Butch Beard facts for kids
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | May 4, 1947 Hardinsburg, Kentucky, U.S. |
| High school | Breckinridge County (Harned, Kentucky) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
| Listed weight | 185 lb (84 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Louisville (1966–1969) |
| NBA Draft | 1969 / Round: 1 / Pick: 10th overall |
| Selected by the Atlanta Hawks | |
| Pro career | 1969–1979 |
| Career history | |
| As player: | |
| 1969–1970 | Atlanta Hawks |
| 1971–1972 | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| 1972–1973 | Seattle SuperSonics |
| 1973–1975 | Golden State Warriors |
| 1975 | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| 1975–1979 | New York Knicks |
| As coach: | |
| 1990–1994 | Howard |
| 1994–1996 | New Jersey Nets |
| 2001–2006 | Morgan State |
| Career highlights and awards | |
|
|
| Career statistics | |
| Points | 5,622 (9.3 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 2,042 (3.4 rpg) |
| Assists | 2,189 (3.6 apg) |
| Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |
Alfred "Butch" Beard Jr. was born on May 5, 1947. He is a former professional basketball player and coach from the United States. He was the main point guard for the Golden State Warriors team that won the NBA championship in 1975. Before playing professionally, he played college basketball for the Louisville Cardinals.
Contents
Butch Beard's Basketball Journey
High School Success
Butch Beard played high school basketball at Breckinridge County High School. In 1964, as a junior, he led his team, the Bearcats, to the state championship game. They lost to a strong Louisville Seneca team, which included future basketball star Wes Unseld. Interestingly, Beard and Unseld later became roommates at the University of Louisville.
The next year, in 1965, Beard led the Bearcats back to the championship game. This time, they won the state title! He was also named Kentucky Mr. Basketball, which is a big honor for a high school player in Kentucky.
College Basketball Career
After high school, Butch Beard continued his basketball journey at the University of Louisville. He played for the Louisville Cardinals from 1966 to 1969. His strong performance in college helped him get noticed by professional teams.
Playing in the NBA
In 1969, Butch Beard was chosen by two different professional basketball leagues. The Dallas Chaparrals picked him in the ABA draft, and the Atlanta Hawks picked him in the first round of the 1969 NBA draft. He chose to play in the NBA.
Beard played for nine seasons in the NBA, from 1969 to 1970 and then from 1971 to 1979. He played for five different teams during his career:
- The Atlanta Hawks
- The Cleveland Cavaliers
- The Seattle SuperSonics
- The Golden State Warriors
- The New York Knicks
He scored a total of 5,622 points during his NBA career. In 1972, he was chosen to play in the 1972 NBA All-Star Game while he was with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
A highlight of his career was in 1975, when he played for the Golden State Warriors. He scored the last seven points that helped his team win the NBA Championship! Butch Beard stopped playing as an NBA player in 1979, with his last team being the New York Knicks.
Life as a Coach
After his playing career, Butch Beard became a basketball coach. He was the head coach for the New Jersey Nets from 1994 to 1996. Before that, he coached at Howard University from 1990 to 1994. He also worked as a color analyst, explaining games for New York Knicks broadcasts on MSG Network during the 1980s. Later, he became the head coach at Morgan State University, where he coached until March 2006.
See also
In Spanish: Butch Beard para niños
