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 professional basketball player and coach from the United States. He was known by his nicknames "Mad Dog" or "Doggy". Fred played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for eight seasons, from 1969 to 1977. He played for teams like the Baltimore Bullets, Philadelphia 76ers, and Milwaukee Bucks. After his playing career, 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.
Contents
Early Life and High School 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. In his senior year, he was an "All-Public League" player in Philadelphia. He played as a center and scored about 17 points per game.
Fred almost joined the Army after high school. But he changed his mind after visiting Cheyney University with a friend. This visit made him realize he wanted to go to college and play basketball.
College Basketball Journey
Fred was recruited by Jim Phelan, a famous coach from Mount St. Mary's College in Maryland. Coach Phelan saw Fred play in a high school all-star game where Fred was the most valuable player. Fred joined Mount St. Mary's in 1965.
At first, Fred was the only Black student at the college. But he found a supportive community. Fans would cheer "In Fred We Trust" during games. Coach Phelan and his wife became like a second family to him. However, playing against teams in the American South was sometimes tough. Fred faced unfair treatment and insults. Once, a restaurant refused to serve him, and his whole team walked out in support.
During Fred's time, the team had an impressive record of 81 wins and 27 losses. They also won a Mason-Dixon Conference title. Fred scored 1,840 points in his college career. He averaged 21.9 points and 11 rebounds per game.
Professional Basketball Career
Playing for the Baltimore Bullets
In 1969, Fred Carter was chosen by the Baltimore Bullets 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 a practice game. Fred played alongside future Hall of Fame players like Gus Johnson, Earl Monroe, and Wes Unseld. They helped him learn what it took to succeed in the NBA.
A memorable moment for Fred was in the 1971 Eastern Conference playoffs. The Bullets were playing their rivals, the New York Knicks. With only 68 seconds left, Fred made a 20-foot jump shot. This shot helped the Bullets win 93-91. It made him a hero in Baltimore.
Time with the Philadelphia 76ers
Even after his big shot, Fred was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers in October 1971. He played for the Sixers for five seasons. In his second year with the team, he led them by scoring 20 points per game. However, that team had the worst record in NBA history, winning only 9 games and losing 73. Fred often says that being on that team taught him how to get through hard times. He learned to respect himself and the game.
Fred continued to play well for the Sixers. He averaged over 21 points per game in some seasons. In 1976, the 76ers made it to the playoffs. Fred averaged 28 points per game in those playoff games. His NBA playing career ended in 1977 when a serious ankle injury forced him to retire. Overall, Fred scored 9,271 points in his NBA career. He averaged 15.2 points per game.
Coaching Career
Coaching Women's Basketball
In 1978, Fred returned to Mount St. Mary's to coach the women's basketball team. He worked very hard, even more than he did as a player. His former coach, Jim Phelan, said Fred pushed the women's team harder than he pushed the men's team. Fred led the team to great success. They had records like 19-12, 18-9, and 23-11 in his three seasons. They also placed high in the Eastern AIAW Division II tournament each year.
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). From 1987 to 1992, he was an assistant coach for the Philadelphia 76ers. He then became the head coach of the 76ers for almost two seasons, from late 1992 to mid-1994.
Basketball Analyst
After his coaching days, Fred Carter became a successful basketball analyst. He worked for ESPN for eight years and NBA TV for five years. He was known for saying he was "the best player on the worst team in NBA history." He retired from broadcasting after a long career.
Legacy and Impact
On December 1, 2007, Fred Carter's jersey number, "33," was retired at Mount St. Mary's. This means no other player at the college 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
In Spanish: Fred Carter para niños
