Kermit Washington facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Kermit Washington

Washington as a sophomore at American University
Personal information
Born	(1951-09-17) September 17, 1951 (age 73) Washington, D.C., U.S.
High school	Coolidge (Washington, D.C.)
Listed height	6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
Listed weight	230 lb (104 kg)
Career information
College	American (1970–1973)
NBA Draft	1973 / Round: 1 / Pick: 5th overall
Selected by the Los Angeles Lakers
Pro career	1973–1982, 1987
Career history
1973–1977	Los Angeles Lakers
1977–1978	Boston Celtics
1978–1979	San Diego Clippers
1979–1982	Portland Trail Blazers
1987	Golden State Warriors
Career highlights and awards
NBA All-Star (1980) 2× NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1980, 1981) Consensus second-team All-American (1973) 2× NCAA rebounding leader (1972, 1973)
Career NBA statistics
Points	4,666 (9.2 ppg)
Rebounds	4,232 (8.3 rpg)
Assists	695 (1.4 apg)

Kermit Alan Washington (born September 17, 1951) is a former American professional basketball player. He is known for his strong defensive play and excellent rebounding skills. Washington played for ten seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and was selected for the All-Star Game once.

He was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers in 1973. Early in his career, he worked hard to improve his game with the help of a coach named Pete Newell. Washington played for several teams, including the Lakers, Boston Celtics, San Diego Clippers, Portland Trail Blazers, and Golden State Warriors. He is also remembered for an incident during a game in 1977.

Early Life and School Years

Kermit Washington was born in Washington, D.C. As a young child, he was very shy. He moved between different relatives' homes. He felt a sense of belonging only when he stayed with his great-grandmother, who was strict but loving.

When he moved back with his father and new stepmother, he hoped for a "real family." However, he still felt unwanted. He said he never remembered being hugged as a small child. He only felt close to his younger brother, Chris.

Kermit struggled in school and often had to retake classes in summer school. In high school, he was tall but very thin. A biology teacher, Barbara Thomas, encouraged him to study harder. He improved his grades and even made the honor roll in his senior year.

His high school basketball performance was not impressive. He usually came off the bench and averaged only four points per game. However, a college coach named Tom Young saw him play. Young was impressed by Kermit's effort and determination, even though he didn't play perfectly. This led to Kermit getting a chance to play at American University.

College Basketball Journey

After high school, Kermit grew four inches and started serious weight training. He became much more outgoing in college, calling it "the happiest time in my life." He met his future wife, Pat, who helped him with his studies and encouraged him to be more confident.

Kermit spent a lot of time practicing basketball. In his first year of college varsity basketball, he averaged 18.6 points and 20.5 rebounds. He was still considered a "soft" player, meaning he wasn't aggressive enough. To improve, he started lifting weights with a former football player, Trey Coleman. Coleman pushed him to be more aggressive on the court.

In his junior year, Kermit averaged 21.0 points and an NCAA-leading 19.8 rebounds. He was even named an academic All-American for his good grades. He was offered a professional contract after his junior year, but he chose to stay at American University for his senior season. He felt he owed the school for giving him a chance.

Going into his senior year, Kermit was one of the best college players in the country. He led the nation in rebounding again. In his final college game, he needed 39 points to average 20 points and 20 rebounds for his entire college career. He scored 40 points, becoming only the seventh player in NCAA history to reach that amazing 20/20 mark. He graduated with good grades and a degree in sociology.

Professional Basketball Career

Starting with the Lakers (1973–1977)

Kermit Washington was picked fifth overall by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1973 NBA draft. It was hard for him to adjust from playing center in college to power forward in the NBA. He also had a back injury that bothered him throughout his career.

He struggled in his first few seasons. The Lakers thought he had the physical skills but lacked confidence. Desperate to improve, he reached out to Pete Newell, a retired coach who had drafted him. Newell agreed to train him early in the mornings to test his dedication. Kermit showed up every day, and Newell put him through intense workouts. Newell helped Kermit build confidence in his offensive game and taught him how to be a better rebounder.

The Lakers then got Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, a famous player. Kermit's physical style of play worked well with Abdul-Jabbar. Kermit started playing much better, averaging 9.7 points and 9.3 rebounds. However, he kept playing despite knee pain and eventually tore a tendon in his knee. Doctors thought his basketball career might be over.

Newell helped Kermit through this tough time, pushing him to train even harder to recover. Kermit returned the next season, playing very well and averaging career highs in points and rebounds.

Los Angeles acquired Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1975. "He was my hero", Washington later said. "It was a dream come true." Abdul-Jabbar would later play an important role in the fight that changed Washington's life.

The Rudy Tomjanovich Incident

On December 9, 1977, during a game between the Lakers and the Houston Rockets, a fight broke out on the court. During a scramble for a rebound, Kermit Washington and Houston's Kevin Kunnert got into a physical struggle.

As the situation escalated, Rudy Tomjanovich of the Rockets ran toward the fight. Washington, not realizing Tomjanovich was trying to break it up, hit him. The punch caused a serious injury to Tomjanovich's face. The arena became completely silent, and reporters were shocked.

Tomjanovich was able to walk off the court but was badly hurt. The incident was widely reported and discussed. Washington was fined $10,000 and suspended for 60 days, missing 26 games. This was the longest suspension for an on-court incident in NBA history at that time.

New Rules for Player Safety

The incident led to big changes in the NBA. Before this, fights on the court were common. But Washington's punch made the league realize they needed stricter rules.

Former NBA commissioner David Stern said the incident showed that "you couldn't allow men that big and that strong to go around throwing punches at each other." Now, any player who throws a punch is immediately ejected and suspended for at least the next game. The league also added a third referee to games to help prevent such incidents.

Washington was traded to the Boston Celtics just two weeks after the incident. Red Auerbach, the Celtics' general manager, had always been a fan of Washington's. He wanted Kermit to feel welcome and supported. A positive article written by a sports reporter, Bob Ryan, helped Celtics fans accept Washington.

Moving to Other Teams

Kermit Washington played for the Celtics for a short time. He was then part of an unusual trade where the Celtics and Buffalo Braves teams essentially swapped owners and players. Washington ended up with the San Diego Clippers.

After a year in San Diego, Washington was traded again to the Portland Trail Blazers. The Trail Blazers really wanted Washington, and the city of Portland welcomed him. This was a relief for Kermit, as the constant trades and media attention had been hard on his family.

In Portland, Washington became a full-time starter. He was even chosen for the 1980 NBA All-Star Game. During that All-Star weekend, his college, American University, retired his jersey number. Many people noticed that after the incident, Washington became less aggressive on the court, trying to avoid any more fights.

He started having pain in his back and knees. The pain became too much, and he retired in January 1982 after playing only 20 games that season. In 1987, he tried to make a comeback with the Golden State Warriors but only played in six games before being cut.

NBA Career Statistics

Regular season

Playoffs

Life After Basketball

After retiring from basketball, Kermit Washington became involved in several businesses. He ran a restaurant called "Le Slam" with former Trail Blazer Kevin Duckworth. He also worked as a coach at Stanford University and helped at Pete Newell's "Big Man Camp" for many years.

In 1995, he started a charity called The 6th Man Foundation, also known as Project Contact Africa. In 1994, he joined doctors and nurses on a mission to help people in a refugee camp in Africa. He said it was a very sad sight that he would never forget.

Washington also worked as a representative for the National Basketball Players Association.

Images for kids

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  Washington as a sophomore at American University

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  Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, a teammate of Washington's on the Lakers.

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  Bob Ryan, a sports writer who wrote about Washington.