Warren Jabali facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Warren Jabali

Jabali as a member of the Washington Caps during the 1969–70 season.
Personal information
Born	(1946-08-29)August 29, 1946 Kansas City, Kansas
Nationality	American
Died	July 13, 2012(2012-07-13) (aged 65) Miami, Florida
High school	Central (Kansas City, Missouri)
Listed height	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Listed weight	200 lb (91 kg)
Career information
College	Wichita State (1965–1968)
NBA Draft	1968 / Round: 4 / Pick: 44th overall
Selected by the New York Knicks
Pro career	1968–1975
Career history
1968–1970	Oakland Oaks / Washington Caps
1970–1971	Indiana Pacers
1971–1972	The Floridians
1972–1974	Denver Rockets
1974–1975	San Diego Conquistadors
Career highlights and awards
ABA champion (1969) ABA All-Time Team 4x ABA All-Star (1970, 1972–1974) All-ABA First Team (1973) ABA Rookie of the Year (1969) ABA Playoffs MVP (1969) ABA All-Star Game MVP (1973) 3× First-team All-MVC (1966–1968)
Career ABA statistics
Points	7,666 (17.1 ppg)
Rebounds	2,985 (6.7 rpg)
Assists	2,389 (5.3 apg)

Warren Jabali (born Warren Edward Armstrong on August 29, 1946 – died July 13, 2012) was an American basketball player. He was known for his amazing skills and played professionally in the American Basketball Association (ABA) from 1968 to 1975. He was a very exciting player to watch!

Becoming a Basketball Star

Warren Jabali was born Warren Edward Armstrong. He changed his name to Jabali while he was studying at Wichita State University. The name "Jabali" comes from the Swahili word for "rock," showing his connection to his African roots.

Jabali was 6 feet 2 inches tall and was an incredible athlete. People said he could even touch a ten-foot high basketball rim with his forehead because he could jump so high! He was also a strong defender and great at getting rebounds.

Even though he was a fantastic player in college, the National Basketball Association (NBA) didn't give him much attention at first. He was picked by the New York Knicks in the 1968 NBA Draft. However, he decided to join the rival American Basketball Association (ABA) instead, signing with the Oakland Oaks.

Shining in the ABA League

Warren Jabali quickly became a star in the ABA. In his very first season, he won the Rookie of the Year award. His teammate, Rick Barry, even said he was one of the best guards he had ever played with!

That same year, Jabali led his team, the Oakland Oaks, to win the ABA Championship. He played incredibly well, scoring an average of 33.2 points per game in the finals. Because of his amazing performance, he was named the Playoffs MVP (Most Valuable Player).

Jabali was one of the most talented guards in the ABA. He consistently scored a lot of points throughout his seven seasons. In his championship year (1968–69), he averaged 21.5 points per game.

The Oaks team had a huge improvement that season, winning 60 games and losing only 18. This was a big change from their previous year! Jabali was a key reason for this success, especially because their main star, Rick Barry, was injured for part of the season. Jabali stepped up and provided the scoring the team needed.

Later Career and Achievements

After his first amazing season, Jabali continued to play at a high level. He was chosen to play in four ABA All-Star Games during his career. In one of these games, the 1973 ABA All-Star Game, he scored 16 points and helped his team win. He was named the Most Valuable Player of that All-Star Game! People sometimes called that game "Jabali's Jamboree" because of his great play.

Warren Jabali played for several teams during his career, including the Indiana Pacers, The Floridians, and the Denver Rockets. He was known for his all-around game, getting points, rebounds, and assists.

Unfortunately, knee problems started to affect his playing. He retired from basketball in 1975 when he was 28 years old. Over his seven-year career, he averaged 17.1 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game.

Warren Jabali passed away on July 13, 2012. He is remembered as a powerful and exciting player who made a big impact in the ABA.

ABA Career Statistics

Regular Season Stats

Playoff Stats

See also

In Spanish: Warren Jabali para niños