Norm Nixon
Encyclopedia
Norman Ellard "Norm" Nixon (born October 11, 1955) is a retired American professional basketball player for the NBA
, who spent twelve seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers
and the San Diego/Los Angeles Clippers
.
, his mother contracted myasthenia gravis
when Norm was a baby, and his parents divorced when he was two years old. The three boys were also raised with the help of his mother's mom and aunt (the boys' grandmother and great aunt). He and his two brothers, Ken and Ron, attended the Methodist church, and Norm became an usher
.
in high school at Southwest High School
in Macon, Georgia, and was named to all-state in both sports. In football he played defensive back
and tailback
, and was later offered a free agent
tryout by both the Pittsburgh Steelers
and Dallas Cowboys
. He was senior class president and named as the starting guard on the Georgia All-State team for 1973, after leading Southwest to the 1973 state high school basketball championship. Nixon also played the trumpet
and was on the yearbook
staff. He was on the track team, ran the 440 yard dash, and won a regional title in the high jump
at 6-feet, 5-inches.
in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. While there he averaged 17.2 points-per-game (PPG), 5.5 assists-per-game (APG), and 4.0 rebounds-per-game (RPG), scoring 1,805 points and adding 577 assist in 104 games for his career with the Duquesne Dukes
. Nixon was named first-team All-Eastern Eight Conference, and left holding the record for career assists.
On January 27, 2001, during the halftime of a game against Xavier University
(Cincinnati), the Duquesne University Department of Athletics retired the jerseys of five of its all-time greatest players, including Nixon's #10 (also retired: Chuck Cooper, Sihugo Green
, Dick Ricketts
and Willie Somerset
).
by the Los Angeles Lakers
. He played for the Lakers for six successful seasons and helped them to win NBA championships in 1980
(4–2) and 1982
(4–2), both against the Philadelphia 76ers
. The same two teams would meet in the 1983 NBA Finals
, but Philadelphia won this series four games to none. In the 1978 (Seattle SuperSonics
), 1979 (Seattle), and 1981 (Houston Rockets
) playoffs, the Lakers were eliminated by the eventual Western Conference champion.
He led the team in scoring in the 1982 playoffs.
In game one of the 1983 finals he had a violent collision with Andrew Toney
of the 76ers early in the first quarter. As he came off the floor, coach Pat Riley
asked Nixon "You need a blow?", to which Nixon replied: "No, a casket". He would continue to play in game one and game two despite a separated shoulder.
Prior to the start of the 1983–84 season he was traded to the San Diego Clippers
in exchange for the draft rights to guard Byron Scott
.
In his first year with the Clippers, Nixon led the league in assists and made the All-Star team for the second time in the 1984–85 season. After the 1985–86 season, he spent much of his later career on the injured list, spending more than two full seasons on the injured list before retiring for good at the end of the 1988–89 season. During his time with the Clippers he would never make it to the playoffs again.
For the 1978–79 season he tied Eddie Jordan
of the New Jersey Nets
for the NBA lead in steals with 201, and total games (82 regular season + 23 playoffs = 105). The next season (1979–80) he led the league in minutes played (3,226), minutes per game (39.3), and was third in assists with 642. Led the league in assists for the 1983-84 season with 914, and regular season games played (82).
He missed the 1986–87 season after stepping into a hole during a softball game in New York City
's Central Park
during the summer of 1986 (July 23, 1986) and suffered severe damage to the tendon just above his left knee. Nixon ruptured his right achilles tendon during a pre-season practice on November 4, 1987; the injury would cause him to miss the entire 1987–88 season. Before being injured he had played in 715 of 725 games available in his first nine seasons.
During his NBA career, Nixon scored 12,065 points (15.7 points per game) and had 6,386 assists (8.3) in 768 games played. Although he had impressive statistics, he may be remembered most for faking a free throw
at the end of a Lakers-San Antonio Spurs
game on November 30, 1982, which caused a double lane violation. The referees erroneously ordered a jump ball, instead of requiring Nixon to re-shoot the free throw. The Lakers got the ball and Nixon made a field goal to tie the game, where they prevailed in overtime. The last three seconds of the game were later replayed in April 1983.
of the Italian major-league Serie A
in April and May. In August 1989 Valerio Bianchini (who had coached Pesaro the previous season) head coach of Messaggero Roma
tried to get Nixon to come play for the 1989–90 season.
He became a sports agent
(at Premier Management Group Inc. and then later Norm Nixon & Associates) representing such clients as Doug Edwards
, Samaki Walker
, Jalen Rose
, Maurice Taylor
, Teddy Dupay, Gary Grant
, Gerald Fitch
, the NFL
's Peter Warrick
, Larry Smith
, and Al Wilson
. And entertainers such as LL Cool J
and TLC
.
Founded the Debbie Allen Dance Academy (DADA) in Culver City, California
with his wife.
In his retirement years, Nixon concentrated on several business ventures, and served one season as radio commentator for the Clippers (2004–05), as well as doing analyst work for KABC-TV
's NBA post-game shows during the mid-2000s.
Subsequently, he was hired by Fox Sports West to take over Jack Haley
's position as studio color analyst for all Lakers home games, working alongside studio host Bill McDonald during pregame, halftime, and post game coverage.
since 1984, and they are the parents of actor DeVaughn Nixon (Allen is his stepmother), dancer Vivian Nichole Nixon
, and basketball player Norman Ellard Nixon Jr. (Wofford College
& Southern University
). Debbie Allen is also the sister of actress Phylicia Rashad
.
Before they were married, both Nixon and Allen appeared in the 1979 film The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh
(a film that also featured NBA stars Julius Erving
and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
).
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...
, who spent twelve seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
and the San Diego/Los Angeles Clippers
Los Angeles Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers are a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, United States. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
.
Early life
Born the third of three boys to Mary Jo and Elmer Nixon, in Macon, GeorgiaMacon, Georgia
Macon is a city located in central Georgia, US. Founded at the fall line of the Ocmulgee River, it is part of the Macon metropolitan area, and the county seat of Bibb County. A small portion of the city extends into Jones County. Macon is the biggest city in central Georgia...
, his mother contracted myasthenia gravis
Myasthenia gravis
Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune neuromuscular disease leading to fluctuating muscle weakness and fatiguability...
when Norm was a baby, and his parents divorced when he was two years old. The three boys were also raised with the help of his mother's mom and aunt (the boys' grandmother and great aunt). He and his two brothers, Ken and Ron, attended the Methodist church, and Norm became an usher
Church usher
In many denominations of the Christian Church, a Church usher is the first official representative seen when entering the church. The role of the usher in church is a volunteer position, and is often considered one of honor, particularly if the church or a church committee member selects an usher...
.
High school
He played basketball and footballAmerican football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
in high school at Southwest High School
Southwest Magnet High School
Southwest Magnet High School, also known as Southwest-Macon and Southwest Magnet High School and Law Academy, is a high school in Macon, Georgia, serving students in grades 9-12...
in Macon, Georgia, and was named to all-state in both sports. In football he played defensive back
Defensive back
In American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players and linebackers, who take positions directly behind or close to the line of...
and tailback
Tailback
Tailback can mean:* Halfback * A line of motor vehicles caught up in traffic congestion; a traffic jam...
, and was later offered a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
tryout by both the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
and Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
. He was senior class president and named as the starting guard on the Georgia All-State team for 1973, after leading Southwest to the 1973 state high school basketball championship. Nixon also played the trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
and was on the yearbook
Yearbook
A yearbook, also known as an annual, is a book to record, highlight, and commemorate the past year of a school or a book published annually. Virtually all American, Australian and Canadian high schools, most colleges and many elementary and middle schools publish yearbooks...
staff. He was on the track team, ran the 440 yard dash, and won a regional title in the high jump
High jump
The high jump is a track and field athletics event in which competitors must jump over a horizontal bar placed at measured heights without the aid of certain devices in its modern most practiced format; auxiliary weights and mounds have been used for assistance; rules have changed over the years....
at 6-feet, 5-inches.
College
He played four full seasons at Duquesne UniversityDuquesne University
Duquesne University of the Holy Spirit is a private Catholic university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded by members of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit, Duquesne first opened its doors as the Pittsburgh Catholic College of the Holy Ghost in October 1878 with an enrollment of...
in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. While there he averaged 17.2 points-per-game (PPG), 5.5 assists-per-game (APG), and 4.0 rebounds-per-game (RPG), scoring 1,805 points and adding 577 assist in 104 games for his career with the Duquesne Dukes
Duquesne Dukes men's basketball
The Duquesne Dukes represent Duquesne University in college basketball. The team, which started in 1914, has only ever played in NCAA Division I and has had five appearances in the NCAA Tournament...
. Nixon was named first-team All-Eastern Eight Conference, and left holding the record for career assists.
On January 27, 2001, during the halftime of a game against Xavier University
Xavier University (Cincinnati)
Xavier University is a co-educational Jesuit university in the United States located in Cincinnati, Ohio. The University is the sixth-oldest Catholic university in the nation and has an undergraduate enrollment of about 4,000 students and graduate enrollment of 2,600 students. Xavier is primarily...
(Cincinnati), the Duquesne University Department of Athletics retired the jerseys of five of its all-time greatest players, including Nixon's #10 (also retired: Chuck Cooper, Sihugo Green
Sihugo Green
Sihugo "Si" Green was an American professional basketball player who was born in New York City, New York....
, Dick Ricketts
Dick Ricketts
Richard James Ricketts, Jr. was an American professional basketball player.A 6'7" forward from Duquesne University, Ricketts was selected by the St. Louis Hawks with the first pick of the 1955 NBA Draft...
and Willie Somerset
Willie Somerset
Willard F. Somerset is an American former professional basketball player.A 5'8" guard from Duquesne University, Somerset played eight games for the Baltimore Bullets during the 1965-66 NBA season, averaging 5.6 points per game...
).
NBA career
Nixon was the 22nd overall pick in the 1977 NBA Draft1977 NBA Draft
The 1977 NBA Draft was the 31st annual draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held on June 10, 1977 before the 1977–78 season. In this draft, 22 NBA teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players and other eligible players, including international players...
by the Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
. He played for the Lakers for six successful seasons and helped them to win NBA championships in 1980
1980 NBA Finals
The 1980 NBA World Championship Series was the championship round of the 1979–80 NBA season.Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was the league's MVP. But midway through Game 5, the Laker center suffered a severely sprained ankle. He managed to come back in the game in the 4th quarter to lead the Lakers to victory...
(4–2) and 1982
1982 NBA Finals
The 1982 NBA World Championship Series was the championship round of the 1981-82 NBA season, the top level of competition in men's professional basketball in North America. The series saw the Los Angeles Lakers face the Philadelphia 76ers....
(4–2), both against the Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers are a professional basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . Originally known as the Syracuse Nationals, they are one of the oldest franchises in the NBA...
. The same two teams would meet in the 1983 NBA Finals
1983 NBA Finals
The 1983 NBA World Championship Series was the championship round of the 1982–83 NBA season.-Overview:The final piece of the Philadelphia 76ers' championship puzzle was completed before the 1982-83 season when they acquired center Moses Malone from the Houston Rockets...
, but Philadelphia won this series four games to none. In the 1978 (Seattle SuperSonics
Seattle SuperSonics
The Seattle SuperSonics were an American professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington that played in the Pacific and Northwest Divisions of the National Basketball Association from 1967 until 2008. Following the 2007–08 season, the team relocated to Oklahoma City, and now plays as...
), 1979 (Seattle), and 1981 (Houston Rockets
Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston, Texas. The team plays in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1967, and played in San Diego, California for four years, before being...
) playoffs, the Lakers were eliminated by the eventual Western Conference champion.
He led the team in scoring in the 1982 playoffs.
In game one of the 1983 finals he had a violent collision with Andrew Toney
Andrew Toney
Andrew Toney is an American former professional basketball player who played for the NBA's Philadelphia 76ers from 1980 to 1988...
of the 76ers early in the first quarter. As he came off the floor, coach Pat Riley
Pat Riley
Patrick James "Pat" Riley is an American professional basketball executive, and a retired coach and player in the NBA. Currently, he is team president of the Miami Heat. Widely regarded as one of the greatest NBA coaches of all time, Riley has served as the head coach of five championship teams...
asked Nixon "You need a blow?", to which Nixon replied: "No, a casket". He would continue to play in game one and game two despite a separated shoulder.
Prior to the start of the 1983–84 season he was traded to the San Diego Clippers
Los Angeles Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers are a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, United States. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
in exchange for the draft rights to guard Byron Scott
Byron Scott (basketball)
Byron Antom Scott is a retired American National Basketball Association player and current head coach of the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers. He was formerly the head coach of the NBA's New Jersey Nets and New Orleans Hornets. He attended Arizona State University, but left school in his junior year to...
.
In his first year with the Clippers, Nixon led the league in assists and made the All-Star team for the second time in the 1984–85 season. After the 1985–86 season, he spent much of his later career on the injured list, spending more than two full seasons on the injured list before retiring for good at the end of the 1988–89 season. During his time with the Clippers he would never make it to the playoffs again.
For the 1978–79 season he tied Eddie Jordan
Eddie Jordan (basketball)
Edward Montgomery "Eddie" Jordan is a retired American professional basketball player and former coach of the Philadelphia 76ers, Washington Wizards and Sacramento Kings in the NBA.-Collegiate and pro career:...
of the New Jersey Nets
New Jersey Nets
The New Jersey Nets are a professional basketball team based in Newark, New Jersey. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
for the NBA lead in steals with 201, and total games (82 regular season + 23 playoffs = 105). The next season (1979–80) he led the league in minutes played (3,226), minutes per game (39.3), and was third in assists with 642. Led the league in assists for the 1983-84 season with 914, and regular season games played (82).
He missed the 1986–87 season after stepping into a hole during a softball game in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
's Central Park
Central Park
Central Park is a public park in the center of Manhattan in New York City, United States. The park initially opened in 1857, on of city-owned land. In 1858, Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux won a design competition to improve and expand the park with a plan they entitled the Greensward Plan...
during the summer of 1986 (July 23, 1986) and suffered severe damage to the tendon just above his left knee. Nixon ruptured his right achilles tendon during a pre-season practice on November 4, 1987; the injury would cause him to miss the entire 1987–88 season. Before being injured he had played in 715 of 725 games available in his first nine seasons.
During his NBA career, Nixon scored 12,065 points (15.7 points per game) and had 6,386 assists (8.3) in 768 games played. Although he had impressive statistics, he may be remembered most for faking a free throw
Free throw
In basketball, free throws or foul shots are unopposed attempts to score points from a restricted area on the court , and are generally awarded after a foul on the shooter by the opposing team...
at the end of a Lakers-San Antonio Spurs
San Antonio Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs are an American professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas. They are part of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association ....
game on November 30, 1982, which caused a double lane violation. The referees erroneously ordered a jump ball, instead of requiring Nixon to re-shoot the free throw. The Lakers got the ball and Nixon made a field goal to tie the game, where they prevailed in overtime. The last three seconds of the game were later replayed in April 1983.
Post NBA
After retiring from the NBA in March 1989, Nixon played for Scavolini PesaroVictoria Libertas Pesaro
Victoria Libertas , full name Unione Sportiva Victoria Libertas Pallacanestro, is a professional basketball team that is based in Pesaro, Italy. The club competes in the top level Italian professional basketball league, the Lega Basket Serie A...
of the Italian major-league Serie A
Serie A (basketball)
Lega Basket Serie A is the highest level club competition in Italian professional basketball where play determines the national champion. The season consists of a home-and-away schedule of 30 games, followed by an eight-team playoff round. Quarterfinals and semifinals series are best-of-five, and...
in April and May. In August 1989 Valerio Bianchini (who had coached Pesaro the previous season) head coach of Messaggero Roma
Pallacanestro Virtus Roma
Pallacanestro Virtus Roma, also known for sponsorship reasons as Acea Virtus Roma, is a prominent Italian League professional basketball club, and is also currently one of 13 European clubs that hold ULEB A Licenses, which provide their holders with a guaranteed place in the Euroleague. The club...
tried to get Nixon to come play for the 1989–90 season.
He became a sports agent
Sports agent
A sports agent procures and negotiates employment and endorsement contracts for an athlete.In return, the sports agent generally receives between 4 and 10% of the athlete's playing contract, and 10 to 20% of the athlete's endorsement contract, though these figures vary...
(at Premier Management Group Inc. and then later Norm Nixon & Associates) representing such clients as Doug Edwards
Doug Edwards
Douglas Edwards is an American former professional basketball player who was selected by the Atlanta Hawks in the 1st round of the 1993 NBA Draft. Edwards played for the Hawks and Vancouver Grizzlies in 3 NBA seasons, averaging 2.4 ppg. He played collegiately at Florida State University...
, Samaki Walker
Samaki Walker
Samaki Ijuma Walker is an American professional basketball power forward and center. Walker played college basketball at the University of Louisville and was drafted in 1996 by the Dallas Mavericks, where he played until 1999...
, Jalen Rose
Jalen Rose
Jalen Anthony Rose is a retired American professional basketball player, who currently works as a sports analyst for the sports television network ESPN...
, Maurice Taylor
Maurice Taylor
Maurice De Shawn Taylor is an American professional basketball power forward.-College career:Taylor attended the University of Michigan. The athletic forward, from Henry Ford High School in Detroit, burst onto the national scene during the 1994 Maui Invitational with fellow freshman Maceo Baston...
, Teddy Dupay, Gary Grant
Gary Grant
Gary Grant is a retired American professional basketball player at the point guard position in the NBA.Gary "The General" Grant played for Canton McKinley High School and collegiately at the University of Michigan....
, Gerald Fitch
Gerald Fitch
Gerald Edwind Fitch is an American professional basketball player currently with the Euroleague team Unicaja Málaga in Spain. He played college basketball at the University of Kentucky and has played internationally and in the National Basketball Association in the United States.-College...
, the NFL
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
's Peter Warrick
Peter Warrick
Peter Warrick is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals fourth overall in the 2000 NFL Draft...
, Larry Smith
Larry Smith (defensive tackle)
Larry Smith is a former defensive tackle in the National Football League. He played for the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Green Bay Packers during his career.-External links:*...
, and Al Wilson
Al Wilson
Aldra Kauwa Wilson is a former American football linebacker of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos 31st overall in the 1999 NFL Draft. He played college football at Tennessee....
. And entertainers such as LL Cool J
LL Cool J
James Todd Smith , better known as LL Cool J , is an American rapper, entrepreneur, and actor...
and TLC
TLC (band)
TLC is an American musical trio whose repertoire spanned R&B, hip-hop, soul, funk, and new jack swing. Originally consisting of singer Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins, rapper-singer Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes and singer Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas it found success in the 1990s while also enduring a series of spats...
.
Founded the Debbie Allen Dance Academy (DADA) in Culver City, California
Culver City, California
Culver City is a city in western Los Angeles County, California. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 38,883, up from 38,816 at the 2000 census. It is mostly surrounded by the city of Los Angeles, but also shares a border with unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County. Culver...
with his wife.
In his retirement years, Nixon concentrated on several business ventures, and served one season as radio commentator for the Clippers (2004–05), as well as doing analyst work for KABC-TV
KABC-TV
KABC-TV, channel 7, is an owned-and-operated television station of the Walt Disney Company-owned American Broadcasting Company, licensed to Los Angeles, California. KABC-TV's studios are located in Glendale, California...
's NBA post-game shows during the mid-2000s.
Subsequently, he was hired by Fox Sports West to take over Jack Haley
Jack Haley (basketball)
Jack Kevin Haley is an American former professional basketball player. A 6'10" forward/center from Huntington Beach High School and UCLA, Haley spent nine seasons in the National Basketball Association as a member of the Chicago Bulls, New Jersey Nets, Los Angeles Lakers, and San Antonio...
's position as studio color analyst for all Lakers home games, working alongside studio host Bill McDonald during pregame, halftime, and post game coverage.
Personal life
Nixon has been married to actress/producer/director/dancer Debbie AllenDebbie Allen
Deborrah Kaye “Debbie” Allen is an American actress, dancer, choreographer, television director, television producer, and a member of the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities...
since 1984, and they are the parents of actor DeVaughn Nixon (Allen is his stepmother), dancer Vivian Nichole Nixon
Vivian Nixon
Vivian Nixon is a dancer who recently made her debut on Broadway as Kalimba in Hot Feet. She is one of two children of former NBA star Norm Nixon and dancer/choreographer/producer/director/actress Debbie Allen. She was named after her grandmother Vivian Ayers-Allen. Her aunt is actress Phylicia...
, and basketball player Norman Ellard Nixon Jr. (Wofford College
Wofford College
Established in 1854 and related to the United Methodist Church, Wofford College is an independent, Phi Beta Kappa liberal arts college of 1,525 students located in downtown Spartanburg, South Carolina, United States. The historic campus is recognized as a national arboretum and features “The...
& Southern University
Southern University
Southern University and A&M College is a historically black college located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The Baton Rouge campus is located on Scott’s Bluff overlooking the Mississippi River in the northern section...
). Debbie Allen is also the sister of actress Phylicia Rashad
Phylicia Rashad
Phylicia Rashād is an American Tony Award winning actress and singer, best known for her role as Clair Huxtable on the long-running NBC sitcom The Cosby Show....
.
Before they were married, both Nixon and Allen appeared in the 1979 film The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh
The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh
The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh is an American sports/fantasy comedy film that was released in 1979. The movie was directed by Gilbert Moses and co-produced by David Dashev and Gary Stromberg. It was produced by Lorimar and distributed by United Artists. The rights to the film are currently owned by...
(a film that also featured NBA stars Julius Erving
Julius Erving
Julius Winfield Erving II , commonly known by the nickname Dr. J, is a retired American basketball player who helped launch a modern style of play that emphasizes leaping and play above the rim....
and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is a retired American professional basketball player. He is the NBA's all-time leading scorer, with 38,387 points. During his career with the NBA's Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers from 1969 to 1989, Abdul-Jabbar won six NBA championships and a record six regular season...
).
See also
- List of National Basketball Association career assists leaders
- List of National Basketball Association players with most assists in a game