Ron Boone facts for kids
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| No. 12, 24, 1 | |
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| Shooting guard | |
| Personal information | |
| Born | September 6, 1946 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S. |
| High school | Omaha Technical (Omaha, Nebraska) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
| Listed weight | 200 lb (91 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College |
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| NBA Draft | 1968 / Round: 11 / Pick: 147th overall |
| Selected by the Phoenix Suns | |
| Pro career | 1968–1981 |
| Career history | |
| 1968–1971 | Dallas / Texas Chaparrals |
| 1971–1975 | Utah Stars |
| 1975–1976 | Spirits of St. Louis |
| 1976–1978 | Kansas City Kings |
| 1978–1979 | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 1979–1981 | Utah Jazz |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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| Career ABA and NBA statistics | |
| Points | 17,437 (16.8 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 4,348 (4.2 rpg) |
| Steals | 823 (1.3 spg) |
Ronald Bruce Boone, born on September 6, 1946, is a former American professional basketball player. He played for 13 years in two major leagues: the American Basketball Association (ABA) and the National Basketball Association (NBA). Boone set a record for playing 1,041 games in a row in professional basketball. He even says he never missed a game from when he started playing in fourth grade until he retired! Today, Boone is a color commentator for Utah Jazz basketball games.
Contents
High School Basketball Journey
Ron Boone grew up in the Logan Fontenelle housing area. He went to Technical High School in North Omaha, Nebraska. In high school, Boone played basketball for Coach Neal Mosser. Coach Mosser had led Tech to a state title in 1963. He also coached famous players like Bob Boozer (Basketball Hall of Famer) and Bob Gibson (Baseball Hall of Famer) before Boone.
When Boone graduated from high school, he was only 5 feet 7 inches tall. He didn't become a starter in basketball until his senior year. Boone also played baseball for Coach Josh Gibson, who was the older brother of Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Bob Gibson.
Boone remembered how small he was and his dreams of playing college basketball. He once heard someone say he couldn't play major college basketball. Boone said, "That was always in the back of my mind because I thought I could. If there was anything in my life that I can say inspired me, it was those comments."
College Basketball Career
Playing at Clarinda Community College (1964–1965)
After high school, Boone and a teammate decided to play junior college basketball. Boone played one season at Clarinda Community College in Clarinda, Iowa. While there, he suddenly grew to 6 feet 2 inches tall. He averaged an impressive 26 points per game.
Idaho State University Years (1965–1968)
After Clarinda Community College, Boone went to Idaho State University (ISU) in Pocatello, Idaho. He received a scholarship and played for the Bengals in the Big Sky Conference from 1965 to 1968.
In his second year (1965–1966), Boone averaged 10.9 points and 9.4 rebounds. He played under Coach Claude Retherford. The Bengals finished that season with 7 wins and 19 losses. Coach Retherford was a former college teammate of Boone's high school coach, Neil Mosser.
Boone later said, "It was Coach Mosser who helped me get a basketball scholarship to Idaho State." He added that Coach Retherford became one of his best friends.
In the 1966–1967 season, Idaho State finished with 10 wins and 15 losses. Boone averaged 22.3 points and 5.1 rebounds.
As a senior in 1967–1968, Boone averaged 21.3 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 3.8 assists. Idaho State finished that season with 10 wins and 12 losses under new Coach Danny Miller.
During his three years at Idaho State University, Boone averaged 20.0 points and 5.4 rebounds in 61 games. He never missed a single game. Boone was named to the First-team All-Big Sky teams in both 1967 and 1968.
Professional Basketball Career (ABA and NBA)
After finishing college at Idaho State University, Ron Boone was chosen by two professional teams. The American Basketball Association's Dallas Chaparrals picked him in the 1968 ABA draft. The Phoenix Suns also picked him in the 1968 NBA draft. Boone decided to play for Dallas in the ABA.
Boone explained why he chose the ABA. He said his college coach thought it was a newer league where he might have a better chance to play. He felt he had a good shot there. The coach for the Chaparrals was Cliff Hagan, a basketball legend. Boone remembered blocking Hagan's famous hook shot a few times during tryouts. He believes that helped him make the team.
Dallas Chaparrals (1968–1971)
Boone played for the Dallas Chaparrals (now known as the San Antonio Spurs) from 1968 to 1971. In his first year (1968–1969), Boone averaged 18.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 3.6 assists. Dallas finished with 41 wins and 37 losses. They lost in the ABA Playoffs. Boone was named to the ABA All-Rookie First Team.
Overall, Boone averaged 17.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.3 assists in 201 games with the Dallas Chaparrals.
Utah Stars (1971–1975)
Boone was traded to the Utah Stars from Dallas during the 1970–71 ABA season. He was averaging 20.0 points in 42 games with Dallas at the time. In January 1971, the Stars traded Donnie Freeman and Wayne Hightower to Dallas for Boone and Glen Combs.
Boone, along with Zelmo Beaty, Willie Wise, and Glen Combs, helped the Utah Stars win the 1971 ABA championship. They played under Coach Bill Sharman. Utah finished the 1970–1971 regular season with 57 wins and 27 losses. After joining the Stars, Boone averaged 18.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 2.6 assists. In the ABA Finals, Boone averaged 17.6 points as the Stars beat the Kentucky Colonels in a close series.
Over six seasons with the Utah Stars, Boone averaged 18.6 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.5 steals in 396 games.
St. Louis Spirits (1975–1976)
The Utah Stars team stopped playing after 16 games in the 1975–1976 season. This happened because the NBA and ABA were about to merge. Boone then played for the Spirits of St. Louis for the rest of that season. He averaged 26.2 points for Utah and 21.0 points in 62 games for St. Louis. He played alongside Hall of Famer Moses Malone. The St. Louis team also stopped playing after the ABA ended.
Boone was chosen as an ABA All-Star four times: in 1971, 1974, 1975, and 1976.
Kansas City Kings (1977–1978)
After the ABA–NBA merger in June 1976, Boone began playing in the NBA for the Kansas City Kings. He was drafted by the Kings from the Spirits of St. Louis on August 5, 1976.
In the 1976–1977 season, playing for Coach Phil Johnson, Boone led the Kings in scoring. He averaged 22.2 points, along with 3.9 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1.5 steals. The Kansas City Kings finished that season with 40 wins and 42 losses.
In the 1977–1978 season, Boone averaged 17.7 points for the Kings. He also had 3.3 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.3 steals.
Los Angeles Lakers (1978–1979)
On June 26, 1978, Boone was traded twice in one day! First, the Kansas City Kings traded him to the Denver Nuggets. Then, on the same day, the Denver Nuggets traded him to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Boone played for the Los Angeles Lakers as a reserve player for Coach Jerry West in the 1978–1979 season. He averaged 7.4 points in 82 games, playing about 19 minutes per game.
Utah Jazz (1979–1981)
On October 25, 1979, the Lakers traded Boone to the Utah Jazz. This meant he returned to Utah to finish his professional career. He played two seasons for the Utah Jazz.
In the 1979–1980 season, Boone averaged 12.9 points under Jazz Coach Tom Nissalke. He played alongside Hall of Famers Adrian Dantley and Pete Maravich.
In his final season, playing a reserve role, Boone averaged 7.8 points in 52 games. On January 26, 1981, the Utah Jazz released Boone. He had offers to play for other teams, but he decided to retire. He felt it was the right time to stop playing.
Throughout his career, Boone played in 1,041 total games and never missed a single one. He averaged 16.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.3 steals. He scored a total of 17,437 points in his career. In 84 playoff games, Boone averaged 16.1 points, 4.4 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 1.7 steals.
In the ABA, Boone averaged 18.4 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.6 steals in 662 games. In the NBA, he averaged 13.9 points, 2.8 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.1 steals in 379 games.
Amazing Consecutive Games Streak
Ron Boone's streak of 1,041 consecutive games played is truly amazing. Only A. C. Green has played more games in a row, with 1,192. Before Boone, Johnny "Red" Kerr held the record with 844 games. Boone is likely the only player in major professional sports history who never missed a single game in his career. In 13 seasons, he played in all 1,041 possible games in both the ABA and NBA. Before that, Boone didn't miss a game in college. He even says he didn't miss a game in elementary school or high school! He also has never missed a game as a broadcaster.
Boone said that playing every game wasn't important to him at first. He just wanted to play. Later in his career, he realized it was something special. He started to feel proud that he never had a major injury like a pulled muscle. He thought about his high school coach who taught him about stretching and warming up. He realized his streak went all the way back to fourth grade. He called it "a great story."
Basketball Announcing Career (1988–Present)
For over 35 years, Ron Boone has been a broadcaster for the Utah Jazz games. He started calling games for the Jazz in September 1988. The Utah Jazz paired "Hot Rod" Hundley and Boone as announcers for many years. For many Jazz fans, this duo was a big part of Jazz basketball.
Personal Life
Ron Boone has a son named JaRon and a daughter named Jozette. He also has three grandchildren. His wife, Jackie, passed away from cancer in 2008 at age 62.
His son, JaRon Boone, played college basketball at the University of Nebraska from 1992 to 1996. He averaged 12.2 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 3.5 assists in 127 college games.
Boone loves to play golf. He says golf is an individual sport that makes you want to beat the course. He finds it very competitive and hard to master. He hosts an event called the "Ron Boone Golf Classic" every year. This event raises money for the Huntsman Cancer Institute.
Honors and Achievements
- Ron Boone was inducted into the Idaho State University Hall of Fame in 1980.
- Boone was inducted into the Nebraska High School Sports Hall of Fame in 1995.
- In 1997, Boone was chosen for the American Basketball Association All-Time Team.
- Boone was inducted into the Utah Sports Hall of Fame in 2000.
See also
In Spanish: Ron Boone para niños
