Travis Grant facts for kids

Travis Grant, born on January 1, 1950, is a famous American basketball player. He played as a small forward in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the Los Angeles Lakers. He also played for other teams like the San Diego Conquistadors, Kentucky Colonels, and Indiana Pacers in the American Basketball Association (ABA) league. Before going pro, he was a star college player for the Kentucky State Thorobreds.

Early Life and Basketball Beginnings

Travis Grant grew up in rural Alabama. 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. In his senior year, he chose to stay at his school even when offered a chance to transfer.

College Basketball Career

Grant received a basketball scholarship from Kentucky State University, which was part of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). He chose Kentucky State because he had a good relationship with the coach, Lucias Mitchell.

Freshman Year Success

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 "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.

Leading the Team to Championships

As a sophomore, Travis helped his team achieve a fantastic 29–3 record. They went on to win 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.

In his junior year, the team had an even better record of 31–2. They won their second straight NAIA National Championship! Travis averaged 31.2 points and 9.1 rebounds. He also won the Chuck Taylor Most Valuable Player Award for his great play in the NAIA Tournament.

His senior year was just as impressive. The team won their third straight NAIA National Championship with a 28–5 record. Travis averaged an incredible 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 scored 213 points, including a tournament record of 60 points in one game. He set new records for total points in a single tournament (213) and in a career (518). He also won the Chuck Taylor MVP Award for the second time.

College Scoring Records

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 378 points more than the legendary Pistol Pete Maravich. Later, two other players, Phil Hutcheson and John Pierce, broke his record.

Hall of Fame Honors

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

Travis Grant was a top pick in the 1972 NBA draft, chosen 13th overall by the Los Angeles Lakers. He was also drafted by the Utah Stars in the ABA draft.

Playing for the Lakers

As a rookie, he joined a famous Lakers team that included stars like Wilt Chamberlain and Jerry West. He played for the Lakers for a short time before moving to the ABA.

Time in the ABA League

In November 1973, Travis signed with the San Diego Conquistadors in the American Basketball Association (ABA). He played well, averaging 15.3 points and 5.3 rebounds per game.

The 1974–75 season was his best in the ABA. He averaged 25.2 points per game, which was fourth-highest in the league! He also averaged 6.2 rebounds and shot 54.4% from the field. Even though he had a knee injury, he had a fantastic season.

Later, he played for the Kentucky Colonels and the Indiana Pacers in the ABA. He finished his professional career with a field goal percentage of 52.4%, scoring 2,767 points in total. He also had 819 rebounds and 211 assists.

Career Statistics

NBA and ABA Regular Season

NBA and ABA Playoffs

Life After Basketball

After his basketball career, Travis Grant went back to school. He earned a master's degree from West Georgia University. He then worked for 30 years as a teacher, coach, and school administrator before retiring in 2010.

Legacy and Recognition

On March 16, 2022, a basketball game between Southeastern Louisiana and South Alabama was named the "Travis Grant Game" as part of The Basketball Classic event. This honored his lasting impact on the sport.

See also

In Spanish: Travis Grant para niños