Dick Gibbs (basketball)
Encyclopedia
Dick Gibbs is an American retired professional basketball player. He played in the National Basketball Association
(NBA) for five teams from 1971 to 1976, posting career averages of 5.2 points per game and 1.9 rebounds per game.
Gibbs attended Ames High School
and played on their basketball team in 1967, helping them reach the state championship game. He played college basketball for the University of Texas at El Paso Miners
, and recorded 10.5 points per game in the 1969–70 season, when the Miners won the Western Athletic Conference
championship in their first season in the league. In the last game of the regular season, Gibbs sustained an injury and was unable to play in the NCAA Tournament
; the Miners lost in the first round. Their coach, Don Haskins
, later said, "Without him, we had no chance to go very far in the tournament."
In the third round of the 1971 NBA Draft
, Gibbs was selected by the Chicago Bulls
with the 49th overall pick. He was traded to the Houston Rockets
in June 1971, the first of five trades he was involved in during his career. After playing the 1971–72 season
with the Rockets, Gibbs was on four other teams over the next four seasons—the Kansas City–Omaha Kings
, Seattle SuperSonics
, Washington Bullets
, and Buffalo Braves
. With the SuperSonics in 1973–74, he posted a career-high of 10.8 points per game. The next season, he was a member of the Bullets team
that reached the 1975 NBA Finals
. Following his playing career, Gibbs ran a drug treatment facility in Newport Beach, California
.
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) for five teams from 1971 to 1976, posting career averages of 5.2 points per game and 1.9 rebounds per game.
Gibbs attended Ames High School
Ames High School
Ames High School is the sole high school in Ames, Story County, Iowa.-Academics:January 2008 —Ames High School has been named one of the top high schools in the country by U.S. News and World Report. In its recently released rankings, the magazine awarded Ames High School a silver medal, one of...
and played on their basketball team in 1967, helping them reach the state championship game. He played college basketball for the University of Texas at El Paso Miners
UTEP Miners men's basketball
The UTEP Miners basketball team is an NCAA Division I men's college basketball team competing in the Conference USA. Home games are played at Don Haskins Center, located on University of Texas at El Paso's campus in El Paso.-Don Haskins Center:...
, and recorded 10.5 points per game in the 1969–70 season, when the Miners won the Western Athletic Conference
Western Athletic Conference
The Western Athletic Conference is an American collegiate athletic conference, which was formed on July 27, 1962, making it the sixth oldest of the 11 college athletic conferences currently participating in the NCAA's Division I FBS...
championship in their first season in the league. In the last game of the regular season, Gibbs sustained an injury and was unable to play in the NCAA Tournament
1970 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1970 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 25 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 7, 1970, and ended with the championship game on March 21 in College Park, Maryland...
; the Miners lost in the first round. Their coach, Don Haskins
Don Haskins
Donald Lee Haskins, nicknamed "The Bear" , was an American collegiate basketball coach and player. He played for three years under legendary coach Henry Iba at Oklahoma A&M...
, later said, "Without him, we had no chance to go very far in the tournament."
In the third round of the 1971 NBA Draft
1971 NBA Draft
The 1971 NBA Draft was the 25th annual draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held on March 29, 1971 before the 1971–72 season. In this draft, 17 NBA teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players and other eligible players, including international players...
, Gibbs was selected by the Chicago Bulls
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1966. They play their home games at the United Center...
with the 49th overall pick. He was traded to the 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...
in June 1971, the first of five trades he was involved in during his career. After playing the 1971–72 season
1971–72 NBA season
The 1971–72 NBA season was the 26th season of the National Basketball Association. The season ended with the Los Angeles Lakers winning the NBA Championship, beating the New York Knicks 4 games to 1 in the NBA Finals....
with the Rockets, Gibbs was on four other teams over the next four seasons—the 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...
, 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...
, Washington Bullets
Washington Wizards
The Washington Wizards are a professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C., previously known as Washington Bullets. They play in the National Basketball Association .-Early years:...
, and Buffalo Braves
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...
. With the SuperSonics in 1973–74, he posted a career-high of 10.8 points per game. The next season, he was a member of the Bullets team
1974–75 Washington Bullets season
The 1974-75 Washington Bullets played in their 14th season. The franchise changed their name from the Capital Bullets to the Washington Bullets. The franchise captured its 6th division title in 7 years by posting a franchise best record of 60-22. The Bullets were nearly unbeatable at home posting a...
that reached the 1975 NBA Finals
1975 NBA Finals
The 1975 NBA World Championship Series was the championship round of the 1974-75 NBA season of the National Basketball Association. The Golden State Warriors of the Western Conference played against the Washington Bullets of the Eastern Conference...
. Following his playing career, Gibbs ran a drug treatment facility in Newport Beach, California
Newport Beach, California
Newport Beach, incorporated in 1906, is a city in Orange County, California, south of downtown Santa Ana. The population was 85,186 at the 2010 census.The city's median family income and property values consistently place high in national rankings...
.