Bud Ogden
Encyclopedia
Carlos C. "Bud" Ogden, Jr. (born December 29, 1946) is a retired American professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association
(NBA). Although Ogden played for two seasons with the Philadelphia 76ers
, he is best remembered for his college career at Santa Clara
.
. He played for the Broncos from 1966–67 to 1968–69, and was an integral part of an era (1967–1971) that saw the team go 70–10 overall, including two trips to the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament. As a sophomore
in 1967, Ogden scored a still-standing school record 55 points against Pepperdine, and as of August 2007 is still the 10th all-time leading scorer with 1,437 points. His 18.2 points per game
average is third all-time.
In 1967–68, his junior
year, the Broncos went 22–4, won the Pac-8 Conference title, and advanced to the NCAA Tournament West regional final before falling to a Lew Alcindor
-led UCLA squad. The following year, he and his brother guided the Broncos to a 27–2 record, including 21 straight wins to begin the season. They were ranked as high as third in the national polls, won another Pac-8 title and once again met UCLA in the West regional final of the NCAA Tournament. Just like the year before, the Bruins
would defeat the Broncos and go on to win the national championship. They lost by 38 points in what was Alcindor's final game at Pauley Pavilion
. "To be that close to the Final Four–it was heartbreaking," Ogden said. At the conclusion of his senior year, Ogden was named a consensus Second Team All-American
. On February 10, 1969, he was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated
.
Years later, he would have his jersey retired by Santa Clara. Bud and his brother Ralph were both also inducted into the San Jose Sports Hall of Fame.
selected him with the 162nd overall pick in the 1968 NBA Draft
. He decided to return to school however, and, after an incredibly successful senior season, the Philadelphia 76ers
selected him in the first round (13th overall) in the 1969 Draft
. Coincidentally, his brother Ralph would get selected in the 1970 Draft
by the San Francisco Warriors
and play one season for them.
Ogden played professional basketball for two seasons, both with the 76ers. In his rookie season, he was given the nickname "The Medium O" by teammates, referencing the nickname "The Big O" bestowed upon Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson
. He averaged 3.5 points in two seasons and was then waived. He partially attributes his short career as being in the wrong place at the wrong time; Ogden was the power forward
back-up to Billy Cunningham
, a future Hall of Famer. "My take on it is that I was a power forward in a 6-foot-6 body. If I was 6-foot-8 or 6-foot-9, things might have been different – or if I was quicker. My second year they tried to make me a guard. Well, I had never handled the ball my whole life," he later recounted.
, fought in World War II and was awarded the Medal of Honor
, three Purple Heart
s and one Bronze Star Medal
. He credits his father as instilling grit and determination in him via playing basketball in the driveway: "Dad was merciless. He would put us into the garage door." Bud is now married to his wife, Annie, and has two adult children from a previous marriage and one other child with Annie. He has three brothers – Jim, Ralph and Fred. In his life after basketball he got into real estate, and then eventually teaching high school algebra. Ogden also coaches his high school's basketball team. Prior to his first day of teaching, he was asked what he thinks of when his students were going to find out he graced the cover of Sports Illustrated. He said, "I can picture the kids saying, 'What? Mr. Ogden was on the cover of SI?' I can't wait to see the looks on their faces."
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...
(NBA). Although Ogden played for two seasons with 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...
, he is best remembered for his college career at Santa Clara
Santa Clara Broncos men's basketball
The Santa Clara Broncos men's basketball team represents Santa Clara University, located in Santa Clara, California, in NCAA Division I basketball competition. They play their home games at the Leavey Center and are members of the West Coast Conference...
.
College
As a forward, Bug Ogden led Santa Clara to its best years in its program's history while playing alongside his younger brother, RalphRalph Ogden
Ralph A. Ogden is a retired American professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association . Ogden played for one season with the San Francisco Warriors. He recorded career totals of 42 points, 32 rebounds and 9 assists.Ogden spent his prep years...
. He played for the Broncos from 1966–67 to 1968–69, and was an integral part of an era (1967–1971) that saw the team go 70–10 overall, including two trips to the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament. As a sophomore
Sophomore
Sophomore is a term used in the United States to describe a student in the second year of study at high school or university.The word is also used as a synonym for "second", for the second album or EP released by a musician or group, the second movie of a director, or the second season of a...
in 1967, Ogden scored a still-standing school record 55 points against Pepperdine, and as of August 2007 is still the 10th all-time leading scorer with 1,437 points. His 18.2 points per game
Points per game
Points per game, often abbreviated PPG, is the average number of points scored by a player per game played in a sport, over the course of a series of games, a whole season, or a career. It is calculated by dividing the total number of points by number of games. The terminology is often used in...
average is third all-time.
In 1967–68, his junior
Junior (education)
"Junior" is a term used in the United States to describe a student in their 3rd year of study . A Junior is considered an upperclassman...
year, the Broncos went 22–4, won the Pac-8 Conference title, and advanced to the NCAA Tournament West regional final before falling to a Lew Alcindor
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...
-led UCLA squad. The following year, he and his brother guided the Broncos to a 27–2 record, including 21 straight wins to begin the season. They were ranked as high as third in the national polls, won another Pac-8 title and once again met UCLA in the West regional final of the NCAA Tournament. Just like the year before, the Bruins
UCLA Bruins men's basketball
The UCLA Bruins men's basketball program, established in 1920, owns a record 11 Division I NCAA championships. UCLA teams coached by John Wooden won 10 national titles in 12 seasons from 1964 to 1975, including 7 straight from 1967 to 1973. UCLA went undefeated a record 4 times, in 1964, 1967,...
would defeat the Broncos and go on to win the national championship. They lost by 38 points in what was Alcindor's final game at Pauley Pavilion
Pauley Pavilion
Edwin W. Pauley Pavilion, commonly known as Pauley Pavilion, is an indoor arena located in the Westwood Village district of Los Angeles, California, on the campus of UCLA. It is home to the UCLA Bruins men's and women's basketball teams...
. "To be that close to the Final Four–it was heartbreaking," Ogden said. At the conclusion of his senior year, Ogden was named a consensus Second Team All-American
1969 NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans
The Consensus 1969 College Basketball All-American team, as determined by aggregating the results of four major All-American teams. To earn "consensus" status, a player must win honors from a majority of the following teams: the Associated Press, the USBWA, The United Press International and the...
. On February 10, 1969, he was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
.
Years later, he would have his jersey retired by Santa Clara. Bud and his brother Ralph were both also inducted into the San Jose Sports Hall of Fame.
Professional
Bud Ogden was actually drafted into the NBA twice. After his junior season at Santa Clara, the Seattle SuperSonicsSeattle 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...
selected him with the 162nd overall pick in the 1968 NBA Draft
1968 NBA Draft
The 1968 NBA Draft was the 22nd annual draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held on April 3, 1968 and May 8, 1968 before the 1968–69 season. In this draft, 14 NBA teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players. A player who had finished his four-year...
. He decided to return to school however, and, after an incredibly successful senior season, 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...
selected him in the first round (13th overall) in the 1969 Draft
1969 NBA Draft
The 1969 NBA Draft was the 23rd annual draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held on April 7, 1969 and May 7, 1969 before the 1969–70 season. In this draft, 14 NBA teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players. A player who had finished his four-year...
. Coincidentally, his brother Ralph would get selected in the 1970 Draft
1970 NBA Draft
The 1970 NBA Draft was the 24th annual draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held on March 23, 1970 before the 1970–71 season. In this draft, 17 NBA teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players and other eligible players, including international players...
by the San Francisco Warriors
Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors are an American professional basketball team based in Oakland, California. They are part of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
and play one season for them.
Ogden played professional basketball for two seasons, both with the 76ers. In his rookie season, he was given the nickname "The Medium O" by teammates, referencing the nickname "The Big O" bestowed upon Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson
Oscar Robertson
Oscar Palmer Robertson , nicknamed "The Big O", is a former American NBA player with the Cincinnati Royals and the Milwaukee Bucks...
. He averaged 3.5 points in two seasons and was then waived. He partially attributes his short career as being in the wrong place at the wrong time; Ogden was the power forward
Power forward (basketball)
Power forward is a position in the sport of basketball. The position is referred to in playbook terms as the four position and is commonly abbreviated "PF". It has also been referred to as the "post" position. Power forwards play a role similar to that of center in what is called the "post" or "low...
back-up to Billy Cunningham
Billy Cunningham
William John "Billy" Cunningham is an American former professional basketball player and coach, who was nicknamed the Kangaroo Kid.- Beginnings :...
, a future Hall of Famer. "My take on it is that I was a power forward in a 6-foot-6 body. If I was 6-foot-8 or 6-foot-9, things might have been different – or if I was quicker. My second year they tried to make me a guard. Well, I had never handled the ball my whole life," he later recounted.
Personal
Ogden's father, Carlos Ogden, Sr.Carlos C. Ogden
Carlos C. Ogden, Sr. was a United States Army officer and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration — the Medal of Honor — for his actions in World War II....
, fought in World War II and was awarded the Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
, three Purple Heart
Purple Heart
The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917 with the U.S. military. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located in New Windsor, New York...
s and one Bronze Star Medal
Bronze Star Medal
The Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration that may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service. As a medal it is awarded for merit, and with the "V" for valor device it is awarded for heroism. It is the fourth-highest combat award of the...
. He credits his father as instilling grit and determination in him via playing basketball in the driveway: "Dad was merciless. He would put us into the garage door." Bud is now married to his wife, Annie, and has two adult children from a previous marriage and one other child with Annie. He has three brothers – Jim, Ralph and Fred. In his life after basketball he got into real estate, and then eventually teaching high school algebra. Ogden also coaches his high school's basketball team. Prior to his first day of teaching, he was asked what he thinks of when his students were going to find out he graced the cover of Sports Illustrated. He said, "I can picture the kids saying, 'What? Mr. Ogden was on the cover of SI?' I can't wait to see the looks on their faces."