Slater Martin facts for kids
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 22, 1925 Elmina, Texas, U.S. |
| Died | October 18, 2012 (aged 86) Houston, Texas, U.S. |
| High school | Jefferson Davis (Houston, Texas) |
| Listed height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) |
| Listed weight | 170 lb (77 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Texas (1943–1944, 1946–1949) |
| NBA Draft | 1949 / Round: 3 |
| Selected by the Minneapolis Lakers | |
| Pro career | 1949–1960 |
| Career history | |
| As player: | |
| 1949–1956 | Minneapolis Lakers |
| 1956 | New York Knicks |
| 1956–1960 | St. Louis Hawks |
| As coach: | |
| 1957 | St. Louis Hawks |
| 1967–1969 | Houston Mavericks |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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| Career statistics | |
| Points | 7,337 (9.8 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 2,302 (3.4 rpg) |
| Assists | 3,160 (4.2 apg) |
Slater Nelson "Dugie" Martin Jr. (born October 22, 1925 – died October 18, 2012) was a famous American professional basketball player and coach. He played as a point guard for 11 seasons in the NBA. Born in Elmina, Walker County, Texas, he was known as one of the best defensive players in the 1950s.
Martin played for the Minneapolis Lakers and the St. Louis Hawks. He won five NBA championships during his career. He was also chosen to play in seven NBA All-Star Games.
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Early Life and College Career
Slater Martin grew up in Houston, Texas. He went to Jefferson Davis High School. There, he was a star basketball player. He led his high school team to win two state basketball championships. These wins happened in 1942 and 1943.
After high school, Martin went to the University of Texas at Austin. He played for the Longhorns basketball team. In 1949, he set a scoring record for the Longhorns. He scored an amazing 49 points in one game against Texas Christian University (TCU). Throughout his time with the Longhorns, he averaged 12.7 points per game.
Today, his former high school still remembers him. They hold an event called the "Slater Martin Golf Tournament" every year. This tournament raises a lot of money. It helps student clubs and sports teams at the high school.
Professional Basketball Career
Slater Martin was a very important player in the NBA during the 1950s. He was known for his strong defense. He first played for the Minneapolis Lakers. This team had another famous player named George Mikan. Together, they won four NBA championships. These wins happened between 1950 and 1954.
In 1956, Martin joined the St. Louis Hawks. On this team, he played alongside Bob Pettit. They worked together to win another NBA championship in 1958. This made it five championships for Slater Martin!
Coaching and Later Life
After his playing career, Slater Martin became a coach. He coached the Houston Mavericks in the American Basketball Association. He led the Mavericks during the 1967–68 season and part of the 1968–69 season. He even guided them into the 1968 ABA Playoffs.
Slater Martin's amazing basketball career was recognized in 1982. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. This special event happened on May 3, 1982, in Springfield, Massachusetts. He is the only basketball player from the University of Texas Longhorns to receive this honor.
His college team, the University of Texas, also honored him. On January 31, 2009, they retired his jersey number 15. This means no other Longhorns player will wear that number. He was only the second Longhorn basketball player to have his number retired.
Slater Martin passed away on October 18, 2012, in Houston, Texas. He was 86 years old.
Images for kids
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Slater Martin, around 1953–54
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See also
- List of NBA players with most championships
