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 on March 3, 1947, is a former professional basketball player from the United States. He was a star in the ABA, where he became known as one of the best players. Sadly, his career in the NBA ended early because of a knee injury. He is even part of the ABA All-Time Team, which means he was one of the greatest players in the ABA's history!
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Willie Wise's Basketball Journey
Willie Wise, who stands 6 feet 6 inches tall, played as a forward. He joined the American Basketball Association (ABA) in 1969 with the Los Angeles Stars. This team later became the Utah Stars.
A Top Player in the ABA
Willie quickly showed he was one of the best all-around players in the league. He was great at scoring points, averaging 19.2 points per game during his ABA career. He was also an amazing defender. Sports Illustrated magazine even called him "the best two-way performer in pro basketball." This means he was excellent at both offense and defense.
In 1971, Willie Wise helped his team, the Utah Stars, win the ABA Championship! After playing for the Stars, he also played for the Virginia Squires.
Impressive Career Stats
During his professional career, Willie played in 552 regular-season games. He averaged 17.6 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game. He also had 1.16 steals per game.
In the playoffs, his numbers were even better! He averaged 19.8 points, 9.1 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.39 steals in 74 playoff games. Willie was chosen for the All-ABA Second Team twice. He was also picked for the All-ABA Defensive First Team twice because of his excellent defense.
Moving to the NBA
In 1976, the ABA and NBA leagues joined together in what was called the ABA–NBA merger. After this merger, Willie Wise played in the National Basketball Association. He played for the Denver Nuggets and the Seattle SuperSonics.
Unfortunately, his NBA career was cut short. In November 1977, he suffered a serious knee injury. This injury meant he could no longer play professional basketball.
Honored by Drake University
On February 7, 2009, Drake University honored Willie Wise. They retired his number 42 jersey, which means no other player at Drake will wear that number again. This is a special way to remember his great contributions to the team.
Willie Wise's Legacy
Willie Wise is one of the former ABA players who are working to make sure they receive fair treatment from their pension fund. A pension fund helps provide money for players after they retire.
Willie is very proud of how ABA teams played basketball. He believes their style of play influenced how the NBA plays today. He thinks the ABA's fast-paced, free-flowing style, including the use of the 3-point line, helped shape modern basketball. The 3-point line, which gives extra points for shots from far away, was first used in the ABA. It was later adopted by the NBA in the 1979–80 season.
See also
In Spanish: Willie Wise para niños
