Bob Hopkins facts for kids
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 3, 1934 Jonesboro, Louisiana |
| Nationality | American |
| Died | May 15, 2015 (aged 80) Bellevue, Washington |
| High school | Jackson (Jonesboro, Louisiana) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) |
| Listed weight | 205 lb (93 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Grambling State (1952–1956) |
| NBA Draft | 1956 / Round: 10 / Pick: 74th overall |
| Selected by the Syracuse Nationals | |
| Pro career | 1956–1962 |
| Coaching career | 1964–1991 |
| Career history | |
| As player: | |
| 1956–1960 | Syracuse Nationals |
| 1960–1962 | Philadelphia Tapers |
| As coach: | |
| 1964–1965 | Prairie View A&M |
| 1966–1969 | Alcorn State |
| 1969–1974 | Xavier (Louisiana) |
| 1974–1977 | Seattle SuperSonics (assistant) |
| 1977 | Seattle SuperSonics |
| 1978–1979 | New York Knicks (assistant) |
| 1984–1986 | Southern |
| 1986–1989 | Grambling State |
| 1990–1991 | Maryland Eastern Shore |
| Career NBA statistics | |
| Points | 2,237 (8.2 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 1,526 (5.6 rpg) |
| Assists | 189 (0.7 apg) |
Robert M. Hopkins (born November 3, 1934 – died May 15, 2015) was an American basketball player and coach. He was known for his amazing scoring skills in college and for coaching many basketball teams, including a short time in the NBA.
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Who Was Bob Hopkins?
Bob Hopkins grew up in Jonesboro, Louisiana. He was a talented athlete in many sports. He played football, basketball, baseball, and even ran track. He was so good at track that he was invited to the 1956 Olympic Games. He was asked to compete as a broad jumper. However, he chose to sign with the Syracuse Nationals basketball team instead.
College Basketball Star
Hopkins became a huge star in college basketball at Grambling State University. He scored an incredible 3,759 points during his college career. This means he averaged almost 30 points per game! He was the first player from Grambling to be named an All-American. He was also the first player from his school to play professionally.
He was chosen for the all-conference team all four years at Grambling. He was also named an All-American three times. For many years, he held several records in the NAIA. These records included most career points, most field goals made, most free throws made, and most rebounds. He was the all-time leading scorer in college basketball until 1972.
Playing in the NBA
After college, Hopkins played in the NBA. He played for the Syracuse Nationals from 1956 to 1960. Then he played for the Philadelphia Tapers from 1960 to 1962. His playing career ended early because of a leg injury.
A Great Coach
After his playing days, Bob Hopkins became a very successful basketball coach.
Coaching College Teams
His first coaching job was at Prairie View College in 1965. His team finished second in their conference. Next, he coached at Alcorn A&M (State) starting in 1966. He led the Alcorn Braves to three straight championships. He was named Coach of the Year each of those seasons. His teams did very well in national tournaments. In his third year, his team had an amazing 27-0 record before losing in the NCAA College Division finals.
Hopkins then coached the Xavier Gold Rush from 1969 to 1974. He coached future NBA stars like Bruce Seals and Slick Watts. He led Xavier to 89 wins and 47 losses. His teams also won two championships and went to the national NAIA Tournament twice.
Coaching in the NBA
Later, Hopkins joined Bill Russell's coaching team with the Seattle SuperSonics. Russell was his cousin. Hopkins took over as head coach after Russell left in 1976. He coached for part of the 1977–78 season. He was later replaced by Lenny Wilkens. Wilkens then led the Sonics to the NBA Finals and won the championship in 1979. Hopkins also worked as an assistant coach for the New York Knicks. He later coached at Southern, Grambling State, and Maryland Eastern Shore.
Hall of Fame and Legacy
Bob Hopkins was recognized for his amazing career. He was inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame in 1963. In 2013, he was also elected into the College Basketball Hall of Fame.
He passed away on May 15, 2015, due to heart and kidney failure. His funeral was held in Washington.
See also
In Spanish: Bob Hopkins para niños
