Joe Roberts (basketball) facts for kids
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | May 18, 1936 Columbus, Ohio, U.S. |
| Died | October 10, 2022 (aged 86) Oakland, California, U.S. |
| High school | East (Columbus, Ohio) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) |
| Listed weight | 214 lb (97 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Ohio State (1957–1960) |
| NBA Draft | 1960 / Round: 3 / Pick: 21st overall |
| Selected by the Syracuse Nationals | |
| Pro career | 1960–1968 |
| Career history | |
| As player: | |
| 1960–1963 | Syracuse Nationals |
| 1966–1967 | Columbus Comets |
| 1967–1968 | Kentucky Colonels |
| As coach: | |
| 1974–1979 | Golden State Warriors (assistant) |
| 1989–1990 | Los Angeles Clippers (assistant) |
| Career highlights and awards | |
As player:
As assistant coach:
|
|
| Career NBA and ABA statistics | |
| Points | 1,255 (5.8 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 1,075 (4.9 rpg) |
| Assists | 123 (0.6 apg) |
Joseph C. Roberts (born May 18, 1936 – died October 10, 2022) was an American professional basketball player. He played for three seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He also played one season in the American Basketball Association (ABA).
Joe Roberts played for the Syracuse Nationals and Kentucky Colonels. This was between 1960 and 1968. Before that, he played for Ohio State University. His college team won the 1960 NCAA championship. After he stopped playing, he became an assistant coach. He worked for the Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Clippers.
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Joe Roberts' Early Life
Joe Roberts was born in Columbus, Ohio, on May 18, 1936. He went to East High School in his hometown. After high school, he studied at Ohio State University. He played for the Ohio State Buckeyes basketball team from 1957 to 1960.
In 1960, he was a senior and a co-captain of the team. That year, his team lost only three games. They went on to win the 1960 NCAA title. Famous players like Jerry Lucas and John Havlicek were also on that team. Joe Roberts was chosen by the Syracuse Nationals in the third round of the 1960 NBA draft.
Joe Roberts' Playing Career
Joe Roberts played his first NBA game on October 22, 1960. He scored six points and got three rebounds. This game was against the Philadelphia Warriors. The next year, he played in the most games in the league (80 games).
He played three seasons with the Syracuse Nationals. During that time, NBA teams often had a limit on how many African American players could be on a team. The Nationals made it to the NBA playoffs every year he was there. However, they lost to the Boston Celtics, Warriors, and Cincinnati Royals.
In 1966–67, Roberts returned to Columbus, Ohio. He became a player and manager for the Columbus Comets. This team was part of a new league called the NABL. He played with former teammates there. In 1967, he played one season for the Kentucky Colonels in the ABA. This was the ABA's first year.
Joe Roberts' Coaching Career
After his time as a player, Joe Roberts became a basketball coach. He started as an assistant coach at Western Michigan. Then he coached at Iowa. Later, he became an assistant coach for the NBA's Golden State Warriors. He worked with coach Al Attles for five years.
The Warriors, led by star player Rick Barry, won the NBA championship in 1975. Joe Roberts even coached the Warriors to their fourth win in the NBA finals. This happened after Coach Attles was asked to leave the game.
Joe Roberts' Personal Life
Joe Roberts was married to Celia for 65 years. They had three children together. He passed away on October 10, 2022, at his home in Oakland, California. He was 86 years old and had been battling cancer.
See also
In Spanish: Joe Roberts (baloncestista) para niños
