Nick Weatherspoon facts for kids
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | July 20, 1950 Greenwood, Mississippi |
| Nationality | American |
| Died | October 17, 2008 (aged 58) Canton, Ohio |
| High school | Canton McKinley (Canton, Ohio) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) |
| Listed weight | 195 lb (88 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Illinois (1970–1973) |
| NBA Draft | 1973 / Round: 1 / Pick: 13th overall |
| Selected by the Capital Bullets | |
| Pro career | 1973–1980 |
| Career history | |
| 1973–1976 | Capital / Washington Bullets |
| 1976–1977 | Seattle SuperSonics |
| 1977–1978 | Chicago Bulls |
| 1978–1980 | San Diego Clippers |
| Career highlights and awards | |
|
|
| Career NBA statistics | |
| Points | 4,086 (9.0 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 2,232 (4.9 rpg) |
| Assists | 418 (0.9 apg) |
Nick Levoter Weatherspoon (born July 20, 1950 – died October 17, 2008) was an American professional basketball player. He was known for his skills as a small forward in the NBA.
Basketball Career Highlights
Nick Weatherspoon, often called "Spoon," was a fantastic basketball player from a young age. He played for Canton McKinley High School and scored an amazing 1,431 points. This record stood for 37 years!
After high school, he became an All-American player at the University of Illinois. In 1973, he was chosen by the Capital Bullets as the 13th pick in the 1973 NBA draft.
Nick played seven seasons in the NBA. He was part of the NBA All-Rookie Team in 1974, which means he was one of the best new players in the league that year. He played for several teams, including the Bullets, the Seattle SuperSonics, the Chicago Bulls, and the San Diego Clippers.
In 2004, Nick was honored by his college team. He was chosen for the "Illini Men's Basketball All-Century Team." This team includes the best players from the University of Illinois's history. He was also a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, a social and service organization.
Awards and Recognitions
Nick Weatherspoon received many awards and honors throughout his basketball career:
- 1972 - He was named his college team's Most Valuable Player (MVP).
- 1972 - He received an Honorable Mention for the All-Big Ten team.
- 1973 - He became the captain of his college team.
- 1973 - He was again named his college team's Most Valuable Player (MVP).
- 1973 - He was selected for the 1st Team All-Big Ten.
- 1973 - He received an Honorable Mention for the All American team.
- 2004 - He was elected to the "Illini Men's Basketball All-Century Team."
- 2008 - He was honored with one of the thirty-three honored jerseys at the State Farm Center. These jerseys hang in the arena to celebrate the most famous basketball players in the University of Illinois's history.
