Charlie Criss facts for kids
Criss as a senior at NMSU
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 6, 1948 Valhalla, New York, U.S. |
| High school | Gorton (Yonkers, New York) |
| Listed height | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) |
| Listed weight | 165 lb (75 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College |
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| NBA Draft | 1970 / Undrafted |
| Pro career | 1975–1985 |
| Career history | |
| 1975–1977 | Scranton Apollos |
| 1977–1981 | Atlanta Hawks |
| 1981–1982 | San Diego Clippers |
| 1982–1984 | Milwaukee Bucks |
| 1984–1985 | Atlanta Hawks |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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| Career NBA statistics | |
| Points | 3,534 (8.5 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 592 (1.4 rpg) |
| Assists | 1,335 (3.2 apg) |
Charles Washington Criss Jr. (born November 6, 1948) is an American former professional basketball player. He was born in Valhalla, New York. Criss was known for being one of the shortest players in the National Basketball Association (NBA) during his time.
Contents
Meet Charlie Criss, the Basketball Star
Charlie Criss was a talented guard who stood 5 feet 8 inches tall. He played college basketball at New Mexico State University. After college, he began his professional basketball journey.
Starting His Basketball Journey
Before joining the NBA, Charlie Criss played in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA). He played for the Scranton Apollos. He was so good that he won the league's Most Valuable Player (MVP) award twice! He earned this honor in both 1976 and 1977. After his time with the Apollos, he also played for the Washington Generals.
Playing in the NBA
In 1977, Charlie Criss joined the Atlanta Hawks in the NBA. This was a big step for him. When he entered the league, he was the shortest active player. He played for eight seasons in the NBA. Besides the Hawks, he also played for the San Diego Clippers and the Milwaukee Bucks.
During his NBA career, Charlie Criss averaged about 8.5 points and 3.2 assists per game. One of his best seasons was his first, in 1978. That year, he averaged 11 points and 4 assists over 77 games. In the 1980 NBA playoffs, he played very well. He averaged 14 points and 4.4 assists per game. His team, the Hawks, played against the Philadelphia 76ers in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
On February 20, 1982, while playing for the Clippers, Charlie Criss had an amazing game. He scored a career-high 34 points! He also made 8 assists in that game. The Clippers won against the San Antonio Spurs with a score of 118–101.
Life After Basketball
After he stopped playing basketball professionally, Charlie Criss found new ways to stay involved in sports. He worked as a golf instructor, teaching people how to play golf. He also became a television color commentator for the Atlanta Hawks. This meant he would talk about the games on TV. He even coached minor-league basketball teams. Plus, he helped organize basketball summer camps for young players.
See also
In Spanish: Charlie Criss para niños
- List of shortest players in National Basketball Association history
