Tommy Burleson
Encyclopedia
Tommy Loren Burleson is an American
and former collegiate and professional basketball player. A 7′2″ center
, Burleson played for North Carolina State University
's 1974 NCAA National Championship
team.
As a collegian, Burleson teamed with superstar David Thompson
, guard Monte Towe
and forward Tim Stoddard
(who would go on to have success as a Major League Baseball
pitcher
) to dethrone UCLA and win the 1974 NCAA Championship. Burleson was the MVP of the 1973 and 1974 ACC Tournaments and was All-Final Four in 1974. Burleson's defense of UCLA superstar Bill Walton was key to the Wolfpack's semifinal win. He was a member of the 1973 World University Games Gold Medal basketball team.
When Burleson was recruited he was officially measured at 7′2″ tall. The coaching staff at North Carolina State decided they would list him at 7′4″. Burleson wanted to be listed at his actual height but the coaching staff said he would officially be the tallest player in American basketball and it would bring a lot of good exposure to him and the school .
Burleson was also a member of the 1972 U.S. Olympic Basketball Team that lost an epic and controversial gold medal game to the Soviet Union. The entire 1972 Olympic Basketball team believed they had been cheated and voted unanimously to not accept the silver.
Burleson was drafted by the Seattle SuperSonics
as the third overall player taken in the 1974 NBA Draft
, and was named to the 1974-75 NBA All-Rookie Team
. Playing under coach Bill Russell
, Burleson recorded strong playoff performances in both 1975 and 1976 for Seattle. For his playoff career, Burleson averaged over 20 points, 10 rebounds, and two blocks per game. Burleson's best season as a professional was his second, when he averaged 15.6 points per game, 9.0 rebounds per game, and 1.8 blocks per game. Just as Burleson began to dominate the NBA game, he was injured when he was breaking up a fight between his teammate and a member of the opposing team. The injury was instrumental in his steady decline over the next several years.
Burleson was known throughout his amateur and pro career as a good shot blocker. He played eight seasons in the NBA
with three different teams (Seattle, Kansas City Kings
and Atlanta Hawks
). Burleson currently lives in Avery County, North Carolina
with his wife Denise. He has three sons: Robert, David, and Quentin. He is an avid supporter of North Carolina State University.
In 2002, Burleson was named to the ACC 50th Anniversary men's basketball team
honoring the fifty greatest players in Atlantic Coast Conference
history.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and former collegiate and professional basketball player. A 7′2″ 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...
, Burleson played for North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University at Raleigh is a public, coeducational, extensive research university located in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. Commonly known as NC State, the university is part of the University of North Carolina system and is a land, sea, and space grant institution...
's 1974 NCAA National Championship
NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
The NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship is a single-elimination tournament held each spring in the United States, featuring 68 college basketball teams, to determine the national championship in the top tier of college basketball...
team.
As a collegian, Burleson teamed with superstar David Thompson
David Thompson (basketball)
David O'Neil Thompson is a former American professional basketball star with the Denver Nuggets of both the National Basketball Association and American Basketball Association , as well as the Seattle SuperSonics...
, guard Monte Towe
Monte Towe
Monte Corwin Towe is an American basketball coach and retired player.Towe attended Oak Hill High School in Converse, Indiana...
and forward Tim Stoddard
Tim Stoddard
Timothy Paul Stoddard is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He is one of only two known men to have played in both a World Series and an NCAA basketball national championship game....
(who would go on to have success as a Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
) to dethrone UCLA and win the 1974 NCAA Championship. Burleson was the MVP of the 1973 and 1974 ACC Tournaments and was All-Final Four in 1974. Burleson's defense of UCLA superstar Bill Walton was key to the Wolfpack's semifinal win. He was a member of the 1973 World University Games Gold Medal basketball team.
When Burleson was recruited he was officially measured at 7′2″ tall. The coaching staff at North Carolina State decided they would list him at 7′4″. Burleson wanted to be listed at his actual height but the coaching staff said he would officially be the tallest player in American basketball and it would bring a lot of good exposure to him and the school .
Burleson was also a member of the 1972 U.S. Olympic Basketball Team that lost an epic and controversial gold medal game to the Soviet Union. The entire 1972 Olympic Basketball team believed they had been cheated and voted unanimously to not accept the silver.
Burleson was drafted by the 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...
as the third overall player taken in the 1974 NBA Draft
NBA Draft
The NBA Draft is an annual event in which the thirty teams from the National Basketball Association can draft players who are eligible and wish to join the league. These players are usually amateur U.S. college basketball players, but international players are also eligible to be drafted...
, and was named to the 1974-75 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...
. Playing under coach Bill Russell
Bill Russell
William Felton "Bill" Russell is a retired American professional basketball player who played center for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association...
, Burleson recorded strong playoff performances in both 1975 and 1976 for Seattle. For his playoff career, Burleson averaged over 20 points, 10 rebounds, and two blocks per game. Burleson's best season as a professional was his second, when he averaged 15.6 points per game, 9.0 rebounds per game, and 1.8 blocks per game. Just as Burleson began to dominate the NBA game, he was injured when he was breaking up a fight between his teammate and a member of the opposing team. The injury was instrumental in his steady decline over the next several years.
Burleson was known throughout his amateur and pro career as a good shot blocker. He played eight seasons in the NBA
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...
with three different teams (Seattle, Kansas City 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...
and Atlanta Hawks
Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are part of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association .-The first years:...
). Burleson currently lives in Avery County, North Carolina
Avery County, North Carolina
- Climate :As a result of its relatively high elevation, Avery County has a Humid continental climate enjoying considerably cooler summers than most of the rest of the Eastern US. Likewise, winters are longer, colder and snowier than most other locations in the region. This can be evidenced by the...
with his wife Denise. He has three sons: Robert, David, and Quentin. He is an avid supporter of North Carolina State University.
In 2002, Burleson was named to the ACC 50th Anniversary men's basketball team
ACC 50th Anniversary men's basketball team
In 2002 the Atlantic Coast Conference selected 50th anniversary teams for most of its sports. The 50-member men's basketball team was voted on by a 120-member blue-ribbon committee that was selected by the league's 50th Anniversary Committee....
honoring the fifty greatest players in Atlantic Coast Conference
Atlantic Coast Conference
The Atlantic Coast Conference is a collegiate athletic league in the United States. Founded in 1953 in Greensboro, North Carolina, the ACC sanctions competition in twenty-five sports in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association for its twelve member universities...
history.