Ernie DiGregorio
Encyclopedia
Ernest DiGregorio (born January 15, 1951, in North Providence, Rhode Island
) is a retired American
National Basketball Association
player.
DiGregorio played on the 1968 Rhode Island (Class B) champions at North Providence High School.
After playing for the Providence College
Friars, DiGregorio was drafted by the Kentucky Colonels
of the American Basketball Association
but opted instead for the NBA. He was selected third overall by the Buffalo Braves
in the 1973 NBA Draft
out of Providence College, and won the NBA Rookie of the Year Award
in 1973-74
after averaging 15.2 points and leading the league in both free throw
percentage and assists per game. DiGregorio still holds the NBA rookie record for assists in a single game with 25 (a record now shared with Nate McMillan
).
He would never again come close to that level of production, but managed to have a decent NBA career, most of which he spent with the Braves. During the 1976-77 season
, DiGregorio led the league in free throw percentage a second time, with a then-NBA record 94.5%. After playing 27 games with the Braves in the 1977-78 season
, he was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers
, but DiGregorio played in a Lakers uniform in only 25 games before being waived. The Boston Celtics
signed him as a free agent but he played only sparingly for the rest of the season. His decline was mostly due to a severe knee injury suffered early in his professional career. He would not play in the NBA again, although he did not formally retire until 1981.
In 1999, he was elected to the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame
.
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
) is a retired American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
National Basketball Association
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...
player.
DiGregorio played on the 1968 Rhode Island (Class B) champions at North Providence High School.
After playing for the Providence College
Providence College
Providence College is a private, coeducational, Catholic university located about two miles west of downtown Providence, Rhode Island, United States, the state's capital city. With a 2010–2011 enrollment of 3,850 undergraduate students and 735 graduate students, the College specializes in academic...
Friars, DiGregorio was drafted by the Kentucky Colonels
Kentucky Colonels
The Kentucky Colonels were a member of the American Basketball Association for all of the league's nine years. The name is derived from the historic Kentucky colonels. The Colonels won the most games and had the highest winning percentage of any franchise in the league's history, but the team did...
of the American Basketball Association
American Basketball Association
The American Basketball Association was a professional basketball league founded in 1967. The ABA ceased to exist with the ABA–NBA merger in 1976.-League history:...
but opted instead for the NBA. He was selected third overall by the 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...
in the 1973 NBA Draft
1973 NBA Draft
The 1973 NBA Draft was the 27th annual draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held on April 24, 1973 before the 1973–74 season. In this draft, 17 NBA teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players and other eligible players, including international players...
out of Providence College, and won the NBA Rookie of the Year Award
NBA Rookie of the Year Award
The National Basketball Association's Rookie of the Year Award is an annual National Basketball Association award given since the 1952–53 NBA season, to the top rookie of the regular season. The winner receives the Eddie Gottlieb Trophy, which is named in honor of the Philadelphia Warriors head...
in 1973-74
1973-74 NBA season
The 1973–74 NBA season was the 28th season of the National Basketball Association. The season ended with the Boston Celtics winning the NBA Championship, beating the Milwaukee Bucks 4 games to 3 in the NBA Finals.- Notable occurrences :...
after averaging 15.2 points and leading the league in both 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...
percentage and assists per game. DiGregorio still holds the NBA rookie record for assists in a single game with 25 (a record now shared with Nate McMillan
Nate McMillan
Nathaniel "Nate" McMillan is a retired American professional basketball player and current head coach of the NBA's Portland Trail Blazers...
).
He would never again come close to that level of production, but managed to have a decent NBA career, most of which he spent with the Braves. During the 1976-77 season
1976-77 NBA season
The 1976–77 NBA season was the 31st season of the National Basketball Association. The season ended with the Portland Trail Blazers winning the NBA Championship, beating the Philadelphia 76ers 4 games to 2 in the NBA Finals.-Notable occurrences:...
, DiGregorio led the league in free throw percentage a second time, with a then-NBA record 94.5%. After playing 27 games with the Braves in the 1977-78 season
1977-78 NBA season
The 1977–78 NBA season was the 32nd season of the National Basketball Association. The season ended with the Washington Bullets winning the NBA Championship, beating the Seattle SuperSonics 4 games to 3 in the NBA Finals.-Notable occurrences:...
, he was traded to 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...
, but DiGregorio played in a Lakers uniform in only 25 games before being waived. 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...
signed him as a free agent but he played only sparingly for the rest of the season. His decline was mostly due to a severe knee injury suffered early in his professional career. He would not play in the NBA again, although he did not formally retire until 1981.
In 1999, he was elected to the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame
National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame
The National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame is a nonprofit institution honoring exceptional U.S. athletes of Italian descent. Since its founding in 1977, more than 200 Italian Americans have been inducted into this hall of fame....
.
External links
- NBA career stats @ basketballreference.com