Arvid Kramer
Encyclopedia
Arvid Kramer is a retired American
basketball
player, mostly known for being the first overall pick by the Miami Heat
of the NBA
in the 1988 expansion draft
at the age of 31, and furthermore being the only player to be selected in two expansion drafts and never playing for the teams that drafted him.
He was 6 in 9 in (2.06 m) tall and 220 pounds (99.8 kg) and played at the center
position during most of his basketball career.
. He played basketball for Augustana College
.
in the 3rd round (1st pick, 45th overall) of the 1979 NBA Draft
and left college. After the draft, the Jazz made a 2-for-1 trade involving Bernard King
, which left no room for Kramer on their roster, so they waived him. He played about a half season in the CBA
before being signed to a 10-day contract by the Denver Nuggets
on February 28, 1980. He was good enough to later get signed for the remainder of the season.
He only played eight games with the Nuggets in 1979–80. He was left unprotected and selected by the Dallas Mavericks
in the 1980 NBA Expansion Draft
. The Mavericks had more contracts than roster spots, so Kramer accepted a contract to play for a team in Italy before the 1980 season. He never played in another NBA game and had a long career in Europe, where he played in various leagues in Italy, France and Germany. He retired as a player in 1996 and worked as a general manager for the Bonn team (in Germany
) from 1999 to 2005.
The expansion Miami Heat
of the NBA
made him the first overall pick in the 1988 expansion draft
at the age of 31. The Dallas Mavericks
wanted to make sure that their players Uwe Blab
, Steve Alford
or Bill Wennington
, who were left unprotected, would not be selected, so they offered the Miami Heat
the rights to Arvid Kramer and their first choice (No. 20) in the college draft (which later would turn out to become Kevin Edwards
). He never played for the Heat.
, where works as a youth basketball instructor.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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, mostly known for being the first overall pick by the Miami Heat
Miami Heat
The Miami Heat is a professional basketball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. The team is a member of the Southeast Division in the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . They play their home games at American Airlines Arena in Downtown Miami...
of 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...
in the 1988 expansion draft
1988 NBA Expansion Draft
The 1988 NBA Expansion Draft was the eighth expansion draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held on June 23, 1988, so that the newly founded Charlotte Hornets and Miami Heat could acquire players for the upcoming 1988–89 season. Charlotte and Miami had been awarded the...
at the age of 31, and furthermore being the only player to be selected in two expansion drafts and never playing for the teams that drafted him.
He was 6 in 9 in (2.06 m) tall and 220 pounds (99.8 kg) and played at the center
Center (basketball)
The center, colloquially known as the five or the post, is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. The center is normally the tallest player on the team, and often has a great deal of strength and body mass as well...
position during most of his basketball career.
Early life
Arvid Kramer was born in Fulda, MinnesotaFulda, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,283 people, 528 households, and 328 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,328.3 people per square mile . There were 568 housing units at an average density of 588.1 per square mile...
. He played basketball for Augustana College
Augustana College (South Dakota)
Augustana College is a private, liberal arts college affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States. The campus makes the school the largest private university in South Dakota...
.
Professional career
Kramer was drafted by the Utah JazzUtah Jazz
The Utah Jazz is a professional basketball team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. They are currently a part of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
in the 3rd round (1st pick, 45th overall) of the 1979 NBA Draft
1979 NBA Draft
The 1979 NBA Draft was the 33rd annual draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held on June 25, 1979, before the 1979–80 season. In this draft, 22 NBA teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players and other eligible players, including international players...
and left college. After the draft, the Jazz made a 2-for-1 trade involving Bernard King
Bernard King
Bernard King is a retired American professional basketball player at the small forward position in the NBA...
, which left no room for Kramer on their roster, so they waived him. He played about a half season in 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 :...
before being signed to a 10-day contract by 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...
on February 28, 1980. He was good enough to later get signed for the remainder of the season.
He only played eight games with the Nuggets in 1979–80. He was left unprotected and selected by the Dallas Mavericks
Dallas Mavericks
The Dallas Mavericks are a professional basketball team based in Dallas, Texas. They are members of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association , and the reigning NBA champions, having defeated the Miami Heat in the 2011 NBA Finals.According to a 2011...
in the 1980 NBA Expansion Draft
1980 NBA Expansion Draft
The 1980 NBA Expansion Draft was the seventh expansion draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held on May 28, 1980, so that the newly founded Dallas Mavericks could acquire players for the upcoming 1980–81 season. Dallas had been awarded the expansion team on February 3, 1980...
. The Mavericks had more contracts than roster spots, so Kramer accepted a contract to play for a team in Italy before the 1980 season. He never played in another NBA game and had a long career in Europe, where he played in various leagues in Italy, France and Germany. He retired as a player in 1996 and worked as a general manager for the Bonn team (in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
) from 1999 to 2005.
The expansion Miami Heat
Miami Heat
The Miami Heat is a professional basketball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. The team is a member of the Southeast Division in the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . They play their home games at American Airlines Arena in Downtown Miami...
of 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...
made him the first overall pick in the 1988 expansion draft
1988 NBA Expansion Draft
The 1988 NBA Expansion Draft was the eighth expansion draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held on June 23, 1988, so that the newly founded Charlotte Hornets and Miami Heat could acquire players for the upcoming 1988–89 season. Charlotte and Miami had been awarded the...
at the age of 31. The Dallas Mavericks
Dallas Mavericks
The Dallas Mavericks are a professional basketball team based in Dallas, Texas. They are members of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association , and the reigning NBA champions, having defeated the Miami Heat in the 2011 NBA Finals.According to a 2011...
wanted to make sure that their players Uwe Blab
Uwe Blab
Uwe Konstantin Blab is a retired German professional basketball player who had a five year career in the NBA.-School and college:...
, Steve Alford
Steve Alford
Stephen Todd Alford is a retired American basketball player and the current head coach of the University of New Mexico Lobos men's basketball team...
or Bill Wennington
Bill Wennington
William Percey Wennington is a retired Canadian basketball player in the National Basketball Association who won three NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls. A center, he was also a member of two Canadian Olympic Basketball Teams and the 1983 World University Games team that won gold against...
, who were left unprotected, would not be selected, so they offered the Miami Heat
Miami Heat
The Miami Heat is a professional basketball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. The team is a member of the Southeast Division in the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . They play their home games at American Airlines Arena in Downtown Miami...
the rights to Arvid Kramer and their first choice (No. 20) in the college draft (which later would turn out to become Kevin Edwards
Kevin Edwards
Kevin Durell Edwards is a retired American professional basketball player who currently serves as DePaul University men's basketball team's director of community, corporate, and professional relations. Edwards was selected by the Miami Heat with the 20th overall pick of the 1988 NBA Draft...
). He never played for the Heat.
Personal life
Kramer met his first and second wives in Germany. As of 2010, he lives in San Diego, CaliforniaSan Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
, where works as a youth basketball instructor.