Kevin Gamble
Encyclopedia
Kevin Douglas Gamble is a retired American
professional basketball
player in the National Basketball Association
. At 6'5" (1.96 m) he played as both a shooting guard
and small forward
. He currently serves as Director of Player Development and Video Operations at Providence College
.
and lived in the city's John Hay public-housing projects with his single mother. Gamble entered Springfield's Lanphier High School
; by his senior season, Gamble led the Lions to the 1983 Illinois Class AA State Basketball Championship. He scored 67 points in that season's four tournament games, which culminated with a 57-53 win over Peoria High School
. Lanphier finished the 1983 season 30–3, while Gamble was the only Lanphier player selected to the All-Tournament team. In 2009 Gamble was named that year’s inductee into the Lanphier Hall of Fame.
Following high school, Gamble enrolled at Lincoln College in Illinois, where he played for two seasons under head coach Alan Pickering. After two seasons at Lincoln, Gamble transferred to the University of Iowa
. He was part of a 1985 recruiting class which included B. J. Armstrong
, Roy Marble
, Les Jepsen
and Ed Horton
. All five recruits went on to play in the National Basketball Association
. Horton and Gamble played together at Lanphier High School.
Then-coach George Raveling
kept Gamble on the bench for much of his first season. After the season, Raveling left Iowa to become the head coach at the University of Southern California
. On April 7, 1986, Iowa named Tom Davis
as its new head coach. Davis’ arrival reversed Gamble's fortunes, as he became a starter for Iowa in his senior season, and the team began the season with 17 straight wins to earn the #1 ranking in the AP Poll
. In the Sweet Sixteen of the 1987 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
, Gamble hit the winning shot against the University of Oklahoma
to send the Hawkeyes to the Elite Eight, where they faced the University of Nevada at Las Vegas. Against UNLV, Gamble attempted a 3-pointer as time expired, but the shot bounced off the rim, ending what was arguably Tom Davis's most successful season at Iowa. Iowa finished with a 30–5 record.
in the 1987 NBA Draft
. He only played in 19 minutes with Portland before being waived on December 9, 1987.
Gamble then headed to the Continental Basketball Association
for the Quad City Thunder
, where he averaged 21.1 points per game (ppg) with the team in 1988. His stint was followed by an invitation to the Detroit Pistons
’ rookie camp the following summer, followed by a training camp tryout with the Milwaukee Bucks
later that fall. Neither team ended up signing Gamble.
Gamble then played in the Philippines
for a month, where he teamed with Billy Ray Bates
in the 1988 PBA
Reinforced Conference for Anejo Rum. In the four games he Gamble played with Anejo, he averaged near 50 ppg. However, with a losing record, Anejo management decided to send Bates and Gamble home.
Gamble returned to the Quad City Thunder and scored 27.8 ppg in a 12-game stint with the team. Scouts from several NBA teams took notice, including the Boston Celtics
, a team that at the time featured four future Basketball Hall of Fame
rs entering the final years of their careers.
In December 1988, one of those Hall of Famers, Larry Bird
was injured. Gamble was called up from the CBA and was signed the remainder of the season. Gamble played sparingly the first few months after signing his contract (not playing in 17 games), however his playing time picked up at the end of the season, with Gamble scoring at least 15 points in the final six games and hitting a season-high with 31 in the regular season finale. Gamble played in one playoff game before going down with an injury; the Celtics were swept by the Detroit Pistons
in the first round.
Gamble played in 71 games the following season, 1989–1990
, averaging 5.1 points in 13.9 minutes-per-game.
After seeing spot duty for two seasons, Gamble assumed a major role with Boston in 1990–91
. Gamble played in every game, including 76 starts, and averaged 15.6 points (fourth on the team, behind Bird, Reggie Lewis
and Kevin McHale
) in 33 minutes per game and helped the Celtics to a 56–26 record and a return to first place in the Atlantic Division
. His 58.7% shooting percentage was third-best in the NBA. He also placed second to Scott Skiles
of Orlando in the voting for the NBA Most Improved Player Award
, the closest finish in the history of the award, with a winning margin of four votes. Gamble's minutes were cut dramatically in the playoffs
and he averaged just six points per game against the Indiana Pacers
and Detroit Pistons
.
Gamble played in all 82 games the next season, starting 77 of them, but the Celtics were eliminated by the Cleveland Cavaliers
in the second round of the playoffs
. He then saw his starting time drop dramatically in his final two seasons in Boston, playing in 75 games but starting only 29 in 1994
. Following the season, Gamble signed a free agent contract with the Miami Heat
, playing in 44 games (starting 13) before a late February 1996 trade sent him to the Sacramento Kings
. With the Kings, Gamble did not start a game for the remainder of the season. He returned in 1996–97 to play in 62 games and start two, but averaged only five points a game. He did not play for the Kings in 1997–98 and was released by the team on February 20, 1998.
For his NBA career, Gamble averaged 9.5 points with a 50.2% shooting percentage, with a 36% three point percentage and making 81% of free throws. He also averaged 2.2 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 22.4 minutes per game for 649 games.
, who began play in the American Midwest Conference
of the NAIA
that season. In his fourth year at the helm, 2005–06, Gamble coached the Prairie Stars to an AMC Tournament championship and a berth in the NAIA National Tournament. The next season, 2006–07, saw the Prairie Stars capture their first AMC regular season title outright, win their second consecutive AMC Tournamen,t and advance to the second round of the NAIA National Tournament. Gamble's team went 11–1 in conference play and 23–9 overall as his continued success earned Gamble his second AMC Coach of the Year honor. Two years later, in 2008–09, the team posted a 21–9 record in their final season of NAIA play. Beginning in 2009–10, the Prairie Stars joined the NCAA's Division II and the Great Lakes Valley Conference
. Gamble's team posted an 11–13 record in their first year of NCAA competition.
In June 2010, Gamble resigned as head coach of the University of Illinois at Springfield to become the Director of Player Development and Video Operations for Providence College
of the Big East Conference
under head coach Keno Davis
, the son of Gamble's coach at Iowa, Tom Davis.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional 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 in the 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...
. At 6'5" (1.96 m) he played as both a shooting guard
Shooting guard
The shooting guard , also known as the two or off guard, is one of five traditional positions on a basketball team. Players of the position are often shorter, leaner, and quicker than forwards. A shooting guard's main objective is to score points for his team...
and small forward
Small forward
The small forward, or colloquially known as three, is one of the five positions in a regulation basketball game. Small forwards are typically somewhat shorter, quicker, and leaner than power forwards and centers, but on occasion are just as tall...
. He currently serves as Director of Player Development and Video Operations at Providence College
Providence Friars men's basketball
The Providence Friars men's basketball team represents Providence College in NCAA Division I competition, in which they are a founding member of the Big East Conference. They play their home games at the Dunkin' Donuts Center in Providence, Rhode Island...
.
Early life
Gamble was born in Springfield, IllinoisSpringfield, Illinois
Springfield is the third and current capital of the US state of Illinois and the county seat of Sangamon County with a population of 117,400 , making it the sixth most populated city in the state and the second most populated Illinois city outside of the Chicago Metropolitan Area...
and lived in the city's John Hay public-housing projects with his single mother. Gamble entered Springfield's Lanphier High School
Lanphier High School
Lanphier High School, in the capital of the U.S. state of Illinois, Springfield, is a public high school affiliated with Springfield Public School District 186...
; by his senior season, Gamble led the Lions to the 1983 Illinois Class AA State Basketball Championship. He scored 67 points in that season's four tournament games, which culminated with a 57-53 win over Peoria High School
Peoria High School (Peoria, Illinois)
Peoria High School is a public high school in Peoria, Illinois. Peoria High School was established in 1856 and is the oldest continually operating high school west of the Allegheny Mountains. Peoria High is located at 1615 N. North Street and moved to this location in 1916...
. Lanphier finished the 1983 season 30–3, while Gamble was the only Lanphier player selected to the All-Tournament team. In 2009 Gamble was named that year’s inductee into the Lanphier Hall of Fame.
Following high school, Gamble enrolled at Lincoln College in Illinois, where he played for two seasons under head coach Alan Pickering. After two seasons at Lincoln, Gamble transferred to the University of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
. He was part of a 1985 recruiting class which included B. J. Armstrong
B. J. Armstrong
Benjamin Roy "B. J." Armstrong, Jr. is a retired American professional basketball player. As a starting point guard, he was an integral part of the NBA's Chicago Bulls dynasty of the 1990s....
, Roy Marble
Roy Marble
Roy Lane Marble, Jr. is a retired American professional basketball player, 6'6" tall, who played as swingman....
, Les Jepsen
Les Jepsen
Leslie Burnell "Les" Jepsen is a retired American professional basketball player who had a brief career in the National Basketball Association during the early 1990s....
and Ed Horton
Ed Horton
Edward "Ed" C. Horton is a retired American professional basketball player who was selected by the Washington Bullets in the 2nd round of the 1989 NBA Draft. He was a 6'8", 230 lb...
. All five recruits went on to play in the 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...
. Horton and Gamble played together at Lanphier High School.
Then-coach George Raveling
George Raveling
George Raveling is a former college men's basketball coach and FOX Sports Net color commentator. He was the head coach at Washington State University , the University of Iowa , and the University of Southern California . The Washington, D.C. native attended St...
kept Gamble on the bench for much of his first season. After the season, Raveling left Iowa to become the head coach at the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
. On April 7, 1986, Iowa named Tom Davis
Tom Davis (basketball)
Dr. Thomas "Dr. Tom" Davis is an American former college men's basketball coach. He served as the head coach at Lafayette College, Boston College, Stanford University, the University of Iowa, and Drake University from 1971 to 2007....
as its new head coach. Davis’ arrival reversed Gamble's fortunes, as he became a starter for Iowa in his senior season, and the team began the season with 17 straight wins to earn the #1 ranking in the AP Poll
AP Poll
The Associated Press College Poll refers to weekly rankings of the top 25 NCAA teams in one of three Division I college sports: football, men's basketball and women's basketball. The rankings are compiled by polling sportswriters across the nation...
. In the Sweet Sixteen of the 1987 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
1987 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1987 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 12, 1987, and ended with the championship game on March 30 in New Orleans, Louisiana...
, Gamble hit the winning shot against the University of Oklahoma
University of Oklahoma
The University of Oklahoma is a coeducational public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two became the state of Oklahoma. the university had 29,931 students enrolled, most located at its...
to send the Hawkeyes to the Elite Eight, where they faced the University of Nevada at Las Vegas. Against UNLV, Gamble attempted a 3-pointer as time expired, but the shot bounced off the rim, ending what was arguably Tom Davis's most successful season at Iowa. Iowa finished with a 30–5 record.
Professional career
Gamble was selected with the 17th pick of the third round (63rd overall) by the Portland Trail BlazersPortland Trail Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers, commonly known as the Blazers, are an American professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The Trail Blazers originally played their home games in the...
in the 1987 NBA Draft
1987 NBA Draft
The 1987 Draft of the National Basketball Association was held on June 22, 1987 in New York City, New York.This draft is notable for the selection of two future members of the NBA 50 Greatest Players list, David Robinson and Scottie Pippen. Other notable selections include Reggie Miller, Kevin...
. He only played in 19 minutes with Portland before being waived on December 9, 1987.
Gamble then headed to the Continental Basketball Association
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 :...
for the Quad City Thunder
Quad City Thunder
The Quad City Thunder are a defunct professional basketball team that was based in the Quad Cities of Illinois and Iowa. They played in the Continental Basketball Association from the 1987-1988 season until the league folded in 2001. The teams was CBA champions in the 1993-1994 and 1997-1998...
, where he averaged 21.1 points per game (ppg) with the team in 1988. His stint was followed by an invitation to the 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...
’ rookie camp the following summer, followed by a training camp tryout with the Milwaukee Bucks
Milwaukee Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks are a professional basketball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. They are part of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1968 as an expansion team, and currently plays at the Bradley Center....
later that fall. Neither team ended up signing Gamble.
Gamble then played in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
for a month, where he teamed with Billy Ray Bates
Billy Ray Bates
Billy Ray Bates is a retired American professional basketball player. Bates played shooting guard at McAdams High in Mississippi and attended Kentucky State University....
in the 1988 PBA
Philippine Basketball Association
The Philippine Basketball Association , is a men's professional basketball league in the Philippines composed of 10 company-branded franchised teams. It is the first and oldest professional basketball league in Asia and the second oldest in the world after the NBA...
Reinforced Conference for Anejo Rum. In the four games he Gamble played with Anejo, he averaged near 50 ppg. However, with a losing record, Anejo management decided to send Bates and Gamble home.
Gamble returned to the Quad City Thunder and scored 27.8 ppg in a 12-game stint with the team. Scouts from several NBA teams took notice, including 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...
, a team that at the time featured four future Basketball Hall of Fame
Basketball Hall of Fame
The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, located in Springfield, Massachusetts, United States, honors exceptional basketball players, coaches, referees, executives, and other major contributors to the game of basketball worldwide...
rs entering the final years of their careers.
In December 1988, one of those Hall of Famers, Larry Bird
Larry Bird
Larry Joe Bird is a former American NBA basketball player and coach. Drafted into the NBA sixth overall by the Boston Celtics in 1978, Bird started at small forward and power forward for thirteen seasons, spearheading one of the NBA's most formidable frontcourts that included center Robert Parish...
was injured. Gamble was called up from the CBA and was signed the remainder of the season. Gamble played sparingly the first few months after signing his contract (not playing in 17 games), however his playing time picked up at the end of the season, with Gamble scoring at least 15 points in the final six games and hitting a season-high with 31 in the regular season finale. Gamble played in one playoff game before going down with an injury; the Celtics were swept by the 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...
in the first round.
Gamble played in 71 games the following season, 1989–1990
1989–90 Boston Celtics season
The 1989–90 Boston Celtics season was the 44th season of the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association .-Draft picks:-Roster:00 Robert Parish3 Dennis Johnson 4 Jim Paxson7 Kelvin Upshaw12 Otis Birdsong20 Brian Shaw...
, averaging 5.1 points in 13.9 minutes-per-game.
After seeing spot duty for two seasons, Gamble assumed a major role with Boston in 1990–91
1990–91 Boston Celtics season
The 1990–91 Boston Celtics season was the 45th season of the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association . After failing to advance past the first round in the two previous seasons, it appeared going into the 90-91 season that the Celtics were fading as NBA title contenders...
. Gamble played in every game, including 76 starts, and averaged 15.6 points (fourth on the team, behind Bird, Reggie Lewis
Reggie Lewis
Reggie Lewis was an American professional basketball player for the NBA's Boston Celtics from 1987 to 1993.-Early life:...
and Kevin McHale
Kevin McHale
Kevin Edward McHale is a retired American professional basketball player and current head coach of the Houston Rockets. After his playing career, he worked for the Minnesota Timberwolves as the team's general manager and later its coach. He was fired as coach in June 2009...
) in 33 minutes per game and helped the Celtics to a 56–26 record and a return to first place in the Atlantic Division
Atlantic Division (NBA)
The Atlantic Division is one of the three divisions in the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . The division consists of five teams, the Boston Celtics, the New Jersey Nets, the New York Knicks, the Philadelphia 76ers and the Toronto Raptors...
. His 58.7% shooting percentage was third-best in the NBA. He also placed second to Scott Skiles
Scott Skiles
Scott Allen Skiles is the head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks and former American professional basketball player. He also is the former head coach of the NBA's Chicago Bulls and Phoenix Suns. Skiles holds the NBA record for assists in one game, with 30...
of Orlando in the voting for the NBA Most Improved Player Award
NBA Most Improved Player Award
The National Basketball Association's Most Improved Player Award is an annual National Basketball Association award given since the 1985–86 NBA season, to the most improved player of the regular season. The winner is selected by a panel of sportswriters throughout the United States and Canada,...
, the closest finish in the history of the award, with a winning margin of four votes. Gamble's minutes were cut dramatically in the playoffs
1991 NBA Playoffs
The 1991 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1990–91 season. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Conference champion Chicago Bulls winning their first NBA championship via a four-games-to-one victory over the Western Conference champion Los...
and he averaged just six points per game against the Indiana Pacers
Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers are a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They are members of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association...
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...
.
Gamble played in all 82 games the next season, starting 77 of them, but the Celtics were eliminated by the Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers are a professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They began playing in the National Basketball Association in 1970 as an expansion team...
in the second round of the playoffs
1992 NBA Playoffs
NBA Champions: Chicago BullsThe 1992 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament following the National Basketball Association's 1991-1992 season. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Conference champion Chicago Bulls winning their second consecutive NBA championship by defeating the Western...
. He then saw his starting time drop dramatically in his final two seasons in Boston, playing in 75 games but starting only 29 in 1994
1993–94 Boston Celtics season
The 1993–94 Boston Celtics season was the 48th season of the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association . This season marked the first since 1978-79 that the Celtics failed to qualify for the NBA playoffs . Tragedy struck the team prior to the season when star guard Reggie Lewis died...
. Following the season, Gamble signed a free agent contract with 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...
, playing in 44 games (starting 13) before a late February 1996 trade sent him to the Sacramento 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...
. With the Kings, Gamble did not start a game for the remainder of the season. He returned in 1996–97 to play in 62 games and start two, but averaged only five points a game. He did not play for the Kings in 1997–98 and was released by the team on February 20, 1998.
For his NBA career, Gamble averaged 9.5 points with a 50.2% shooting percentage, with a 36% three point percentage and making 81% of free throws. He also averaged 2.2 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 22.4 minutes per game for 649 games.
Coaching career
In 2002, Gamble was named the first head men's basketball coach at the University of Illinois at SpringfieldUniversity of Illinois at Springfield
The University of Illinois at Springfield is a public university in Springfield, Illinois. The University was established in 1969 as Sangamon State University by the Illinois General Assembly and became a part of the University of Illinois system on July 1, 1995.The University of Illinois at...
, who began play in the American Midwest Conference
American Midwest Conference
The American Midwest Conference is a NAIA college athletic conference with nine member institutions located in Arkansas, Illinois, and Missouri in the United States.-Members:Notes:...
of the NAIA
National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics is an athletic association that organizes college and university-level athletic programs. Membership in the NAIA consists of smaller colleges and universities across the United States. The NAIA allows colleges and universities outside the USA...
that season. In his fourth year at the helm, 2005–06, Gamble coached the Prairie Stars to an AMC Tournament championship and a berth in the NAIA National Tournament. The next season, 2006–07, saw the Prairie Stars capture their first AMC regular season title outright, win their second consecutive AMC Tournamen,t and advance to the second round of the NAIA National Tournament. Gamble's team went 11–1 in conference play and 23–9 overall as his continued success earned Gamble his second AMC Coach of the Year honor. Two years later, in 2008–09, the team posted a 21–9 record in their final season of NAIA play. Beginning in 2009–10, the Prairie Stars joined the NCAA's Division II and the Great Lakes Valley Conference
Great Lakes Valley Conference
The Great Lakes Valley Conference is an intercollegiate athletic conference which competes at the NCAA's Division II level. Member institutions are located in the states of Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, and Wisconsin....
. Gamble's team posted an 11–13 record in their first year of NCAA competition.
In June 2010, Gamble resigned as head coach of the University of Illinois at Springfield to become the Director of Player Development and Video Operations for Providence College
Providence Friars men's basketball
The Providence Friars men's basketball team represents Providence College in NCAA Division I competition, in which they are a founding member of the Big East Conference. They play their home games at the Dunkin' Donuts Center in Providence, Rhode Island...
of the Big East Conference
Big East Conference
The Big East Conference is a collegiate athletics conference consisting of sixteen universities in the eastern half of the United States. The conference's 17 members participate in 24 NCAA sports...
under head coach Keno Davis
Keno Davis
-External links:*****...
, the son of Gamble's coach at Iowa, Tom Davis.