Freddie Lewis facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Freddie Lewis

Personal information
Born	(1943-07-01) July 1, 1943 (age 81) Huntington, West Virginia, U.S.
High school	McKeesport (McKeesport, Pennsylvania)
Listed height	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Listed weight	175 lb (79 kg)
Career information
College	Eastern Arizona (1962–1964) Arizona State (1964–1966)
NBA Draft	1966 / Round: 10 / Pick: 88th overall
Selected by the Cincinnati Royals
Pro career	1966–1977
Career history
1966–1967	Cincinnati Royals
1967–1974	Indiana Pacers
1974	Memphis Sounds
1974–1976	Spirits of St. Louis
1976–1977	Indiana Pacers
Career highlights and awards
3× ABA champion (1970, 1972, 1973) ABA Playoffs MVP (1972) 3× ABA All-Star (1968, 1972, 1975) ABA All-Star Game MVP (1975) ABA All-Time Team First-team All-WAC (1966)
Career NBA and ABA statistics
Points	12,033 (16.0 ppg)
Rebounds	2,752 (3.7 rpg)
Assists	2,979 (4.0 apg)

Freddie Lewis (born July 1, 1943) is a retired American basketball player. He played professionally in both the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the American Basketball Association (ABA). Freddie is special because he's the only player who started in the NBA, then played all nine full ABA seasons, and then returned to the NBA.

Born in Huntington, West Virginia, Lewis was a skilled 6-foot (1.83 m) guard. He was good at passing, shooting, and defending. He went to McKeesport Area High School in Pennsylvania and Arizona State University. After college, the NBA's Cincinnati Royals picked him in the draft.

Lewis was a key player for the Indiana Pacers, helping them win three American Basketball Association championships. During his seven seasons with the Pacers, he averaged 16.6 points, 4.1 assists, and 4.0 rebounds per game.

Freddie Lewis's Basketball Journey

Starting His Pro Career

In 1966, the Cincinnati Royals chose Freddie Lewis in the 10th round of the NBA draft. He earned a spot as a backup to the famous player Oscar Robertson. Lewis learned a lot from Oscar, including how to stay calm during games.

The San Diego Rockets selected Lewis in the 1967 NBA expansion draft. However, he decided to sign with the Indiana Pacers in the ABA instead.

Winning Championships with the Pacers

Freddie Lewis was a vital part of the Indiana Pacers team that won many championships. He was a versatile guard who could make big plays when they mattered most. In the 1972 semifinals, he scored 23 points and helped the Pacers win against the Utah Stars. He also led a huge comeback in the 1972 Finals against the New York Nets.

Lewis helped the Pacers win three ABA championships. He was even named the MVP of the 1972 Playoffs. He also played in three ABA All-Star Games and was the All-Star Game MVP in 1975.

Later Teams and Retirement

After the Pacers lost in the 1974 Western Division Finals, Lewis was traded to the Memphis Sounds. Later that year, he was traded again to the Spirits of St. Louis.

With the Spirits in 1974–1975, Lewis had his best scoring season, averaging 22.6 points per game. He also won the MVP award for the 1975 ABA All-Star Game. He led his young team to the playoffs, but an ankle injury kept him from playing his best. The Spirits lost to the Kentucky Colonels, who went on to win the championship.

After one more year with the Spirits, Lewis returned to the Indiana Pacers. By this time, the Pacers had joined the NBA. Freddie Lewis retired in 1977 with a total of 12,033 points from both the NBA and ABA.

A Basketball Legend: ABA All-Time Team

On August 23, 1997, Freddie Lewis was chosen for the ABA All-Time Team. This team honored the 30 best and most important players from the ABA's 10 years of existence. Players were selected based on their performance, sportsmanship, leadership, and how they helped the league grow.

Aiming for the Hall of Fame

Many people consider Freddie Lewis to be one of the greatest Indiana Pacers players ever. The Indianapolis Star newspaper ranks him as the 8th best Pacer of all time. His 11,660 points in the ABA place him among the top six scorers in the league's history.

As of 2019, Freddie Lewis was being considered for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. He hopes to join his former Pacers teammates and coach there.

Life After Basketball

After retiring from basketball in 1977, Lewis moved to California. For nearly 20 years, he worked for Ozzie and Dan Silna, who used to own the Spirits of St. Louis team.

Later, Lewis moved to Washington, D.C., where he became a schoolteacher. He worked with young teenagers in the city.

In 2002, Lewis moved back to Indianapolis. He planned to join the staff of the city's ABA 2000 team. He even became the head coach during the team's final season, taking over from his former teammate Billy Keller.

Game Stats

NBA/ABA Regular Season Stats

Source

NBA/ABA Playoffs Stats