Austin Carr facts for kids
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Carr in 2018
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 10, 1948 Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| High school | Mackin (Washington, D.C.) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) |
| Listed weight | 200 lb (91 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Notre Dame (1968–1971) |
| NBA Draft | 1971 / Round: 1 / Pick: 1st overall |
| Selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers | |
| Pro career | 1971–1981 |
| Career history | |
| 1971–1980 | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| 1980 | Dallas Mavericks |
| 1980–1981 | Washington Bullets |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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| Career statistics | |
| Points | 10,473 (15.4 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 1,990 (2.9 rpg) |
| Assists | 1,878 (2.8 apg) |
Austin George Carr (born March 10, 1948) is a former American professional basketball player. He played for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Dallas Mavericks, and Washington Bullets in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Fans in Cleveland know him as "Mr. Cavalier."
Carr was part of the Notre Dame team that beat the UCLA Bruins on January 19, 1971. This win ended UCLA's amazing 88-game winning streak. It was a huge moment in college basketball history.
Contents
Early Life and High School Basketball
Austin Carr grew up in Washington, D.C.. He went to Holy Redeemer School and then Mackin Catholic High School. At Mackin, he played with another great player, Tom Little.
As a junior, Carr scored 475 points in 24 games. In his senior year, he scored 600 points. He helped his team, the Paul Furlong coached Trojans, win the Catholic League title. Carr was named a Parade All-American. This honor goes to the best high school players in the country.
College Basketball Highlights
Austin Carr was a highly sought-after player for the University of Notre Dame. He was 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighed 200 pounds. He had scored over 2,000 points in high school.
At Notre Dame, Carr continued to shine. He finished his three-year college career with 2,560 points. This was an average of 34.5 points per game. At the time, he was fifth all-time in college basketball history.
During his last two seasons, Carr scored over 1,000 points each year. He was only the second college player to do this. He holds several NCAA tournament records. These include most points in one game (61 points in 1970). He also has the most field goals in one game (25). His average of 50 points per game in seven NCAA playoff games is still a record.
Many experts consider Carr one of the best college basketball players ever. In 2008, ESPN ranked him the 22nd greatest college player. In 2013, Bleacher Report called him the 12th most dominant college player.
Austin Carr's NBA Journey
Joining the NBA: The Draft
Austin Carr became a professional player in 1971. The Cleveland Cavaliers chose him as the first overall pick in the 1971 NBA draft. He also had an offer from the ABA, but he chose to sign with the Cavaliers.
First Seasons and All-Star Game
Carr's first season in the NBA was tough due to injuries. He broke his foot during the preseason. This made him miss the first month of games. Soon after returning, another foot injury sidelined him for seven more weeks.
Despite the injuries, he showed his amazing skills. He was named to the 1972 NBA All-Rookie Team. After his first season, he had surgery to fix his foot problems.
In the 1972–73 season, Lenny Wilkens joined the Cavaliers. This helped the team improve. Carr's best season was the next year, 1973–74. He averaged 21.9 points and 3.8 assists per game. He also shot 85.6% from the free-throw line. His great play earned him a spot on the 1974 Eastern Conference All-Star team. This was his only All-Star appearance.
In the 1974–75 season, Carr got a knee injury. This kept him out of many games. The Cavaliers just missed the playoffs that year.
The "Miracle of Richfield" and Playoff Success
The 1975–76 season was special for the Cavaliers. Carr helped lead them to their first winning season ever. They also won their division title. This was the first time the team made the playoffs.
The Cavaliers made the playoffs three years in a row. Carr was a key player during this time. In the 1976 playoffs, they faced the Washington Bullets. The Cavaliers won the series 4–3 in a thrilling Game 7. This win was known as "The Miracle of Richfield." It is one of the most famous moments in Cleveland sports. The Cavaliers then lost to the Boston Celtics in the next round.
Carr played in all 82 games in the 1976–77 season. He averaged 16.2 points per game. The Cavaliers made the playoffs again but lost to the Washington Bullets. He played all 82 games again in 1977–78. The team reached the playoffs for a third straight year. They lost to the New York Knicks.
Later Career and Retirement
Carr played two more seasons with the Cavaliers. In 1978–79, he averaged 17 points per game. He shot a career-best 47.5% from the field. However, the team did not make the playoffs.
In 1979-1980, his final season with the Cavaliers, he won the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award. This award recognizes players who do great work in their community. Throughout his nine years in Cleveland, Carr averaged 16.2 points per game.
The 1980–81 season was Carr's last in the NBA. He played for the Dallas Mavericks and the Washington Bullets. He retired in 1981. He finished his career with averages of 15.4 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game.
After Playing Basketball
Broadcasting and Other Achievements
Today, Austin Carr works for the Cavaliers. He is the Director of Community Relations. He is also a color commentator for the team's games. You can hear him on Fanduel Sport’s Network.
The Cavaliers have retired his jersey number, 34. This means no other player on the team can wear that number. It's a huge honor!
In 2007, Carr was inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame. This shows how important he was in college basketball. In 2008, Notre Dame honored him as their all-time leading scorer.
Austin Carr's Signature Calls
If you listen to a Cavaliers game, you'll hear Austin Carr's fun phrases:
- He throws the hammer down! – for a Cavs slam dunk
- He hits it deep in the Rock (or name of the arena for road games)! – for a Cavs three-pointer
- Get that weak stuff outta here! – for a Cavs blocked shot
- He got him a bird – When a Cavs player gets an opponent to fake a shot
- Mouse in the house – When a Cavs player is guarded by a much smaller player
- There's a breeze in the building – When an opponent misses a shot badly
- He dots the i – When a Cavs player makes a mid-range shot
- Too much pressure bursts the pipe – When the Cavs defense is playing very well
- Right back in your face – When the Cavs score right after the other team
- Pressure will crack the Liberty Bell – When the Cavs play strong defense against the Philadelphia 76ers
Awards and Honors
College
- 1971 Naismith College Player of the Year
- 1971 Associated Press College Basketball Player of the Year
- 1971 First Team All-American
- College Basketball Hall of Fame Inductee (class of 2007)
- Notre Dame Basketball Ring of Honor (class of 2011)
Professional
- 1972 NBA All-Rookie First Team
- 1974 NBA All-Star Game Selection
- 1980 recipient – J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award
- Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame Inductee (class of 1992)
- 2011 Greater Cleveland Sports Commission Lifetime Achievement Award
- Number retired by the Cleveland Cavaliers (#34)
- Cavaliers Wall of Honor
Broadcasting
- Five-time Lower Great Lakes Emmy Award recipient as a member of the FanDuel Sports Network Ohio Cavaliers broadcast team - 2014, 2017, 2018, 2022, 2024
See Also
In Spanish: Austin Carr para niños
- List of NCAA Division I men's basketball players with 60 or more points in a game
