NBA All-Star, champion Bill Bridges dies at age 76
He was not on the list.
Bill Bridges, a star as a Kansas Jayhawk who went on to have a 12-year NBA career that included being part of the 1975 Golden State Warriors championship team, has passed away, according to the University of Kansas.
Bridges was an undersized power forward at 6’6″ but he was a beast on the boards who averaged 11.9 rebounds a game for his career and more than 13 a game for six straight years at the peak of his career. That 11.9 per game average is still 27th all-time in NBA history. He was selected by the Chicago Packers in the NBA draft, but elected to play for the Kansas City Steers of the American Basketball League.
A New Mexico native, Bridges was a three-time All-Star (all as a member of the Hawks), two-time All-NBA Defensive team, and was part of the 1975 Warriors title team. Besides the Hawks (St. Louis and Atlanta) and Warriors, Bridges played for the Sixers and Lakers.
His notable teammates were: Larry Staverman, Bob Pettit, Zelmo Beaty, Lenny Wilkins, Cliff Hagan, Paul Silas, Joe Caldwell, Rod Thorn, Jeff Mullins, Lou Hudson, Walt Hazzard, Walt Bellamy, Butch Beard, Pete Maravich, Billy Cunningham, Hal Greer, Kevin Loughery, Lucious Jackson, Jerry West, Wilt Chamberlain, Gail Goodrich, Pat Riley, Roger Brown, Happy Hairston, Kermit Washington, Connie Hawkins, Elmore Smith, George T. Johnson, Rick Barry, Jamaal Wilkes, Phil Smith and Clifford Ray.
Some of his coaches were: Jack McMahon, Harry Gallatin, Richie Guerin, Jack Ramsay, Roy Rubin, Bill Sharman and Al Attles.
Career history
1961–1963 Kansas City Steers
1963–1971 St. Louis / Atlanta Hawks
1971–1972 Philadelphia 76ers
1972–1974 Los Angeles Lakers
1975 Golden State Warriors
Career highlights and awards
NBA champion (1975)
3× NBA All-Star (1967, 1968, 1970)
2× NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1969, 1970)
All-ABL First Team (1962)
No. 32 jersey retired by Kansas Jayhawks
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