All Things Basketball with GD - Week 9 Player Spotlight, Nate Archibald

Nate "Tiny" Archibald (00:28)6'1", 150 lb.Born in South Bronx, NY (Patterson Housing Projects) on 9/2/48Attended DeWitt Clinton High School; cut from the team as a sophomoreWas brought back after a mentor put in a good word about him to the coachThen excelled; named team captain & became All-City selection (1966)Got the nickname Tiny after his father, who was called Big TinyStruggled with grades; not offered scholarships from major collegesAttended Arizona Western Community College for a year before transferring to UTEP under the legendary Don Haskins for 3 solid yearsHaskins coached other guards like Bobby Joe Hill who led his team to a NCAA title & later Tim HardawayStood out in 5 postseason exhibition games; scored 51 pts in Aloha Classic & averaged nearly 40 PPG in those gamesOnly drafted in 2nd round (19th overall) of the 1970 draft (Cincinnati Royals)In that draft: Bob Lanier, Rudy Tomjanovich, Pete Maravich, Dave Cowens, Calvin Murphy & Sam LaceyA starter his 1st season due to the contract holdout of Flynn RobinsonStruggled as a rookie but did okNearly traded after his 1st season; team instead dealt Norm Van Lier to CHIBlossomed in his next season with solid start & finished strongHad a season for the ages his 3rd year; team moved from Cincinnati to Kansas CityBecame the 1st & only player to lead the league in scoring (34 PPG) & assists (11.4); made the All Star Team for the 1st timeBroke the record at the time of Guy Rodgers (11.2 APG for CHI)Despite those gaudy numbers his teams never finished above 36 winsTroubles back in the Bronx - 2 brothers in jail on various charges & another brother strung out on drugs; 2 brothers lived with him in KC & the other in a rehab facilityAfter his stellar 1972-73 season an Achilles injury left him to play only 35 gamesDid bounce back the following 2 seasons after; made the All Star Game twiceMade playoffs for the 1st time (lost to CHI - WC semis 4 games to 2)Got traded after the 1975-76 season to NYN for Jim Eakins, Brian Taylor & 2 future 1st round picks (Phil Ford & Otis Birdsong)NYN needed some star power after entering the league following the ABA mergerHad an injury riddled season playing only 34 games (foot injury)Traded somehow after that season to BUF for George Johnson & 2 future 1st round picks (Micheal Ray Richardson & Cliff Robinson)Never played a game for them (torn Achilles)Was traded yet again after the Braves moved from Buffalo to San Diego to BOS along with Marvin Barnes, Billy Knight & a future 2nd round pick (Danny Ainge) for players like Sidney Wicks, Freeman Williams & Kermit WashingtonDidn't have pleasant start due to being a bad fit next to JoJo White, clashing with player/coach Dave Cowens & dealing with having a bad reputation, a checkered injury history & a bloated contractTransformed his game to fit what new coach Bill Fitch demanded during the offseasonHis renaissance coincided with rookie season of Larry BirdA key member in the resurgence of the mighty Celtics which led to a championship (1980-81)Became an All Star Game participant in 3 seasons with BOS, one year winning a All Star MVP awardPlayed 2 more seasons in BOS; one season in MILRetired in 1984; entered Basketball Hall of Fame in 1991Named to NBA's 50th Anniversary Team (1996); 75th Anniversary Team (2021)Returned to college to get his bachelor's degree from UTEP & a Masters from FordhamRuns a basketball school for underprivileged childrenWorked for NBA in the Community Relations DepartmentToday's comparison: a healthier Kyrie Irving with passing ability of Russell Westbrook; his transformed years more like Chris Paul