Earl Tatum facts for kids
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | July 26, 1953 Mount Vernon, New York, U.S. |
| High school | Mount Vernon (Mount Vernon, New York) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) |
| Listed weight | 185 lb (84 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Marquette (1972–1976) |
| NBA Draft | 1976 / Round: 2 / Pick: 21st overall |
| Selected by the Los Angeles Lakers | |
| Pro career | 1976–1980 |
| Career history | |
| 1976–1977 | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 1977–1978 | Indiana Pacers |
| 1978 | Boston Celtics |
| 1978–1979 | Detroit Pistons |
| 1979–1980 | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| Career highlights and awards | |
|
|
| Career NBA statistics | |
| Points | 2,508 (9.6 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 682 (2.6 rpg) |
| Assists | 507 (1.9 apg) |
William Earl Tatum, born on July 26, 1953, is a retired American professional basketball player. He grew up in Mount Vernon, New York. Earl was a talented guard who stood about 6 feet 5 inches tall.
He was chosen by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1976 NBA draft. Earl played for five different teams during his four years in the NBA. His last season was with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 1979–80.
Contents
Early Life and High School Basketball
Earl Tatum was born in Mount Vernon, New York. He went to Mount Vernon High School. While there, he became a star basketball player. In 1972, he was named the best large-school player of the year. This award came from the New York State Sportswriters Association.
College Career at Marquette
After high school, Earl Tatum played college basketball at Marquette University. He played for the Marquette Warriors from 1972 to 1976. During his time there, he was recognized as one of the best college players. In 1976, he was named a second-team All-American. This means he was considered one of the top players in the entire country. Marquette University later honored him by retiring his jersey number 43. This is a special way to remember important players.
Professional Basketball Career
Earl Tatum was drafted into the NBA in 1976. The Los Angeles Lakers picked him as the 21st player overall. He was the 4th pick in the second round of the draft.
Playing in the NBA
Earl played for several teams during his NBA career.
- He started with the Los Angeles Lakers (1976–1977).
- Then he played for the Indiana Pacers (1977).
- Next, he joined the Boston Celtics (1978).
- He also played for the Detroit Pistons (1978).
- His final NBA season was with the Cleveland Cavaliers (1979–1980).
Playoff Experience
Earl Tatum only played in the NBA playoffs once. This was during the 1977 NBA playoffs. He played 11 games for the Lakers. In those games, he averaged 13.6 points and 4.8 rebounds. The Lakers beat the Golden State Warriors. However, they later lost to the Portland Trail Blazers.
Career Statistics
Over his NBA career, Earl Tatum scored a total of 2,508 points. This means he averaged about 9.6 points per game. He also grabbed 682 rebounds and made 507 assists. These numbers show he was a well-rounded player.
See also
In Spanish: Earl Tatum para niños
