Tom Boerwinkle facts for kids
Boerwinkle in 1969
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 23, 1945 Cleveland, Ohio |
| Died | March 26, 2013 (aged 67) Willowbrook, Illinois |
| High school | Millersburg Military Institute (Millersburg, Kentucky) |
| Listed height | 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) |
| Listed weight | 265 lb (120 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Tennessee (1965–1968) |
| NBA Draft | 1968 / Round: 1 / Pick: 4th overall |
| Selected by the Chicago Bulls | |
| Pro career | 1968–1978 |
| Career history | |
| 1968–1978 | Chicago Bulls |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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| Career statistics | |
| Points | 4,596 (7.2 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 5,745 (9.0 rpg) |
| Assists | 2,007 (3.2 apg) |
Thomas F. Boerwinkle (born August 23, 1945 – died March 26, 2013) was a tall American basketball player. He played as a center in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Tom spent his entire professional career playing for the Chicago Bulls.
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Early Life and School
Tom Boerwinkle was born in Independence, Ohio. He was one of three children of John and Katherine Boerwinkle. His father, John, worked as an engineer for an oil company. John's parents had moved to the United States from the Netherlands in 1890.
Tom went to high school at Millersburg Military Institute. This was a special prep school in Millersburg, Kentucky. It is no longer open today.
College Basketball Career
Boerwinkle played college basketball for the University of Tennessee. He helped his team win the Southeastern Conference championship in 1967. The next year, he was named a first-team All-American. This means he was one of the best college players in the country.
During his junior and senior years, he achieved a "double-double" in every game. A double-double means a player gets double-digit numbers (10 or more) in two different stats. Tom averaged 10.2 points and 12.2 rebounds in his junior year. In his senior year, he averaged 11.3 points and 15.2 rebounds.
Playing in the NBA
The Chicago Bulls picked Tom Boerwinkle as the fourth player in the 1968 NBA draft. He played for the Bulls until 1978. Tom was a very effective player, even if people didn't always notice him. He used his big, seven-foot body to grab rebounds and set screens for his teammates. Players like Jerry Sloan, Chet Walker, and Bob Love then scored most of the points.
Tom was also very good at passing the ball. He averaged 3.2 assists per game during his career. He was like a central player who helped set up plays from the center position. This helped show how important it is for big players to be good passers. Later, other great passing centers like Nikola Jokić followed this style.
On January 8, 1970, Tom set a record for the Bulls. He grabbed an amazing 37 rebounds in one game against the Phoenix Suns. When he retired, he had scored 4,596 points, grabbed 5,745 rebounds, and made 2,007 assists. Tom also had five "triple-doubles" in his career. A triple-double is when a player gets 10 or more in three different stats in one game.
Life After Basketball
After his playing career, Tom Boerwinkle worked as a radio announcer for the Bulls. He would explain the game during broadcasts. He also owned a company called Olympic Oil Co. in Stickney, Illinois for many years.
Tom Boerwinkle passed away on March 26, 2013, in Willowbrook, Illinois. He had been battling a serious illness called myelodysplastic syndrome, which is a type of cancer.
His longtime teammate, Bob Love, said that Tom was a "great teammate with a heart of gold." He also said that Tom helped him score many baskets because of his great passing. Another Hall of Fame center and Bulls teammate, Artis Gilmore, said that Tom "understood his role extremely well." He added that Tom was very good at passing the ball in different ways and played smart basketball.
Tom was survived by his wife, Linda, whom he had been married to for 41 years. He also had a son named Jeff and a daughter named Gretchen.
See also
- List of NBA players who have spent their entire career with one franchise
