Larry Steele
Encyclopedia
Larry Nelson Steele is a former professional basketball
player, best known for being on the Portland Trail Blazers
team that won the 1977 NBA Finals
.
Steele grew up in Bainbridge, Indiana
, and played collegiately at the University of Kentucky
under coach Adolph Rupp
. As a junior at Bainbridge High School, he had a high game of 46 points and 38 points as a high game during senior year. He scored a total of 1,646 high school points. His senior year he was selected All-County, All-Sectional, All-Regional, All- Semi-State, Indianapolis News 1st Team All-State, and a member of the Indiana All-Star Team.
At the University of Kentucky, he was a three-year starter, averaging 13.1 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game. He was selected 1st Team All-SEC twice, Co-captain, MVP, Leadership Award, Hustle Award, led the UK team in assists and free throws. In 2003 he was inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame. Retrieved 11-19-10 As a junior in 1970, Steele earned 3rd team UPI/Coaches All-American honors and in 1971 as a senior 2nd team AP and 3rd team UPI/Coaches All-American honors.Retrieved 11-20-10
He was drafted by the Trail Blazers in 1971, with the 2nd pick in the 3rd round (37th overall) and by the Kentucky Colonels
in the 1971 American Basketball Association
draft. In 1974 he was drafted again by the Kentucky Colonels in the 5th round of the ABA draft of NBA players. Retrieved 11-20-10 He joined the Trail Blazers at the start of the Blazers’ second season and became a roster mainstay for nine years before injuries forced him into retirement at the end of the 1979-80 season. His 610 games in a Portland uniform ranks sixth on the club’s all-time list. Retrieved 11-18-10
Steele played his entire NBA career for the team (retiring from basketball at the end of the 1979-80 season
). Steele led the NBA in steal
s in the 1973-74 NBA season
— the first year steals were recorded by the league with 2.68 swipes per game. He played 20.7 MPG on the 1977 championship team (starting in only nine games) averaging 10.3 points per game. During his nine-year NBA career, all with the Trail Blazers, he averaged 8.2 points, 2.9 assists, 1.39 steals and 24.2 minutes while starting 337 games. He was selected as a member of the 1992 Silver Anniversary Team; and his jersey number (15) was retired by the team on October 11, 1981.
After his playing days, he worked in the Blazers front office in marketing and served as a commentator with broadcaster Bill Schonely. Retrieved 11-18-10
Steele later worked as a broadcaster
for the NBA on CBS and as a head coach at the University of Portland
from 1987-1994. He currently runs a basketball camp in Vernonia, Oregon
.
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, best known for being on the Portland Trail Blazers
Portland Trail Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers, commonly known as the Blazers, are an American professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The Trail Blazers originally played their home games in the...
team that won the 1977 NBA Finals
1977 NBA Finals
The 1977 NBA World Championship Series was the championship round of the 1976-77 NBA season. The Portland Trail Blazers of the Western Conference played against the Philadelphia 76ers of the Eastern Conference, with the 76ers holding home-court advantage. Their 4 regular season meetings had been...
.
Steele grew up in Bainbridge, Indiana
Bainbridge, Indiana
Bainbridge is a town in Monroe Township, Putnam County, Indiana, United States. The population was 746 at the 2010 census. This town was named after the prominent war hero of the time William Bainbridge. He was one of the captains of the original 6 frigates of the US navy...
, and played collegiately at the University of Kentucky
University of Kentucky
The University of Kentucky, also known as UK, is a public co-educational university and is one of the state's two land-grant universities, located in Lexington, Kentucky...
under coach Adolph Rupp
Adolph Rupp
Adolph Frederick Rupp was one of the most successful coaches in the history of American college basketball. Rupp is fourth in total victories by a men's NCAA Division I college coach, winning 876 games in 41 years of coaching...
. As a junior at Bainbridge High School, he had a high game of 46 points and 38 points as a high game during senior year. He scored a total of 1,646 high school points. His senior year he was selected All-County, All-Sectional, All-Regional, All- Semi-State, Indianapolis News 1st Team All-State, and a member of the Indiana All-Star Team.
At the University of Kentucky, he was a three-year starter, averaging 13.1 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game. He was selected 1st Team All-SEC twice, Co-captain, MVP, Leadership Award, Hustle Award, led the UK team in assists and free throws. In 2003 he was inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame. Retrieved 11-19-10 As a junior in 1970, Steele earned 3rd team UPI/Coaches All-American honors and in 1971 as a senior 2nd team AP and 3rd team UPI/Coaches All-American honors.Retrieved 11-20-10
He was drafted by the Trail Blazers in 1971, with the 2nd pick in the 3rd round (37th overall) and by 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...
in the 1971 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:...
draft. In 1974 he was drafted again by the Kentucky Colonels in the 5th round of the ABA draft of NBA players. Retrieved 11-20-10 He joined the Trail Blazers at the start of the Blazers’ second season and became a roster mainstay for nine years before injuries forced him into retirement at the end of the 1979-80 season. His 610 games in a Portland uniform ranks sixth on the club’s all-time list. Retrieved 11-18-10
Steele played his entire NBA career for the team (retiring from basketball at the end of the 1979-80 season
1979-80 NBA season
-Statistics leaders:-NBA awards:*Most Valuable Player: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Los Angeles Lakers*Rookie of the Year: Larry Bird, Boston Celtics*Coach of the Year: Bill Fitch, Boston Celtics*All-NBA First Team:**Paul Westphal, Phoenix Suns...
). Steele led the NBA in steal
Steal (basketball)
In basketball, a steal occurs when a defensive player legally causes a turnover by his positive, aggressive action. This can be done by deflecting and controlling, catching, or batting to a teammate a pass or dribble of an offensive player...
s in the 1973-74 NBA season
1973-74 NBA season
The 1973–74 NBA season was the 28th season of the National Basketball Association. The season ended with the Boston Celtics winning the NBA Championship, beating the Milwaukee Bucks 4 games to 3 in the NBA Finals.- Notable occurrences :...
— the first year steals were recorded by the league with 2.68 swipes per game. He played 20.7 MPG on the 1977 championship team (starting in only nine games) averaging 10.3 points per game. During his nine-year NBA career, all with the Trail Blazers, he averaged 8.2 points, 2.9 assists, 1.39 steals and 24.2 minutes while starting 337 games. He was selected as a member of the 1992 Silver Anniversary Team; and his jersey number (15) was retired by the team on October 11, 1981.
After his playing days, he worked in the Blazers front office in marketing and served as a commentator with broadcaster Bill Schonely. Retrieved 11-18-10
Steele later worked as a broadcaster
Presenter
A presenter, or host , is a person or organization responsible for running an event. A museum or university, for example, may be the presenter or host of an exhibit. Likewise, a master of ceremonies is a person that hosts or presents a show...
for the NBA on CBS and as a head coach at the University of Portland
University of Portland
The University of Portland is a private Roman Catholic university located in Portland, Oregon. It is affiliated with the Congregation of Holy Cross and is the sister school of the University of Notre Dame. Founded in 1901, UP has a student body of about 3,600 students...
from 1987-1994. He currently runs a basketball camp in Vernonia, Oregon
Vernonia, Oregon
Vernonia is a city in Columbia County, Oregon, United States. The city is located on the Nehalem River, in a valley on the eastern side of the Northern Oregon Coast Range. It is located the heart of the most important timber-producing areas of the state, and logging has played an important role in...
.