Bob Kauffman facts for kids
Kauffman in 1969
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | July 13, 1946 Brooklyn, New York, U.S. |
| Died | July 25, 2015 (aged 69) Lilburn, Georgia, U.S. |
| High school | Scarsdale (Scarsdale, New York) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) |
| Listed weight | 240 lb (109 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Guilford (1964–1968) |
| NBA Draft | 1968 / Round: 1 / Pick: 3rd overall |
| Selected by the Seattle SuperSonics | |
| Pro career | 1968–1975 |
| Career history | |
| As player: | |
| 1968–1969 | Seattle SuperSonics |
| 1969–1970 | Chicago Bulls |
| 1970–1974 | Buffalo Braves |
| 1974–1975 | Atlanta Hawks |
| As coach: | |
| 1977–1978 | Detroit Pistons |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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| Career NBA statistics | |
| Points | 6,049 (11.5 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 3,682 (7.0 rpg) |
| Assists | 1,429 (2.7 apg) |
Robert "Bob" Kauffman (July 13, 1946 – July 25, 2015) was an American professional basketball player and coach. He was known for his strong play as a power forward and center. Bob Kauffman was chosen for the NBA All-Star team three times during his career.
Contents
Bob Kauffman's Early Life and School Days
Robert Alan Kauffman was born on July 13, 1946, in Brooklyn, New York. His parents were LeRoy and Anne Kauffman. He grew up in Scarsdale, New York, and went to Scarsdale High School. His family had a business in Manhattan called Kauffman's Boots and Saddles, which sold items for horses and riders.
College Basketball Star
Bob Kauffman played college basketball at Guilford College in Greensboro, North Carolina. He played for the Guilford Quakers from 1964 to 1968. During his time there, he helped make the Quakers a very strong team in the NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics).
Kauffman was 6 feet 8 inches tall and weighed 240 pounds. He was a powerful center. In his four seasons, the Quakers won 86 games. They also made it to the NAIA Tournament three years in a row.
Bob scored 2,570 points and grabbed 1,801 rebounds in 113 games. He averaged 22.7 points and 15.9 rebounds per game. He still holds many records at Guilford College. These include the most rebounds in a single game (32) and in a season (698). He also holds records for field goals and free throws. Bob graduated in 1968 with a degree in history.
Starting His NBA Career
Bob Kauffman was a highly sought-after player. He was picked third overall in the 1968 NBA draft by the Seattle SuperSonics. Only two future Hall of Fame players, Elvin Hayes and Wes Unseld, were chosen before him. He also had the option to play in another league, the American Basketball Association (ABA), but he chose the NBA.
Playing for the Seattle SuperSonics
As a rookie in the 1968–69 season, Bob Kauffman played for the Seattle SuperSonics. He averaged 7.8 points and 5.9 rebounds per game. He played alongside another strong player, Bob Rule.
Time with the Chicago Bulls
In September 1969, Kauffman was traded to the Chicago Bulls. He played a supporting role for the Bulls during the 1969–70 season. He averaged 4.3 points and 3.3 rebounds in about 12 minutes per game.
Becoming an All-Star with the Buffalo Braves
In May 1970, Bob Kauffman was traded again. This time, he joined the new Buffalo Braves team. The Braves were a new team in the NBA, and Kauffman quickly became their star player.
In the 1970–71 season, Kauffman became an NBA All-Star. He averaged 20.4 points and 10.7 rebounds for the Braves. He started the season as a reserve but soon became a key starter.
He was an All-Star again in the 1971–72 season. He averaged 18.9 points and 10.2 rebounds. On November 13, 1971, he scored an amazing 44 points against Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and the Milwaukee Bucks.
Under a new coach, Jack Ramsay, Kauffman earned his third All-Star selection in the 1972–73 season. He averaged 17.5 points and 11.1 rebounds. The Braves improved in the 1973–74 season and made the playoffs. Kauffman played a reserve role, averaging 6.1 points and 4.4 rebounds.
Final Season with the Atlanta Hawks
In May 1974, Bob Kauffman was chosen by the New Orleans Jazz in an NBA expansion draft. He was then immediately traded to the Atlanta Hawks in a big trade for superstar Pete Maravich.
Bob played his final season in the NBA with the Atlanta Hawks in 1974–75. He dealt with ongoing groin and hip injuries, which limited his playing time. He averaged 3.9 points and 2.5 rebounds in 73 games.
Bob Kauffman's Career Highlights
Bob Kauffman played seven seasons in the NBA. He played for the Seattle SuperSonics, Chicago Bulls, Buffalo Braves, and Atlanta Hawks. He was a three-time All-Star (1971, 1972, and 1973). Throughout his career, he averaged 11.5 points and 7.0 rebounds per game. His best season was 1970–71, when he averaged 20.4 points and 10.7 rebounds for the Buffalo Braves.
NBA 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 |
Regular Season
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1968–69 | Seattle | 82 | – | 20.2 | 442 | – | .702 | 5.9 | 1.0 | – | – | 7.8 |
| 1969–70 | Chicago | 64 | – | 12.1 | .425 | – | .715 | 3.3 | 1.2 | – | – | 4.3 |
| 1970–71 | Buffalo | 78 | – | 35.6 | .471 | – | .740 | 10.7 | 4.5 | – | – | 20.4 |
| 1971–72 | Buffalo | 77 | – | 41.6 | .497 | – | .795 | 10.2 | 3.9 | – | – | 18.9 |
| 1972–73 | Buffalo | 77 | – | 39.6 | .505 | – | .780 | 11.1 | 5.1 | – | – | 17.5 |
| 1973–74 | Buffalo | 74 | – | 17.6 | .467 | – | .713 | 4.4 | 1.9 | .5 | .2 | 6.1 |
| 1974–75 | Atlanta | 73 | – | 10.9 | .433 | – | .702 | 2.5 | 1.1 | .3 | .1 | 3.9 |
| Career | 525 | – | 25.8 | .477 | – | .749 | 7.0 | 2.7 | .4 | .1 | 11.5 | |
| All-Star | 3 | 0 | 6.7 | .400 | – | .500 | .7 | .7 | – | – | 1.7 | |
Playoffs
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Chicago | 3 | – | 4.7 | .333 | – | .667 | 2.0 | 1.3 | – | – | 1.3 |
| 1974 | Buffalo | 2 | – | 5.0 | .333 | – | .000 | .5 | 1.0 | .0 | .0 | 1.0 |
| Career | 5 | – | 4.8 | .333 | – | .400 | 1.4 | 1.2 | .0 | .0 | 1.2 | |
Life After Playing: Coaching and Management
After his playing career, Bob Kauffman worked as an executive and coach in the NBA. He was an assistant general manager for the Atlanta Hawks for two seasons. In 1977, he became the general manager for the Detroit Pistons. He held this role from May 1977 to July 1978.
He also served as the head coach for the Detroit Pistons during the 1977–78 season. He coached 58 games, winning 29 and losing 29. Bob eventually left the Pistons after a disagreement with the team owner about who should be the next coach.
Remembering Bob Kauffman
Bob Kauffman passed away at the age of 69 on July 25, 2015. He was a very promising player who came from a smaller college. Many people believe he could have played longer if not for his injuries.
Some fans think that the jersey number Bob Kauffman wore for the Buffalo Braves should be retired. This would honor him as the original star of that team. His death was not widely reported in the sports world, even though he was the first true star for the Buffalo Braves (now the Los Angeles Clippers).
Bob Kauffman was survived by his wife, Judy, and their four daughters: Lara, Joannah, Carey, and Kate.
Awards and Recognition
- Bob Kauffman was inducted into Guilford College's Athletics Hall of Fame in 1973.
- Guilford College honored him by retiring his jersey number (#44) in 2009.
Coaching Record
| Regular season | G | Games coached | W | Games won | L | Games lost | W–L % | Win–loss % |
| Playoffs | PG | Playoff games | PW | Playoff wins | PL | Playoff losses | PW–L % | Playoff win–loss % |
| Team | Year | G | W | L | W–L% | Finish | PG | PW | PL | PW–L% | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit | 1977–78 | 58 | 29 | 29 | .500 | 4th in Midwest | — | — | — | — | Missed playoffs |
| Career | 58 | 29 | 29 | .500 | — | — | — | — |
