Luther Rackley facts for kids

Luther Rackley, Jr. (born June 11, 1946 – died November 19, 2017) was an American professional basketball player. He played for six seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the American Basketball Association (ABA). Luther was known for his skills as a center.

Early Life and High School Success

Luther Rackley was born in Bainbridge, Georgia. He grew up in Troy, New York, where he went to Troy High School.

A Perfect Season

In his final year at Troy High, Luther was the top scorer and rebounder. His team, the Flying Horses, had an amazing season. They won all 22 of their games, finishing with a perfect 22-0 record.

National Recognition

A scout from the University of Kentucky ranked the team as No. 1 in the nation. Luther was also named an All-American player. During his junior and senior years, Troy won 38 out of 40 games. They also won two Class A league championships. The team earned two Section II Class A titles.

Hall of Fame Induction

In 2011, the entire Troy High School team was honored. They were inducted into the Capital District Hall of Fame.

College Basketball Career

Luther Rackley played college basketball at Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio. He was a strong player from the start.

Sophomore Year Highlights

As a sophomore, Luther was the starting center. He averaged 15.0 points and 12.6 rebounds per game. He scored a season-high 25 points twice. These games were against the University of Utah and St. Bonaventure University. He played against Bob Lanier, an All-American center.

He also had 24 points and 19 rebounds against the University of Detroit. In another game, he grabbed 25 rebounds against the University of Dayton.

Junior and Senior Seasons

In his junior year, Luther played only seven games. This was because of issues with his grades. He still averaged 9.1 points and 8.4 rebounds per game.

As a senior, Luther played very well. He led his team with 17.5 points and 14.0 rebounds per game. He also shot 55.2% from the field. He scored a career-high 29 points in two different games.

Academics and Honors

Luther earned a bachelor's degree from Xavier University. He studied American Government and Political Science. In 1982, he was inducted into the Xavier University Athletic Hall of Fame.

Professional Basketball Journey

Luther Rackley began his professional career in 1969. He was chosen in the third round of the 1969 NBA draft. The Cincinnati Royals picked him as the 37th overall player. The American Basketball Association's Minnesota Pipers also drafted him. Luther decided to sign with the NBA's Royals.

Rookie Season with the Royals

In his first season (1969–70), Luther was a backup center. He played in 66 games, averaging 19 minutes per game. He scored 7.6 points and grabbed 5.7 rebounds per game.

Moving to the Cavaliers

On May 11, 1970, the Cleveland Cavaliers drafted him. This happened during the NBA expansion draft. For the 1970–71 season, he played for the Cavs. He averaged just over 19 minutes per game. He scored 7.6 points and had 5.3 rebounds per game.

Time with the Knicks and Tams

In his third season (1971–72), Luther played nine games for the Cavaliers. On November 15, 1971, he was traded to the New York Knicks. He continued to be a backup center. For the season, he averaged 3.6 points and 2.9 rebounds per game.

During the 1972–73 season, he played one game for the Knicks. Then, he was waived by the team. He signed with the American Basketball Association's Memphis Tams. There, he played in 57 games. He averaged 7.3 points and 5.0 rebounds. The Knicks went on to win the 1973 championship that year.

Final Season

On September 28, 1973, the Philadelphia 76ers claimed him. He played nine games for them before being waived. Luther retired on November 28, 1973. This marked the end of his five-year professional basketball career.

Life After Basketball

After retiring from basketball, Luther Rackley pursued several different careers.

Real Estate and Business

He earned his real-estate license. He then worked as a real-estate broker in New York City. Luther also served as Vice President of Walt Frazier Enterprises. He helped organize basketball teams of NBA players to play around the world. He also worked as an NBA scout.

Acting and Teaching

Luther owned a casting office for commercials and films. He also acted in two movies: The Last Dinosaur and The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh. He was a member of the Screen Actors Guild. Luther also appeared in several television commercials. For several years, he worked as a teacher. He taught in the White Plains, New York school system.

Later Life

Luther Rackley lived in Manhattan, New York after his retirement. He was a Catholic.

Death

Luther Rackley passed away on Sunday, November 19, 2017. He died in Harlem, New York.

See also

In Spanish: Luther Rackley para niños