George Gervin
Gervin with the San Antonio Spurs, c. 1970s
Personal information
Born (1952-04-27) April 27, 1952
Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
Listed weight180 lb (82 kg)
Career information
High schoolMartin Luther King
(Detroit, Michigan)
CollegeEastern Michigan (1970–1972)
NBA draft1974: 3rd round, 40th overall pick
Selected by the Phoenix Suns
Playing career1972–1990
PositionShooting guard / small forward
Number44, 8
Coaching career1992–1994
Career history
As player:
1972–1973Pontiac Chaparrals
1973–1974Virginia Squires
1974–1985San Antonio Spurs
1985–1986Chicago Bulls
1986–1987Banco di Roma
1989Quad City Thunder
1989–1990TDK Manresa
As coach:
1992–1994San Antonio Spurs (assistant)
Career highlights and awards
Career NBA and ABA statistics
Points26,595 (25.1 ppg)
Rebounds5,602 (5.3 rpg)
Assists2,798 (2.6 apg)
Stats  at NBA.com
Stats  at Basketball-Reference.com
Basketball Hall of Fame as player
College Basketball Hall of Fame
Inducted in 2006

George Gervin (/ˈɡɜːrvɪn/ GHUR-vin; born April 27, 1952),[1] nicknamed "the Iceman", is an American former professional basketball player who played in both the American Basketball Association (ABA) and National Basketball Association (NBA) for the Virginia Squires, San Antonio Spurs, and Chicago Bulls. Gervin averaged at least 14 points per game in all 14 of his ABA and NBA seasons, and finished with an NBA career average of 26.2 points per game. In 1996, Gervin was named as one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History,[2] and in 2021, Gervin was named as one of the 75 greatest players in NBA history.[3]

Early life

George Gervin was born on April 27, 1952, in Detroit, Michigan. Gervin attended Martin Luther King, Jr. High School. He struggled on and off the court until he reached his senior year, when a growth spurt allowed him to average 31 points and 20 rebounds and lead his school to the state quarterfinals.[4] He was a Detroit Free Press All-State selection in 1970.[5]

College career

Gervin received a scholarship to play under Coach Jerry Tarkanian at California State University, Long Beach, but he had such a culture shock that he returned home before the first semester was over.[6] He transferred to Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, Michigan and averaged 29.5 points as a sophomore forward in 1971–72.[7]

While competing in an NCAA College Division national semifinal game in Evansville, Indiana, Gervin punched a Roanoke player. Gervin was suspended for the following season and eventually was removed from the team. Invitations to try out for the Olympic and Pan-American teams were withdrawn.[7][8]

Professional career

Pontiac Chaparrals (1972–1973)

In 1972–73, Gervin initially played in Michigan for the Pontiac Chaparrals of the Continental Basketball Association.

Virginia Squires (1973–1974)

While playing with Pontiac, Gervin was spotted by Johnny Kerr, a Vice President, Basketball Operations for the Virginia Squires of the ABA.[7] In January 1973, Kerr signed Gervin to the Squires for a $40,000 a year contract.[9][10]

Gervin's time in Virginia would be short-lived, however. The Squires' finances had never been stable, and they had been forced to start trading their best players to get enough money to stay alive. In the space of only four months, they traded Julius Erving and Swen Nater for cash and/or draft picks. During the 1974 ABA All-Star Weekend, rumors abounded that the Squires were in talks about dealing Gervin for cash. The rumors turned out to be true; on January 30, Gervin was sold to the Spurs for $228,000. The ABA tried to block the trade, claiming that by trading their last legitimate star, the Squires were holding a fire sale. However, a court sided with the Spurs. Within two years, the Squires were no more.

San Antonio Spurs (1974–1985)

After two seasons in the ABA, Gervin became NBA eligible in time for the 1974 NBA draft. The Phoenix Suns selected Gervin in the third round with the 40th pick, however Gervin elected to stay in the ABA and kept playing for the Spurs.[11][12][13] With Gervin as the centerpiece, the Spurs transformed from a primarily defense-oriented team into an exciting fast-breaking team that played what coach Bob Bass called "schoolyard basketball". Although the Spurs never won an ABA playoff series during Gervin's first three years there, their high-powered offense made them very attractive to the NBA (along with their attendance figures in a relatively small media market), and the Spurs joined the more established league as part of the 1976 ABA–NBA merger. Right before the final ABA season, the Spurs had acquired star power forward Larry Kenon via trade, forming an offensively dominant one-two punch of both he and Gervin in order to strengthen their lineup and compete for a championship. In the final season of the ABA in 1976, the Spurs finished 3rd in a five-team postseason Playoff, which meant they faced the #2 seed New York Nets for the right to play in the 1976 ABA Finals. The Spurs pushed the Julius Erving-led Nets to a Game 7, but the Nets prevailed 121-114 on their way to the Finals, which they won.

Gervin's first NBA scoring crown came in the 1977–78 season, when he narrowly edged David Thompson for the scoring title by seven-hundredths of a point (27.22 to 27.15). Although Thompson came up with a memorable performance for the last game of the regular season, scoring 73 points, Gervin maintained his slight lead by scoring 63 points (including a then NBA record 33 points in the second quarter) in a loss during the last game of the regular season. With the scoring crown in hand, he sat out some of the third, and all of the fourth quarter.[14] In the 1978–79 NBA season, the Spurs finished 48–34 with the second seed in the Eastern Conference, they had made it past Julius Erving and the Philadelphia 76ers in the second round, beating them in seven games as Gervin led the league in playoff scoring with 28.6 ppg. They were one win away from making it to the 1979 NBA Finals as they were up 3–1 against the Washington Bullets in the Conference Finals but collapsed by losing three straight to lose the series. Kenon would become a free agent and sign with the Bulls after the following season.

Despite disappointing playoff eliminations and not making it to the finals, Gervin was committed to the Spurs, showing no frustration towards his teammates, thus living up to his nickname and went on to lead the NBA in scoring average three years in a row from 1978 to 1980 (with a high of 33.1 points per game in 1979–80), and again in 1982. Prior to Michael Jordan, Gervin had the most scoring titles of any guard in league history. In 1981, while sitting out three games due to injury, Gervin's replacement, Ron Brewer, averaged over 30 ppg. When Gervin returned, he scored 40+ points. When asked if he was sending a message, Gervin said, "Just the way the Lord planned it" and added, "Ice be cool" (with Ron Brewer). In the 1981–82 season, the Spurs would once again compete for a championship, by then the Spurs had just become a Western Conference franchise, finishing second in the conference with a 48–34 record. Gervin carried the team in scoring by leading the league with 29.4 ppg, they had made it back to the Conference Finals but got swept by the number one seeded Los Angeles Lakers who would end up winning the championship that year. In the 1982 offseason, the Spurs drafted high-scoring guards Oliver Robinson of UAB and Tony Grier from South Florida and also traded for all-star center Artis Gilmore to take some offensive pressure off Gervin. This time with the addition of Gilmore, high-scoring forward Mike Mitchell, and some fresh young talent, the Spurs were once again a title contender in the 1982–83 season, finishing 53–29 with the number two seed in the Western Conference, making it back to the Conference Finals once again with Gervin leading the way, averaging 25.2 ppg, only to be defeated yet again by the top-seeded Los Angeles Lakers in six games.[15]

Chicago Bulls (1985–1986)

Right before the 1985–86 season, Gervin was traded to the Chicago Bulls for forward David Greenwood after missing multiple preseason workouts amid the possibility of being relegated to the bench by new head coach, Cotton Fitzsimmons.[16] The Bulls' rising star Michael Jordan stated he was "unhappy" after the trade.[16] This season would be Gervin's last season in the NBA before retiring from the league. Although by this time he was aging and no longer at an all-star level, Gervin was still effective on the Bulls roster, averaging 16.2 ppg, had another 40-point game performance (a season-high 45 points against the Dallas Mavericks) and played all 82 games. The Bulls finished 30–52 but it was enough for a playoff berth clinching the number 8 seed in the Eastern Conference. The last NBA game of Gervin's career was April 20, 1986, Jordan's remarkable 63 point game against the Boston Celtics in Game 2 of the first round. Gervin recorded an assist and a personal foul in five minutes of play and the Bulls would later get swept by the Celtics in the first round.

Banco di Roma (1986–1987)

When he left the NBA, Gervin played for several years in Europe: In Italy for Banco Roma during the 1986–87 season where he averaged 26.1 points per game.

Quad City Thunder (1989)

In between his years of playing in Europe, Gervin also played for the Quad City Thunder of the now defunct Continental Basketball Association (different from the CBA he began his career with).[17]

TDK Manresa (1989–1990)

Gervin played in the Spanish National Basketball League for TDK Manresa team (he was 38 years old at the time).[2][18] At this point in his career he had lost some of his quickness, but his scoring instinct remained; he averaged 25.5 points, 5 rebounds and 1.2 assists, and in his last game he scored 31 points and grabbed 15 rebounds to keep Manresa in the first Spanish division.[2]

Coaching career

San Antonio Spurs (1992–1994)

Gervin coached for the Spurs from 1992 to 1994 and participated in the 1992 NBA All-Star Legends Game, where he scored 24 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in 16 minutes.[19]

Legacy

Halftime ceremony at a December 11, 2021 Eastern Michigan University basketball game, with Gervin being honored and the team's arena being rededicated as the "George Gervin GameAbove Center"

Nicknamed "Iceman" for his cool demeanor on the court, Gervin was primarily known for his scoring talents. He had also received the nickname because of his rare ability to play the game of basketball at a high level without sweating.[20][21][22]

Gervin's trademark move was the finger roll, which he executed with unusual delicacy, touch, and range. Typically used by others to shoot short layups, Gervin's effectiveness with the shot extended all the way to the free-throw line.

Gervin's legacy has inspired other athletes. Basketball great Gary Payton has stated his childhood idol was Gervin and that he was his favorite player to watch.[23] Gervin was also idolized by former NFL and Heisman-winning quarterback Ty Detmer. Detmer records in his autobiography that he was elated to receive Gervin's autograph one day as a youth in San Antonio.

In 2021, to commemorate the NBA's 75th Anniversary The Athletic ranked their top 75 players of all time, and named Gervin as the 42nd greatest player in NBA history.[24]

Awards and records

Gervin was inducted to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1996; additionally, his #44 jersey has been retired by the Spurs and he was named as one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History.[2] In 2009, Gervin was ranked #45 on SLAM Magazine's Top 50 NBA Players of All Time. In 2021, he was also named as one of the 75 greatest player in NBA history.[3]

He remains active in the San Antonio community with his seven organizations designed specifically for underprivileged kids, including the George Gervin Youth Center. Gervin has said that his own experience as an underprivileged child in Michigan inspired him to get involved.[14]

At the time of his trade to the Bulls, he held nearly every significant scoring record in Spurs history. Many of his records have been surpassed by David Robinson and Tim Duncan. Gervin retired with the most blocks by any guard in NBA history.[25]

Though an NBA and ABA All-Star and Hall of Famer, Gervin never made an appearance with a team in either an NBA or ABA championship series during his 13-year career in American professional basketball.

  • One of three players in NBA history to average 30 PPG and shoot 50 percent on field goals in a season as a guard.[26]

Post-playing career

Gervin in 2004

Since retiring from professional basketball, George Gervin has been active in the San Antonio community by designing organizations for underprivileged children. In 1991, he established the George Gervin Youth Center.[27][28]

Personal life

Gervin was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan.

In 1976, Gervin married Joyce King. The couple divorced in 1984 then remarried in 1985.[29][30] They also have three children.[31] The eldest child named George Gervin, Jr. (nicknamed "Gee"), played for the Harlem Globetrotters[32] and was a fan favorite while playing for the Norrköping Dolphins of the Swedish League.[33] Gervin, Jr. also played professionally in Mexico.[33] Gervin's sister, Barbara Gervin-Hawkins, is a Democratic member of the Texas House of Representatives.[34] Gervin's younger brother, Derrick is a retired basketball player who mostly played in the CBA and Europe.[35]

Career statistics

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high
 *  Led the league

Regular season

Season Team GPGSMINFG%3P%FT%OFFDEFREBASTSTLBLKTOVPFPPG
1972–73 Virginia (ABA) 30—23.0.472.231.8141.13.14.31.1——1.82.414.1
1973–74 Virginia (ABA) 49—35.3.472.160.7992.26.38.52.01.51.8 3.83.425.4
1973–74 San Antonio (ABA) 25—31.3.468.000.8532.55.88.21.81.01.42.63.919.4
1974–75 San Antonio (ABA) 84*—37.1.474.309.8302.95.48.32.51.61.63.03.523.4
1975–76 San Antonio (ABA) 81—33.9.499.255.8572.24.56.72.51.41.52.73.621.8
1976–77 San Antonio 82—33.0.544—.8331.63.95.52.91.31.3—3.523.1
1977–78 San Antonio 82—34.8.536—.8301.43.75.13.71.71.33.73.127.2*
1978–79 San Antonio 80—36.1.541—.8261.83.25.02.71.71.13.63.429.6*
1979–80 San Antonio 78—37.6.528.314.8522.03.25.22.61.41.03.32.733.1*
1980–81 San Antonio 82—33.7.492.257.8261.53.65.13.21.10.73.12.627.1
1981–82 San Antonio 797935.7.500.278.8641.73.25.02.41.00.62.72.732.3*
1982–83 San Antonio 787836.3.487.364.8531.43.24.63.41.10.93.23.126.2
1983–84 San Antonio 767634.0.490.417.8421.42.74.12.91.00.62.92.925.9
1984–85 San Antonio 726929.0.508.000.8441.12.23.32.50.90.72.82.921.2
1985–86 Chicago 827525.2.472.211.8791.01.72.61.80.60.32.02.616.2
NBA career 79137733.5.511.297.8441.53.14.62.81.20.83.02.926.2
ABA career 269—33.7.480.234.8312.35.17.42.21.41.62.93.421.9
Total career 1,06037733.6.504.271.8411.73.65.32.61.21.03.03.125.1

Playoffs

Season Team GPGSMINFG%3P%FT%OFFDEFREBASTSTLBLKTOVPFPTS
1973 Virginia (ABA) 5—40.0.442.200.7063.24.47.61.6——3.63.018.6
1974 San Antonio (ABA) 7—32.3.4961.000.9353.04.47.42.70.71.12.34.020.6
1975 San Antonio (ABA) 6—46.0.462.250.8275.78.314.01.31.01.32.33.734.0
1976 San Antonio (ABA) 7—41.1.499.000.8123.35.99.12.70.62.02.43.127.1
1977 San Antonio 2—31.0.432—.8002.53.05.51.50.51.0—4.525.0
1978 San Antonio 6—37.8.549—.7681.83.85.73.21.02.73.23.833.2
1979 San Antonio 14—36.6.536—.8082.43.55.92.51.91.02.93.628.6
1980 San Antonio 3—40.7.500.000.8673.03.76.74.01.71.03.02.733.3
1981 San Antonio 7—39.1.500.000.8001.33.75.03.40.70.72.92.727.1
1982 San Antonio 9—41.4.452.000.8312.15.27.34.61.10.43.44.029.4
1983 San Antonio 11—39.7.487.000.8841.94.86.73.41.10.44.23.525.2
1985 San Antonio 5536.6.532.000.7940.63.03.62.80.60.64.03.822.2
1986 Chicago 205.5.000——0.00.50.50.50.00.01.01.50.0
Total career 84538.0.501.147.8202.44.56.92.91.11.03.13.526.5

Source:[36]

See also

References

  1. ↑ David L. Porter (1995). African-American Sports Greats: A Biographical Dictionary. ABC-CLIO. p. 108. ISBN 978-0-313-28987-3.
  2. 1 2 3 4 George Gervin: una leyenda entre nosotros Archived March 16, 2015, at the Wayback Machine, ACB.com (in Spanish)
  3. 1 2 "Celebrate the NBA 75th". NBA.com.
  4. ↑ George Gervin at ESPN.go.com
  5. ↑ "All-NBA Selections". DetroitPSLBasketball.com. Retrieved June 11, 2016.
  6. ↑ Foster, Chris (February 11, 2015). "Jerry Tarkanian's greatest loss might have been George Gervin". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
  7. 1 2 3 Moran, Malcolm (January 29, 1979). "Gervin, No. 1 In Both Polls: 'I've Seen a Lot'; Gervin: 'I've Seen a Lot'". The New York Times. Retrieved February 4, 2021.
  8. ↑ "Legends profile: George Gervin". NBA.com. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
  9. ↑ Mings, Bob (January 18, 1973). "Squires Host Rockets, To Sign Gervin". Daily Press. p. 56. Retrieved February 4, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ↑ "Sports Glory days". San Antonio Current. May 12, 2005. Retrieved February 4, 2021.
  11. ↑ "Five Players You Didn't Know the Suns Drafted | Phoenix Suns". Nba.com. Retrieved May 4, 2017.
  12. ↑ "Phoenix Suns Best Draft Picks That Never Suited up for the Suns". May 20, 2016.
  13. ↑ Howard, Scott (June 20, 2011). "Phoenix Suns NBA Draft Awards: Best And Worst Picks Ever – SB Nation Arizona". Arizona.sbnation.com. Retrieved May 4, 2017.
  14. 1 2 Kent, Austin. "Man and the Monument: How George Gervin Became Champion of the People". TheGoodPoint.com. Archived from the original on November 21, 2011. Retrieved November 12, 2008.
  15. ↑ 1982-83 San Antonio Spurs Roster and Stats
  16. 1 2 Sakamoto, Bob (October 25, 1985). "Bulls Get Gervin, Jordan Unhappy". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved June 11, 2016.
  17. ↑ JIM LITKE | ASSOCIATED PRESS (December 18, 1989). "'Iceman' Out in the Cold, Battles for Comeback – latimes". Articles.latimes.com. Retrieved May 4, 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  18. ↑ "George Gervin". Archived from the original on October 28, 2009. Retrieved October 9, 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  19. ↑ Pickman, Ben (March 6, 2021). "What Ever Happened to the NBA Legends Game?". ESPN. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  20. ↑ Amino Apps. "The Iceman: A tribute | Hoops Amino". Aminoapps.com. Retrieved May 4, 2017.
  21. ↑ HAL BOCK | ASSOCIATED PRESS (June 8, 1997). "There Was No Sweat With This Iceman – latimes". Articles.latimes.com. Retrieved May 4, 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  22. ↑ "Chat: Chat with George Gervin – SportsNation". ESPN. Retrieved May 4, 2017.
  23. ↑ DePaula, Nick (March 4, 2016). "Hall of Famer Gary Payton still jawing after all these years". Yahoo.com. Retrieved June 11, 2016.
  24. ↑ "NBA 75: At No. 42, George 'Iceman' Gervin was a cool scoring machine famous for his finger roll and body control".
  25. ↑ Ranking: Total Career Blocks by NBA Player Archived November 16, 2018, at the Wayback Machine at basketball-reference.com
  26. ↑ "ESPN Stats & Info on Twitter". Twitter. Archived from the original on June 1, 2017. Retrieved April 15, 2016.
  27. ↑ "Life After Basketball | George Gervin Official Website | Contact George Gervin Agent". Georgegervin44.com. Archived from the original on July 1, 2017. Retrieved May 4, 2017.
  28. ↑ "George Gervin Youth Center: Home". Gervin-school.org. Retrieved May 4, 2017.
  29. ↑ http://marriage-divorce-records.mooseroots.com/d/c/George-Gervin
  30. ↑ "George Gervin". Nndb.com. Retrieved May 4, 2017.
  31. ↑ Kent Demaret (February 4, 1980). "There's No One Hotter in Pro Basketball Than Texas 'Iceman' George Gervin". People.com. Archived from the original on September 23, 2016. Retrieved May 4, 2017.
  32. ↑ "The All-Time Roster of Harlem Globetrotters". HarlemGlobetrotters.com. Archived from the original on April 25, 2017. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
  33. 1 2 "Norrköping – Gervin tillbaks i Dolphins" (in Swedish). November 6, 2007. Retrieved June 11, 2016.
  34. ↑ Black, Ariel (February 11, 2015). "Barbara Gervin-Hawkins, president and CEO of the George Gervin Youth Center". Crain's Detroit Business. Retrieved January 12, 2017.
  35. ↑ Clarke, Deven (February 4, 2019). "Former NBA player uses skills to inspire youth beyond sports". KSAT-TV. Retrieved August 16, 2019.
  36. ↑ "George Gervin". Basketball-Reference. Archived from the original on May 30, 2010. Retrieved February 25, 2020.
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