Erwin Mueller
Encyclopedia
Erwin L. Mueller is a retired American
basketball
player. A 6'8" forward/center
,he attended the University of San Francisco
where he was All-Coast, All Conference & All-America and was selected by the Chicago Bulls
in the second round (10th pick overall) of the 1966 NBA Draft
.
During his first season, Mueller averaged 12.7 points per game for the Bulls and earned NBA All-Rookie Team
honors. He was traded midway through his second season to the LA Lakers for Jim Barnes
and a draft choice on January 9, 1968. Mueller would return to the Bulls for the start of the 68-69 season by way of another trade through the Lakers sending Keith Erickson to LA for Erwin on September 23, 1968. However his tenure in Chicago would not last through the season. On January 31, 1969 Mueller was traded to the Seattle Supersonics for a draft choice and cash.
In his seven season (1966–1973) NBA career, he also played for the Los Angeles Lakers
, Seattle SuperSonics
, and Detroit Pistons
and scored 3,248 total points. He spent parts of the 1972–73 and 1973–74 seasons in the rival American Basketball Association
as a member of the Virginia Squires
and Memphis Tams
.
| align="left" | 1966-67
| align="left" | Chicago
| 80 || -- || 26.7 || .441 || --- || .658 || 6.2 || 1.6 || --- || --- || 12.7
|-
| align="left" | 1967-68
| align="left" | CHI/LA
| 74 || -- || 24.1 || .456 || --- || .578 || 5.2 || 2.0 || --- || --- || 7.5
|-
| align="left" | 1968-69
| align="left" | CHI/SEA
| 78 || -- || 17.3 || .375 || --- || .549 || 3.8 || 2.3 || --- || --- || 4.8
|-
| align="left" | 1969-70
| align="left" | SEA/DET
| 78 || -- || 30.1 || .464 || --- || .719 || 6.1 || 2.6 || --- || --- || 10.1
|-
| align="left" | 1970-71
| align="left" | Detroit
| 52 || -- || 23.5 || .408 || --- || .556 || 4.2 || 2.1 || --- || --- || 6.0
|-
| align="left" | 1971-72
| align="left" | Detroit
| 42 || -- || 14.4 || .345 || --- || .581 || 3.5 || 1.3 || --- || --- || 4.3
|-
| align="left" | 1972-73
| align="left" | Detroit
| 21 || -- || 3.8 || .290 || --- || .714 || 0.6 || 0.3 || --- || --- || 1.1
|-
| align="left" | 1972-73
| align="left" | Virginia ABA
| 17 || -- || 12.0 || .321 || --- || .300 || 2.7 || 1.5 || --- || --- || 2.2
|-
| align="left" | 1973-74
| align="left" | Memphis ABA
| 3 || -- || 6.6 || .000 || --- || .400 || 1.0 || 0.6 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 0.7
|-
| align="left" | NBA Career
| align="left" |
| 425 || -- || 22.4 || .429 || --- || .627 || 4.8 || 2.0 || --- || --- || 7.6
|-
| align="left" | ABA Career
| align="left" |
| 20 || -- || 11.2 || .298 || --- || .333 || 2.5 || 1.4 || --- || --- || 2.0
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. A 6'8" forward/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...
,he attended the University of San Francisco
University of San Francisco
The University of San Francisco , is a private, Jesuit/Catholic university located in San Francisco, California. Founded in 1855, USF was established as the first university in San Francisco. It is the second oldest institution for higher learning in California and the tenth-oldest university of...
where he was All-Coast, All Conference & All-America and 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...
in the second round (10th pick overall) of the 1966 NBA Draft
1966 NBA Draft
The 1966 NBA Draft was the 20th annual draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held on May 11, 1966 before the 1966–67 season. In this draft, ten NBA teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players. A player who had finished his four-year college eligibility...
.
During his first season, Mueller averaged 12.7 points per game for the Bulls and earned NBA All-Rookie Team
NBA All-Rookie Team
The NBA All-Rookie Team is an annual National Basketball Association honor given since the 1962–63 NBA season to the top rookies during the regular season. Voting is conducted by the NBA head coaches; who are not allowed to vote for players on their own team. The All-Rookie Team is generally...
honors. He was traded midway through his second season to the LA Lakers for Jim Barnes
Jim Barnes (basketball)
V. James Barnes , a.k.a. Jim 'Bad News' Barnes was an American basketball player....
and a draft choice on January 9, 1968. Mueller would return to the Bulls for the start of the 68-69 season by way of another trade through the Lakers sending Keith Erickson to LA for Erwin on September 23, 1968. However his tenure in Chicago would not last through the season. On January 31, 1969 Mueller was traded to the Seattle Supersonics for a draft choice and cash.
In his seven season (1966–1973) NBA career, he also played for 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...
, 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...
, and Detroit Pistons
Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons are a franchise of the National Basketball Association based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The team's home arena is The Palace of Auburn Hills. It was originally founded in Fort Wayne, Indiana as the Fort Wayne Pistons as a member of the National Basketball League in 1941, where...
and scored 3,248 total points. He spent parts of the 1972–73 and 1973–74 seasons in the rival 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:...
as a member of the Virginia Squires
Virginia Squires
The Virginia Squires were a basketball franchise in the former American Basketball Association from 1970 until just before the ABA-NBA merger in 1976.-In Oakland :...
and Memphis Tams
Memphis Tams
The Memphis Tams were an American Basketball Association team during the 1972-1973 and 1973-1974 seasons. The team had previously been the New Orleans Buccaneers for three seasons before moving to Memphis, Tennessee where it became the Memphis Pros from 1970 through 1972. The team later became...
.
Regular season
|-| align="left" | 1966-67
| align="left" | Chicago
1966–67 Chicago Bulls season
The 1966–67 Chicago Bulls season was the 1st season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association .-NBA Draft:Note: This is not an extensive list; it only covers the first and second rounds, and any other players drafted by the franchise that played at least one NBA game.-Roster:The...
| 80 || -- || 26.7 || .441 || --- || .658 || 6.2 || 1.6 || --- || --- || 12.7
|-
| align="left" | 1967-68
| align="left" | CHI/LA
| 74 || -- || 24.1 || .456 || --- || .578 || 5.2 || 2.0 || --- || --- || 7.5
|-
| align="left" | 1968-69
| align="left" | CHI/SEA
| 78 || -- || 17.3 || .375 || --- || .549 || 3.8 || 2.3 || --- || --- || 4.8
|-
| align="left" | 1969-70
| align="left" | SEA/DET
| 78 || -- || 30.1 || .464 || --- || .719 || 6.1 || 2.6 || --- || --- || 10.1
|-
| align="left" | 1970-71
| align="left" | Detroit
| 52 || -- || 23.5 || .408 || --- || .556 || 4.2 || 2.1 || --- || --- || 6.0
|-
| align="left" | 1971-72
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....
| align="left" | Detroit
| 42 || -- || 14.4 || .345 || --- || .581 || 3.5 || 1.3 || --- || --- || 4.3
|-
| align="left" | 1972-73
| align="left" | Detroit
| 21 || -- || 3.8 || .290 || --- || .714 || 0.6 || 0.3 || --- || --- || 1.1
|-
| align="left" | 1972-73
1972–73 ABA season
-Eastern Division:-Western Division:...
| align="left" | Virginia ABA
| 17 || -- || 12.0 || .321 || --- || .300 || 2.7 || 1.5 || --- || --- || 2.2
|-
| align="left" | 1973-74
1973–74 ABA season
-Eastern Division:-Western Division:...
| align="left" | Memphis ABA
| 3 || -- || 6.6 || .000 || --- || .400 || 1.0 || 0.6 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 0.7
|-
| align="left" | NBA Career
| align="left" |
| 425 || -- || 22.4 || .429 || --- || .627 || 4.8 || 2.0 || --- || --- || 7.6
|-
| align="left" | ABA Career
| align="left" |
| 20 || -- || 11.2 || .298 || --- || .333 || 2.5 || 1.4 || --- || --- || 2.0