Bill Gaines (basketball) facts for kids
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 10, 1946 |
| Nationality | American |
| High school | James Madison (Dallas, Texas) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) |
| Listed weight | 185 lb (84 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College |
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| NBA Draft | 1968 / Round: 15 / Pick: 185th overall |
| Selected by the San Diego Rockets | |
| Career history | |
| 1968 | Houston Mavericks |
| Career highlights and awards | |
|
|
William Roosevelt Gaines, born on March 10, 1946, is a former basketball player. He played as a guard, which is a key position in basketball. Bill Gaines was a star player in college before joining the Houston Mavericks for a short time. He played in the American Basketball Association (ABA).
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Bill Gaines's Early Life and High School Basketball
Bill Gaines grew up in Dallas, Texas. He went to James Madison High School. There, he played both basketball and football. His brother, Henry, also played sports with him.
During his last year of high school, Bill had a football injury. This injury needed surgery, so he missed most of the season. After high school, he planned to play for the University of Wichita. However, he ended up starting his college basketball career elsewhere.
College Basketball Career
Bill Gaines began playing college basketball at Henderson County Community College. This college is part of the National Junior College Athletic Association. He quickly became a standout player.
Awards and Achievements at Henderson County
Bill was named to the All-Texas Eastern Conference team twice. He also earned the title of Junior College All-American once. In 1966, his team won the Texas Eastern Conference (TEC). Bill was the top scorer in the conference that year. He averaged an amazing 30.6 points per game. This led to him being named to the TEC All-Conference team.
Transfer to East Texas State
After his success, Bill signed to play for North Texas State University. But he later transferred to East Texas State University. This school is now known as Texas A&M Commerce.
In his first season at East Texas State, Bill played very well. He averaged 16.8 points and 6.2 rebounds per game. His strong performance earned him a spot on the All-Lone Star Conference second team. He missed a lot of games the next season. Even so, he was still the team's top scorer. He scored 326 points, averaging 25.1 points per game.
Professional Basketball Career
In 1968, Bill Gaines was chosen in two different basketball drafts. The San Diego Rockets picked him in the 15th round of the 1968 NBA draft. The Houston Mavericks also drafted him in the 13th round of the American Basketball Association (ABA) draft.
Bill decided to sign with the Houston Mavericks. He played in the team's very first game of the 1968–69 season. In that game, he scored two points. However, he was waived by the Mavericks just one week later.
