Miles Aiken facts for kids
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 27, 1941 New York City, New York, U.S. |
| High school | George Washington (New York City, New York) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) |
| Listed weight | 210 lb (95 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | St. Bonaventure (1961–1964) |
| NBA Draft | 1964 / Undrafted |
| Pro career | 1965–1970 |
| Career history | |
| 1965–1966 | Águilas Escolapios Schuss de Bilbao |
| 1966–1969 | Real Madrid |
| 1969–1970 | Fides Napoli |
| Career highlights and awards | |
|
|
Miles Aiken was born on December 27, 1941. He is an American who used to play professional basketball. He also coached the British Olympic basketball team. Later, he became a sportscaster, talking about basketball and American football on TV.
Miles played as a center for St. Bonaventure University in the 1960s. He scored many points in games. After college, he played as a power forward in the EuroLeague. There, he won two championships with Real Madrid. He also won another big cup, the FIBA Saporta Cup, with Partenope Napoli.
Contents
Early Life and Basketball Beginnings
Miles Aiken was born in New York City. He grew up in a neighborhood called Harlem in Manhattan. As a kid, he loved playing basketball on the playgrounds there. This is where he first learned his amazing skills.
College Basketball Career
Miles Aiken went to St. Bonaventure University in New York State. He played center for their basketball team. In his first year, 1960–61, he scored over 20 points per game for the freshman team.
Sophomore Season Highlights
As a sophomore, Miles became a starter for the Bonnies. He averaged 23.6 points and 11.0 rebounds per game. By December 1961, people thought he was one of the best young players in the United States. On December 16, 1961, he broke a tournament record. He scored 58 points in just two games. On February 13, 1962, he was named to the weekly All-East Basketball Team. Miles averaged 23 points per game in his first two years.
Dealing with an Injury
In early 1963, Miles was playing great. He was averaging 23 points and 14 rebounds per game. But then, he hurt his left knee during a game. He needed surgery and couldn't play for a long time.
Professional Basketball Journey
Miles Aiken was not chosen in the 1964 NBA draft. So, he decided to go to Europe to play basketball. He even played with a special brace on his injured knee.
Playing in Spain
In the 1965–66 season, Miles played for Águilas Escolapios Schuss de Bilbao in Spain. He was the top scorer in the Spanish league that year. He also played for the Newcastle Eagles in England. He led their league in scoring with 23.9 points per game.
Winning with Real Madrid
Miles then joined Real Madrid in the late 1960s. He helped them win two EuroLeague titles in a row. They won in 1967 and 1968.
In 1967, he scored 31 points in a big semifinal game. He then scored 23 points in the EuroLeague Final. This helped Real Madrid win the championship. In 1968, he was the top scorer in the final game. He scored 26 points to help Real Madrid win the title again. In the 1969 European Cup final, Real Madrid lost in double overtime. Miles still led his team with 24 points.
Success with Partenope Napoli
After Real Madrid, Miles joined Partenope Napoli in Italy. He led them to win the Saporta Cup title in 1970. While playing, he also coached the team. He even earned a teaching degree from the University of Southern California. After his studies, he worked as a teacher in England.
In 2008, Miles Aiken was nominated for a special list. It was for the 50 Greatest EuroLeague Contributors. This shows how important he was to European basketball.
Life After Playing Basketball
Miles Aiken didn't stop being involved in sports after he finished playing.
Coaching the Olympic Team
In October 1975, he became the coach for Britain's Olympic basketball team. He coached them in 1976.
Becoming a Sportscaster
Later, Miles started a career in business and sports commentating. In 1982, he began hosting broadcasts of British basketball games. He was the first black sports presenter on British television. People said he did a lot to make basketball popular in Britain.
He also covered American football on TV in the 1980s. In 1983, he covered the Super Bowl for a British TV channel. Two million British viewers watched the broadcast.
Writing Books
Miles Aiken also helped write some books. He co-authored the Channel 4 Basketball Guide in 1983. He also co-authored American Football: The Records in 1989. This book covered the history of football, including high school, college, and the National Football League.
See also
In Spanish: Miles Aiken para niños
- EuroLeague Finals Top Scorers
