Slick Leonard
Encyclopedia
William Robert "Slick" Leonard (born July 17, 1932, in Terre Haute, Indiana
) is a former professional basketball
player and coach. A 6'3" 185 lb (83.9 kg) guard, Leonard played high school basketball at Terre Haute Gerstmeyer High School, where he excelled as a tennis player, as well. He played collegiate basketball at Indiana University
, where he hit the game winning free throws to give Indiana the 1953 NCAA championship.
He was selected with the first pick of the second round of the 1954 NBA Draft
. He spent most of his seven-year professional playing career with the Lakers
(four years in Minneapolis
, and one year following the team's move to Los Angeles
), followed by two years with the Chicago Packers/Zephyrs
). In his final season as a player, he also coached
the Zephyrs. The next year, the team moved to Baltimore; Leonard coached them for one more year.
In 1969, Leonard became the coach of the American Basketball Association
's Indiana Pacers
, a position he held for nearly 12 years – the last four after the franchise moved to the NBA. Leonard led the Pacers to three ABA championships before the ABA-NBA merger
in June 1976. However, after the merger, the Pacers were nearly gutted in order to meet the financial burdens imposed by the merger, and he was never able to put together a winning team during the Pacers' first four years as an NBA team.
Leonard returned to the Pacers in 1985 as a color commentator, first for television, then on radio, where he remains alongside Mark Boyle on WIBC
93.1 FM. His trademark phrase is "Boom, baby!" for a successful three-point shot.
On March 13, 2011, Leonard suffered a heart attack shortly after a Pacers road victory in New York. He was later said to be in good condition, but was given an indefinite time to recover, and was filled in for by Pacers TV analyst and former player Austin Croshere.
Terre Haute, Indiana
Terre Haute is a city and the county seat of Vigo County, Indiana, United States, near the state's western border with Illinois. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 60,785 and its metropolitan area had a population of 170,943. The city is the county seat of Vigo County and...
) is a former 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 and coach. A 6'3" 185 lb (83.9 kg) guard, Leonard played high school basketball at Terre Haute Gerstmeyer High School, where he excelled as a tennis player, as well. He played collegiate basketball at Indiana University
Indiana University
Indiana University is a multi-campus public university system in the state of Indiana, United States. Indiana University has a combined student body of more than 100,000 students, including approximately 42,000 students enrolled at the Indiana University Bloomington campus and approximately 37,000...
, where he hit the game winning free throws to give Indiana the 1953 NCAA championship.
He was selected with the first pick of the second round of the 1954 NBA Draft
1954 NBA Draft
The 1954 NBA Draft was the eight annual draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held on April 24, 1954 before the 1954–55 season. In this draft, nine NBA teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players. In each round, the teams select in reverse order of...
. He spent most of his seven-year professional playing career with the 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...
(four years in Minneapolis
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States...
, and one year following the team's move to Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
), followed by two years with the Chicago Packers/Zephyrs
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:...
). In his final season as a player, he also coached
Player-coach
A player-coach, in sports, is a member of a sports team who simultaneously holds both playing and coaching duties. The term can be used to refer to both players who serve as head coaches, or as assistant coaches....
the Zephyrs. The next year, the team moved to Baltimore; Leonard coached them for one more year.
In 1969, Leonard became the coach 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:...
's 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...
, a position he held for nearly 12 years – the last four after the franchise moved to the NBA. Leonard led the Pacers to three ABA championships before the ABA-NBA merger
ABA-NBA merger
The ABA–NBA merger was the merger of the American Basketball Association with the National Basketball Association, which after multiple attempts over several years finally occurred in 1976.- Origins of ABA-NBA competition :...
in June 1976. However, after the merger, the Pacers were nearly gutted in order to meet the financial burdens imposed by the merger, and he was never able to put together a winning team during the Pacers' first four years as an NBA team.
Leonard returned to the Pacers in 1985 as a color commentator, first for television, then on radio, where he remains alongside Mark Boyle on WIBC
WIBC
WIBC is a radio station owned by Emmis Communications in Indianapolis, Indiana. The studios are located at 40 Monument Circle in downtown Indianapolis. The transmitter and antenna are located, according to the FCC, near Post Road and Burk Road on the far east side of Indianapolis...
93.1 FM. His trademark phrase is "Boom, baby!" for a successful three-point shot.
On March 13, 2011, Leonard suffered a heart attack shortly after a Pacers road victory in New York. He was later said to be in good condition, but was given an indefinite time to recover, and was filled in for by Pacers TV analyst and former player Austin Croshere.