Guy Rodgers
Encyclopedia
Guy William Rodgers was an American
professional basketball
player born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
. He spent twelve years (1958–1970) in the NBA
, and was one of the league's best playmakers in the early to mid 1960s. Rodgers led the NBA in assists twice, and placed second six times.
Rodgers played alongside the great Wilt Chamberlain
from 1959 through 1964, and during Chamberlain's famous 100-point game
, he led the way with 20 assists. In the 1962–63 season, Rodgers led the NBA in assists with an average of 10.4 per game, and played in his first NBA All-Star game
. On March 14 of that same season, Rodgers tied Bob Cousy
's record of 28 assists in a single game — a record that wasn't broken until nearly 15 years later.
Rodgers was the point guard on the 1964 Warriors team that made the NBA finals but eventually lost the series to the Boston Celtics
four games to one. In 1966 Rodgers was traded to the expansion team, the Chicago Bulls
. Rodgers played the 1966–67 season in Chicago and was named NBA All-Star for the fourth and final time in his career. That same season, Rodgers handed out a then-NBA record 908 assists
, which is still the Chicago Bulls single-season record.
With four games played in the 1967–68 season, Rodgers was traded to the Cincinnati Royals
. After finishing the season in Cincinnati, Rodgers moved to Milwaukee and joined the Bucks
for his two final seasons.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional 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 born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. He spent twelve years (1958–1970) in the NBA
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
, and was one of the league's best playmakers in the early to mid 1960s. Rodgers led the NBA in assists twice, and placed second six times.
Rodgers played alongside the great Wilt Chamberlain
Wilt Chamberlain
Wilton Norman "Wilt" Chamberlain was an American professional NBA basketball player for the Philadelphia/San Francisco Warriors, the Philadelphia 76ers and the Los Angeles Lakers; he also played for the Harlem Globetrotters prior to playing in the NBA...
from 1959 through 1964, and during Chamberlain's famous 100-point game
Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point game
Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point game, named by the National Basketball Association as one of its greatest games, was a regular-season game between the Philadelphia Warriors and the New York Knicks held on March 2, 1962, at Hersheypark Arena in Hershey, Pennsylvania.The Warriors won the game 169-147,...
, he led the way with 20 assists. In the 1962–63 season, Rodgers led the NBA in assists with an average of 10.4 per game, and played in his first NBA All-Star game
National Basketball Association All-Star Game
The National Basketball Association staged its first All-Star Game in the Boston Garden on March 2, 1951. From that year on, the game has matched the best players in the Eastern Conference with the best players in the Western Conference....
. On March 14 of that same season, Rodgers tied Bob Cousy
Bob Cousy
Robert Joseph "Bob" Cousy is a retired American professional basketball player. The 6'1" , 175-pound Cousy played point guard with the National Basketball Association's Boston Celtics from 1951 to 1963 and briefly with the Cincinnati Royals in the 1969–70 season...
's record of 28 assists in a single game — a record that wasn't broken until nearly 15 years later.
Rodgers was the point guard on the 1964 Warriors team that made the NBA finals but eventually lost the series to the Boston Celtics
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
four games to one. In 1966 Rodgers was traded to the expansion team, the Chicago Bulls
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1966. They play their home games at the United Center...
. Rodgers played the 1966–67 season in Chicago and was named NBA All-Star for the fourth and final time in his career. That same season, Rodgers handed out a then-NBA record 908 assists
Assist (basketball)
In basketball, an assist is attributed to a player who passes the ball to a teammate in a way that leads to a score by field goal, meaning that he or she was "assisting" in the basket. There is some judgment involved in deciding whether a passer should be credited with an assist...
, which is still the Chicago Bulls single-season record.
With four games played in the 1967–68 season, Rodgers was traded to the Cincinnati Royals
Sacramento Kings
The Sacramento Kings are a professional basketball team based in Sacramento, California, United States. They are currently members of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
. After finishing the season in Cincinnati, Rodgers moved to Milwaukee and joined the Bucks
Milwaukee Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks are a professional basketball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. They are part of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1968 as an expansion team, and currently plays at the Bradley Center....
for his two final seasons.
See also
- List of National Basketball Association career assists leaders
- List of National Basketball Association players with most assists in a game