Willie Wise facts for kids
Wise being guarded by New York Nets player Julius Erving.
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| No. 42 | |
|---|---|
| Small forward | |
| Personal information | |
| Born | March 3, 1947 San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| High school | Balboa (San Francisco, California) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) |
| Listed weight | 210 lb (95 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College |
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| NBA Draft | 1969 / Round: 5 / Pick: 64th overall |
| Selected by the San Francisco Warriors | |
| Pro career | 1969–1977 |
| Career history | |
| 1969–1974 | Los Angeles / Utah Stars |
| 1974–1976 | Virginia Squires |
| 1976–1977 | Denver Nuggets |
| 1977 | Seattle SuperSonics |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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|
| Career ABA and NBA statistics | |
| Points | 9,727 (17.6 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 4,578 (8.3 rpg) |
| Assists | 1,594 (2.9 apg) |
Willie M. Wise (born March 3, 1947) is an American former professional basketball player. He played as a small forward. Wise had a very successful career in the American Basketball Association (ABA). He was even named to the ABA All-Time Team. Sadly, his career in the National Basketball Association (NBA) ended early because of a knee injury.
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Willie Wise's Basketball Career
Willie Wise, who is 6 feet 5 inches tall, played forward. He joined the American Basketball Association's (ABA) Los Angeles Stars in 1969. This team later became the Utah Stars.
Wise quickly became one of the best players in the league. He was great at scoring points, averaging 19.2 points per game in his ABA career. He was also known as an excellent defender.
Winning the ABA Championship
While playing for the Stars, Willie Wise helped his team win the 1971 ABA Championship. Sports Illustrated magazine called him "the best two-way performer in pro basketball." This means he was amazing at both offense and defense. After playing for the Stars, Wise later played with the Virginia Squires.
Wise's Impressive Stats
Willie Wise was a player who performed well in important games. During his professional career, he played in 552 regular-season games. He averaged 17.6 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game. He also averaged 1.16 steals.
In 74 playoff games, his numbers were even better. He averaged 19.8 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 3.1 assists. He also had 1.39 steals per game in the postseason. Wise was chosen for the All-ABA Second Team twice. He was also named to the All-ABA Defensive First Team twice.
Moving to the NBA
In 1976, the ABA and NBA leagues joined together in what was called the ABA–NBA merger. After this merger, Wise played in the National Basketball Association. He played for the Denver Nuggets for one full season. He also played part of a second season with the Seattle SuperSonics.
In November 1977, the SuperSonics team decided to let Wise go. This happened after he got a serious knee injury. This injury unfortunately ended his professional basketball career.
Jersey Retirement at Drake University
On February 7, 2009, Drake University honored Willie Wise. They retired his number 42 jersey. This means that no other player on the Drake Bulldogs men's basketball team will ever wear that number again. It is a special way to remember his great time playing for the university.
See also
In Spanish: Willie Wise para niños
