Scott Wedman
Encyclopedia
Scott Dean Wedman is a former NBA basketball
player. He was drafted by Kansas City-Omaha Kings
in the first round in the 1974 NBA Draft
.
He hit a career summit in 1979-80 and 1980-81, with a scoring average of 19.0 points per game. On January 2, 1980, he scored 45 points in an overtime win at Utah for his career high. Wedman was a key to Kansas City's postseason success in 1981. Despite finishing the regular season with only a 40-42 record, the Kings caught fire in the playoffs, beating Portland and Phoenix before losing in the Western Conference finals to Houston in five games.
At the 1981 NBA Draft
, seeing that the Kings could not afford to keep both Wedman and fellow All-Star Otis Birdsong
, Kansas City traded both players to other teams and received far less in value. Wedman was dealt to Cleveland
for a first-round draft pick.
The Kansas City franchise went 30-52 in 1981-82 and never approached the same attendance levels at Kemper Arena before owners moved the team to Sacramento in 1985.
On January 14, 1983, Wedman was traded by the Cleveland Cavaliers to the Boston Celtics
for Darren Tillis
and cash. He was instrumental as a player off the bench in the Celtics' NBA championships in 1984
and 1986
. Boston fans remember Wedman's performance in the Memorial Day Massacre, an appellation for Game 1 of the 1985 NBA Finals
. Coming off the bench, Wedman hit all 11 of his shots, including four three-pointers, in Boston's 148-114 win over the Lakers. He often spelled Larry Bird
and Kevin McHale
or replaced them whenever they were injured.
Wedman was also a strict vegetarian during his playing career, not for any moral reasons but for health purposes. For this, Wedman was teased mercilessly by both Bird and McHale in practices and at meals.
On October 16, 1987, he was traded by the Celtics with Sam Vincent
to the Seattle SuperSonics
for a 1989 second-round draft choice. However, he retired and did not play a game for the SuperSonics.
of the American Basketball Association
.
Wedman returned to Kansas City where he lives today and operated his real estate business.
In June 2007, Wedman was named head coach of the Great Falls Explorers
of the CBA
.
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. He was drafted by Kansas City-Omaha Kings
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...
in the first round in the 1974 NBA Draft
1974 NBA Draft
The 1974 NBA Draft was the 28th annual draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held on May 28, 1974 before the 1974–75 season. In this draft, 18 NBA teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players and other eligible players, including international players...
.
Kansas City Kings
Wedman was a proficient shooter. He represented the Kansas City Kings twice in the NBA All-Star Game. During his time in Kansas City, Wedman gained the nickname "The Incredible Hulk" because of his extensive sessions in the weight room. On March 4, 1979, Wedman was involved in a 1-car accident in which his Porsche overturned on a rainy highway in Kansas City. At the time, doctors credited his conditioning with keeping him out of action for only a few games.He hit a career summit in 1979-80 and 1980-81, with a scoring average of 19.0 points per game. On January 2, 1980, he scored 45 points in an overtime win at Utah for his career high. Wedman was a key to Kansas City's postseason success in 1981. Despite finishing the regular season with only a 40-42 record, the Kings caught fire in the playoffs, beating Portland and Phoenix before losing in the Western Conference finals to Houston in five games.
At the 1981 NBA Draft
1981 NBA Draft
The 1981 NBA Draft was the 35th annual draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held on June 9, 1981, before the 1981–82 season. The draft was broadcast in the United States on the USA Network. In this draft, 23 NBA teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball...
, seeing that the Kings could not afford to keep both Wedman and fellow All-Star Otis Birdsong
Otis Birdsong
Otis Lee Birdsong is an American former professional basketball player. He spent twelve seasons in the NBA and appeared in four NBA All-Star Games....
, Kansas City traded both players to other teams and received far less in value. Wedman was dealt to Cleveland
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...
for a first-round draft pick.
The Kansas City franchise went 30-52 in 1981-82 and never approached the same attendance levels at Kemper Arena before owners moved the team to Sacramento in 1985.
Later career
Wedman never found the same scoring groove after bring traded to Cleveland, where he averaged only 10.9 points per game in 1981-82.On January 14, 1983, Wedman was traded by the Cleveland Cavaliers 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...
for Darren Tillis
Darren Tillis
Darren Tillis is a retired American professional basketball player who was selected by the Boston Celtics in the 1st round of the 1982 NBA Draft. A 6'11" center from Cleveland State University, Tillis played in 2 NBA seasons...
and cash. He was instrumental as a player off the bench in the Celtics' NBA championships in 1984
1984 NBA Finals
The 1984 NBA World Championship Series was the championship round of the 1983-84 NBA season. In 1984, the Boston Celtics defeated the Los Angeles Lakers in a seven-game Finals, winning Game 7 111-102. Larry Bird averaged 27 points and 14 rebounds a game during the series, earning the award of...
and 1986
1986 NBA Finals
The 1986 NBA Finals was the championship round of the 1985-86 NBA season. It pitted the Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics against the Western Conference champion Houston Rockets. The Celtics defeated the Rockets four games to two to win their 16th NBA championship. The championship would...
. Boston fans remember Wedman's performance in the Memorial Day Massacre, an appellation for Game 1 of the 1985 NBA Finals
1985 NBA Finals
The 1985 NBA World Championship Series was the championship round of the 1984–85 NBA season.The Boston Celtics were looking to repeat as NBA Champions for the first time since the . The Celtics had homecourt advantage for the second year in a row as they finished the regular season with a 63-19...
. Coming off the bench, Wedman hit all 11 of his shots, including four three-pointers, in Boston's 148-114 win over the Lakers. He often spelled Larry Bird
Larry Bird
Larry Joe Bird is a former American NBA basketball player and coach. Drafted into the NBA sixth overall by the Boston Celtics in 1978, Bird started at small forward and power forward for thirteen seasons, spearheading one of the NBA's most formidable frontcourts that included center Robert Parish...
and Kevin McHale
Kevin McHale
Kevin Edward McHale is a retired American professional basketball player and current head coach of the Houston Rockets. After his playing career, he worked for the Minnesota Timberwolves as the team's general manager and later its coach. He was fired as coach in June 2009...
or replaced them whenever they were injured.
Wedman was also a strict vegetarian during his playing career, not for any moral reasons but for health purposes. For this, Wedman was teased mercilessly by both Bird and McHale in practices and at meals.
On October 16, 1987, he was traded by the Celtics with Sam Vincent
Sam Vincent (basketball)
James Samuel "Sam" Vincent is a retired American professional basketball player and the former head coach of the Charlotte Bobcats. In 2008 Sam was named the head coach of the Anaheim Arsenal of the NBA Developmental league.Vincent won the State of Michigan "Mr. Basketball" award in 1981, the...
to the 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...
for a 1989 second-round draft choice. However, he retired and did not play a game for the SuperSonics.
Post playing career
He coached the now-defunct Kansas City KnightsKansas City Knights
The Kansas City Knights was the name of an American Basketball Association minor league basketball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They have not played since the 2004/2005 season....
of the American Basketball Association
American Basketball Association (21st century)
The American Basketball Association, often abbreviated as ABA, is a semi-professional men's basketball league that was founded in 1999. The current ABA has no affiliation with the original American Basketball Association that merged with the National Basketball Association in 1976...
.
Wedman returned to Kansas City where he lives today and operated his real estate business.
In June 2007, Wedman was named head coach of the Great Falls Explorers
Great Falls Explorers
The Great Falls Explorers were a team in the Continental Basketball Association founded in 2006. The team played their home games at the Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls, Montana. The franchise was branded 'Explorers' in honor of Lewis and Clark traveled through the area. The Explorers,...
of the CBA
Continental Basketball Association
The Continental Basketball Association was a professional men's basketball league in the United States, which has been on hiatus since the 2009 season.- History :...
.