Gerald Govan facts for kids
Govan, circa 1973
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 2, 1942 Jersey City, New Jersey, U.S. |
| High school | Snyder (Jersey City, New Jersey) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) |
| Listed weight | 220 lb (100 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | St. Mary of the Plains (1960–1964) |
| NBA Draft | 1964 / Round: 11 / Pick: 88th overall |
| Selected by the St. Louis Hawks | |
| Pro career | 1967–1976 |
| Career history | |
| 1967–1970 | New Orleans Buccaneers |
| 1970–1972 | Memphis Pros |
| 1972–1975 | Utah Stars |
| 1975–1976 | Virginia Squires |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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| Career ABA and NBA statistics | |
| Points | 5,251 (7.7 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 7,119 (10.5 rpg) |
| Assists | 2,164 (3.2 apg) |
Gerald Govan (born January 2, 1942) is a retired American professional basketball player. He played nine seasons in the American Basketball Association (ABA). This league was active from 1967 to 1976.
Contents
Early Life and High School Basketball
Gerald Govan was born in Jersey City, New Jersey. He played high school basketball at Henry Snyder High School. Gerald didn't originally plan to play college basketball. He thought he would work in a factory after high school. However, his high school coach encouraged him to apply for college.
College and Professional Career
Gerald Govan was a tall player, standing 6 feet 10 inches. He played as a forward and center. He attended St. Mary of the Plains College in Dodge City, Kansas. After graduating in 1964, he played professional basketball in Italy for a year.
He then joined the American Basketball Association (ABA). This league no longer exists today. Gerald played for several teams during his nine years in the ABA. These teams included the New Orleans Buccaneers, Memphis Pros, Utah Stars, and Virginia Squires.
Career Highlights and Achievements
Gerald Govan scored a total of 5,251 points in his career. He also grabbed 7,119 rebounds. Rebounds are when a player gets the ball after a missed shot. He was chosen to play in the 1970 ABA All-Star Game. This is a special game where the best players from the league compete.
Gerald Govan is one of only six players who played in every single season of the original ABA. The other players were Freddie Lewis, Byron Beck, Stew Johnson, Bob Netolicky, and Louie Dampier. Gerald played in 681 regular season ABA games. This is the fourth-highest number of games played in the ABA. He played more games than any other player who never played in the NBA.
"Go-Go" and His Glasses
Gerald Govan was known by the nickname Go-Go. He was also famous for wearing spectacles during games. He wore black-framed glasses. This was unusual for basketball players at the time. He once explained that contact lenses bothered him. He also said he was careful not to break his glasses during games.
Life After Basketball
After his basketball career ended, Gerald Govan returned to Jersey City. He became a probation officer. He worked in this role for 25 years. Sometimes, he worked with another probation officer named Bob Hurley. Bob Hurley was a very famous high school basketball coach at St. Anthony's High School.
External Links
- Career stats at Basketball-Reference.com
See also
In Spanish: Gerald Govan para niños
