Gene Littles
Encyclopedia
Eugene Scapes Littles (born June 29, 1943 in Washington, D.C.
) is a retired American basketball
player and current coach. He played professional basketball for six years.
Littles played college basketball at High Point University
. Afterward Littles was selected in the 5th round of the 1969 NBA Draft
by the New York Knicks
and in the 1969 ABA Draft by the Dallas Chaparrals
. Littles opted to play in the American Basketball Association
(ABA).
Littles played for five seasons with the Carolina Cougars
(1969–74). He then played for one season (1974–75) with the Kentucky Colonels
. With Kentucky, Littles was a member of the Colonels team that won the 1975 ABA Championship
.
After his playing career, Littles got into coaching, and became an assistant with the Cleveland Cavaliers
of the NBA. He got his first taste of head coaching when George Karl
was dismissed at the end of the 1985-86 season
. The Cavaliers next year hired Lenny Wilkens
, however.
In 1990, Littles got a second NBA head coaching job, with the Charlotte Hornets — replacing Dick Harter
. He lasted as season and a half with the recent-expansion Hornets, until he was replaced with Allan Bristow
at the end of the 1990-1991 season. Littles later became an assistant with the Denver Nuggets
, and served as an interim coach during the 1994-95 season, in between Dan Issel
and Bernie Bickerstaff
.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
) is a retired American basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player and current coach. He played professional basketball for six years.
Littles played college basketball at High Point University
High Point University
High Point University is a private liberal arts university in High Point, North Carolina, USA, affiliated with the United Methodist Church.- Beginnings :...
. Afterward Littles was selected in the 5th round of the 1969 NBA Draft
1969 NBA Draft
The 1969 NBA Draft was the 23rd annual draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held on April 7, 1969 and May 7, 1969 before the 1969–70 season. In this draft, 14 NBA teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players. A player who had finished his four-year...
by the New York Knicks
New York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
and in the 1969 ABA Draft by the Dallas Chaparrals
Dallas Chaparrals
The Dallas Chaparrals were a charter member of the American Basketball Association, later becoming the San Antonio Spurs and joining the NBA.The team suffered from poor attendance and general disinterest in Dallas...
. Littles opted to play in the American Basketball Association
American Basketball Association
The American Basketball Association was a professional basketball league founded in 1967. The ABA ceased to exist with the ABA–NBA merger in 1976.-League history:...
(ABA).
Littles played for five seasons with the Carolina Cougars
Carolina Cougars
Carolina Cougars was a basketball franchise in the former American Basketball Association that existed from late 1969 through 1974. The Cougars were originally a charter member of the ABA as the Houston Mavericks in 1967. The Mavericks moved to North Carolina in late 1969 after two unsuccessful...
(1969–74). He then played for one season (1974–75) with the Kentucky Colonels
Kentucky Colonels
The Kentucky Colonels were a member of the American Basketball Association for all of the league's nine years. The name is derived from the historic Kentucky colonels. The Colonels won the most games and had the highest winning percentage of any franchise in the league's history, but the team did...
. With Kentucky, Littles was a member of the Colonels team that won the 1975 ABA Championship
1975 ABA Playoffs
The 1975 ABA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the American Basketball Association's 1974-1975 season. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Division champion Kentucky Colonels defeating the Western Division champion Indiana Pacers, four games to one in the ABA Finals.The Kentucky...
.
After his playing career, Littles got into coaching, and became an assistant with the Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers are a professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They began playing in the National Basketball Association in 1970 as an expansion team...
of the NBA. He got his first taste of head coaching when George Karl
George Karl
George Matthew Karl is a former National Basketball Association and American Basketball Association player. He is the current head coach of the Denver Nuggets. On December 10, 2010 he became the seventh coach in NBA history to record 1,000 wins.-Biography:Karl was born in Penn Hills,...
was dismissed at the end of the 1985-86 season
1985-86 NBA season
-Statistics leaders:-NBA awards:*Most Valuable Player: Larry Bird, Boston Celtics*Rookie of the Year: Patrick Ewing, New York Knicks*Defensive Player of the Year: Alvin Robertson, San Antonio Spurs...
. The Cavaliers next year hired Lenny Wilkens
Lenny Wilkens
Leonard Randolph "Lenny" Wilkens is a retired American basketball player and coach in the NBA...
, however.
In 1990, Littles got a second NBA head coaching job, with the Charlotte Hornets — replacing Dick Harter
Dick Harter
Dick Harter is an American basketball coach, who has served as both a head and assistant coach in both the NBA and NCAA.-Coaching career:...
. He lasted as season and a half with the recent-expansion Hornets, until he was replaced with Allan Bristow
Allan Bristow
Allan Mercer Bristow Jr. is a retired American professional basketball player, coach, and executive. Bristow played college basketball at Virginia Tech, and was selected by the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2nd round of the 1973 NBA Draft...
at the end of the 1990-1991 season. Littles later became an assistant with the Denver Nuggets
Denver Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets are a professional basketball team based in Denver, Colorado. They play in the National Basketball Association . They were founded as the Denver Rockets in 1967 as a charter franchise of the American Basketball Association, and became one of that league's more successful teams...
, and served as an interim coach during the 1994-95 season, in between Dan Issel
Dan Issel
Daniel Paul Issel is a retired American Hall of Fame professional basketball player and coach.-Collegiate playing career:...
and Bernie Bickerstaff
Bernie Bickerstaff
Bernard Tyrone "Bernie" Bickerstaff is an assistant coach for the NBA's Portland Trail Blazers. Prior to the Trail Blazers, Bickerstaff was an assistant for the Chicago Bulls and Executive Vice President of the Charlotte Bobcats...
.