Stu Lantz facts for kids
Lantz in 1969
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | July 13, 1946 Uniontown, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| High school | Uniontown (Uniontown, Pennsylvania) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
| Listed weight | 175 lb (79 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Nebraska (1965–1968) |
| NBA Draft | 1968 / Round: 3 / Pick: 23rd overall |
| Selected by the San Diego Rockets | |
| Pro career | 1968–1977 |
| Career history | |
| 1968–1972 | San Diego / Houston Rockets |
| 1972–1974 | Detroit Pistons |
| 1974 | New Orleans Jazz |
| 1974–1977 | Los Angeles Lakers |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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| Career NBA statistics | |
| Points | 6,782 (12.4 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 1,820 (3.3 rpg) |
| Assists | 1,566 (2.9 apg) |
Stuart Burrell Lantz, born on July 13, 1946, is a famous American who used to play professional basketball. After his playing career, he became a television commentator for the Los Angeles Lakers team in the National Basketball Association (NBA). You can hear him on Spectrum SportsNet. Before playing professionally, he played college basketball at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.
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Stu Lantz's Early Life and College Years
Stu Lantz went to Uniontown Area High School. He was very good at basketball, so he received a special scholarship to play at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. A scholarship helps pay for college if you have a special talent.
During the 1966–67 season, Stu helped his college team, the Nebraska Cornhuskers, achieve their first season with 20 wins and only 5 losses. They also got to play in the NIT Tournament for the first time. The NIT Tournament is a big competition for college basketball teams. His team also finished second in their conference, which is like their league, called the Big Eight Conference.
Stu Lantz was so good that he was chosen twice as an All-Big Eight player. This means he was one of the best players in the conference. He led his team in scoring points and getting rebounds in both the 1966–67 and 1967–68 seasons. He finished his college career averaging 16.9 points and 7.6 rebounds per game.
In 1989, Stu's jersey number, 22, was retired by the University of Nebraska. This is a huge honor, meaning no other player on that team will ever wear that number again. In 2001, he was also added to the Nebraska Basketball Hall of Fame, which celebrates the best players from the university.
Stu Lantz's Professional Basketball Career
Stu Lantz played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1968 to 1976. He was picked by the San Diego Rockets in the 1968 NBA Draft. This is when professional teams choose new players from college. He was the 23rd player chosen overall that year.
In the 1970–71 season, Stu had a great year with the San Diego Rockets. He averaged 20.6 points and 5 rebounds per game. This shows he was a very important player for his team.
Sadly, in the 1976–77 season, Stu hurt his back during a practice game. He couldn't fully recover from this injury. Because of his back injury, Stu Lantz decided to retire from playing basketball on July 2, 1977. He was 30 years old at the time.
Stu Lantz's Broadcast Career
After he stopped playing, Stu Lantz started a new career as a basketball commentator. Since 1987, he has been the "color commentator" for the Los Angeles Lakers. A color commentator helps explain the game to viewers, sharing insights and stories alongside the main play-by-play announcer. He has worked with famous announcers like Chick Hearn and Bill Macdonald.
Stu has won many awards for his broadcasting work. The Southern California Sports Broadcasters Association has named him the best television color commentator seven times! In 2018, he was inducted into the Southern California Sports Broadcasters Hall of Fame.
On February 27, 2022, the Lakers honored Stu Lantz for his 35 years of broadcasting for the team. They showed a special video tribute before a game, with messages from basketball legends like Pat Riley, Shaquille O'Neal, and Derek Fisher.
In 2023, Stu Lantz received the 75th Los Angeles Area Emmy Governors Award. This award is given by the Television Academy to people who have had a long and successful career in broadcasting. The announcement was a surprise, shown live on Spectrum SportsNet with his colleagues and Lakers executives, including Jeanie Buss. Stu Lantz joins other famous sports figures like Vin Scully and Kobe Bryant who have also received this special award.
See also
In Spanish: Stu Lantz para niños
