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 | |
| 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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Gerald Govan (born January 2, 1942) is a retired American professional basketball player. He played for nine seasons in the American Basketball Association (ABA) from 1967 to 1976.
Contents
Early Life and Basketball Start
Gerald Govan was born on January 2, 1942, in Jersey City, New Jersey. He went to Henry Snyder High School where he played basketball.
After high school, Gerald didn't originally plan to play basketball in college. He thought he would get a job in a factory. However, his high school coach encouraged him to apply for college. He ended up playing college basketball at St. Mary of the Plains College in Dodge City, Kansas.
Playing in the ABA
Gerald Govan was a tall player, standing 6 feet 10 inches (208 cm) tall. He played as a forward and center. After graduating from college in 1964, he played professional basketball in Italy for a year.
He then joined the American Basketball Association (ABA), which was a major basketball league at the time, similar to the NBA. He played for several teams during his nine years in the ABA:
- New Orleans Buccaneers (1967–1970)
- Memphis Pros (1970–1972)
- Utah Stars (1972–1975)
- Virginia Squires (1975–1976)
During his career, Gerald Govan scored 5,251 points and grabbed 7,119 rebounds. Rebounds are when a player gets the ball after a missed shot. He was also chosen to play in the 1970 ABA All-Star Game, which features the best players in the league.
Gerald Govan is special because he is one of only six players who played in every single one of the ABA's nine seasons. The other players were Freddie Lewis, Byron Beck, Stew Johnson, Bob Netolicky, and Louie Dampier. He played in 681 regular season ABA games, which is the fourth-highest number of games played by any player in the league's history. He played more games than any other player who never also played in the NBA.
Why He Wore Glasses
Gerald Govan was known by his nickname Go-Go. He was also one of the few basketball players who wore spectacles during games, specifically black-framed glasses. He once explained why he wore them: "I tried contacts, but they bothered me. These glasses take away from my aggressiveness. I'm afraid of breaking them because if I do I got to pay for them myself."
Life After Basketball
After his basketball career ended, Gerald Govan returned to his hometown of Jersey City. He worked as a probation officer for 25 years. A probation officer helps people who have been in trouble with the law follow rules and get back on track. Sometimes, he even worked with Bob Hurley, who is a famous high school basketball coach at St. Anthony's High School.
See also
In Spanish: Gerald Govan para niños
