Phil Ford (basketball) facts for kids
Ford at UNC in 1977
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| Personal information | ||||||||||||||
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| Born | February 9, 1956 Rocky Mount, North Carolina, U.S. |
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| High school | Rocky Mount (Rocky Mount, North Carolina) |
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| Listed height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | |||||||||||||
| Listed weight | 175 lb (79 kg) | |||||||||||||
| Career information | ||||||||||||||
| College | North Carolina (1974–1978) | |||||||||||||
| NBA Draft | 1978 / Round: 1 / Pick: 2nd overall | |||||||||||||
| Selected by the Kansas City Kings | ||||||||||||||
| Pro career | 1978–1985 | |||||||||||||
| Coaching career | 1988–2011 | |||||||||||||
| Career history | ||||||||||||||
| As player: | ||||||||||||||
| 1978–1982 | Kansas City Kings | |||||||||||||
| 1982 | New Jersey Nets | |||||||||||||
| 1982–1983 | Milwaukee Bucks | |||||||||||||
| 1983–1985 | Houston Rockets | |||||||||||||
| As coach: | ||||||||||||||
| 1988–2000 | North Carolina (assistant) | |||||||||||||
| 2004–2005 | Detroit Pistons (assistant) | |||||||||||||
| 2005–2007 | New York Knicks (assistant) | |||||||||||||
| 2007–2011 | Charlotte Bobcats (assistant) | |||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | ||||||||||||||
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| Career NBA statistics | ||||||||||||||
| Points | 5,594 (11.6 ppg) | |||||||||||||
| Rebounds | 854 (1.8 rpg) | |||||||||||||
| Assists | 3,083 (6.4 apg) | |||||||||||||
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Medals
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Phil Jackson Ford Jr. (born February 9, 1956) is a former American professional basketball player. He played in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Phil Ford was a star player for the North Carolina Tar Heels in college. He was also an All-American player.
Contents
Phil Ford's Amazing College Career
Phil Ford started his college basketball journey at the University of North Carolina (UNC). He was the very first freshman player under coach Dean Smith to start in his first game. This shows how talented he was right from the beginning!
Freshman Year Success (1974-1975)
In his first year, Phil averaged 16.4 points and 5.2 assists per game. These were new records for a UNC freshman. He helped UNC finish second in their conference, the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). Then, his team won the ACC tournament championship. They beat NC State, ending their two-year winning streak. Phil was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player (MVP). He was the first freshman in ACC history to win this award!
Sophomore and Junior Seasons (1975-1977)
In his second year, Phil averaged 18.6 points and 7.0 assists per game. His assist average was a UNC record for many years. UNC finished first in the ACC regular season. Phil was chosen for the first-team All-ACC team. He earned this honor again in his junior and senior years.
During his junior year, Phil averaged 18.7 points and 6.6 assists. He led the Tar Heels to another first-place finish in the ACC. In the 1977 ACC tournament, he scored 26 points in the final game. This helped UNC win another conference title. He also led the Tar Heels to the Final Four in the 1977 NCAA Division I basketball tournament. Phil was named a first-team All-American at the end of this season.
Senior Year and National Recognition (1977-1978)
In his final college season, Phil averaged 20.8 points and 5.7 assists. He scored a career-high 34 points in his last home game against Duke. This win helped UNC finish first in the ACC again. Phil was named a first-team All-American for the second time. He also won several national player of the year awards, including the John R. Wooden Award.
Phil Ford's NBA Career
After his amazing college career, Phil Ford was a top pick in the NBA draft. He was the second player chosen overall in 1978.
Starting Strong with the Kings (1978-1981)
Phil joined the Kansas City Kings. He quickly became a star, working with teammate Otis Birdsong. In 1979, he was named the NBA Rookie of the Year. On February 21, 1979, he had an incredible game. He recorded 22 assists, 26 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 steals!
In the 1980-81 NBA season, Phil scored his career-high of 38 points in a game. Soon after, he had an eye injury that ended his season. Even without him, the Kings made it to the Western Conference Finals in the 1981 NBA Playoffs.
Later Years in the NBA (1981-1985)
After his injury, Phil found it hard to play at the same high level. He played for the New Jersey Nets, then the Milwaukee Bucks, and finally the Houston Rockets. He retired from the NBA in 1985.
In his NBA career, Phil Ford played 482 games. He scored 5,594 points and had 3,083 assists.
Playing for Team USA: Olympic Gold
After his sophomore year in college, Phil Ford was chosen to play for the U.S. Olympic team in 1976. His college coach, Dean Smith, was also the Olympic team's coach. The team won the gold medal at the 1976 Montreal Olympics! Phil had 54 assists in six Olympic games, averaging 9.0 assists per game.
Phil Ford's Unique Style of Play
Phil Ford was known for his amazing ball-handling skills. He could dribble the ball very well and drive into the basket. He also had a great jump shot. When it came to free throws, he was very accurate, especially in close games.
He was excellent at running UNC's "Four Corners offense." This was a strategy where the team would hold the ball to protect a lead. Phil's skills made sure the team kept their lead. He could also do a cool 360-degree spinning layup!
Phil Ford's Lasting Legacy
Many people think Phil Ford is one of the best college point guards ever. Some even say he's the greatest point guard in ACC history.
Records and Honors
- He finished his college career as UNC's all-time leading scorer with 2,290 points.
- He also set school and ACC records for total assists with 753. (This record has since been broken by other players).
- Phil is one of only a few players in Atlantic Coast Conference history to score over 2,000 points and have at least 600 assists.
- He was especially good in the ACC Tournament, averaging 23.6 points per game.
Phil Ford won the ACC Athlete of the Year award twice. This is a rare achievement for any athlete in the ACC.
Hall of Fame and Recognition
In May 1991, Phil Ford was inducted into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame. In 2002, he was named to the ACC 50th Anniversary men's basketball team. This team honored the fifty best players in ACC history.
Coaching Career and Beyond
After his playing career, Phil Ford returned to the University of North Carolina in 1988. He became an assistant coach. He helped the Tar Heels win the national championship in 1993. He stayed as an assistant coach until 2000.
He also worked as an assistant coach for several NBA teams:
- Detroit Pistons (2004–2005)
- New York Knicks (2005–2007)
- Charlotte Bobcats (2008–2010)
Today, Phil Ford works for the Educational Foundation at UNC. This group helps raise money for the university's sports programs. He also used to be a commentator for UNC basketball games.
See also
In Spanish: Phil Ford para niños
