and Antoine Carr were both born on July
23. Payton is a regular on All-Star and All-Defensive
teams in his still-active career, and is a lock for the
Basketball Hall of Fame. Antoine Big Dawg Carr had
a ne NBA career in his own right, playing sixteen sea-
sons with the Atlanta Hawks, Sacramento Kings, Utah
Jazz, Houston Rockets, and Vancouver Grizzlies.
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3. CLARK KELLOGG, PURVIS SHORT,
and LARRY COSTELLO
Clark Kellogg, Purvis Short, and Larry Costello were all
born on July 2. Kellogg was born in Cleveland, Ohio, in
1961; Short was born in 1957 in Hattiesburg, Missis-
sippi; and Costello was born in 1931 in Minoa, New
York. Kelloggs career was unfortunately cut short by
knee problems, as he was well on his way to becoming
a legitimate star in the league. Short was arguably the
greatest scorer to never play in a single All-Star game.
He had four straight seasons where he averaged more
than 20 points per game, including 28 points per game
for the Golden State Warriors in the 198485 season.
Costello played twelve NBA seasons for Philadelphia
and Syracuse, and he twice led the league in free throw
percentage.
4. SIDNEY MONCRIEF, ARTIS GILMORE,
and DOUG MOE
Sidney Moncrief, Artis Gilmore, and Doug Moe were all
born on September 21. Moncrief was born in Little
Rock, Arkansas, in 1957; Gilmore was born in 1948 in
Chipley, Florida; and Moe was born in 1938 in Brook-
lyn, New York. Moncrief was an all-pro guard known
for his outstanding leaping ability and defense. Gilmore
was a 7 2 intimidating presence with the highest ca-
reer eld goal percentage in NBA history. Moe was a
6 5 forward who starred in the ABA and later became
a coach with the Denver Nuggets.
5. DAN ISSEL, ZELMO BEATY, and DAVE COWENS
All-star greats Dan Issel, Zelmo Beaty, and Dave Co-
wens were all born on October 25. Coincidently, all
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159 Born on the Same Day
three played center. Issel was born in Batavia, Illinois,
in 1948. Cowens was also born in 1948 in Newport,
Kentucky. Beaty was born in Hilister, Texas, ten years
prior in 1938. Issel scored more than 27,000 points in
his ABA and NBA career, and averaged more than 20
points per game in eleven seasons. Beaty was a tough
center who averaged more than 20 points per game in
ve seasons, and who also averaged double gures in
rebounds for his career. Cowens was a seven-time All-
Star for the Boston Celtics, posting career averages of
17.6 points and 13.6 rebounds.
6. DARRELL ARMSTRONG, CLYDE DREXLER,
and PETE MARAVICH
Darrell Armstrong, Clyde Drexler, and the legendary
Pistol Pete Maravich were all born on June 22. Arm-
strong was born in Gastonia, North Carolina, in 1968;
Drexler was born in New Orleans in 1962. Maravich
was born in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, in 1947; and
Armstrong is an energizer off the bench who provides
instant offense and full-court pressure defense. Drexler
was an all-time great who led the Portland Trailblazers
to two NBA Finals, and led the Houston Rockets to the
NBA title in 1995. Maravich is college basketballs all-
time leading scorer, and he also led the NBA in scoring
in the 197677 season with 31.1 points per game.
7. BOB MCADOO and CHAUNCEY BILLUPS
Bob McAdoo and Chauncey Billups were both born on
September 25. McAdoo, an all-time great, was born
in 1951 in Greensboro, North Carolina. He led the NBA
in scoring for three straight seasons from 1974 through
1976. Billups was born in 1976 in Denver, Colorado. In
the 2004 playoffs, Billups led the Detroit Pistons to an
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upset win over the Los Angeles Lakers for the champi-
onship, and was named series MVP.
8. SLEEPY FLOYD and MICHAEL FINLEY
Eric Sleepy Floyd and Michael Finley were both born
on March 6. Floyd was born in Gastonia, North Caro-
lina, in 1960; Finley was born in Melrose Park, Illinois,
in 1973. Floyd scored more than 12,000 points in thir-
teen seasons. He is best known for scoring an NBA re-
cord 29 points in one quarter in a playoff game. Finley
is a star guard who has averaged more than 20 points
per game in ve straight seasons, and led the league in
minutes played in three different seasons.
9. WORLD B. FREE, OTIS BIRDSONG,
and CLIFF HAGAN
World B. Free, Otis Birdsong, and Cliff Hagan were all
born on December 9. Free was born in 1953 in Atlanta,
Georgia; Birdsong was born in Winter Haven, Florida,
in 1955; and Hagan was born in Owensboro, Kentucky,
in 1931. Free and Birdsong were much better offensive
players than defensive players. Free was a playground
legend who averaged more than 20 points per game
for nine straight seasons. In the 197980 season, he
tallied 30.2 points per game. Birdsong averaged more
than 20 points per game in four seasons, and Hagan
was a Hall of Fame-player who scored more than 20
points per game in four consecutive seasons.
10. TOM CHAMBERS and DERRICK COLEMAN
Tom Chambers and Derrick Coleman were both born
on June 21. Chambers was born in Ogden, Utah, in
1958, while Coleman was born in Mobile, Alabama, in
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161 Born on the Same Day
1967. Chambers scored more than 20,000 points in his
NBA career, and in one year he averaged 27.2 points
per game. Coleman was a talented player who, for
three straight years, averaged more than 20 points and
10 rebounds per game.
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Basketball Musicians
T
oday it seems like many basketball players want to
be musiciansand vice versa. There have cer-
tainly been numerous high prole athletes who have
taken a stab at music, particularly in the rap genre.
Likewise, several musicians are serious ballers in their
own right and have attempted to play professional bas-
ketball.
1. WAYMAN TISDALE
Wayman Tisdale rst earned acclaim as an All-
America power forward for the University of Oklahoma
Sooners. Tisdale played in the NBA from 1986 until
1997 for the Indiana Pacers, Sacramento Kings, and
Phoenix Suns. In 198990, he averaged 22.3 points
per game with the Kings. Tisdale is now known for his
skills as a contemporary jazz musician. An accom-
plished bass player, Tisdales debut album, Power For-
ward, reached 4 on Billboards Contemporary Jazz
chart. His next album, In the Zone, also landed in the
top ten on the charts. He has released two other al-
bums: Decisions and Face to Face.
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163 Basketball Musicians
2. THURL BAILEY
Thurl Bailey was a star forward for the North Carolina
State Wolfpacks stunning 1983 NCAA championship
team. Bailey starred in the NBA for the Utah Jazz and
the Minnesota Timberwolves, and he once tallied 41
points in a 1988 game against the Denver Nuggets.
Baileys passion now is music. He has released three
albums: Faith In Your Heart, The Gift of Christmas and
Im Not the Same.
3. PERCY MILLER
Percy Miller is the real name of hip hop legend Master
P, a superstar in the rap music industry. He has
achieved great success with his label, No Limit Re-
cords. Miller is also a hard-core basketball enthusiast
and player. He played basketball for the Las Vegas Rat-
tlers of the ABA, the Fort Wayne Fury of the CBA, and
other minor league teams. Miller tried out for the NBAs
Charlotte Hornets in 1998, and the Toronto Raptors in
1999, but he failed to make either teams nal roster.
4. ALLEN IVERSON
Allen Iverson has astonished basketball fans with his
amazing accomplishments on the court with both
Georgetown University and his current team, the Phila-
delphia 76ers. Though listed at only 6 1, which might
be generous, the fearless Iverson has led the NBA in
scoring three times. He is among the league leaders in
steals every season, and he was named the NBAs MVP
for the 200001 season. Iverson, under the name Jew-
elz, sought to release a rap album called Non-Fiction. It
contained the controversial track, 40 Bars. The song
drew cries of protest for its allegedly violent and anti-gay
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lyrics. Critics of the song included long-time anti-rap
activist C. Delores Tucker and NBA commissioner
David Stern. The criticism became so intense that the
album plans were eventually shelved.
5. SHAQUILLE ONEAL
The Los Angeles Lakers Shaquille ONeal may be the
most dominant force the NBA has ever seen. His com-
bination of power, strength, and athleticism make him
a true one-of-a-kind player. ONeal has other interests
off the court, including music. He has released six rap
albums: Shaq Diesel, Shaq Fu: Da Return, You Cant
Stop the Reign, Respect, the Best of Shaquille ONeal
,and Shaquille ONeal Presents. . . .
6. WALTER MCCARTY
Walter McCarty played a key role for the Boston Celtics
as a defensive stopper and spot-up three-point shooter.
McCarty starred at the University of Kentucky under
then-coach Rick Pitino, but his rst love has always
been music. In January 2003 he released his debut
album, Moment of Love, which is marketed as a mix of
retro R&B and up-tempo dance music. He now plays
for the Phoenix Suns.
7. THOMAS BROOKINS
Thomas Brookins was a former basketball star and jazz
musician. He was a star forward for Wendell Phillips
High School in Chicago, Illinois, and played semi-pro
basketball for the Savoy Big Five, the original version
of the Harlem Globetrotters. In 1928, Brookins began
performing as a jazz singer for the Original Jimmy
Noones Band. He formed a singing duo with Sammy
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165 Basketball Musicians
Van called Brookins and Van, and died of a stroke in
1988.
8. SID WINGFIELD
Sid Wingeld is a well-known piano and organ blues
musician who was recently inducted into the Iowa
Blues Hall of Fame. He formed the band Preferred
Stock with singer Tony Brown, and has played with
such legends as Muddy Waters, Taj Mahal, B. B. King
and Albert Collins. Before his career as a professional
musician, Wingeld attended the University of North
Dakota in the mid 1960s on a basketball scholarship.
At North Dakota, he was a teammate of former Los
Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson.
Thomas Brookins, fth from the left,
in the 1926 Savoy Big Five team photo.
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9. R. KELLY
Pop superstar R. Kelly signed a contract in 1997 to play
professional basketball with the Atlantic City Seagulls
of the USBL. Apparently, the contract stipulated that
Kelly perform the national anthem before several Sea-
gulls games. He loves to play full-court basketball. In
fact, basketball was his rst love, not music.
10. CHRIS WEBBER
Chris Webber is an All-Star power forward who plays
for the Sacramento Kings. In college, he was a member
of the University of Michigans heralded freshman
squad, The Fab Five, who played two consecutive
NCAAchampionship games. In 1999, Webber released
the rap single Gangsta Gangsta (How U Do It), and has
also owned an independent record label.
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All-Jones Team
M
any trivia acionados like to play name games.
Well, heres a list for such readers. All of the fol-
lowing ten NBA players had the same last name of
Jones. Apologies may be given to Alvin Jones, An-
thony Jones, Askia Jones, Bill Jones, Billy Jones,
Casey Jones, Charles Jones, Charles Jones, Charles
Jones (see Same Name list as to why Charles Jones
is listed three times), Collis Jones, Damon Jones . . .
well, you get the idea.
In any case, the following ten players were arguably
the best players with the name Jones in the history of
professional basketball.
1. BOBBY JONES
Bobby Jones was a perennial All-Defensive forward
who played the key Sixth Man role for the Philadelphia
76ers championship team of 198283. Beginning in
1977, Jones made eight straight NBA All-Defensive
rst teams. In 197778 he shot 57.8 percent from the
eld to lead the league.
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2. CALDWELL JONES
Caldwell Jones was a 6 11 center who played profes-
sional basketball for seventeen seasonsve in the
ABA and twelve in the NBA. A tireless defensive pres-
ence, Jones led the ABA in blocked shots in his rst
season, and averaged double gures in rebounds for
seven seasons in his pro career that included the
ABA & NBA. Jones had three brothers who also played
in the NBAMajor, Charles, and Wil.
3. K. C. JONES
K. C. Jones was a talented defensive point guard who
succeeded the great Bob Cousy of the Celtics. Though
he lacked Cousys air for the fancy pass, Jones paved
his way to success with a never-say-die attitude. A col-
lege teammate of the great Bill Russell at the University
of San Francisco, Jones followed his more-heralded
teammate to the Celtics. Jones became a part of eight
Celtic NBA championships and later coached the team
to two championships in 1984 and 1986.
4. SAM JONES
Sam Jones was a great shooting guard for the Boston
Celtics who was a part of ten NBA championship
teams. The master of the bank shot, Jones averaged
as many as 25.9 points per game in a season (1964
65), and was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame
in 1984.
5. JIMMY JONES
Jimmy Jones played professional basketball from
1967 to 1977 in the ABA and the NBA. For the rst
seven years Jones starred in the ABA with the New
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169 All-Jones Team
Orleans Buccaneers, Memphis, and the Utah Stars. In
his second season with New Orleans, Jones averaged
26.6 points per game. By the time he reached the NBA,
at age 30, his best years were behind him.
6. LARRY JONES
Larry Jones was a 6 2 gunner who played the majority
of his pro career in the ABA. An explosive scorer,
Jones averaged more than 21 points per game in his
seven seasons in the ABA. In the 196869 season with
the Denver Nuggets, Jones averaged 28.4 points per
game.
7. EDDIE JONES
Eddie Jones has been a steady contributor and consis-
tent scorer since he entered the NBA in 1994 for the
Los Angeles Lakers. After more than four seasons,
Jones moved to the Charlotte Hornets and then to the
Miami Heat, where he still plays. His best individual
season came in 200001, when he led the league in
steals and averaged a career-best 20.1 points per
game.
8. STEVE JONES
Steve Snapper Jones is primarily known today as a
commentator for NBA games, but Jones was a great
player in his own right for the ABA, where he played for
seven teams in eight seasons. In two different seasons,
Jones averaged more than 20 points per game.
9. RICH JONES
Rich Jones was a 6 6, 220-pound forward who played
seven seasons in the ABA and one season in the NBA.
Jones averaged double gures in scoring in every year
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of his career. In the 197273 season for the Dallas
Chapparels, Jones averaged 22.3 points and 10 re-
bounds per game.
10. WALI JONES
Wali Jones was a 6 2 point guard best known as a
starter on the great Philadelphia 76ers team of 1966
67a team that won 68 games and an NBA champi-
onship. Jones averaged 13.2 points per game while
playing alongside such greats as Wilt Chamberlain,
Chet Walker, Hal Greer, and Billy Cunningham.
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All-Johnson Team
T
he last name of Johnson has probably produced
the greatest players in the history of professional
basketball. More than half the players on this list played
in All-Star games. Many won NBA titles. Consider that
the following great players all had the same last name.
1. EARVIN MAGIC JOHNSON
Earvin Magic Johnson was one of the greatest play-
ers in NBA history. After leading Michigan State to the
NCAA championship in 1979, he moved on to the Los
Angeles Lakers and led them to the NBA champion-
ship in 197980. In the clinching game of the NBA Fi-
nals, Johnson scored 42 points and handed out 15
assists. He was a perennial All-Star and NBA leader in
assists.
2. GUS JOHNSON
Gus Johnson was a precursor of the modern-day power
forward when he played from 1963 to 1973 for the
Baltimore Bullets, Indiana Pacers, and Phoenix Suns.
The bulk of his career was with the Bullets, where he
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amassed double gures in points and rebounds on a
regular basis. He averaged double gures in rebounds
all eight years in the league, including a whopping 17.1
per game in the 196970 season.
3. DENNIS JOHNSON
Dennis Johnson was a ve-time NBA All-Star who led
both the Seattle Supersonics and the Boston Celtics to
NBA titles. He was named the MVP of the 1978 NBA
Finals for Seattle. Johnson was also named to six rst-
team All-Defensive squads, and scored more than
15,000 points in his career.
4. KEVIN JOHNSON
Kevin Johnson was one of the best point guards of the
late 1980s and 1990s. He regularly averaged nearly 20
points and 10 assists per game. A lethal penetrator,
Johnson also possessed an accurate jumper from the
perimeter. In three straight seasons from1988 to 1992,
he crossed the magical 20/10 barrier. He retired in the
19992000 season with career averages of 17.1 points
and 9.1 assists per game.
5. LARRY JOHNSON
Larry Johnson, known by millions for his commercial
persona of Grandmama, dominated college basket-
ball at UNLV. He proceeded to take his inside power
game to the Charlotte Hornets, where he formed a dy-
namic duo with Alonzo Mourning. His best year was his
second season in Charlotte, when he averaged 22.1
points and 10.5 rebounds per contest. Leg injuries lim-
ited Johnsons lift and effectiveness inside, but he de-
veloped a deadly perimeter game with the New York
Knicks, helping lead them to the 1999 NBA Finals.
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173 All-Johnson Team
6. MARQUES JOHNSON
Marques Johnson was a classy small forward who
posted a career scoring average of more than 20 points
per game in his eleven-year NBA career. Johnson
played most of his career with the Milwaukee Bucks,
where he averaged better than 20 points per game in
ve seasons.
7. VINNIE JOHNSON
Vinnie Johnson was a bulky 6 2 guard known for his
incredible streak shooting. When hot, The Microwave
was unstoppable. He spent the bulk of his career with
the Detroit Pistons, where he played a key role on the
Bad Boys championship teams of 198889 and
198990.
8. EDDIE JOHNSON
Eddie Johnson was a sharp-shooting small forward
who lasted seventeen years in the NBA. In three differ-
ent seasons he posted more than 20 points per game,
and scored more than 19,000 points in his career.
9. JOHN JOHNSON
John Johnson played twelve seasons in the NBA with
little fanfare. He was, however, one of the leagues best
all-around small forwards. A ne defensive player,
Johnson was a member of the Seattle Supersonics
1978 championship team, along with former Iowa col-
lege teammate Freddie Brown.
10. AVERY JOHNSON
Avery Johnson was a 5 11 sparkplug point guard who
led the San Antonio Spurs to the NBA title in 1999.
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Undrafted out of Southern University, Johnson earned
his way into a starting position. Though not a great
shooter, the left-handed Johnson was very effective at
penetrating and leading a team to victory, and it was
these intangibles that separated him from many of his
peers.
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Academic and
Athletic All-Stars
S
tudent athletes sometimes get a bad reputation, as
allegations of low academic standards and cheat-
ing have surfaced over the years. But the full college
experience as a student-athlete requires both brawn
and brains. These basketball players performed at an
exceptional level in the college classroom, just as they
did on the court. They are examples of ideal student-
athletes.
1. KERMIT WASHINGTON
Kermit Washington is best known for the devastating
punch that he landed on Rudy Tomjonavich when his
Los Angeles Lakers were facing the Houston Rockets.
Award-winning sportswriter John Feinstein even de-
voted an entire book, appropriately entitled The Punch,
to Washington and Tomjonavich. Unfortunately, the
dark incident clouded judgment of Washington, who
was an outstanding power forward in the NBA.
In college at American University, Washington ex-
celled both on and off the court. He led the nation in
rebounding for the 197172 and 197273 seasons, and
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in those same two years he was an academic All-
American.
2. LOUIE DAMPIER
From 1964 to 1967, Louie Dampier played for the Uni-
versity of Kentucky under legendary coach Adolf
Rupp. The great coach once said that Dampier was the
best shooter he ever worked with. Dampier tallied
1,575 career points in three seasons playing for Rupp.
While at the University of Kentucky, Dampier was an
academic All-American for the 196566 and 196667
school years.
3. DICK VAN ARSDALE
Dick Van Arsdale, along with his brother Tom, starred
for the University of Indiana from 1962 until 1965. His
senior year, Dick garnered All-America honors for his
play and tallied more than 1,200 points in his career.
From there he played twelve seasons in the NBA. Van
Arsdale excelled in the classroom at Indiana, earning
academic All-America honors in 1964 and 1965.
4. ALEC KESSLER
Alec Kessler played for the University of Georgia Bull-
dogs from 1987 until 1990. He blossomed into an All-
Star his senior year, averaging 21 points and more than
10 rebounds per game. He earned SEC Player of the
Year for his efforts in leading the Bulldogs to the regular
season conference championship, and later played
four years in the NBA. Kesslers work in the classroom
was especially impressive. He earned a 3.9 grade point
average with a major in microbiology at Georgia. He
earned academic All-America honors all three years
possible (freshman are not eligible) in 1988, 1989 and
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177 Academic and Athletic All-Stars
1990. Kessler later earned a medical degree from
Emory University, and he specializes in orthopedics.
5. MIKE GMINSKI
Mike Gminski tallied more than 2,300 points for the
Duke University Blue Devils from 1977 to 1980. In his
senior season he averaged more than 21 points and
nearly 11 rebounds per game. Gminski then played
fourteen seasons in the NBA with the New Jersey Nets,
Philadelphia 76ers and Charlotte Hornets. He per-
formed well in the classroom at Duke, a premier aca-
demic university, garnering academic All-America
honors in 1978, 1979, and 1980.
6. TOM MCMILLEN
Tom McMillen starred at the University of Maryland
from 1972 to 1974, garnering All-America honors in
three straight years. Along with John Lucas and Len
Elmore, McMillen helped lead the Terps to the 1972 NIT
crown. McMillen played eleven seasons in the NBA for
the Buffalo Braves, New York Knicks, Atlanta Hawks,
and the Washington Bullets.
McMillen was also an academic All-Star. He was a
pre-med major and valedictorian, and he later became
the rst Rhodes Scholar from the University of Mary-
land. He earned academic All-America honors in 1972,
1973, and 1974, and he served three terms in the U.S.
House of Representatives. McMillen is currently a mer-
chant banker and the chairman of Washington Capital
Advisers.
7. MATT BONNER
Matt Bonner starred at the University of Florida from
2001 to 2004, tallying more than 1,400 career points.
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Though standing 6 10, Bonnor was deadly from
three-point range. In academics, Bonner was even bet-
ter. The valedictorian of his high school in New Hamp-
shire, Bonner scored a 1350 on his SAT. He earned
academic All-America honors in 2002 and 2003a
year when he was the All-America Member of the Year.
8. DANNY AINGE
Danny Ainge scored 2,467 points for Brigham Young
University from1977 to 1981. In his senior year, 1980
81, he led BYU to the national stage by nailing a last
second shot from halfcourt to defeat Notre Dame. He
won the John Wooden Player of the Year award his sen-
ior year in 1981. An all-around athlete, Ainge played
professional baseball with the Toronto Bluejays and is
a scratch golfer. Ainge played 14 seasons in the NBA
with the Boston Celtics, Sacramento Kings, Phoenix
Suns and Portland Trailblazers. He was a member of
the 1984 and 1986 Celtic championship teams and
played in the NBA nals on several other occasions for
both the Suns and the Trailblazers. He coached the
Phoenix Suns in 1999 and is now the general manager
of the Boston Celtics. Twice, Ainge was named an Aca-
demic All-American. He earned a communications de-
gree.
9. ALVAN ADAMS
Alvan Adams played center for the University of Okla-
homa from 1973 to 1975, averaging more than 23
points per game and scoring more than 1,700 points in
his career. He played twelve seasons in the NBA for the
Phoenix Suns, and earned Rookie of the Year honors in
1976. At Oklahoma, he earned academic All-America
honors in 1974 and 1975.
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179 Academic and Athletic All-Stars
10. PAUL SILAS
Paul Silas dominated the backboards at the University
of Creighton from 1962 to 1964. He led the nation in
rebounding in 1963 with more than 20 boards per
game. Silas later played sixteen seasons in the NBA,
earning three championship ringstwo with the
Boston Celtics and one with the Seattle Supersonics.
Silas earned a bachelors degree in marketing from
Creighton, and in 1964 he was the schools rst basket-
ball academic All-American.
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Hawkeye Glory
T
hese former basketball stars played at the Univer-
sity of Iowa before moving on to the professional
ranks. The list does not include the great Connie Hawk-
ins, who left Iowa during his freshman year without ever
playing a game. Hawkins was embroiled in a supposed
point-shaving scandal in New York City (the charges
were never proven), and he left school to join the Har-
lem Globetrotters. Iowa has produced many great ath-
letes who later played professional basketball, but
these ten achieved great success on the Hawkeye
hardwoods.
1. DON NELSON
Don Nelson played at the University of Iowa from 1960
to 1962, leading the team in scoring all three of his var-
sity seasons. He averaged more than 23 points per
game in his junior and senior years, and ended his ca-
reer with more than 1,500 points to his name. Nelson
played fourteen years in the NBA, including stints with
the Chicago Zephyrs, the Los Angeles Lakers, and the
Boston Celtics, where he won ve championships.
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181 Hawkeye Glory
After his playing career, Nelson became a coach in
the NBA, winning more than 1,000 games. He coached
eleven years with the Milwaukee Bucks, seven years
with the Golden State Warriors, one year with New York
Knicks, and he currently coaches the Dallas Mavericks.
He has been named NBA Coach of the Year three times
in 1983, 1985, and 1992.
2. FRED BROWN
Downtown Freddie Brown became a basketball leg-
end for his ability to drain long jump shots. Brown di-
aled long distance at Iowa for two seasons, 196970
and 197071. He averaged 17.9 points per game as a
junior and a whopping 27.6 points per game as a sen-
ior. Brown left the Hawkeyes for the professional ranks,
playing all thirteen of his seasons with the Seattle Su-
personics. In 1974, he scored 58 points in a single
game. He was part of the Supersonics 1979 champi-
onship team, and the Sonics retired his jersey (32) in
1986.
3. JOHN JOHNSON
John Johnson may have had an average name, but his
basketball game was anything but ordinary. Johnson
played for the Hawkeyes for two years, from 1968 to
1970. He scored 1,172 points, including 27.9 per game
in the 196970 season. Johnson also averaged more
than 10 rebounds per game during his college career.
After college, Johnson played in the NBA for thirteen
years for the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Portland Trail-
blazers, the Houston Rockets and the Seattle Super-
sonics. In 1979, he teamed with former college
teammate Fred Brown to help the Sonics win their rst
NBA championship.
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4. B. J. ARMSTRONG
Benjamin Roy Armstrong, known as B. J., played for
the University of Iowa from 1986 to 1989. He became
one of the schools all-time leading scorers and its all-
time leader in assists and three-point eld goals. Arm-
strong went on to a stellar career with the Chicago Bulls
in the NBA, winning three championship rings. In 1994,
he earned his rst and only trip to an NBA All-Star
game.
5. BOBBY HANSEN
Bobby Hansen starred at Iowa from 1980 to 1984,
scoring more than 1,100 points and playing harder
than many of his Big Ten competitors. His college
coach, Lute Olson, said Hansens work ethic set him
apart from other basketball players. That work ethic
enabled Hansen to play nearly a decade in the NBA for
the Utah Jazz, Sacramento Kings and the Chicago
Bulls. In the 199192 season, he played for the Bulls
championship team, and in the clinching game of the
NBA Finals against the Portland Trailblazers, Hansen
sparked the teams dramatic fourth-quarter comeback.
6. KEVIN KUNNERT
Kevin Kunnert starred at Iowa from1970 to 1973, lead-
ing the team in rebounding for three straight years. In
1972, he averaged nearly 15 rebounds per game. The
7-footer remains the Hawkeyes all-time leading re-
bounder. Kunnert could also score in the college game.
In his senior season in 1973, he averaged more than 19
points per game. Kunnert moved to the professional
ranks, playing 9 seasons with the Buffalo Braves, the
Houston Rockets, the San Diego Clippers and the Port-
land Trailblazers.
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183 Hawkeye Glory
7. GERRY WRIGHT
Gerry Wright was not the greatest scorer or rebounder
in Hawkeye history; he does not rank among the lead-
ers in other statistical categories; he wasnt even the
best player on any of the Iowa teams of the late 1980s
when he played. However, Wright deserves mention in
this list for his high-wire act on the court. His aerial at-
tack earned him the nickname Sir Jamalot. Wright
earned his undergraduate and masters degrees from
Iowa, and though he was drafted by the Detroit Pistons,
he joined the Navy instead. Wright is now a published
author, having written Straight Talk, a book about rela-
tionships.
8. ROY MARBLE
Roy Marble scored more than 2,000 points in his illus-
trious career for the Hawkeyes from 1985 to 1989. In
his senior season, he averaged more than 20 points per
game. An athletic 6 6 guard and forward, Marble drew
comparisons to Clyde Drexler and Michael Jordan. Un-
fortunately, Marbles professional career did not live up
to the hype. He played only 29 NBA games in two sea-
sons, but when he played for the Hawkeyes, Marble
was often the best player on the court.
9. ED HORTON
Ed Horton played at Iowa from 1985 to 1989, along
with fellow star Roy Marble. Horton was a rugged re-
bounder and erce competitor who scored nearly
1,400 points in his four-year college career. In his sen-
ior season, he blossomed as a scorer, tallying more
than 18 points per game. Like Marble, Hortons NBA
career was short-lived. He played 45 games for the
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Washington Bullets in the 198990 season, and never
played again in the NBA.
10. RICKY DAVIS
Ricky Davis played only one year for the University of
Iowa before he took his tremendous athletic ability to
the NBA. In the 1998 season, Davis led the team in
scoring with 15 points per game. Davis has played for
four teams in his eight-year NBA career, including the
Charlotte Hornets, the Miami Heat, the Cleveland Cav-
aliers and the Boston Celtics. He continues to dazzle
with his amazing skills but is best known for his selsh
attitude.
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Famous Quotes
B
asketball history has been blessed with some of
the most memorable characters of all time. It has
also been blessed with some great sayings that have
transcended the sports world. The following ten quotes
have crossed over from basketball into other aspects of
culture.
1. DONT EVER GIVE UP
Former North Carolina State University basketball
coach, Jim Valvano uttered these words in his memo-
rable acceptance speech for the ESPYs inaugural Ar-
thur Ashe Courage and Humanitarian Award in 1993.
Valvano, whose Wolfpack won the NCAA title as heavy
underdogs in 1983, was battling terminal cancer at the
time of the stirring speech. Cancer can take away all
my physical abilities, he said. It cannot touch my
mind, it cannot touch my heart and it cannot touch my
soul. The Jimmy V Foundation for Cancer Research
continues as a lasting tribute to the beloved coach.
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2. THE OPERA AINT OVER TIL THE
FAT LADY SINGS
Texas-based sports broadcaster and writer, Dan Cook
used the phrase after a playoff game between the San
Antonio Spurs and the Washington Bullets in 1978.
Cook used the phrase apparently in reference to operas
that often conclude with a well-sized soprano. Cooks
saying was apt because the Bullets came back from a
Game 1 defeat to win the series, and later the NBA title.
Bullets coach Dick Motta also used the phrase several
times, including when his Bullets trailed the Seattle Su-
personics 21 in the NBA Finals in 1978. His statement
was prescient because the Bulletsled by Wes Unseld
and Elvin Hayesnally captured the crown. Interest-
ingly, the quote is usually attributed to Motta rather
than Cook.
3. THE SHIP BE SINKIN
The talented but troubled guard, Michael Ray Richard-
son, uttered his classic phrase after his New York
Knicks won only 33 games in the 198182 season. The
previous year, the Knicks had won 50 games. The
team traded Richardson to Golden State, which then
traded him shortly thereafter to the New Jersey Nets.
Richardson was a great talent who led the league in
steals three times; however, his own NBA career sank
in 1986 when he became the rst player in league his-
tory to be banned under the NBAs three-strikes drug
policy. Richardson rebuilt his life while playing basket-
ball overseas. He retired from basketball at the age of
46, and returned to the NBA in 2003 as a community
ambassador for the Denver Nuggets.
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187 Famous Quotes
4. I AM NOT A ROLE MODEL
Superstar forward Charles Barkley uttered this classic
phrase several times, including for a well-publicized,
1993 commercial for Nike shoes. Barkley insisted that
parents, not athletes, should be role models for kids.
For much of his illustrious career, Barkley was indeed
not a role model. He was accused of spitting on a fan,
throwing a man through a window at a Milwaukee bar,
and elbowing a player from Angola during the Olym-
pics. Whatever his stance on role models, Barkley has
become one in terms of excellencefrom his Hall of
Fame career to his status as one of the best commenta-
tors for the NBA.
5. NOBODY ROOTS FOR GOLIATH
NBA goliath Wilt Chamberlain often said this to report-
ers after an away game in which he was the object of
boos from opposing crowds. Chamberlain was a domi-
nant force in the NBA: He averaged more than 50
points per game in one season, led the league in assists
one year as a center, averaged an astonishing 24 re-
bounds per game in one season, and tallied 100 points
in a single game. Many of his records will never be
broken.
6. I THINK ITS JUST GOD DISGUISED AS
MICHAEL JORDAN
Boston Celtics great Larry Bird uttered these words
after watching Michael Jordan torch his team for 63
points during an April 20, 1986, playoff game. Jordan
nearly led his team to a victory that day in the Boston
Garden. Despite Jordans individual glory, the Celtics
prevailed 135131 in double overtime. They swept the
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Bulls 30 after capturing the next game. Jordan would
have to wait until 1991 before winning his rst champi-
onship.
7. FO, FO, FO
Moses Malone gave this pithy but nearly prophetic
statement about how his Philadelphia 76ers would fare
during the 1983 playoffs. Malone predicted his team
would win four straight in all three rounds before clinch-
ing the championship. The 76ers, led by Malone and
Julius Erving, nearly accomplished the remarkable
feat by sweeping the New York Knicks. The 76ers then
beat the Bucks 41 in the Eastern conference nals. In
the championship round, Malone revised his prediction
to Fo, Fi, Fo. Malone was right, as the 76ers swept
the Los Angeles Lakers to win the title.
8. ALL RIGHT, WHOS PLAYING FOR
SECOND PLACE?
Larry Bird, a notorious trash talker, made this condent
statement in the locker room before the NBAs inaugu-
ral Long Distance Shootout competition at the 1986
All-Star weekend in Dallas. The competition featured
such premier marksmen as Dale Ellis, Craig Hodges,
and Trent Tucker. However, Bird saw them as no threat
to his crown. Bird backed up his trash talk and defeated
Hodges 2212 in the nal round. Bird won the competi-
tion all three years he was entered. Ironically, Hodges
later won the competition three times as wellbut he
couldnt do it when Larry Bird was his competitor.
9. WERE TALKING ABOUT PRACTICE
Allen Iverson, the Philadelphia 76ers star guard, ut-
tered his famous practice comments during a May
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189 Famous Quotes
2002 press conference after the Sixers had been elimi-
nated from the playoffs. Iverson was often criticized by
his then coach Larry Brown for failing to perform or
attend practices on a regular basis. In response to a
reporters question about missing practices, Iverson re-
sponded:
Now I know that Im supposed to lead by example
and all that but Im not shoving that aside like it
dont mean anything. I know its important, I hon-
estly do but were talking about practice. Were
talking about practice man. [laughter from the
media crowd] Were talking about practice. Were
talking about practice. Were not talking about the
game. Were talking about practice.
Some view this infamous interview as the epitome of
Iversons me-rst, non-team approach. Others counter
that Iverson plays as hard as anyone else in actual
games, and he regularly plays hurt. Iverson has won
three scoring titles and earned MVP honors in 2001.
10. ASK NOT WHAT YOUR TEAMMATES CAN DO
FOR YOU. ASK WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR
TEAMMATES.
Taking a cue from former President John F. Kennedys
classic Ask not what your country can do for you, but
what you can do for your country, Los Angeles Laker
great Earvin Magic Johnson altered the phrase to in-
volve basketball teammates. This saying epitomized
Johnsons career as he helped turn the Lakers into
world champs in his rookie season.
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The Best of
Al McGuire
A
l McGuire was a unique, condent, and street-
savvy coach who led the Marquette Warriors to a
1977 NCAA basketball title, and later became a popu-
lar basketball analyst. McGuire was known for his quick
Irish wit and charming charisma. Listed below are ten
of his memorable sayings:
1. ON HIS SHORT NBA CAREER
I stayed in the league [NBA] three years by diving over
press tables and starting ghts. McGuire played three
years as a reserve in the NBA for the New York Knicks
and was noted more for his hustle and ambition than
for his skill level.
2. ON CATHOLIC SCHOOLS
You can always tell the Catholic schools by the length
of the cheerleaders skirts.
Al McGuire, a lifelong Catholic, often liked to joke
about the longer length of the skirts of opposing cheer-
leaders at other Catholic universities.
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191 The Best of Al McGuire
3. ON SCREAMING
But coaching college is not pizza parties and getting
the team together at the A&W stand. People cant un-
derstand my players screaming back at me, but its
healthy. Also, I notice that the screaming always
comes when were 15, 20 ahead. When its tied, theyre
all listening very carefully to what I have to say. This
was an explanation from McGuire about how he had
the respect of his team, even when his players voiced
their opinions.
4. ON HANK RAYMOND
Hanks a perfectionist. Ive always said, if he were
married to Raquel Welch, hed expect her to cook. Al
McGuire left the practices and details of his Marquette
teams in the hands of his assistant coach, Hank Ray-
monds. Raymonds was an organized assistant that
handled the Xs and Os, and McGuire was the vision-
ary that showed up on game day to lead the charge.
Raymond later succeeded McGuire as coach of Mar-
quette.
5. ON RECRUITING
My rule was I wouldnt recruit a kid if he had grass in
front of his house. Thats not my world. My world was a
cracked sidewalk. McGuire, a native of New York, had
a reputation for bonding with inner-city players.
6. ON MICROPHONE TROUBLES
Ive had more dead mikes than an Irish funeral.
Coach McGuire was proud of his Irish roots and often
liked to include his heritage in his humor.
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Marquette University Archives
Al McGuire, legendary coach and announcer.
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193 The Best of Al McGuire
7. ON EDUCATION
I think everyone should go to college and get a degree
and then spend six months as a bartender and six
months as a cab driver. Then we would really be edu-
cated. Al was known for his street smarts and always
thought a person could improve their knowledge of the
world and complete their education by mixing with all
walks of life.
8. ON RECRUITING STAR PLAYER BUTCH LEE
There were some three hundred schools after Butch
Lee, and he narrowed it down to Marquette and Penn.
Butch lived in Harlem, and I visited his place once. I
told him that freshmen werent [at that time] eligible in
the Ivy League, so if he went to Penn, his rst year hed
be playing games at 5:30 on the third oor of some
YMCA against guys who dribble with two hands and
have their underwear hanging out of their uniforms. But
come to Marquette and youll play before packed
houses and on national TV. Its Park Avenue compared
to Brownstone walk-up. McGuire used the term, Park
Avenue when referring to something that was high
class, and he used it to recruit his 1977 championship
team star, Butch Lee, to Marquette.
9. ON TIMING
I need to make the phone ring, so Im getting in the
tub. McGuire thought that timing could mean every-
thing to getting a deal done. While recruiting, Al used
to joke about what it took to make the phone ring to
get things happening.
10. ON LIFE AS TV ANALYST
A person like me just burns himself out. We color
commentators arent qualied, were just passing
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through, like Elizabeth Taylor in a nightgown, or a wa-
termelon in a boa constrictor. But its a nice ego trip
and exciting to be picked up by a limousine. McGuire
enjoyed his years as a television analyst, but he real-
ized he earned his job from his success as a coach and
his charismatic personality.
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Asian Invasion
B
asketball is now a global game, and the NBA has
witnessed a dramatic increase in the number of in-
ternational players in the league. Basketball is an ex-
tremely popular sport in many areas of the world,
including the Far East. The following players have
come from Asia to make an impact in the basketball
world.
1. YAO MING
Ming was the rst draft pick for the 200203 NBA sea-
son and is one of the Houston Rockets top players. His
extreme popularity in the league garnered him enough
votes to win the starting center position for the Western
Conference team during the 2004 and 2005 All-Star
games. Before coming to the Rockets, Ming had a suc-
cessful professional basketball career with the Shang-
hai Sharks of the Chinese Basketball Association and
the national Chinese basketball team.
2. MA JIAN
Jian played at the University of Utah before being the
last player cut by the Los Angeles Clippers at the end of
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the 1996 training camp. Jian, an effective ball-handler,
tried out in the United States following a dispute with
Chinese basketball ofcials. After failing to make the
Clippers, Jian returned to play professional basketball
in China.
3. SONG TAO
Tao was chosen by the Atlanta Hawks in the third round
of the 1987 NBA draft, after starring as a center for the
Chinese national team. The 6 10 Song signed a one-
year contract worth a reported $70,000 but did not
make it to the season opener after suffering a knee in-
jury during the NBA exhibition opener.
4. WANG ZHIZHI
The 7 1 Zhizhi, who became the rst Chinese player
in the NBA, starred on the 1996 and 2000 Chinese
Olympic teams. Wangs 2000 Olympic team troubled
the USA team in the early going until foul trouble set in.
Wang led his Chinese Basketball Association team, the
Bayi Rockets, to six consecutive national champion-
ships before Don Nelson and the Dallas Mavericks de-
cided to draft him with their 2nd round pick in the 1999
NBA draft.
5. ZHENG HAIXIA
At 6 8 and 254 pounds, Chinese female basketball
center Zheng Haixia became a professional baskeball
player in the United States when she was drafted by the
Los Angeles Sparks of the WNBA in the second round
in 1996.
6. WATARU MISAKA
Misaka is the rst Asian to play in the NBA. The 5 7
Japanese-American guard played three games with
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197 Asian Invasion
the 194748 New York Knicks. Misaka was born in
Ogden, Utah and played college ball for nearby Weber
State, and later the University of Utah, leading the Utes
to the 1944 NCAA championship.
7. RI MYONG HUN
Hun, also known as Michael Ri after his hero Michael
Jordan, hails from North Korea and is the tallest bas-
ketball player in the world. Ri rst attracted interna-
tional attention when he appeared in the 1990 Asian
Games in Beijing, thus creating an interest in several
NBA teams hoping to sign the giant 7 9 center as a
free agent. However, unfavorable diplomatic relations
between North Korea and the United States prevented
Ri from entering the country and joining the NBA. Ri
fell victim to a law known as the Trading With the
Enemy Act. The act bans companies in the United
States from forming business relations with North
Korea.
8. MENGKE BATEER
The Denver Nuggets signed Mengke Bateer on Febru-
ary 26, 2002, as a free agent. He had previously played
for the Beijing Ducks of the Chinese Basketball Associ-
ation, and starred as center for the 1996 and 2000 Chi-
nese Olympic teams. Approximately 400 million
people in China tuned in when Bateers Denver Nug-
gets faced Wang Zhizhis Dallas Mavericks on March 3,
2002.
9. HU WEIDONG
Weidong, who was the 1999 MVP of the Asian Champi-
onships, was offered a ten-day contract with the Atlanta
Hawks in 2000. The opportunity never materialized for
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Hu, though. He was injured while practicing with the
Chinese national team, and wasnt able to begin his
NBA tryout.
10. YUTA TABUSE
Yuta Tabuse, a point guard from Japan, led Noshiro
Kogyo High School to three consecutive national titles
and played college ball at BYU-Hawaii. He also played
with the Dallas Mavericks in 2002 Summer League and
was invited to the Denver Nuggets training camp in
2003. He played in three games during the preseason,
averaging 3 points per game, but was cut before the
2003 season, ending his bid to become the rst Japa-
nese-born NBA player.
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Globetrotter
Favorites
A
colorful, charismatic promoter named Abe Saper-
stein created a pioneering basketball team called
the Savoy Big Five. This teamevolved into the Chicago-
based Harlem Globetrotters, a team that traveled the
nation defeating all kinds of teams and thrilling fans
with crowd-pleasing theatrics. The following ten are
some of the Globetrotters most popular players.
1. CONNIE HAWKINS
Hawkins was a tremendous ball handler who played
four seasons with the Globetrotters in the mid-1960s.
After his stint with the Globetrotters, Hawkins went on
to star in the ABA, leading the Pittsburgh Pipers to the
rst ABA title and claiming the leagues MVP for the
year. Hawkins later spent seven years in the NBA and
was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1992.
2. WILT CHAMBERLAIN
Chamberlain was the greatest player in the history of
the Harlem Globetrotters. He began his professional
basketball career in 1958 when he signed one of
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sports largest contracts with the Globetrotters. Wilt
was a member of the rst Globetrotter team to play in
Russia in 1959. After playing a year with Harlem, he
signed on with the NBA and became one of historys
most dominant centers. Wilt was honored a year after
his death in 2000, when his jersey became the rst one
ever retired by the Globetrotters.
3. REECE GOOSE TATUM
Goose rst played with the Globetrotters in 1941, but
he was soon drafted into the Air Force in World War II.
After nishing his tour, Tatum came back to the Globe-
trotters for ten more years (194656). He was one of
the funniest Globetrotters in the history of the organiza-
tion. Tatum liked being a clown and said, My goal in
life is to make people laugh. Some of Tatums favorite
antics included, using a trick basketball and fooling
with the referees. He developed many of the teams co-
medic routines.
4. HUBERT GEESE AUSBIE
Ausbie attended Philander Smith College in Little Rock,
Arkansas, where he was the third highest scorer in col-
lege basketball nationwide. Geese signed on with the
Globetrotters in 1961, playing more than 10,000
games in more than 100 nations, including all fty state
capitals. Ausbie was the chief showman for the Globe-
trotters from1961 to 1988, before coaching the organi-
zation.
5. LYNETTE WOODARD
Lynette Woodard, one of the greatest womens college
basketball players of all time, donned the Globetrotters
uniform for the rst time on November 13, 1985, in
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201 Globetrotter Favorites
Spokane, Washington. She was the rst woman ever to
play for the Globetrotters.
6. MARQUES HAYNES
Haynes, considered the greatest dribbler in basketball
history, had two stints with the Harlem Globetrotters
(1947 to 1953 and 1972 to 1979). Haynes starred in
college at Langston University, leading his school to a
1123 record, which included a 59-game winning
streak. Haynes grabbed the eye of Globetrotter owner
Abe Saperstein, following Langston Universitys victory
over the Globetrotters. After college, Marques joined
Harlem and assisted them in a huge victory over
George Mikans Minneapolis Lakers in 1948.
7. FRED CURLEY NEAL
Known for his sharp wit and bald dome, Neal was a
gifted shooter and dribbler and was famous for consis-
tently sinking half court shots. Neal played college
hoops at Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte,
N.C., averaging 23.1 points per game, before going on
to play twenty-two years as one of the most beloved
Globetrotters of all time.
8. MEADOWLARK LEMON
Lemon was known as the Clown Prince of basketball,
for his fun-lled antics and exuberant personality.
While starring for the Harlem Globetrotters for twenty-
four seasons, Lemon compiled a streak of more than
7,500 consecutive games. In the spring of 1952, Mead-
owlark sent the Globetrotters a letter asking for a try-
out. Meadowlarks rst season in professional basketball
was with the Kansas City Stars, a developmental team
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of the Globetrotters, but he soon moved up to the Har-
lem team in 1954.
9. SWEET LOU DUNBAR
Dunbar played for the University of Houston in the early
1970s. Sweet Lou averaged 23 points on his way to
earning All-America honors. Dunbar was drafted in
1975 by the ABAs San Diego Conquistadors and
played professional basketball in Switzerland before
joining the Globetrotters in 1976. Dunbar is one of the
all-time funny men in Globetrotter history, and he is
now in his twenty-sixth year with the organization.
10. CURLEY BOO JOHNSON
Johnson played college basketball for Loras College
Duhawks in Dubuque, Iowa. Boo became the rst Du-
hawk to have his jersey retired at Loras. Johnson has
been with the Globetrotters for sixteen seasons, and his
ball-handling antics make him a close second to the
great Marques Haynes. Boo has performed on every
continent and in more than 70 countries for the Globe-
trotters.
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203 Globetrotter Favorites
Curley Boo Johnson.
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Best Basketball
Movies
L
ike several other sports, basketball has fared quite
well in cinema with many classic lms. The follow-
ing are ten of the best:
1. HOOSIERS
Gene Hackman stars as tough high-school coach Nor-
man Dale in this critically acclaimed 1986 movie. The
movie is loosely based on Indianas tiny Milan High
School basketball team, which played its way to an
upset in a dramatic state high school championship
under coach Marvin Wood. Dennis Hopper stars as the
towns basketball-loving drunk, Shooter, and gives a
memorable performance for which he earned an Acad-
emy Award best supporting actor nomination.
2. HOOP DREAMS
At the time, Hoop Dreams was the highest-grossing
documentary in history, starring high school basketball
stars William Gates and Arthur Agee. The 1994 lm
chronicles these two hoopsters pursuit of basketball
scholarships to Catholic high schools, and their goal of
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205 Best Basketball Movies
playing in the pros like their hero, Isiah Thomas. The
three-hour documentary provides an insight into the
high school and college recruitment process. Cameos
include Bobby Knight, Isiah Thomas, and Dick Vitale.
The lm received an Academy Award nomination for
Best Film Editing but, surprisingly, did not receive a
nomination for best documentary.
3. ONE ON ONE
Robbie Benson plays naive, small town basketball
player Henry Steele who is recruited to a college in Col-
orado. Bensons character soon nds out that athletic
ability alone is not the only quality a basketball player
needs to succeed, as he deals with a sadistic coach
who seems to be hell-bent on making Steele quit the
team.
4. FAST BREAK
Gabe Kaplan of Welcome Back Kotter fame stars as
David Greene, the head coach of a struggling Nevada
college basketball team. Former NBA players Bernard
King and Mike Warren also co-star. Greene heads to
the Big Apple to recruit new talentone of which is a
female disguised as a malein this entertaining movie.
Look for Laurence Fishburne in a small role as a street
kid.
5. MAURIE
The 1973 drama is based on the life of Cincinnati Roy-
als star Maurice Stokes, who earned the 1958 Rookie
of the Year Award. Stokess NBA career was cut short
by a freak head injury that led to paralysis. Stokess
teammate, Jack Twyman, dedicated his life to helping
his fallen friend and became Maurices legal guardian.
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6. HE GOT GAME
Denzel Washington stars as the father of highly-
recruited New York High School star Jesus Shuttles-
worth, played by NBA star Ray Allen. Washington
plays an ex-con trying to inspire his son to play basket-
ball. The 1998 Spike Lee lm highlights the father/son
relationship of Allen and Washington, and the pres-
sures placed on hopeful athletes. Lee apparently
wanted Allen Iverson to play the lead character, but
Iverson turned him down. The movie also includes a
cameo by Michael Jordan.
7. WHITE MEN CANT JUMP
This fast-paced, 1992 comedy starring Wesley Snipes
and Woody Harrelson is entertaining and includes a lot
of in-your-face street dialogue. It is about the life of two
basketball hustlers trying to make it in a cut throat
business. Look for a cameo by Laker announcer Chick
Hearn. Several former NBA players also have cameos,
including former All-Star Marques Johnson.
8. GO, MAN, GO
This 1954 lm starring Dane Clark and Sidney Poitier
is based on the history and development of the Harlem
Globetrotters, and was one of the few lms directed by
famed cinematographer James Wong Howe. Clark
plays Globetrotter founder Abe Saperstein.
9. REBOUND
James Earl Jones stars in this 1996 lm about the true
story of the Harlem playground legend Earl The Goat
Manigault, who ruined his chance at a NBA career with
drugs. Manigault, whom Kareem Abdul-Jabbar once
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207 Best Basketball Movies
called the best player he ever saw, later sobers up to
help others by running an inner-city program for drugs.
Abdul-Jabbar appears in a small cameo in the lm.
10. INSIDE MOVES
Basketball is the backdrop in this overlooked 1980 lm
about a group of mists at a San Francisco tavern
called Maxs. The bartender, played by David Morse,
receives an offer to play for the Golden State Warriors.
It is a drama that covers attempted suicide, drug use,
prostitution, and NBA life in the Bay Area. Watch for
Robert Parish and Jo Jo White in cameo appearances.
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Worst Basketball
Movies
N
ot all cinematic creations that feature Dr. Nai-
smiths sport are classics. In fact, some might well
be classied as bricks. Sufce it to say, the following
ten movies did not come close to winning any Acad-
emy Awards.
1. THE FISH THAT SAVED PITTSBURGH
This 1979 movie features the lowly Pittsburgh Pythons
who struggle to the worst record in the NBA, until an
astrologer turns the team around by suggesting they
use only players who are Piscesthe same sign as star
player Moses Guthrie, played by Julius Erving. The
team transforms itself into the winning Pittsburgh
Pisces. The plot is absurd and viewers are subjected to
a steady steam of disco music. The lms only redeem-
ing quality is some of the basketball action, featuring
the high-ying Erving, Meadowlark Lemon, and Kar-
eem Abdul-Jabbar.
2. JUWANNA MANN
The premise for this regrettable farce is Tootsie on the
basketball court. A failed NBA star, played by actor
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209 Worst Basketball Movies
Miguel Nunez, makes his return to professional basket-
ball as a woman in the female pro league. Unbeliev-
ably, Nunez pursues the teams captain, played by the
beautiful Vivica A. Fox. Unlike Dustin Hoffmans Toot-
sie, this 2002 movie garnered no Academy Award
nominations.
3. CELTIC PRIDE
This awful 1996 movie featured Dan Aykroyd and Dan-
iel Stern as obsessed Boston Celtics fans who kidnap
the star player of the Los Angeles Lakers, played by
Damon Wayans. Famous movie critic Leonard Maltin
rates this movie as a BOMB. No argument here.
4. COACH
Cathy Lee Crosby stars as the surprise coach of a boys
high school basketball team who scores big with at
least one of her players. Unfortunately, the action on
the court is overshadowed by Crosbys Mrs. Robinson-
esque exploits.
5. PORKYS REVENGE
It is sad how Porkys II: The Next Day and Porkys Re-
venge ruined a series that started out fairly well with the
rst Porkys movie. The third and nal movie, Porkys
Revenge (1985), features the gang as stars on the
Angel Beach High basketball team, who have to decide
whether to throw the state championship.
6. SLAM DUNK ERNEST
Jim Varney stars in yet another Ernest movie. In this
1995 lm, Ernest P. Worrell is a terrible benchwarmer
until a pair of magical shoes transform him into a star.
This ridiculous plot will be enjoyed only by fans of the
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Ernest series. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar also has a role in
the lm.
7. AIR BUD
Air Bud may tickle the fancy of very young kids, but
the plot shows why this movie deserves mention on the
list. A new kid in town befriends a dog who has an un-
canny ability to shoot basketball. Enough said about
this 1997 lm.
8. TEEN WOLF TOO
Teen Wolf Too does the impossible: it makes the origi-
nal Teen Wolf movie look good. The 1987 sequel stars
Jason Bateman instead of Michael J. Fox, which is one
of its aws. Bateman plays Foxs cousin who goes to
college on a basketball scholarship. He, like Foxs
character, plays great basketball when he turns into a
wolf. Movie critic Leonard Maltin rates this movie a
BOMB and rightfully calls it excruciating.
9. LIKE MIKE
This well-meaning 2002 story features rapper Lil Bow
Wow as orphan Calvin Cambridge, a kid who becomes
an NBA star with his magical shoes. The sight of Lil
BowWowgoing head-to-head with NBAstars like Allen
Iverson may capture kids imaginations, but it certainly
wont win any cinematic awards. Lil Bow Wow is a
much better rapper than actor.
10. BASEketBAll
This ridiculous 1998 comedy features two guys who
invent their own game of blacktop basketballa com-
bination of baseball and basketball. Directed by David
Zucker, the movie stars South Park creators Trey Par-
ker and Matt Stone, who should have stuck to what
made them famous.
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High School 100-
Point Scorers
O
n March 2, 1962, the Philadelphia Warriors Wilt
Chamberlain did the impossible: he scored 100
points in a single game. He never scored 100 points in
a high school game while at Overbrook High School in
Philadelphia. But the following ten players did score
100 points or more in a high school game.
1. LISA LESLIE
On February 7, 1990, Lisa Leslie scored 101 points for
Morningside High in Inglewood, Californiain a single
half. Morningside was ahead 10224 over South Tor-
rance at halftime when South Torrance refused to take
the court for the second half. Leslie scored 49 points in
the rst quarter and 52 points in the second quarter,
and is now a star in the WNBA with the Los Angeles
Sparks.
2. CHERYL MILLER
On January 26, 1982, Cheryl Miller scored 105 points,
and her team Riverside Poly defeated Riverside Norte
Viste 17915. Miller later starred and coached at the
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University of Southern California. Coincidentally, as a
coach, one of Millers star players was none other than
Lisa Leslie.
3. JEANETTE HAYS
On January 6, 1956, Jeanette Hays of Henry, Tennes-
see, scored 100 points in a high school basketball
game.
4. PETE CIMINO
On January 22, 1960, Pete Cimino scored 114 points
for Bristol High School in their 13286 win over Pali-
sades. Cimino made 44 of 79 attempts from the oor,
and 26 of 29 free throws.
5. DANNY HEATER
On January 26, 1960, Danny Heater scored an incredi-
ble 135 points for Burnsville High School in its 17343
victory over Widen. Heater scored 55 points in the rst
half and 80 points in the second half, adding 32 re-
bounds and 7 assists.
6. DAJUAN WAGNER
On January 16, 2001, Dajuan Wagner scored 100
points for Camden High in their 15767 win over
Gloucester Township Technical School. Wagner, the
son of former Louisville great and NBA player Milt
Wagner, shot 42 of 61 from the eld, including 10
three-pointers.
7. DENISE LONG
On January 23, 1968, Denise Long scored 111 points
in a high school game for Union Witten High School in
Union Whitten, Iowa. Long scored more than 100
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213 High School 100-Point Scorers
points three times in her legendary career. She was so
good that the San Francisco Warriors of the NBA
drafted her. Unfortunately, she never played.
8. LYNEE LORENZEN
In 1986, Lynne Lorenzen scored 100 points in a game
for Ventura High in a win over Woden-Crystal Lake. She
averaged better than 60 points per game her senior
year and scored a whopping 6,736 points in her high
school career.
9. DICK BOGENRIFE
On February 6, 1953, Dick Bogenrife of Sedalia High
School in Midway, Ohio, scored 120 points in a single
high school basketball game. Sedalia defeated Canaan
13746. Bogenrife scored 52 eld goals and 16 free
throws to amass his amazing total.
10. NORMA SCHOULTE
On January 28, 1952, Norma Schoulte scored 111
points to lead Monona High School in Monona, Louisi-
ana, to a lopsided tournament win over Harpers Ferry.
Schoulte scored 4,187 points in her high school bas-
ketball career from 1948 to 1952.
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Draft Oddities
F
or the past few years, the NBA draft has been lim-
ited two two rounds, so teams must be very careful
about whom they select. For years though, the NBA
had a draft that went into numerous rounds, which ex-
plains why there have been some rather odd draft
selections in the past. The following ten qualify as un-
usual draft selections.
1. DAVE WINFIELD
Wineld is the only athlete in sports history to be
drafted by four professional teams in three sports
baseballs San Diego Padres, footballs Minnesota Vik-
ings, the NBAs Atlanta Hawks, and the ABAs Utah
Stars. He chose baseball as his profession and it was
probably a wise choice. Wineld was selected to the
All-Star team twelve times, earned seven Gold Glove
Awards, smacked more than 3,000 base hits, and was
inducted into the Hall of Fame in his rst year of eligibil-
ity in 2001.
2. JIM BROWN
The legendary running back Brown averaged 104.3
yards per game in his NFL career. After playing only
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215 Draft Oddities
nine seasons in the NFL, Brown became the leagues
all-time rusherat a time when the regular season was
only twelve games compared to the sixteen it is today.
Jim was a tremendous athlete at Syracuse University
and also starred on the basketball team. The local pro-
fessional basketball team, the Syracuse Nationals,
drafted Brown in the ninth round of the 1957 draft.
3. BRUCE JENNER
Jenner was labeled the Worlds Greatest Athlete after
winning the decathlon in the 1976 Olympic Games in
Montreal. The Kansas City Kings took the best avail-
able athlete in the seventh round of the NBA draft in
1977.
4. TONY GWYNN
A former eight-time National League batting champion
with San Diego Padres, Gwynn played baseball and
basketball at San Diego State University and left the
school holding the all-time record in assists. Tony was
drafted in 10th round by San Diego Clippers in the
1981 NBA draft. Gwynn is now the head baseball
coach at his alma mater.
5. CARL LEWIS
The Chicago Bulls drafted Lewis in the tenth round of
the 1984 NBA draft. Overall, Lewis was the 212th pick
of the draft. But the track star and nine-time gold med-
alist never considered a career in the NBA. His stature
as an athlete was already secure after his incredible
performance in the 1984 Olympic Games in Los
Angeles, where he won four gold medals.
6. JORGE GONZALES
Gonzales is a legitimate 7 6 and starred on the 1988
Argentina Olympic basketball team. He was drafted by
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the Atlanta Hawks but did not make it to the NBA. In-
stead, Gonzales turned to professional wrestling and
started his career with World Championship Wrestling.
He was billed as El Gigante. Years later, Gonzales
made the switch to the World Wrestling Federation,
where he competed against the likes of the Undertaker,
even eliminating the ghoulish Taker from the 1993
Royal Rumble match.
7. OSCAR SCHMIDT
Schmidt was a Brazilian superstar nicknamed Mao
Santa, or Holy Hand. Oscar was a deadly long range
shooter, once scoring 46 points in a 1987 upset over
the American team led by Danny Manning and David
Robinson in the Pan-Am Games. The New Jersey Nets
chose Schmidt with their sixth round pick in 1984 draft.
Schmidt was satised to star in Brazil and Europe and
was never tempted to try his luck in the NBA. The Bra-
zilian scoring machine logged an unofcial count of
49,703 points, over 11,000 more than NBA scoring
champion Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
8. DENISE LONG
Long was the rst woman ever drafted by the NBA.
Taken in the 1969 draft by Franklin Mieuli, the owner
of the San Francisco Warriors, the pick was void be-
cause in 1969 high school players were ineligible for
the NBA draft. Denise had been a high school standout
in Iowas six-on-six girls basketball, scoring 111 points
in one game and averaging 68.5 points per game in her
senior year for Union-Whitten High School in Whitten,
Iowa.
9. PETER GENT
A former Dallas Cowboy, Peter Gent inked the best-
seller North Dallas Forty about life in professional football.
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217 Draft Oddities
The movie was released in 1979 and the story was
based on the early 1970s Dallas Cowboys. Gent was
drafted in 1964 in the fourteen round by the Baltimore
Bullets.
10. BUBBA SMITH
The former great defensive linemen with the Baltimore
Coltsperhaps best known in some circles for his
Miller Lite beer commercialswas drafted by the Balti-
more Bullets in the eleventh round of the 1967 NBA
draft. Smith later gained notoriety as a star in the Policy
Academy movies.
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When Basketball and
Wrestling Collide
T
here have been several members of the NBA com-
munity who have ventured into the area of sports
entertainment, drawing large pay-per-view crowds
competing as professional wrestlers. But there have
also been many pro wrestlers who had dreams of a ca-
reer in the NBA before donning the tights. Here are ten
such people:
1. DENNIS RODMAN
The rebounding machine known as The Worm has
participated in four World Championship Wrestling
pay-per view events, twice teaming with Hulk Hogan.
Rodman made headlines for skipping out on obliga-
tions with the Chicago Bulls to participate in a televised
wrestling show called Nitro. Dennis was last seen in
2000, losing to the late Curt Henning via disqualica-
tion in a wrestling event held in Australia.
2. KARL MALONE
At a 1998 World Championship Wrestling tag-team ex-
travaganza titled Bash at the Beach, held in San
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219 When Basketball and Wrestling Collide
Diego, California, Utah Jazz forward Karl Malone
teamed with Diamond Dallas Page against Hulk Hogan
and Dennis The Worm Rodman.
3. JEROME WILLIAMS
Toronto Raptors forward Williams, known as The
Junkyard Dog, has been a longtime professional
wrestling fan. In his time away from the court, Williams
has served limited roles in the wrestling arena as a pro-
fessional wrestling manager, referee, and guest com-
missioner. On June 9, 2001, during a World Wrestling
Entertainment Extravaganza held at the Air Canada
Centre in Toronto, Canada, Williams was the special
guest referee in a ladies tag-team bout featuring Trish
Stratus and Jacqueline versus Lita and Molly Holly.
4. DARRYL DAWKINS
Dawkins, or Chocolate Thunder, was a judge in
Wrestlemania 2 for a boxing match that took place on
April 7, 1986, in Uniondale, N.Y., pitting Rowdy
Roddy Piper against Rocky III villian, Mr. T. Mr. T won
the slugfest when the match was prematurely stopped
via disqualication, thus sparing Dawkins and the other
celebrity judgesCab Calloway and G. Gordon Liddy
from revealing their scores of the match.
5. MARK CUBAN
Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban was sitting ring-
side for the Survivor Series, a pay-per-view profes-
sional wrestling event presented by the World Wrestling
Entertainment at the American Airlines Center in Dal-
las, Texas in November 2003. Cuban, a confessed life-
long fan, became part of the show. Eric Bischoff, a
member of the professional wrestling world, began to
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heckle Cuban who responded by jumping into the ring
to the enjoyment of the capacity crowd. Randy Orton,
a wrestler and friend to Bischoff, rushed to the ring and
applied his patent move, The RKO, to Cuban. Ru-
mors of the Mavericks owner making a career in wres-
tling entertainment were soon squashed.
6. PAUL WHITE
Paul The Giant Whiteknown in wrestling circles as
The Big Showwent to Wichita State University on a
basketball scholarship. In high school, Wight averaged
30 points per game for Wyman King Academy in
Batesburg, South Carolina. At Wichita State, Wight av-
eraged only 2 points per game. Using Hulk Hogan as a
role model, Wight turned his aspirations toward profes-
sional wrestling, and eventually defeated Rick Flair for
a world title in 1996.
7. KEVIN NASH
Nash played college basketball for the University of
Tennessee in the late 1970s, scoring 5.4 points and 4
rebounds per game as a junior. The following year
Nash was thrown off the team for violating team rules.
Nash relocated to Europe where he played pro basket-
ball for several years, but his career ended in 1985 after
he tore an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) playing in
Germany. Nash tried out with the Cleveland Cavaliers
but was soon waived, which eventually led him to the
squared circle. Nash has been a prominent grappler in
both World Championship Wrestling and the WWE,
where he started out as a bodyguard named Diesel,
and eventually worked his way up to World Cham-
pion status.
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221 When Basketball and Wrestling Collide
8. JONATHAN COLEMAN
The former leading scorer for the McPherson College
Bulldogs played college ball in the mid-1990s. Coach-
man is now a professional wrestling announcer with
Vince McMahons World Wrestling Entertainment. The
Coach, as he is known in professional wrestling cir-
cles, has feuded with Jerry The King Lawler and
Stone Cold Steve Austin. Coachmans most embar-
rassing moment occurred on March 30, 2003 when he
was pinned at Wrestlemania 19 by a female grappler.
9. PAULO GIANT SILVA
Standing 7 3, Silva is a former member of the 1992
Brazilian Olympic basketball team. Silva performed in
the World Wrestling Federation in 1998 in the group
known as The Oddities. He later switched to compet-
ing in mixed martial arts matches, where the 400-
pound big man has had mixed results.
10. LINDA MILES
Linda Miles is now known as Shaniqua in wrestling
circles. Miles played four years of college basketball for
Rutgers, averaging more than 7 points and 5 rebounds
per game in her career. After an attempt at the WNBA,
Miles turned to wrestling. She won the Tough Enough 2
competition for beginning wrestlers, and has parlayed
that performance into a successful wrestling career.
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Basketball Tragedies
B
asketball stars are often thought of as invincible,
infallible demigods. Anyone with that much talent
must be perfect, right? Wrong. Below is a list of basket-
ball tragedies that befell even the greatest of players.
1. EARVIN MAGIC JOHNSON AND HIV
Who can forget where they were on November 7, 1991,
as Earvin Magic Johnson announced to the world
that he was infected with the HIV virus? Johnson an-
nounced his immediate retirement, leaving the basket-
ball world in shock. Many feared that a painful death
loomed in Magics near future, but the former Laker
great has deed the odds and has been living a produc-
tive life since his diagnosis. Johnson has been inspiring
many as well as educating millions of people on the
subject of AIDS.
2. HANK GATHERS COLLAPSES ON THE COURT
Former NCAAscoring and rebounding champion Hank
Gathers of Loyola Marymount University had been on
medication for an irregular heartbeat during the nal
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223 Basketball Tragedies
months of the 198990 season. In a postseason con-
ference tournament game against Portland, Gathers
jammed an impressive dunk early in the game and then
retreated down the court. He soon slumped to the
ground and went into a seizure. Gathers died several
hours later.
3. THE FATEFUL PUNCH
On December 9, 1977, Los Angeles Lakers power for-
ward Kermit Washington threw a haymaker punch dur-
ing a basketball melee that landed ush on the face of
the unsuspecting Houston Rocket, Rudy Tomjanovich.
Lakers assistant coach Jack McCloskey said it was
the hardest punch in the history of mankind. Tomja-
novich never saw the punch coming and almost died
as a result of the injuries he sustained from it. Rudy had
a fractured skull, jaw, and nose, and was leaking spinal
uid. Tomjanovich later made a full recovery after
going through extensive reconstructive surgery.
4. LEN BIAS AND COCAINE
Len Bias was picked second overall in the 1986 NBA
draft by the Boston Celtics. Boston fans were ecstatic
to be adding the Maryland University star to an already
legendary line-up that included Larry Bird, Robert Par-
ish, and Kevin McHale. Many basketball experts pre-
dicted that Bias would be a future All-Star, but Bias
would never suit up for the Celtics. He died from a co-
caine overdose just forty-eight hours after the draft.
5. REGGIE LEWIS DIES WHILE SHOOTING HOOPS
Popular Boston Celtics player Reggie Lewis passed
away on July 27, 1993, while shooting baskets in prep-
aration for the upcoming season. Although it stunned
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the sports world, Lewis had been diagnosed with a
heart condition after he collapsed on the court in a
1993 playoff game against the Charlotte Hornets. Sev-
eral in the media and medical professions questioned
Lewiss return to professional basketball, but Reggie
planned to continue playing despite those concerns.
6. THE DEATH OF DRAZEN PETROVIC
Petrovic grew up in a small port city on the Adriatic Sea
in Croatia, and learned to play basketball with his older
brother. Petrovic played in his nal game on June 6,
1993, against Slovenia in Wroclow, Poland. Drazen
opted to drive home with a friend, and during a heavy
storm near Denkendorf, Germany, the vehicle carrying
him slammed into a truck. It killed the NBA player in-
stantly.
7. MAURICE STOKES
Maurice Stokes was a top NBA forward in the 1950s
who averaged more than 17 points per game. During a
game in his third year in the league with the Cincinnati
Royals, Stokes was fouled and lost his balance. He fell
to the oor, was knocked unconscious, and a few days
later Maurice went into a coma and was paralyzed.
Teammate and friend Jack Twyman became his legal
guardian and helped raise money to cover Stokess
medical expenses. A movie called Maurice aired three
years after Stokess death in 1970. The rst great, ath-
letic power forward, was how former Celtics great and
NBA coach Bob Cousy described Stokes. He was Karl
Malone with more nesse.
8. JABBAR DECKS BENSON
While most people know about the The Punch thrown
by Kermit Washington at Rudy Tomjanovich, roughly
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225 Basketball Tragedies
forty other ghts occurred during that 197778 NBA
season. On opening night, October 18, 1977, at the
Milwaukee Arena, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar leveled
rookie and rst draft pick Kent Benson. About four min-
utes into the game, Abdul-Jabbar and Benson traded
elbows and pushed each other in the lane. Angered by
Bensons elbows, Abdul-Jabbar blind sided him with a
right hook that oored the rookie. Another Bucks
rookie at the time, Ernie Grunfeld said, It was not the
way to start a career. It wasnt something you see every
day. Benson never reached his full potential as a dom-
inant force in the NBA, and many believe that he never
mentally recovered from the punch he took from Kar-
eem Abdul-Jabbar in his rst professional basketball
game.
9. TRAGIC SUICIDE
Sacramento Kings shooting guard Ricky Berry took his
own life after his rookie season on August 14, 1989.
Barry had been the Kings rst round draft pick the pre-
vious year, from San Jose State.
10. LANDON TURNER
Landon Turner is the only paraplegic ever to be drafted
in the history of the NBA. Turner played for Bob Knight
and started on the Hoosiers 1981 national champion-
ship team, led by Isiah Thomas. Four months following
the NCAA championship victory , Turner was involved
in an automobile accident that left the 6 10 forward
paralyzed from his chest down. The Boston Celtics
picked Turner in the tenth round of the NBA draft.
Today, Turner is a motivational speaker.
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ABA Uniqueness
T
he American Basketball Association ended in
1976 after a wild, nine-year ride. The league pro-
duced stars like Julius Dr. J Erving, Moses Malone
and David The Skywalker Thompson. The ABAs
wild nature was immortalized in sportswriter Terry
Plutos book, Loose Balls. The league didnt have the
nancial power of the NBA, however, and it eventually
folded. Several gimmicks used to attract fans were
unique to the ABA, and even a few made it to the NBA.
Below are several noteworthy spectacles put on by the
ABA.
1. THE SLAM DUNK CONTEST
The original slam dunk contest came into existence in
the nal year of the ABA at the 1976 All-Star Game in
Denver. The ABA team owners were concerned about
attendance and hoped that adding the dunk contest as
a gimmick would draw more fans to the All-Star Game.
The participants were Larry Kenon, Artis Gilmore,
David Thompson, George Gervin, and Julius Erving.
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227 ABA Uniqueness
Sports Illustrated called it the best halftime invention
since the restroom. Dunks were judged based on cre-
ativity and fan response and Julius Erving was the con-
tests rst winner.
2. THREE-POINT SHOT
The three-point shot was implemented to bring more
excitement to the ABA for the fans. It also forced teams
to think more about their outside game. ABA commis-
sioner George Mikan compared the three-point shot to
the home run in baseball. The ABA used the three-
point shot fromits inception, but had borrowed the idea
from the defunct ABL.
3. THE BALL
The original red, white, and blue basketball got ap-
proval from the ABAs rst commissioner, the legend-
ary George Mikan. The reason for the unique ball was
to give the upstart league an identity of its own, sepa-
rate from the NBA. Mikan reasoned that, since the
name of the league was the American Basketball Asso-
ciation, the colors, red, white and blue should be used
to symbolize Americas colors. Mikan also thought that
the ball would be more visible for the fans and for tele-
vision audiences.
4. NO FOUL OUTS
In the ABAs nal season the no foul-out rule was im-
plemented. Even after a player committed their sixth
personal foul, he could remain in the game. However,
ensuing fouls by the player with six or more fouls con-
sequently gave two free throws and ball possession to
the other team.
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N.C. State Media Relations
David Thompson shows why he was selected
for the original slam-dunk contest.
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229 ABA Uniqueness
5. THE HUMAN BILLBOARD
Minnesota Pipers star Connie Hawkins 196869
warm-up suit was covered in advertisements, a large
picture of the colorful league ball, and Hawkins post-
season awards from the previous year with the cham-
pion Pittsburgh Pipers. Since Hawkins was the lone
Piper forced to wear the advertisements, he soon grew
tired of the heckling and eventually misplaced the
warm-up jacket while traveling to a road game.
6. FEMALE PLAYER
In 1968, jockey Penny Ann Early became the rst fe-
male to participate in a professional mens basketball
game when she suited up for the Kentucky Colonels.
Early became a controversial gure in Kentucky when
she became the rst licensed female jockey in the
country. The rest of the jockeys at Churchill Downs
shunned Early and refused to enter any race she was
in. In a media ploy, the Kentucky Colonels signed Early
to a contract even though she wasnt much for basket-
ball.
The Colonels head coach, Gene Rhodes, was less
than thrilled with his new player, but management won
out and on November 28, 1968, Early played briey
in a game. Seconds after taking the court, Penny Ann
passed the ball inbounds to teammate Bobby Rascoe,
who called for a timeout. Early then exited the court to
a loud ovation, never to be seen again in professional
basketball.
7. ZIGGY THE DOG, OWNER
In the years of the ABA, many basketball fans thought
Joe and Mamie Gregory were the owners of the Kentucky
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Colonels. However, the true owner was arguably the
Gregorys dog, Ziggy. Ziggy attended the ABA owners
meetings, had his own seat for home games, and ew
rst-class to road games. Season ticket holders who
purchased The Ziggy Package received admittance
to the Ziggy Room hospitality suite. Ziggywhose full
name was Champion Gaystock Le Monsignorwas a
Brussels Griffon show dog that won more than 100
championships, and had almost forty different uni-
forms to wear at Colonels home games.
8. INTIMIDATION NIGHT
Before the 197172 season, Pittsburgh Condors star
John Brisker vowed to lead the league in scoring, or
knock out all adversaries who defended him if he didnt
win the scoring title. During an early season game in
Pittsburgh, Brisker was held to only 4 points at halftime
by the Utah Stars. Briskers temper soon ignited and he
rumbled with several Stars players. On November 4,
1971, Pittsburgh played in Salt Lake City, and the
Stars promotional executives titled the evening, John
Brisker Intimidation Night. The games program read:
Tonight it is Brisker who is on foreign soil and with
the likes of Ron Lyle, Bill Daniels professional
boxer from Denver, Don and Gene Fullmer, Rex
Layne, and Tony Doyle standing in the wing, best
he doesnt get far out of line.
9. THE WRESTLING BEAR
Throughout the years, the Indiana Pacers hosted a few
unique halftime events. In April 1975, the Pacers half-
time show featured an act with a live grizzly bear
named Victor. The evenings promotional program
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231 ABA Uniqueness
read: Victor will be at the game to take on such noted
wrestlers as Chet Coppock, sports director at WISH-
TV, Reb Porter at WIFE radio, and several other special
opponents. If time permits, Victor will also wrestle a
couple of fans.
10. BOB SLICK LEONARD NIGHT
Bob Slick Leonard won more games than any coach
in ABA history, including three championships with the
Indiana Pacers. His teams never missed the playoffs.
During the 197273 season, the Pacers were playing
the Utah Stars on the road when a controversy erupted.
Utah won the game, but Slick thought the shot clock
had gone off before Utah scored a key basket near the
end of the contest. Leonard was ejected and given two
technical fouls. In a t of rage, Leonard ran back on the
court, grabbed the ball, and kicked it into the crowd.
Showing a good sense of humor, Stars manage-
ment turned the outburst into a promotional event for
the Pacers next visit to town. Leonards mug was fea-
tured on the front of the ofcial Utah-Indiana program,
and before the opening tip-off, Leonard was presented
with a framed picture of the incident. The good-natured
Leonard took it all in stride.
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Enforcers
N
ot all players can be graceful scorers. Some are
best known for their ability to physically intimidate
their opponents. The following is a list of ten players of
all sizes and positions who threw their weight around in
pro basketball.
1. RICK MAHORN
Rick Mahorn used his wide posterior and bulk to intimi-
date nearly everyone he played. He teamed with wide-
body Jeff Ruland for the Washington Bullets to form the
duo that famed Celtics announcer Johnny Most called
McFilthy and McNasty. Mahorn engaged in some
nasty battles in his years with the Bullets, the Philade-
phia 76ers, and the Detroit Pistons. Mahorn was con-
sidered to be the baddest of the Pistons legendary
Bad Boys squad that captured back-to-back NBA ti-
tles in 1989 and 1990.
2. CHARLES OAKLEY
Charles Oakley used his physical strength to become
one of the games best rebounders. His rst few years
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233 Enforcers
in the league he played with the Chicago Bulls, and one
of his main jobs was to protect the teams prized player,
Michael Jordan. Later, Oakley was traded to the New
York Knicks and teamed with center Patrick Ewing to
form an imposing front line. Oakley was never afraid
of physical confrontations, even during warm-ups. He
even slapped opposing players Jeff McInnis and Ty-
rone Hill before games began.
3. MAURICE LUCAS
Maurice Lucas earned his keep as one of the original
enforcers of the NBAduring the 1970s. In fact, his nick-
name was The Enforcer. Like many NBA greats, he
began his career in the more amboyant ABA, playing
for the St. Louis Spirits and the Kentucky Colonels.
While he was with the Spirits, Lucas decked behemoth
center Artis Gilmore. In the NBA, Lucas played a huge
role in leading the Portland Trail Blazers to the 1977
NBA title, as he teamed with center Bill Walton to form
one of the best front courts in the league.
4. XAVIER MCDANIEL
Known as the X-Man, McDaniel was a rugged 6 7
210-pound small forward who played anything but lit-
tle. One of the most frightening photos in NBA history
shows McDaniel with a choke hold on small guard Wes
Matthews. The 1988 Complete Handbook of Pro Basket-
ball described McDaniel aptly: In just two years in the
NBA, hes fought with just about everybody except the
mayor of Seattle.
5. KERMIT WASHINGTON
Kermit Washington was a tough power forward who is
often unfortunately remembered for one fateful punch.
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On December 9, 1977, Washington began tussling with
the Rockets Kevin Kunnert, when Rocket teammate
Rudy Tomjonavich came rushing to help break up the
ght. Washington, who thought he was being attacked,
turned around and landed what has become known as
The Punch. Bestselling sportswriter John Feinstein
even wrote a book about Washington and Tomjonavich
called The Punch.
6. WARREN JABALI
Warren Armstrong changed his name to Warren Jabali
in 1969. Though he stood only 6 2, he was arguably
the most feared player in the history of the ABA.
League ofcials suspended Jabali for fteen days after
stomping Jim Jarvis in the face. Dan Issel spoke of Ja-
bali in Terry Plutos Loose Balls: I played with Jabali
later in his career in Kentucky and our whole team was
scared to death of the guy because he was so mean.
7. JOHN BRISKER
John Brisker was a 6 5 forward who terried opposing
players and teammates alike. ABA star Mack Calvin
said in Plutos Loose Balls: John Brisker scared every-
body. Even the guys on his own team were frightened
of the guy. For his two and a half years in the ABA,
Brisker was also a great scorer, averaging 26 points per
game. After his playing days were over, Brisker alleg-
edly served as a mercenary soldier in Africa. One
rumor holds that he was killed in Uganda. In a July
2004 piece for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Robert
Jamieson wrote about the various wild rumors associ-
ated with Briskers demise in Africa. He concludes: All
anyone knows is the ungentle giant shone briey for
the Supersonics and veered out of sight.
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235 Enforcers
8. CALVIN MURPHY
A 5 9 scoring guard and thirteen-year NBA veteran,
Murphy may have been the smallest enforcer in the
league. Calvin had boxed as a teenager in Connecticut
and claimed to be 170 in his ghts. Being smaller than
most other basketball players and excelling at baton
twirling as a youth gave Calvin reasons to learn self-
defense. Among some of Murphys rivals were Norm
Van Lier, Norm Nixon, and 6 8, 225-pound forward
Sidney Wicks. Wicks once started a ght that Calvin
amazingly nished by jumping up and grabbing the tal-
ler player by his hair, pulling him down to closer to eye
level, and raining punches on him.
9. JUNGLE JIM LOSCUTOFF
This Boston Celtic enforcer arrived in Beantown in the
mid-1950s to toughen up the Celtics squad. Loscutoff
helped Bill Russells Celtics by punishing rival centers.
Jungle Jim had a limited offensive arsenal, scoring
ten or more points only once during his nine years in
Boston, but the bruising forward assisted his team to
seven championships.
10. WENDELL LADNER
This former ABA enforcer rivaled John Brisker as the
toughest man in the ABA. Known for his physical play,
the farm-raised Ladner also had a temper that few
dared to challenge. Wendell protected both Dan Issel of
the Kentucky Colonels and Julius Erving of the New
York Nets. During the 197172 season, Wendell was
ejected from a game for a malicious foul on Rick
Barry. Said Ladner following the game, I sure wouldnt
want to break his leg and put him up in bed with his
family. Ladner also threw his shoe at Freddie Lewis
during a playoff game.
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Sexual Misconduct
I
n 2003, the sporting world and the rest of the country
was rocked by news that Los Angeles Lakers super-
star Kobe Bryant had been charged with the rape of
a young Colorado woman. All criminal charges were
dropped against Bryant in 2004. Of course, all criminal
defendants are entitled to the presumption of inno-
cence in our judicial system, and just because some-
one is charged by prosecutors does not mean they are
guilty of the crime. On the other hand, some believe
there is a disturbing amount of crime committed by
NBA players. Investigative journalist and author Jeff
Benedict wrote Out of Bounds: Inside the NBAs Cul-
ture of Rape, Violence and Crime, dealing specically
with the subject. The following ten basketball players
faced charges for sexual crimes.
1. KOBE BRYANT
Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant was
charged with raping a nineteen-year-old Colorado
woman, an employee at a Boulder spa resort. Bryant
contended that it was simply a matter of consensual
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237 Sexual Misconduct
sex. The case promised to be one of the nations high-
est prole trials, but all charges were eventually dropped,
and Bryant apologized to the woman for his actions on
that night. The alleged victim led a civil suit against
Bryant, which was settled. The terms were kept con-
dential.
2. TOM PAYNE
Tom Payne had a bright future as the rst African-
American player at the University of Kentucky. He
played one year for the Atlanta Hawks, and at 7 2 and
240 pounds, Payne could be a dominating presence.
His former Atlanta Hawks coach Richie Guerin told Cox
News Service: He had the potential to be an outstand-
ing center in the league for a dozen years, and maybe
eventually a great one. However, Payne was hit with
multiple convictions for rape. He is not scheduled for
release from prison until he is sixty-ve.
3. RUBEN PATTERSON
Ruben Patterson of the Portland Trailblazers is the
NBAs rst registered sex offender. He allegedly forced
his nanny to perform oral sex on him. He registered as
a sex offender and was sentenced to fteen days in jail.
Patterson made a so-called Alford plea which means
that a defendant can deny guilt while admitting that
there are sufcient facts for a jury conviction.
4. ANTHONY MASON
Anthony Mason, a longtime NBA player, was arrested
in 1998 on two counts of third-degree rape of two teen-
age girls. Mason pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of
endangering the welfare of a child. He was sentenced
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to several years probation and 200 hours of community
service.
5. JACK GIVENS
In June 2004, former Kentucky basketball great and
former NBA player Jack Givens was arrested for sexual
battery and molestation charges. Law enforcement of-
cials claimed Givens inappropriately touched a four-
teen-year-old girl. Givens, who works as a television
color analyst for the Orlando Magic, vigorously denies
the allegations.
6. CALVIN MURPHY
Former Houston Rockets great Calvin Murphy was
charged in March 2004 with several counts of aggra-
vated sexual assault of a child, for incidents that alleg-
edly occurred from 1988 to 1991. The alleged victims
were ve children of Murphys. Murphy vigorously
maintained his innocence, and claimed the charges are
part of a plan to extort money from him. In December
2004, a jury acquitted Murphy of the charges.
7. DESHAWN STEVENSON
In 2002, thenUtah Jazz player Deshawn Stevenson
pleaded no contest to charges that he had sex with a
fourteen-year-old girl. The girl told police that she will-
ingly had sex with the 20-year-old Stevenson. He was
sentenced to two years probation, and now plays for
the Orlando Magic.
8. KEN WILBURN
Ken Wilburn, who played in the NBA and ABA from
1967 to 1969, was sentenced to eight years in prison
for inappropriately touching two female minors. He was
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239 Sexual Misconduct
originally charged with counts of aggravated sexual as-
sault.
9. MARCUS WEBB
Marcus Webb, who played for the Boston Celtics during
the 199293 season, was charged with raping a former
girlfriend. He pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of in-
decent assault and was sentenced to thirty days in jail.
10. ROHAN RUSSELL
Rohan Russell, who averaged 27 points per game for
the Division III school Johnson & Wales, was convicted
of two counts of rst-degree sexual assault against a
seventeen-year-old girl in April 2004.
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They Played in
One Pro Game
P
rofessional b-ballers seek playing time, the life-
blood of a basketball athlete. The following ten
players appeared in a grand total of one professional
basketball game, according to the Player Registry of
Total Basketball: the Ultimate Basketball Encyclope-
dia. They exemplify the term benchwarmer.
1. RYAN ROBERTSON
Ryan Robertson probably set an NBA record for the
most playing time for a player in only one NBA game.
In the 19992000 season, Robertson played a total of
twenty-ve minutes for the Sacramento Kings. He col-
lected 5 points during his time on the court.
2. BILL STRICKER
Bill Stricker, who played college basketball at Pacic,
played one game for the Portland Trailblazers during
the 197071 season. In two minutes of action Stricker
scored 4 points.
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241 They Played in One Pro Game
3. LARRY CONLEY
Larry Conley, who played college basketball for the
University of Kentucky, played one game for the ABAs
Kentucky Colonels during the 196768 season. He
logged eighteen minutes on the court, collecting a
mere 2 points.
4. MARK BAKER
Mark Baker, who played college ball at Ohio State,
played one game for the Toronto Raptors during the
199899 season. He played two minutes, which left
him enough time to commit 1 turnover.
5. RON DORSEY
Ron Dorsey, who played college ball at Tennessee
State, played one game for the Carolina Cougars in the
ABA. He played twelve minutes, scored 4 points, and
grabbed 5 rebounds.
6. BLAINE DENNING
Blaine Denning, who played college ball at Lawrence
Tech, played one game for the Baltimore Bullets of the
NBA during the 195253 season. He played for nine
minutes, with 5 points and 4 rebounds.
7. JARRETT DURHAM
Jarrett Durham, who played college basketball at Du-
quesne, played in one game for the New York Nets of
the ABA in the 197172 season. He did not collect a
single point or rebound for his efforts.
8. BARRY SUMPTER
Barry Sumpter, a 6 11 center from Austin Peay,
played one game for the Los Angeles Clippers during
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the 198889 season. He played less than one minute
and did not score a single point or grab a rebound.
9. RATKO VARDA
Bosnias Ratko Varda played one game for the Boston
Celtics in the 200203 season. He scored 5 points,
grabbed 3 rebounds, and committed 3 personal fouls
in six minutes of action.
10. LARRY SYKES
Larry Sykes, who played college ball at Xavier, played
in one game for the Boston Celtics during the 199596
season. He played for two minutes and collected 2
points.
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Playground Legends
M
any basketball players achieved greatness in their
own unique way with the improvisional nature of
streetball. Not every player can thrive in a team-oriented
environment with rigid disciplinary controls imposed
by a coach. Some individuals simply were at their best
playing playground basketball in Rucker Park or other
such places. Currently, playground basketball has
made a major comeback with the Entertainers Basket-
ball Classic (EBC) at Rucker Park and the Street Ball
Association. The following ten individuals were among
the greatest playground legends.
1. EARL MANIGAULT
Many consider the greatest streetballer of all-time to be
Earl The Goat Manigault. None other than Kareem
Abdul-Jabbar called Manigault the greatest basketball
player he ever faced on a court. He allegedly possessed
a 50-inch vertical leap that enabled him to rise over
much taller defenders. Manigault is also allegedly the
originator of the Double Dunk: a move where a
player dunks the ball with one hand, catches it with the
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other hand, and then dunks again. Kicked out of Benja-
min Franklin High School his senior year, Manigault
enrolled at Johnson C. Smith University where he las-
ted less than a year. He served a prison term for pos-
session of drugs and later failed an ABA tryout in 1970.
Fortunately, Manigault eventually conquered drugs
and ran a basketball program for inner-city youth. His
life was captured in the HBO lm Rebound. Manigault
died in 1998 of congestive heart failure at the age of
53.
2. JOE HAMMOND
Joe The Destroyer Hammond is considered by many
to be the greatest offensive force among playground
legends. He never played high school or college bas-
ketball, but he routinely lit up NBA stars on the play-
ground. Vincent M. Mallozzi, in his book Asphalt Gods:
An Oral History of the Rucker Tournament, tells the
story of how Hammond was offered a tryout and prac-
ticed with the Los Angeles Lakers. Hammond made at
least 18 shots in a row in a scrimmage with the Lakers,
and allegedly turned down a $50,000 contract, saying
he could make more money in the street.
3. PEE WEE KIRKLAND
Richard Pee Wee Kirkland was a playground legend
who led the Rucker League in scoring for three consec-
utive years in the early 1970s. Mallozzi quotes former
NBA great Nate Tiny Archibald on Kirkland: While I
think Joe Hammond was maybe the best offensive
player to come off the playgrounds, I seriously believe
that Pee Wee Kirkland was the best all-around player.
Kirkland averaged more than 40 points per game at
Kittrell Junior College in North Carolina, and later
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245 Playground Legends
played for Norfolk State in Virginia. Drafted by the Chi-
cago Bulls in 1968, Kirkland quit the Bulls to return to
a street life. He eventually turned his life around and
ran a basketball school for kids, and played a bit part
in the 1994 movie Above the Rim.
4. JACKIE JACKSON
Jumping Jackie Jackson was a true playground leg-
end who earned immortality with his moves against the
great Wilt Chamberlain in a 1962 street game. Cham-
berlain, the most dominant player in NBA history,
turned to the basket for a shot, and the 6 5 Jackson
came out of nowhere to block it. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
wrote of the play in his autobiography Giant Steps: It
was the most amazing play Ive ever seen on the court,
and the whole place went crazy. Jackson played at
Virginia Union and for a time with the Harlem Globe-
trotters.
5. RAFER ALSTON
Rafer Alston is a point guard for the Toronto Raptors,
and has also played for the Milwaukee Bucks and the
Miami Heat. However, Alston made his name on the
playgrounds as Skip to My Lou, for his ability to drib-
ble past defenders as easy as one, two, skip to my
Lou. Alston is a master at the look-away pass, cross-
over dribble, and spin moves. Jerry Tarkanian recruited
Alston in New York to come play for Fresno State,
though Alston rst played for two years at a community
college in Fresno.
6. JAMES FLY WILLIAMS
James Fly Williams honed his game on the play-
grounds of Brownsville, New York, where he was born.
Immortalized in Rick Telanders 1976 book Heaven Is a
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Austin Peay University
James Fly Williams.
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247 Playground Legends
Playground, Williams scored on the playground, set an
NCAAscoring record for freshman at Austin Peay State
University that stood for more than fteen years, and
even played one year in the ABA. He scored 63 points
on Moses Malone in the Dapper Dan Tournament, a
high school All-Star game. But Fly was at his best on
the playground where his improvisional genius could
blossom. Telander wrote: In the game, Fly, who got
his name on the Brooklyn playgrounds because he let
y the ball, started shooting almost before he came
across midcourt. He waved his arms, he pointed at op-
ponents, he showed a contortionists range of expres-
sion. Sometimes he left defenders so entangled in their
own legs he laughed at them as he drove past.
7. LLOYD DANIELS
Lloyd Sweepea Daniels was a 6 8 guard who could
do it all, though he nearly threwit all away. John Valenti
quoted Nate Tiny Archibald in his book SweePea
and Other Playground Legends: Hes the best. As far
as entertainment, hes gonna do some shit youve
never seen before. A high school All-American, Dan-
iels averaged a triple double his junior year in high
school31 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists per
game. As a twenty-year-old rookie in the CBA, Daniels
averaged better than 16 points and nearly 5 assists per
game. However, Danielss life was beset by problems.
He was shot in a drug deal gone wrong and never made
it into UNLV, despite being heavily recruited by Jerry
Tarkanian. It looked like Daniels would never escape
his personal demons. But in 1992, Tarkanian became
coach of the San Antonio Spurs and he gave Daniels
already past his primea shot in the NBA. Daniels av-
eraged 9 points per game for the Spurs. He bounced
around the NBA, played overseas, and even played in
the IBL in Las Vegas for a time. Though he escaped his
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demons, many wonder how good Daniels would have
been if he had avoided trouble in his prime.
8. BILLY REISER
Earl The Pearl Monroe was known as Black Jesus
for the incredible spin moves he showcased on New
York playgrounds. Monroe, of course, went on to a Hall
of Fame-caliber career in the NBA. Billy Reiser was an-
other basketball playground legend with a similar nick-
nameWhite Jesus. Reiser was a 6 4 player from
East Harlem who possessed a 44-inch vertical leap.
Mallozzi writes in Asphalt Gods: Like Earl Monroe be-
fore him, Reisers nickname was a tribute to his mirac-
ulous game. Reiser played college basketball at
Centenary and Eastern Kentucky, but injuries deprived
him of a professional career.
9. HERMAN KNOWINGS
Nicknamed The Helicopter, Herman Knowings was
born in South Carolina but moved to Harlem as a
youngster. He was known for his incredible hangtime
and ability to block the shots of players much taller
than his 6 5 frame. Mallozzi quotes a former New York
City playground player on Knowings, I miss the Cop-
ter. We all do man. That guy, I swear, he used to y like
an angel. According to John Valenti, Knowings died in
April 1980 when his cab was struck by another vehicle.
10. LARRY WILLIAMS
Larry Williams is known as the Bone Collector for his
knack for leaving people in the dust on the basketball
court with knee-twisting, ankle-breaking moves. In
2001, Williams won the MVP of the Entertainers Bas-
ketball Classic, held at the legendary Rucker Park. He
is a lead attraction in the Street Ball Association.
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Pro Basketball
Mascots
P
rofessional basketball is not only a sport but also
high-dollar entertainment. With ticket prices that
are far from cheap, fans deserve to be entertained. The
following mascots do their best to ensure that levity has
its rightful place in NBA arenas.
1. THE GORILLA
The Gorilla has been thrilling basketball fans for the
Phoenix Suns since 1980. The dynamic dunking Go-
rilla has been a longtime NBA favorite and is also an
asset to the community of Phoenix. The Gorilla often
visits schools and charities, and has even started his
own reading incentive program in Phoenix called
Book the Gorilla, where he challenges children to
write stories.
2. LUCKY THE LEPRECHAUN
The Boston Celtics fan favorite, Lucky the Leprechaun,
has more energy than most fabled little men. The
crowd-friendly Lucky has been a part of Celtic history for
all sixteen championship years. Lucky the Leprechaun
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signs all his autographs with the number seventeen
hoping to add another NBA title to the Celtics history.
3. BANGO
The Milwaukee Bucks popular former announcer Eddie
Doucette used to shout Bango whenever a Milwau-
kee Buck scored on a long-range shot. Bango the Buck
came into being on October 18, 1977, when the Bucks
faced a home season-opener against the Los Angeles
Lakers and former Bucks star Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
The Bucks had held a contest prior to the season
opener to name the Bucks mascot.
4. MOONDOG
The city of Cleveland boasts the Rock-n-Roll Hall of
Fame, and is known for its musical past. Legendary
Cleveland radio disc-jockey, Alan Freed, coined the
phrase Rock and Roll, and started a music explosion.
Freed was known as Moondog and his listeners were
called moondoggers. The Cleveland Cavaliers adopted
Moondog as their mascot in honor of Freed.
5. HUGO THE HORNET
This mascot came to life in Charlotte on November 4,
1988. Since then, Hugo has entertained fans with his
acrobatics and hilarious routines. At times the hornet
will transform into his alter-ego, Super Hugo, and
stun crowds with ashy dunks. These include the Flip
Dunk, Helmet Dunk, and the popular Bug on the
Windshield Dunk. Hugo is a three-time NBA Mascot
Slam Dunk Champion. In recent years, Hugo has de-
veloped a third identity known as Air Hugo, which is
an inated version of the Hornets mascot.
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251 Pro Basketball Mascots
6. GRIZZ
The fun-loving mascot of the Memphis Grizzlies, Grizz
is an added attraction at Grizzlies home games. Either
on the court or in the stands, Grizz can be spotted min-
gling with fans and amusing the crowd with his side-
splitting antics. At halftime, Grizz goes to his den at The
Pyramid and returns as a new character, Super Grizz.
Super Grizz wears a cape, mask, and chest shield, and
gets the crowd red up for the nal two quarters using
his high-ying acrobatics and mystifying dunks.
7. BURNIE
The popular Heat mascot has pulled numerous pranks
in his fourteen years in the league, including a silly-
string brawl with Bill Cosby, singing on stage with
Jimmy Buffett, sitting on Jack Nicholsons lap, and
icking Bill Murrays ear. Burnie even smooched
Sharon Stone, boogied with Madonna, threw to Cal Rip-
ken Jr., and sparred with the cinematic Rocky Balboa
himself, Sylvester Stallone, at mid-court.
8. CRUNCH
Crunch of the Minnesota Timberwolves has developed
a standing as one of the most entertaining mascots in
the league since his debut in 1989. He has performed
frequently at NBA All-Star Weekends, and has also
performed internationally in England and Australia.
9. STUFF
Stuff the Magic Dragon of the Orlando Magic is a big-
bellied, friendly dragon who sports a pink and blue Mo-
hawk and has radioactive green fur. Some of Stuffs
tricks are sledding the stairs, swiping a fans popcorn,
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shooting trick shots, dunking donuts, joking with NBA
referees, teasing opposing teams fans, and irting with
the ladies.
10. SQUATCH
This tall furry mascot of the Seattle Supersonics is a
distant relative of the Yeti. Squatch supposedly grew
tired of the mountain life and ventured to Seattle to look
for work, including a brief movie career as a stunt dou-
ble for Harry in Harry and the Hendersons. Squatch
can now be seen dunking balls at every Sonics home
game, and other stunts too risky for slighter primates.
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Cameron Crazies
D
uke University is known for its great basketball
program under Coach Mike Krzyzewski. Duke has
an incredible homecourt advantage at Cameron Indoor
Stadium, as well. The students are seated in the rst
few rows, right on the court, unlike at many other col-
leges and universities. The students are known for their
intensity and often ingenious cheers and jeers directed
at opposing players. The following are ten of the most
memorable antics of the Duke fans, appropriately
dubbed Cameron Crazies.
1. HERMAN VEAL
Herman Veal was a rugged Maryland forward known for
his tough interior play and musclebound physique. In
1983, Veal was accused of sexually assaulting a female
student. On his next trip to Cameron, the Duke crowd
showered Veal with hundreds of panties. Additionally,
Duke fans often throw tennis balls across the court be-
fore gametime. When Veal was announced, the Cam-
eron Crazies threw tennis balls wrapped in condoms.
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2. STEVE HALE
Steve Hale was a talented guard for the University of
North CarolinaDukes hated rival. Hale had suffered
a collapsed lung prior to a game. In 1986, when Hale
and the Tar Heels came to Duke, some of the Cameron
Crazies gave their own medical advice: In-Hale, Ex-
Hale, In-Hale, Ex-Hale.
3. NIGEL DIXON
Nigel Big Jelly Dixon was a large center who tipped
the scales at 6 11 and 350 pounds for the Florida State
Seminoles (he later transferred to Western Kentucky).
Dukes starting center was the slender Casey Sanders.
The Cameron Crazies came up with their own unique
chant, looking rst at Sanders and then at Dixon. The
chant was: Casey Sanders, Colonel Sanders.
4. DENNIS SCOTT
Dennis Scott was a deadly shooter and remarkable of-
fensive talent for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.
However, Scott also battled the bulge during his college
career. When he came to Cameron, Duke fans bom-
barded him with Twinkies.
5. CHRIS WASHBURN
North Carolina States talented but troubled center,
Chris Washburn, was accused of stealing a stereo.
When he made his visit to Cameron, the faithful Duke
fans showered Washburn with headphones, album cov-
ers, and albums. The crowd also gave their own Biblical
chant: Thou shalt not steal.
6. DETLEF SCHREMPF
Detlef Schrempf was a star forward for the University
of Washington Huskies. From Germany, Schrempf was
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255 Cameron Crazies
known for his long routine at the foul line. The Cameron
Crazies would chant Fehlwurf! Fehlwurf!German
for airballwhen he stepped to the free throw line,
and counted aloud his number of dribbles.
7. TOM BURLESON
Tom Burleson, North Carolina States star center in the
early 1970s, was accused of breaking a pinball ma-
chine in college. When he came to Cameron, the Duke
band played The Whos Pinball Wizard.
8. MOE RIVERS
North Carolina State guard Moe Rivers had allegedly
stolen aspirin in 1974. When Rivers came to Cameron,
Duke fans tried to give him a headache by throwing
aspirin tablets at him. Sports Illustrateds Seth Davis
referred to this in a 2001 article as the Crazies Best
Pharmaceutical Display.
9. OLDEN POLYNICE
Before his long NBA career, Olden Polynice followed
the great Ralph Sampson as the University of Virginias
starting center. Polynice encountered academic dif-
culties at Virginia in the form of plagiarism charges.
When Polynice visited Cameron, the Duke faithful
broke into the following chant: Wheres Olden?At
the copy machine.
10. DAVID ROBINSON
David Robinson helped the Navy Midshipmen to un-
precedented heights as he grew from 6 6 to a 7 1
offensive force. Navy was hopelessly behind in one
game against the Blue Devils, and the Duke fans chan-
ted: Abandon Ship, Abandon Ship!
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Bibliography
Abdul-Jabbar, Kareem and Peter Knobler. Giant Steps.
New York: Bantam Books, 1983.
Benedict, Jeff. Out of Bounds: Inside the NBAs Culture
of Rape, Violence, & Crime. New York: Harper-
Collins, 2004.
Bjarkman, Peter C. The Biographical History of Basket-
ball. Lincolnwood, Illinois: Masters Press, 2000.
Bogues, Tyrone & David Levine. In the Land of the
Giants. Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1994.
Hollander, Zander (ed.) The Complete Handbook of Pro
Basketball. New York: Signet Books, 19741990.
(annual publication)
Issel, Dan and Buddy Martin. Parting Shots. Chicago:
Contemporary Books, Inc., 1986.
Johnson, Gary K., Ofcial 2004 Final Four Tournament
Records. Indianapolis: The National Collegiate Ath-
letic Association, January 2004.
Johnson, Gary K. and Sean W. Straziscar. Ofcial 2004
NCAA Basketball Records. Indianapolis: The Na-
tional Collegiate Athletic Association, October
2003.
PAGE 257
257
................. 11442$ BIBL 08-26-05 10:50:34 PS
258 Bibliography
Keteyian, Armen, Harvey Araton and Martin F. Dardis.
Money Players: Days and Nights Inside the New
NBA. New York: Pocket Books, 1997.
Mallozzi, Vincent M. Asphalt Gods: An Oral History of
the Rucker Tournament. New York: Doubleday,
2003.
Platt, Larry. Only the Strong Survive: The Odyssey of
Allen Iverson. New York: ReganBooks, 2002.
Pluto, Terry. Loose Balls. New York: Fireside, 1990.
Postman, Andrew and Larry Stone. The Ultimate Book
of Sports Lists. New York: Black Dog & Leventhal,
2003.
Shoulder, Ken, Bob Ryan, Sam Smith, Leonard Kop-
pett and Bob Bellotti. Total Basketball: The Ultimate
Basketball Encyclopedia. Wilmington, DE: SPORT
Media Publishing, Inc., 2003.
Smallwood, John N. Jr. Allen Iverson: Fear No One.
New York: Pocket Books, 2001.
Smith, Ron and John Gardella (eds.) Ofcial NBA Reg-
ister: 200304 Edition. St. Louis, Mo.: Sporting
News, 2003.
Strasen, Marty. The Best Book of Basketball Facts and
Stats. Buffalo: Firey Books, 2003.
Valenti, John with Ron Naclerio. SweePea and Other
Playground Legends: Tales of Drugs Violence and
Basketball. New York: Michael Kesend Publishing,
Ltd., 1990.
Telander, Rick. Heaven Is a Playground. New York:
Fireside (1988).
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Index
Boldfaced page numbers refer to list entries.
ABA (American Basketball Asso-
ciation), 226231
Abdul-Jabbar, Kareem, 6, 8, 51,
68, 7879, 125, 206, 208, 210,
216, 224225, 245
Abdul-Rauf, Mahmoud. See Jack-
son, Chris, 17, 69, 140
Ackerman, Valerie, 120
Adams, Alvan, 104, 178
Adams, Michael, 9596
Agee, Arthur, 204
Aguirre, Mark, 104
Ainge, Danny, 178
Air Bud, 210
Akron Central High, 135
Alabama A&M, 47
Alabama-Birmingham (Univer-
sity of), 14
Alarie, Mark, 1
Albany State, 148
Alcindor, Lew. See also Jabbar,
Kareem Abdul, 1, 3, 125126
Aldridge, David, 55
Alford, Steve, 15
Allen, Debbie, 115
Allen, Ray, 206
Alston, Rafer, 245
PAGE 259
259
American Basketball Association
(ABA), 910
American University, 175
Anders, Benny, 12
Anderson, Ann Kirwin, 121
Anderson, Kenny, 19, 52
Anderson, Derek, 30
Anthony, Carmelo, 17, 125
Anthony, Greg, 117
Archibald, Nate, 244
Arizona (University of), 15, 31,
118
Arizona State, 3
Arkansas (University of), 45, 18,
30, 45
Arkansas Pine Bluff, 49
Armstrong, B. J., 182
Armstrong, Darrell, 71, 159
Atlanta Hawks, 62, 78, 91, 94,
99, 108, 116, 147, 149, 151,
157, 198, 214, 216
Auburn University, 72, 98, 150
Ausbie, Hubert Geese, 200
Auerbach, Arnold Red, 56, 75
Austin Peay University, 1617,
30, 136, 241
Ayers, Randy, 31
Aykroyd, Dan, 209
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Bailey, Thurl, 163
Baker, Mark, 241
Baltimore Bullets, 79, 106, 108,
135, 171, 217
Banks, Freddie, 46
Barkley, Charles, 79, 152, 187
Barry, Brent, 149
Barry, Drew, 149
Barry, Jon, 149
Barry, Rick, 67, 139, 235
Bartow, Gene, 14
BASEketBALL, 210
Basketballs Most Wanted, 25, 92,
139
Bateer, Mengke, 197
Bateman, Jason, 210
Battle, John, 116117
Baylor, Elgin, 78, 2627, 110
Baylor University, 2728
Beaty, Zelmo, 10, 158159
Beck, Byron, 34
Beck, Jerry, 1112
Bedford, Darryl, 30
Bellamy, Walt, 103
Belle, Regina, 116
Benitez, Elsa, 116
Benjamin, Benoit, 82
Bennett, Dick, 130
Bennett, Tony, 46, 130
Benson, Kent, 2324, 129,
224225
Benson, Robbie, 205
Berry, Ricky, 225
Berry, Walter, 24
Bias, Len, 223
Bibby, Mike, 82
Bilas, Jay, 2
Billups, Chauncey, 159160
Bird, Larry, 9, 33, 4041, 51,
124, 141, 150, 187188, 223
Birdsong, Otis, 160
Blackman, Rolando, 104
Blaylock, Mookie, 4748, 81
Bliss, Dave, 27
Boerwinkle, Tom, 35
Bogenrife, Dick, 213
Bogues, Tyrone, 132133
Bol, Manute, 64, 8586, 89
PAGE 260
Bonner, Matt, 177178
Boone, Pat, 142143
Boston Celtics, 79, 33, 43, 51,
5657, 95, 97, 107, 109, 119,
124, 126, 133, 141, 147, 159,
172, 178180, 184, 223, 225,
242
Boston College, 29, 95
Bowen, Bruce, 73
Boyd, Freddie, 104
Boykins, Earl, 73, 93
Bradley, Bill, 2, 99, 111
Brandy, 115
Brewer, Ron, 52
Bridgeman, Junior, 79
Brigham Young University, 178
Brisker, John, 230, 234, 235
Brockingham, Antoine, 14
Brookins, Thomas, 164165
Brown, Fred Downtown, 33
34, 41, 173, 181
Brown, Hubie, 125
Brown, Jim, 214215
Brown, John Y., 147
Brown, Larry, 94, 189
Brown, Rickey, 75
Brown, Roger, 100
Brown, Roger A., 100
Bryant, Kobe, 68, 82, 124,
236237
Buchanan, Gary, 140
Buck, Mike, 15
Bucknell University, 121
Buckner, Quinn, 129
Buffalo Braves, 84, 100, 147, 182
Burleson, Tom, 93, 255
Burns, James, 121
Burrell, Bryan, 65
Buse, Don, 50
Butler, Caron, 74
Butler University, 3738, 45
Cage, Michael, 90, 133134
California (University of), 18, 111
Calvin, Mack, 106, 234
Cambridge, Desmond, 4748
Camden High School, 135
Canisius, 13, 31, 46
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261 Index
Carolina Cougars, 50
Carr, Antoine, 157
Carr, Kenny, 136, 138
Carr, Ronnie, 44
Carril, Pete, 13
Carroll, Joe Barry, 75
Carter, Jimmy, 119
Carter, Vince, 82
Cartwright, Bill, 103
Cassell, Sam, 83
Catchings, Harvey, 62
Catchings, Tamika, 6162
Catchings, Tauja, 62
CBA (Continental Basketball As-
sociation), 7273
Celtic Pride, 209
Centenary, 49
Central Connecticut State, 85
Cervi, Al, 107108
Chamberlain, Wilt, 7, 5253, 68,
7576, 88, 110, 126, 170,
187, 199200, 245
Chambers, Jerry, 113
Chambers, Tom, 54, 81, 126,
160161
Chandler, Tyson, 134
Charles, Lorenzo, 13, 111
Charlotte Bobcats, 95
Charlotte Hornets, 42, 63, 71, 96,
100, 109, 130, 133, 172, 177
Cheaney, Calbert, 129
Chicago Bulls, 21, 35, 41, 59, 65,
71, 79, 83, 89, 101, 103, 109,
115, 121, 133134, 156, 182,
215
Chicago Zephyrs, 109, 180
Cimino, Pete, 212
Cincinnati (University of), 112
Cincinnati Royals, 62
Clark, Dane, 206
Claxton, Craig Speedy, 63, 136
Claxton, Staceyann, 63
Cleaves, Mateen, 104105
Clemson University, 151
Cleveland Cavaliers, 52, 58, 81,
95, 99, 101, 116, 145, 149,
152
Cleveland State University, 15
PAGE 261
Closs, Keith, 85
Coach, 209
Coleman, Derrick, 160161
Coleman, Desiree, 115
Coleman, Jonathan, 221
Colgate, 86
Collins, Craig, 140
Collins, Jarron, 155
Collins, Jason, 155
Columbia, 44
Conley, Larry, 241
Cook, Dan, 186
Cooke, Jack Kent, 144
Cooper, Cynthia, 154
Cooper, Michael, 33
Coppin State, 14
Corcoran, Frank, 13
Cosby, Bill, 143
Costello, Larry, 158
Cousy, Bob, 7, 65
Cowens, Dave, 8, 109, 158159
Creighton University, 82, 179
Crispin, Joe, 156
Crispin, Jon, 156
Criss, Charlie, 94
Croce, Pat, 142
Crosby, Cathy Lee, 209
Crum, Denny, 38, 129
Cuban, Mark, 143144,
219220
Cummings, Terry, 80
Cunningham, Billy, 170
Curry, Dell, 58
Dallas Chapparels, 66, 107, 121
Dallas Mavericks, 40, 42, 71, 73,
77, 103, 105, 144, 154, 198
Dampier, Louie, 176
Daniels, Edwin Greedy, 49
Daniels, Lloyd, 247
Daniels, Marquis, 7273
Dantley, Adrian, 136, 138
Dartmouth, 4
Daugherty, Brad, 58
David Lipscomb University, 131
Davis, Charles Edward, 101
Davis, Charles Lawrence, 101
Davis, Larry, 14
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Davis, Ricky, 184
Davis, Walter, 103
Dawkins, Darryl, 219
Dawkins, Johnny, 2
DeBusschere, Dave, 108
DeCiman, Margaret Riak, 64
Dehere, Terry, 83
Delph, Marvin, 52
Dennehy, Brian, 27, 29
Denning, Blaine, 241
Denver Nuggets, 3334, 54, 65,
73, 91, 9394, 96, 102, 118
119, 125, 133, 158, 163, 169,
198
DePaul University, 3637, 62,
118
Detroit Pistons, 6, 58, 70, 7778,
89, 94, 101, 105, 108, 114
115, 130, 134, 148149, 159,
173, 232
Detroit Shock, 63, 123
Dickau, Dan, 2930
Diddle, Ed, 37
Dierking, Connie, 75
Dixon, Nigel, 254
Dominguez High School, 134
Donaldson, James, 67
Dorsey, Ron, 241
Drew Bryce, 128
Drew Homer, 128
Drexler, Clyde, 12, 159, 183
Duke Blue Devils (University), 1,
1819, 27, 81, 113, 120, 130,
177, 253255
Dunbar High, 132
Dunbar, Sweet Lou, 202
Duncan, Tim, 124
Durham, Jarrett, 241
Early, Penny Ann, 230
Eastern Kentucky University, 28
Eastern Michigan University, 73,
93
East Tennessee State University,
93
Eaton, Mark, 85, 90
Edney, Tyus, 95, 104
Edwards, Jay, 18
PAGE 262
Eisley, Howard, 133
Electra, Carmen, 115
Elliott, Sean, 81
Ellis, Dale, 42, 54, 188
Ellison, Pervis, 2, 18
Elmore, Len, 120, 177
English, Alex, 54
Erving, Julius, 67, 109, 208,
226227, 235
Ewing, Patrick, 8, 12, 32, 117,
233
Fab Five, 19, 166
Fast Break, 205
Feinstein, John, 175
Ferrin, Arnie, 45
Ferry, Danny, 81
Final Four, 1
Finley, Charlie, 144
Finley, Michael, 160
Fish That Saved Pittsburgh, 208
Fishburne, Laurence, 205
Fisher, Steve, 3
Fitzgerald, Darrin, 45
Fitzgerald, James, 145146
Fitzsimmons, Cotton, 126
Flair, Rick, 220
Florida A&M, 45
Florida (University of), 177
Florida State Seminoles (Univer-
sity), 14
Floyd, Eric Sleepy, 66, 160
Fogle, Larry, 31
Fonda, Jane, 147
Ford, Cheryl, 61
Ford, Chris, 43
Ford, Travis, 28
Fordham, 44
Foster, Greg, 134135
Fox, Michael J., 210
Fox, Rick, 114
Fox, Vivica, 209
Foyle, Adonal, 86
Frazier, Walt, 7, 74
Free, World B., 160
Fresno State, 130
Frieder, Bill, 3
Fryer, Jeff, 45
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263 Index
Garrity, Pat, 77
Gates, William, 204
Gathers, Hank, 222223
Gent, Peter, 216217
Georgetown University, 12, 133,
163
George Washington University,
92
Georgia (University of), 151,
153154, 176
Georgia Tech University, 19, 46,
52, 149
Gervin, George, 67, 226
Gill, Amory, 39
Gill, Kendall, 67
Gilmore, Artis, 158, 226, 233
Givens, Jack, 2, 238
Global Basketball League, 71
Gminski, Mike, 177
Go, Man, Go, 206
Golden State Warriors, 53, 6264,
66, 72, 78, 86, 93, 101, 109,
158, 186
Goheen, Barry, 121122
Goodrich, Gail, 2, 5253
Goodrich, Steve, 13
Gonzaga, 2930, 32
Gonzales, Jorge, 215216
Graham, R. Malcolm, 119
Grant, Brian, 74
Grant, Harvey, 151152
Grant, Horace, 51, 151152
Green, A. C., 82
Green, Kandyce, 63
Green, Rickey, 63
Greer, Hal, 170
Gregory, Joe, 229
Gregory, Mamie, 229
Groza, Alex, 4
Guerin, Richie, 108, 237
Gund, Gordon, 145
Gwynn, Tony, 215
Hackman, Gene, 204
Hagan, Cliff, 107, 160
Haixia, Zheng, 196
Hale, Steve, 254
Hamilton, Leonard, 16
PAGE 263
Hammond, Joe, 244
Hansen, Bobby, 6667, 182
Hardaway, Tim, 53, 81
Harkness, Jerry, 66
Harlem Globetrotters, 76, 164,
199202
Harrelson, Woody, 206
Harrison, David, 155
Harrison, Dennis, 155
Harrison, D. J., 155
Haskins, Don, 37
Hassell, Trenton, 136137
Havlicek, John, 33, 5657
Hawkins, Connie, 9, 199, 229
Hayes, Elvin, 79, 186
Hayes, Jarvis, 154
Hayes, Jonas, 154
Haynes, Marques, 201
Hays, Jeanette, 212
Haywood, Spencer, 67, 102
He Got Game, 206
Hearn, Chick, 206
Heater, Danny, 212
Henderson, David, 2
Henning, Sonja, 119120
Heyman, Art, 112113
Hill, Grant, 114
Hill, Tyrone, 233
Hinkle, Paul D., 3738
Hodges, Craig, 41, 83, 188
Hofstra University, 63
Holy Cross, 45
Hoop Dreams, 204205
Hoosiers, 204
Hornacek, Jeff, 79
Horton, Ed, 183184
Houston, Allan, 129130
Houston Comets, 63
Houston Cougars (University of),
12, 38, 72, 202
Houston Rockets, 89, 72, 79,
148, 157, 159, 182
Houston, Wade, 129130
Howard, Juwan, 19
Hughes, Alfredrick, 25
Hulk Hogan, 219220
Hull, Jimmy, 112
Hun, Ri Myong, 197
................. 11442$ INDX 08-26-05 10:50:39 PS
TM
II
Idaho (College of), 26
Illinois (University of), 30
Indiana Fever, 6162
Indiana Pacers, 3233, 40, 50,
58, 66, 71, 95, 100, 109, 162,
230
Indiana (University), 15, 23, 46,
150, 176
Inside Moves, 207
International Basketball League
(IBL), 92
Iowa (University of), 112,
180184
Issel, Dan, 54, 158159,
234235
Iverson, Allen, 163164,
188189
Jabali, Warren, 234
Jackson, Chris. See also Abdul-
Rauf, Mahmoud, 17, 140
Jackson, Jackie, 245
Jackson, Jimmy, 55
Jackson, Luke, 45
Jackson, Mark, 115116
Jackson, Phil, 68, 124, 165
Jackson, Ray, 19
Jamison, Antawn, 56, 82
Jeanette, Harry Buddy, 106
Jenner, Bruce, 215
Jennings, Keith, 93
Jian, Ma, 195196
Johnson, Avery, 7071,
173174
Johnson, Curley Boo, 202203
Johnson, Dennis, 172
Johnson, Edward Jr. (Fast
Eddie), 9899
Johnson, Edward Arnet, 99, 173
Johnson, Ervin, 91
Johnson, George E., 98
Johnson, George L., 98
Johnson, George Thomas, 90
91, 98
Johnson, Gus, 135, 171172
Johnson, John, 173, 181
Johnson, Kevin, 172
Johnson, Larry, 100, 172
PAGE 264
Johnson, Magic (also Earvin), 6,
9, 34, 65, 77, 171, 189, 222
Johnson, Marques, 80, 173, 206
Johnson, Vinnie, 58, 77, 173
Jones, Bobby, 57, 167
Jones, Caldwell, 148, 168
Jones, Charles, 9798, 148
Jones, Charles Alexander, 9798
Jones, Charles Rahmel, 9798
Jones, Eddie, 169
Jones, James Earl, 206
Jones, Jimmy, 168169
Jones, K. C., 168
Jones, Larry, 169
Jones, Major, 148
Jones, Rich, 169170
Jones, Sam, 168
Jones, Steve, 169
Jones, Wali, 170
Jones, Wil, 148
Jordan, Michael, 50, 51, 53, 91,
109, 133, 151, 183, 187, 233
Juwanna Mann, 20809
Kansas (University of), 4, 17, 94,
110
Kansas City Kings, 62, 67, 99,
101, 215
Kaplan, Gabe, 205
Kellogg, Clark, 158
Kelly, Lake, 16
Kelly, R., 166
Kelser, Greg, 77
Kenon, Larry, 67, 226
Kent, Ernie, 131
Kent, Jordan, 131
Kentucky Colonels, 10, 147, 229,
241
Kentucky State University, 84
Kentucky (University of), 2, 4,
11, 14, 17, 21, 26, 28, 31, 36,
100, 107, 110, 113, 128, 164,
176
Kerr, Steve, 4142
Kessler, Alec, 176177
Khan, Chaka, 115
Kidd, Jason, 18, 55, 117
Kidd, Joumana, 117
................. 11442$ INDX 08-26-05 10:50:39 PS
265 Index
King, Albert, 150
King, Bernard, 19, 78, 150, 205
King, Jimmy, 19
Kirkland, Pee Wee, 244
Knight, Bob, 15, 128129, 205,
225
Knight, Brevin, 95
Knight, Gladys, 115
Knight, Pat, 128129
Knowings, Herman, 248
Kryzewski, Mike, 253
Kukoc, Toni, 59
Kunnert, Kevin, 182, 234
Kurland, Bob, 34
LaBelle, Patti, 116
Ladner, Wendell, 235
Laimbeer, Bill, 123
Lambert, Ward L. Piggy, 39
Lamp, Jeff, 23
Lang, Andrew, 79
Lanier, Bob, 146
Lear, Hal, 112
Lee, Butch, 20, 22, 193
Lee, Keith, 21, 133134
Lee, Spike, 117, 206
Lee, Tonya Lewis, 117
Legler, Tim, 42
Lemon, Meadowlark, 201202,
208
Leonard, Slick, 109, 231
Leonard, Voshon, 133
Leslie, Lisa, 211, 212
Lethal Weapon III, 52
Lewis, Carl, 215
Lewis, Freddie, 235
Lewis, Guy, 38
Lewis, Reggie, 132133,
223224
Lewullis, Gabe, 14
Like Mike, 210
Lil Bow Wow, 210
Lineham, John, 49
Long Beach State University, 155
Long, Denise, 212213, 216
Lorenzen, Lynee, 213
Los Angeles Clippers, 62, 67, 72,
PAGE 265
8083, 85, 97100, 115, 136,
241
Los Angeles Lakers, 69, 34, 51
53, 64, 66, 74, 79, 81, 84, 115,
124, 135136, 144, 156, 169,
180, 244
Loscutoff, Jungle Jim, 235
Loughery, Kevin, 108109
Louisiana State University (LSU),
17, 99, 127
Louisiana Tech, 61
Louisville Cardinals, 2, 1112, 18,
38, 98, 122, 129, 135
Lovellette, Clyde, 4
Lowe, Sidney, 13
Loyola-Chicago, 25, 112
Loyola Maramount, 45, 49
Lucas, Jerry, 112
Lucas, John, 28, 177
Lucas, John III, 2829
Lucas, Maurice, 233
Macy, Kyle, 2, 26
Mahorn, Rick, 78, 232
Malone, Karl, 61, 82, 218219
Malone, Moses, 188, 247
Manhattan, 46
Manigault, Earl, 206, 243244
Maravich, Pete, 17, 20, 127128,
159
Maravich, Press, 127128
Marble, Roy, 183
March Madness, 1, 11
Marin, Jack, 79
Marion, Shawn, 136
Marquette (University), 20
Marshall (University), 46
Martin, Larue, 25
Maryland (University of), 8283,
96, 120, 150, 177
Mashburn, Jamal, 55
Mason, Anthony, 237238
Massachusetts (University of), 28
Matthews, Wes, 233
Maurie, 205
Maxwell, Cedric, 9, 57
May, Scott, 24
May, Sean, 24
................. 11442$ INDX 08-26-05 10:50:39 PS
TM
II
McAdoo, Bob, 159160
McCaffrey, Billy, 2728
McCarty, Walter, 164
McClain, Ted, 50
McCloud, George, 14
McCrary-Anthony, Carla, 117
McDaniel, Xavier, 54, 82, 233
McFadden, Ken, 15
McGee, Pam, 153154
McGee, Paula, 153154
McGuire, Al, 52, 148, 190194
McGuire, Dick, 148
McGuire, Frank, 110
McHale, Kevin, 51, 57, 75, 223
McKie, B. J., 14
McMillan, Nate, 68
McMillen, Tom, 177
Memphis Grizzlies, 82
Memphis State, 1, 21, 81
Mendioli, Gioconda, 155
Mendioli, Giuliana, 155
Meyer, Don, 131
Meyer, Jerry, 131
Meyer, Joey, 37
Meyer, Ray, 3637
Meyers, Dave, 79
Miami Heat, 64, 73, 149, 169
Micheaux, Larry, 12
Michigan State, 77, 104105
Michigan (University of), 23, 18
19, 45, 166
Middle Tennessee State University
(MTSU), 11, 14
Mieuli, Franklin, 143
Mikan, George, 5354, 118, 201,
227
Mikkelsen, Vern, 5354
Miles, Linda, 221
Miller, Brad, 71
Miller, Cheryl, 60, 61, 154,
211212
Miller, Coco, 153
Miller, Kelly, 153
Miller, Percy, 163
Miller, Reggie, 32, 40, 60
Milwaukee Bucks, 8, 24, 52, 57,
59, 7880, 94, 125, 145, 173
Ming, Yao, 195
PAGE 266
Minneapolis Lakers, 5, 201
Minnesota Timberwolves, 82, 97
Minnieeld, Dirk, 11
Misaka, Wataru, 196197
Mississippi (University of) (Ole
Miss), 21, 105, 128
Mississippi State University, 27
Missouri (University of), 28, 95
Moe, Doug, 158
Moncrief, Sidney, 1819, 52,
158
Monroe, Earl, 7475, 248
Morehead State, 46
Morse, David, 207
Most, Johnny, 232
Mount, Rick, 23
Mott, Terquinn, 14
Motta, Dick, 186
Mourning, Alonzo, 172
Mullin, Chris, 24, 53
Murphy, Calvin, 139140, 235,
238
Mutombo, Dikembe, 86, 157
Naismith Award, 20, 24, 9395
Nance, Larry, 58
Nash, Kevin, 220
Nash, Steve, 15
Nashville Rhythm, 47
National Invitation Tournament
(NIT), 5
Navy (Naval Academy), 15, 34,
85
NCAA Tournament, 11
Neal, Fred Curley, 201
Nelson, Don, 73, 77, 116, 180,
196
Nemcova, Eva, 141
Neumann, Johnny, 21
Neumann, Paul, 75
New Jersey Nets, 62, 67, 154,
177, 186
New Orleans Buccaneers, 9, 94,
168169
New Orleans Jazz, 104
New York Knicks, 78, 3132, 53,
7172, 78, 97, 100, 103, 108,
130, 150151, 172
................. 11442$ INDX 08-26-05 10:50:40 PS
267 Index
New York Nets, 109
Nixon, Norm, 81, 115, 235
Norman, Ken, 62
North Carolina (University of),
34, 20, 24, 38, 110
North Carolina State University,
1213, 138
Northeastern University, 133
Northwestern University, 121
Notre Dame, 136
Nowitzki, Dirk, 77, 82
OBrien, Jim, 29
Oakland Oaks, 94, 142
Oakley, Charles, 90, 232233
OBannon, Charles, 154
OBannon, Ed, 154
Odom, Lamar, 74, 136
Ohio State University, 2930, 112
Oklahoma (University of), 47,
151, 178
Oklahoma State University, 3, 29,
71
Olajuwon, Hakeem, 8, 12, 86,
111112
Olawakandi, Michael, 82
Oliver, Brian, 19, 52
ONeal, Shaquille, 17, 74, 124,
151, 164
Olsen, Lute, 156
One on One, 205
Oregon (University of), 112, 131
Oregon State University, 39
Orlando Magic, 65, 71, 114
Outlaw, Bo, 72
Pack, Robert, 72
Parish, Robert, 5152, 75, 207,
223
Parker, Trey, 210
Patterson, Ruben, 237
Paxson, Jim, 152
Paxson, John, 152
Payne, Tom, 237
Payton, Gary, 134135, 157
Penn, James Scoonie, 29
Penn State, 156
Pepperdine (University), 13
PAGE 267
Perdue, Will, 91
Perry, Tim, 79
Person, Chuck, 150151
Person, Wesley, 150151
Petrovic, Drazen, 224
Pettit, Bob, 7
Perry, Edward, 12
Phi Slamma Jamma, 12
Philadelphia 76ers, 57, 6264,
79, 104, 129, 136, 142, 163,
177
Philadelphia Warriors, 106, 126
Phoenix Suns, 50, 81, 83, 99,
101, 103104, 126, 152, 156,
162, 171
Pierce, Joyce, 116
Pierce, Ricky, 57, 116
Piper, Roddy, 219
Pippin, Scottie, 51, 53, 59, 151
Pitino, Rick, 28, 31, 164
Pittsburgh Condors, 230
Pittsburgh Pipers, 9
Pluto, Terry, 21, 66, 234
Poiter, Sidney, 206
Pollard, Jim, 5354
Polynice, Olden, 255
Pondexter, Clifton, 155156
Pondexter, Quincy, 156
Pondexter, Roscoe, 155156
Popovich, Gregg, 34
Porkys Revenge, 209
Portland Trailblazers, 2325, 50,
72, 84, 101, 107, 152, 159,
178, 182, 233, 240
Price, Aaron, 134
Price, Mark, 140
Prince, Tayshaun, 134
Princeton (Tigers), 2, 13, 111
Providence Friars, 30, 49
Purdue, 3,18, 23, 26, 39, 71, 95
Rambis, Kurt, 67
Ramsey, Frank, 56
Ratliff, Theo, 87
Raymond, Hank, 191
Rebound, 206207
Reed, Willis, 7, 157
Reiser, Billy, 248
................. 11442$ INDX 08-26-05 10:50:40 PS
TM
II
Rhodes, Gene, 229
Rice, Glen, 3, 42, 81
Richardson, Michael Ray, 49, 78,
186
Ridenour, Luke, 131
Riley, Pat, 6
Riley, Ruth, 123
Riordan, Mike, 74
Ritchmond, Mitch, 53
Rivers, Moe, 255
Roberts, Lawrence, 27
Robey, Rick, 2
Robertson, Alvin, 49
Robertson, Oscar, 51
Robertson, Ryan, 240
Robinson, Clifford Ralph, 101
Robinson, Clifford Trent, 101
Robinson, David, 15, 34, 85, 124,
125, 255
Robinson, Oliver, 14
Roche, John, 119
Rodman, Debra, 61
Rodman, Dennis, 53, 59, 61, 89,
115, 218
Rodman, Kim, 61
Rogers, Shawnta, 92
Rollins, Wayne Tree, 91
Rose, Jalen, 19, 133
Roundeld, Dan, 78
Ruland, Jeff, 232
Run TMC, 53
Rupp, Adolph, 21, 36, 37, 113,
144, 176
Russell, Bill, 78, 68, 8687,
107, 235
Russell, Campy, 149
Russell, Cazzie, 2
Russell, Frank, 149
Russell, Rohan, 239
Russell, Walker, 149
Sacramento Kings, 40, 43, 71,
73, 9596, 104, 157, 162, 178,
240
San Antonio Spurs, 25, 4142,
63, 67, 71, 73, 80, 91, 97, 101,
124125, 130, 136, 149, 173
PAGE 268
San Diego Clippers, 8081, 94,
182, 215
San Francisco Warriors, 88, 143
Sanders, Satch, 109
San Francisco University, 112
Santa Clara University, 15
Saperstein, Abe, 199
Schrempf, Detlef, 5758,
254255
Scott, Byron, 81
Scott, Charlie, 6768
Scott, Dennis, 19, 42, 46, 52,
254
Schmidt, Oscar, 216
Schoulte, Norma, 213
Seals, Bruce, 46
Seattle Supersonics, 33, 41, 54,
58, 71, 77, 81, 107, 135, 149,
152, 172173
Seattle University, 26, 110
Seigferth, Joe, 135
Seikaly, Rony, 116
Seton Hall (University), 83
Shaffer, Lee, 75
Sharmon, Bill, 141
Short, Purvis, 158
Silas, Paul, 179
Silva, Paulo, 221
Simpson, Stan, 11
Skiles, Scott, 65
Skyline High School, 134
Slam Dunk Ernest, 209210
Smith, Bubba, 217
Smith, Charles Cornelius, 97
Smith, Charles Daniel, 97
Smith, Charles Edward IV, 97
Smith, Dean, 38
Smith, Elmore, 79, 84
Smith, Khara, 62
Smith, Saul, 128
Smith, Tubby, 128
Snipes, Wesley, 206
South Carolina (University of),
14, 119
Southern California (University
of), 60, 72, 153
Southeastern Conference, 17, 28,
12122
................. 11442$ INDX 08-26-05 10:50:41 PS
269 Index
Southern University, 70
Southwestern Louisiana (Univer-
sity of), 31
Stanford University, 95
St. Johns University, 4, 12, 24,
98
St. Josephs University, 15
St. Louis Hawks, 7, 107108
Stallworth, Dave, 7475
Staples, Curtis, 44
Starks, John, 56, 7172
Stern, Daniel, 209
Stern, David, 121, 164
Stevenson, Deshawn, 238
Stockton, John, 32, 50
Stojakovic, Peja, 43
Stokes, Maurice, 205, 224
Stone, Matt, 210
Stoudamire, Amare, 8283
Stricker, Bill, 240
Sumpter, Barry, 241
Sweet Sixteen, 15
Sykes, Larry, 242
Syracuse Nationals, 108, 215
Syracuse University, 17, 116,
125, 215
Tabuse, Yuta, 198
Tamia, 114
Tao, Song, 196
Tarkanian, Danny, 130
Tarkanian, Jerry, 130, 245, 247
Tatum, Reece Goose, 200
Taylor, Donell, 154155
Taylor, Ronell, 154155
Teen Wolf Too, 210
Telander, Rick, 245
Tennessee (University of), 19, 35,
42, 129, 150, 220
Tennessee-Chattanooga (Univer-
sity of), 151
Texas Christian University, 49
Texas El Paso, 37, 113
Texas Western (Texas El Paso),
37
Three Js, 5455
Thomas, Isiah, 129, 205
Thompson, Billy, 135
PAGE 269
Thompson, David, 93, 226, 228
Thompson, John, 129, 132
Thompson, Ronny, 129
Thurmond, Nate, 68, 88, 135
Tisdale, Waymon, 162
Tomjonavich, Rudy, 175, 223
224, 233
Towe, Monte, 9394
Traylor, Robert, 77
Triplets, 52
Tropf, Glenn, 45
Tucker, Trent, 188
Turner, Elston, 105
Turner, Landon, 225
Turner, Ted, 145, 147
Turpin, Melvin, 11
Twardzik, Dave, 21
Twyman, Jack, 205, 224
UCLA, 13, 13, 33, 38, 80, 94
95, 154, 156
Udall, Morris, 118
Udoka, Ime, 64
Udoka, Mfon, 6364
UNLV, 19, 46, 52, 100, 117, 130,
136, 172
USBL, 71, 166
Utah (University of), 4, 113
Utah Jazz, 32, 63, 67, 85, 90, 157
Utah Stars, 10
Utah Starzz, 62
Valenti, John, 248
Valparaiso, 128
Valvano, Jimmy, 12, 111, 185
Van Arsdale, Dick, 149150, 176
Van Arsdale, Tom, 149150
Vancouver Grizzlies, 157
Vanderbilt Commodores, 2728,
101, 121122
Vandeweghe, Kiki, 54
Van Lier, Norm, 235
Varda, Ratko, 242
Varney, Jim, 209
Veal, Herman, 253
Veney, Keith, 46
Villanova (University), 12, 140
Vincent, Jay, 103104
................. 11442$ INDX 08-26-05 10:50:42 PS
TM
II
Virginia (University of), 23, 44,
120
Virginia Squires, 68, 106
Vitale, Dick, 30, 205
Wagner, Dajuan, 212
Wagner, Milt, 135
Walker, Chet, 170
Wallace, Ben, 70, 89
Wallace, Perry, 122
Walton, Bill, 1, 233
Warren, Mike, 205
Washburn, Chris, 254
Washington (University of), 29,
58
Washington Bullets, 64, 72, 86,
89, 96, 99, 101, 152, 184, 186,
232
Washington Capitals, 94
Washington, Denzel, 206
Washington, Kermit, 175, 223
224, 233234
Washington Mystics, 96
Washington State Cougars (Uni-
versity of), 130
Washington Wizards, 154
Watson, Melvin, 14
Watson, Perry, 133
Wayans, Damon, 209
Webb, Marcus, 239
Webber, Chris, 19, 166
Webster, Marvin, 84
Weidong, Hu, 197198
Wesley, Walt, 78
West, Jerry, 78, 5253, 111,
125
West Memphis High School, 133
West Virginia University, 111
Western Kentucky University, 37
Westphal, Paul, 103
White, Jo Jo, 207
White Men Cant Jump, 206
White, Paul, 220
Whittenburg, Derrick, 13
PAGE 270
Wicks, Sidney, 235
Wilburn, Ken, 238239
Wilcox, Chris, 8283
Wilkens, Lenny, 107
Wilkins, Dominique, 151
Wilkins, Gerald, 151
Williams, Gus, 152
Williams, James Fly, 1617,
245247
Williams, Jerome, 219
Williams, John Hot Rod, 58
59, 99100
Williams, John Sam, 99100
Williams, Larry, 248
Williams, Micheal, 6869, 141
Williams, Natalie, 62
Williams, Nate, 62
Williams, Ray, 152
Williams, Reggie, 132133
Williams, Vanessa L., 114
Wineld, Dave, 214
Wingate, David, 132133
Wingeld, Sid, 165
Winters, Brian, 79
Wisconsin-Green Bay, 46, 130
Wise, Willie, 106
Witchita State, 111
Woodard, Lynette, 200201
Wooden Award, 24
Wooden, John, 38, 9495
Woods, Terrence, 45
Wooten, Morgan, 136
World Basketball League (WBL),
72
Worthy, James, 6
Wright, Gerry, 183
Wright, Lorenzen, 8182
Wyoming (University of), 87
Young, Michael, 12
ZhiZhi, Wang, 196
Zucker, David, 210
................. 11442$ INDX 08-26-05 10:50:42 PS
About the Author
David L. Hudson, Jr. is the coauthor of Boxings Most
Wanted: The Top 10 Book of Champs, Chumps, and
Punch-Drunk Palookas (Potomac Books, Inc., 2004).
An author, attorney, and lifelong basketball fan, he has
written articles on basketball for both the Internet and
print media and reviews sports books for the Nashville
Tennessean. This is his tenth book. He lives near
Nashville.
PAGE 271
271
................. 11442$ ATHR 08-26-05 08:37:26 PS

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