Fred Carter facts for kids
Carter in 1969
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 14, 1945 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| High school | Franklin (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
| Listed weight | 185 lb (84 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Mount St. Mary's (1965–1969) |
| NBA Draft | 1969 / Round: 3 / Pick: 43rd overall |
| Selected by the Baltimore Bullets | |
| Pro career | 1969–1977 |
| Coaching career | 1978–1994 |
| Career history | |
| As player: | |
| 1969–1971 | Baltimore Bullets |
| 1971–1976 | Philadelphia 76ers |
| 1976–1977 | Milwaukee Bucks |
| As coach: | |
| 1978–1981 | Mount St. Mary's (women's) |
| 1981–1983 | Atlanta Hawks (assistant) |
| 1983–1985 | Chicago Bulls (assistant) |
| 1985–1987 | Washington Bullets (assistant) |
| 1987–1993 | Philadelphia 76ers (assistant) |
| 1993–1994 | Philadelphia 76ers |
| Career statistics | |
| Points | 9,271 (15.2 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 2,381 (3.9 rpg) |
| Assists | 2,122 (3.5 apg) |
Fredrick James Carter (born February 14, 1945) is a former American professional basketball player and coach. People often called him "Mad Dog" or "Doggy". He played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for eight seasons, from 1969 to 1977. He played for the Baltimore Bullets, Philadelphia 76ers, and Milwaukee Bucks. After playing, he coached the Mount St. Mary's Women's Basketball Team for three years. His team had a great record of 60 wins and 32 losses.
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Early Life and College Basketball
Fred Carter was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on February 14, 1945. He was one of four children in his family. He went to Benjamin Franklin High School.
Fred almost joined the Army after high school. But he changed his mind. He visited Cheyney University with a friend. This visit made him realize he could play basketball in college. So, he decided to finish high school.
Playing for Mount St. Mary's
Jim Phelan, a famous coach, recruited Fred. Phelan coached at Mount St. Mary's College in Emmitsburg, Maryland. Fred played in a high school all-star game. He was named the most valuable player. Coach Phelan saw him play and wanted him for his team.
Fred joined Mount St. Mary's in 1965. At that time, the school had only recently welcomed black students. Fred was the only black student on the basketball team. But he felt at home there. Fans would even chant, "In Fred We Trust." Coach Phelan and his wife became like a second family to him.
However, playing against teams in the American South was tough. Fred faced unfair treatment. For example, during one game, he was hit twice. At another game, people called him names. Once, a restaurant refused to serve him. His whole team walked out to support him.
During Fred's time, the team won 81 games and lost 27. They also won a Mason-Dixon Conference title. Fred scored 1,840 points in college. He averaged 21.9 points and 11 rebounds per game.
Professional Basketball Career
Baltimore Bullets Team
In 1969, the Baltimore Bullets picked Fred Carter in the NBA draft. He was a 6-foot-3-inch guard. His teammate, Ray Scott, gave him the nickname "Mad Dog." This happened after Fred playfully bit Scott during practice.
Fred played with famous players on the Bullets. These included Gus Johnson, Earl Monroe, and Wes Unseld. They helped him learn how to be a great NBA player.
In 1971, the Bullets played the New York Knicks in the playoffs. The Knicks had beaten them in the past two years. In the final game, with only 68 seconds left, Fred made a big shot. His 20-foot jump shot helped the Bullets win 93-91. This made him a hero in Baltimore. He scored 14 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in that game.
Playing for the Philadelphia 76ers
Even after his heroics, Fred was traded. In 1971, he went to the Philadelphia 76ers. He averaged almost 14 points per game in his first year with the Sixers.
The next season, 1972-73, was tough. Fred led the 76ers with 20 points per game. But the team had the worst record in NBA history, winning only 9 games and losing 73. Fred is often remembered as the best player on that struggling team. He said this experience taught him how to get through hard times. He learned to respect himself and the game.
Fred played four more years for the Sixers. He continued to score many points. In 1976, the 76ers made it to the playoffs. Fred averaged 28 points per game in those games.
Final Season with the Bucks
For his last season, 1976-1977, Fred was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks. His career ended when he severely sprained his ankle.
Throughout his NBA career, Fred Carter scored 9,271 points. He averaged 15.2 points per game.
Coaching Career
Coaching Women's Basketball
In 1978, Fred returned to Mount St. Mary's. This time, he coached the women's basketball team. He worked very hard as a coach. Coach Phelan said Fred pushed the women's team even harder than he pushed the men's team.
Fred led the team to great success:
- 1978-1979 season: 19 wins, 12 losses. They finished fourth in a big tournament.
- 1979-1980 season: 18 wins, 9 losses. They finished third in the same tournament.
- 1980-1981 season: 23 wins, 11 losses. They finished third again.
Coaching in the NBA
After coaching at Mount St. Mary's, Fred became an assistant coach in the NBA. He worked for the Atlanta Hawks (1981-1983), Chicago Bulls (1984-1985), and Washington Bullets (1985-1987).
He then became an assistant coach for the Philadelphia 76ers from 1987 to 1992. In late 1992, he became the head coach of the Sixers. He coached them for almost two seasons, until mid-1994.
Basketball Analyst
After coaching, Fred Carter became a successful basketball analyst. He talked about basketball on TV. He worked for ESPN for eight years. Then, he spent five years at NBA TV. He was known for saying he was "the best player on the worst team in NBA history." He retired after this.
Legacy and Impact
On December 1, 2007, Mount St. Mary's honored Fred Carter. They retired his jersey number, "33." This means no other player at the school will wear that number. He was the first basketball player from Mount St. Mary's to have his number retired.
Fred Carter is also known for helping to make the "fist bump" popular!
See also
Want to read about Fred Carter in Spanish? Check out: Fred Carter para niños
