Travis Grant facts for kids
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 1, 1950 Clayton, Alabama, U.S. |
| High school | Barbour County Training School (Clayton, Alabama) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) |
| Listed weight | 215 lb (98 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Kentucky State (1968–1972) |
| NBA Draft | 1972 / Round: 1 / Pick: 13th overall |
| Selected by the Los Angeles Lakers | |
| Pro career | 1972–1976 |
| Career history | |
| 1972–1973 | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 1973–1975 | San Diego Conquistadors |
| 1975–1976 | Kentucky Colonels |
| 1976 | Indiana Pacers |
| Career highlights and awards | |
|
|
| Career NBA and ABA statistics | |
| Points | 2,767 (13.8 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 819 (4.1 rpg) |
| Assists | 211 (1.0 apg) |
Travis Grant (born January 1, 1950) is a former American basketball player. He played as a small forward in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the Los Angeles Lakers. He also played in the American Basketball Association (ABA) for teams like the San Diego Conquistadors, Kentucky Colonels, and Indiana Pacers. Before becoming a professional, he played college basketball at Kentucky State University.
Contents
Early Life and Basketball Beginnings
Travis Grant grew up in a rural area of Alabama. During his childhood, there were laws called Jim Crow laws that kept Black people and white people separate. He loved basketball and practiced his shots using a tennis ball and a bucket as a hoop.
He went to Barbour County High School in Clayton, Alabama. When he was a senior, he had the chance to move to a school for white students. But he chose to stay at his own school.
College Basketball Success
Grant received a basketball scholarship from Kentucky State University. This university was part of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), which is a group of smaller colleges and universities. He chose Kentucky State because he had a good relationship with the coach, Lucias Mitchell.
Freshman Year: The "Machine" Emerges
In his first college game, he started on the bench. But when he entered the game in the second half, he made 10 shots in a row! This amazing performance earned him the nickname "The Machine." That season, he averaged 26.6 points and 9.3 rebounds per game. He also shot very well, making 61.9% of his shots.
Sophomore Year: First Championship
As a sophomore, Travis led his team to an impressive 29 wins and only 3 losses. They won the NAIA National Championship! He averaged 35.4 points and 9.0 rebounds per game. He even scored a school record of 75 points in one game against Northwood Institute.
Junior Year: Back-to-Back Titles
In his junior year, Grant continued to lead his team to success. They had a 31-2 record and won their second straight NAIA National Championship. He averaged 31.2 points and 9.1 rebounds. In the NAIA Tournament, he was named the Chuck Taylor MVP.
Senior Year: A Third Championship and Records
His senior year was incredible. The team won their third straight NAIA National Championship with a 28-5 record. Grant averaged an amazing 39.5 points and 9.9 rebounds per game. He scored 68 points in a game against Eastern Michigan University, playing against future star George Gervin.
In the NAIA tournament, he set new records. He scored 213 points in that tournament, including a record-breaking 60 points in one game. He also set the all-time tournament scoring record with 518 career points. He won the Chuck Taylor MVP Award for the second time.
Travis Grant finished his college career as the all-time leading scorer in college basketball history across all divisions. He scored 4,045 points! This was more than the famous player Pistol Pete Maravich. Later, his record was broken by two other players.
Hall of Fame Recognition
Travis Grant's amazing college career led to many honors:
- In 1987, he was inducted into the Kentucky State University Hall of Fame.
- In 2009, he joined the College Basketball Hall of Fame.
- In 2011, he was inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame.
- In 2014, he was honored in the State of Alabama Sports Hall of Fame.
- In 2016, he was inducted into the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame.
Professional Basketball Career
After his incredible college career, Travis Grant became a professional basketball player.
Los Angeles Lakers (NBA)
The Los Angeles Lakers picked Travis Grant in the first round of the 1972 NBA draft. He was the 13th player chosen overall. He was part of a famous team that included legends like Wilt Chamberlain and Jerry West. He played for the Lakers for a short time before moving to another league.
San Diego Conquistadors (ABA)
In 1973, Grant joined the San Diego Conquistadors in the American Basketball Association (ABA). He even reunited with Wilt Chamberlain, who was going to be a player-coach for the team. During his time with the Conquistadors, he averaged 15.3 points and 5.3 rebounds per game.
In the 1974–75 season, he had his best professional year. He averaged 25.2 points per game, which was the fourth-highest in the league. He also averaged 6.2 rebounds and shot 54.4% from the field.
Kentucky Colonels and Indiana Pacers (ABA)
In 1975, Grant was traded to the Kentucky Colonels. He played there for a short period before being traded again in 1976 to the Indiana Pacers. With the Pacers, he averaged 9.6 points and 3.0 rebounds.
Travis Grant finished his professional career with a total of 2,767 points. He made 52.4% of his shots. He also had 819 rebounds and 211 assists.
Life After Basketball
After his basketball career, Travis Grant went back to school. He earned both his college degree and a master's degree from West Georgia University. He then worked for 30 years as a teacher, coach, and school administrator. He retired in 2010.
Legacy
Travis Grant is remembered as one of the greatest college basketball players ever. A special basketball game, called "The Travis Grant Game," was played on March 16, 2022, in his honor.
See also
In Spanish: Travis Grant para niños
