After a one-day break, we resume our coaches who also played profiles with a man who was a part of one of the greatest runs in NBA history as a player; the Showtime L.A. Lakers of the 1980s. He has since had success as a coach, making two NBA Finals. He is New Orleans Hornets coach Byron Scott.

Byron Scott was born March 28, 1961 in Ogden, Utah. He grew up Inglewood, California and attended Morningside High School, not very far from the Los Angeles Lakers' home of the Forum. Scott admitted years later that he snuck into the Forum to watch Lakers games by distracting the unattentive guards. Scott attended Arizona State University, where he averaged 17.5 PPG and 3.1 APG as a point guard. The San Diego Clippers selected Scott with the fourth overall pick in the 1983 NBA Draft, but Scott was soon after traded to the Lakers in exchange for Norm Nixon. The trade of Nixon allowed Magic Johnson to play PG, and Scott became a part of the Showtime Lakers who ran (literally) roughshod over the NBA in the mid-to-late 1980s.

Scott platooned with veteran Michael Cooper during his rookie year, eventually giving way to Cooper in the playoffs, but still posted respectable numbers of 10.6 PPG and 2.4 APG. Scott became a steady scorer for the Lakers throughout his tenure, averaging at least 13.7 PPG in each of his Lakers seasons after his rookie year (career best 21.7 PPG in 1987-88) while also playing good defense on opposing shooting guards. Scott led the league in three point percentage in 1984-85 and started on three championship teams (1985, 1987-88) before leaving after the 1992-93 season.

Scott then became a solid sixth man, helping the Indiana Pacers to the conference finals in each of his two seasons there, and he played well for the expansion Vancouver Grizzlies in 1995-96 before a final NBA season back with the Lakers in 1996-97. Scott's official end came with Panathinaikos in 1997-98, which he led to a Greek championship and was named their Finals MVP. Scott began coaching as an assistant coach with the Sacramento Kings in 1998, specializing in perimeter shooting, before being hired as the head coach of the New Jersey Nets in 2000.

Scott initially struggled in Jersey, losing 56 games in his first season, but after the team acquired Jason Kidd, the Nets emerged as a power in the Eastern Conference, as Scott's complex Princeton offense began to work perfectly. The Nets won 52 games (a club record in the NBA) and the Atlantic Division title during the 2001-02 season and made it to their first NBA Finals, before getting swept by Scott's old team, the Lakers. Jersey repeated as division champs in 2002-03 with 49 wins, then rolled through the East back to the Finals, this time losing to the San Antonio Spurs in six games. However, Scott was fired after 22-20 start to the following season; rumors had it that Kidd had a hand in Scott's demise (never proven). Scott served as a ABC studio analyst for the rest of the season before being hired to coach the New Orleans Hornets during the summer of 2004.

Much like his early Nets tenure, Scott's Hornets struggled early on, losing 64 games in 2004-05 after moving to the tougher Western Conference. The Hornets were then displace by Hurricane Katrina for most of the next two seasons, playing primarily in Oklahoma City. Scott managed 38 and 39 wins during those seasons as the Hornets matured, then watched as the Hornets returned to New Orleans and were highly successful, winningthe club's first ever division title (the Southwest Division) with a club record 56 wins and advancing to the second round of the Western Conference playoffs. Scott is proof that perseverence does pay off, and was rewarded with the NBA Coach of the Year award in 2008.

Season-by-Season Statistical Review (Player):
1983-84: 74 GP, 49 GS, 10.6 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 2.4 APG, 48.4 FG%, 80.6 FT%, 23.5 3P%
1984-85: 81 GP, 65 GS, 16.0 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 3.0 APG, 53.9 FG%, 82.0 FT%, 43.3 3P%
1985-86: 76 GP, 62 GS, 15.4 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 2.2 APG, 51.3 FG%, 78.4 FT%, 36.1 3P%
1986-87: 82 GP, 82 GS, 17.0 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 3.4 APG, 48.9 FG%, 89.2 FT%, 43.6 3P%
1987-88: 81 GP, 81 GS, 21.7 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 4.1 APG, 52.7 FG%, 85.8 FT%, 34.6 3P%
1988-89: 74 GP, 73 GS, 19.6 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 3.1 APG, 49.1 FG%, 86.3 FT%, 39.9 3P%
1989-90: 77 GP, 77 GS, 15.5 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 3.6 APG, 47.0 FG%, 76.6 FT%, 42.3 3P%
1990-91: 82 GP, 82 GS, 14.5 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 2.2 APG, 47.7 FG%, 79.7 FT%, 32.4 3P%
1991-92: 82 GP, 82 GS, 14.9 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 2.8 APG, 45.8 FG%, 83.8 FT%, 34.4 3P%
1992-93: 58 GP, 53 GS, 13.7 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 2.7 APG, 44.9 FG%, 84.8 FT%, 32.6 3P%
1993-94: 67 GP, 2 GS, 10.4 PPG, 1.6 RPG, 2.0 APG, 46.7 FG%, 80.5 FT%, 36.5 3P%
1994-95: 80 GP, 1 GS, 10.0 PPG, 1.9 RPG, 1.4 APG, 45.5 FG%, 85.0 FT%, 38.9 3P%
1995-96: 80 GP, 0 GS, 10.2 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 1.5 APG, 40.1 FG%, 83.5 FT%, 33.5 3P%
1996-97: 79 GP, 8 GS, 6.7 PPG, 1.5 RPG, 1.3 APG, 43.0 FG%, 84.1 FT%, 38.8 3P%

Season-by-Season Statistical Review (Coach):
2000-01 New Jersey: 26 Wins, 56 Losses (did not make playoffs)
2001-02 New Jersey: 52 Wins, 30 Losses (11-9, lost NBA Finals)
2002-03 New Jersey: 49 Wins, 33 Losses (14-6, lost NBA Finals)
2003-04 New Jersey: 22 Wins, 20 Losses (fired after 42 games)
2004-05 New Orleans: 18 Wins, 64 Losses (did not make playoffs)
2005-06 New Orleans/Oklahoma City: 38 Wins, 44 Losses (did not make playoffs)
2006-07 New Orleans/Oklahoma City: 39 Wins, 43 Losses (did not make playoffs)
2007-08 New Orleans: 56 Wins, 26 Losses (7-5, lost conf. semifinals)
2008-09 New Orleans: will update at end of season

Today's profile is a man who defines the word "nomad". He has coached nine of the NBA's 30 teams, as well as two ABA and two NCAA teams. And, at one time, he was one of the best playmaking guards in the game. He is Charlotte Bobcats coach Larry Brown.

Larry Brown was born September 14, 1940 in Brooklyn, New York. He attended Long Beach High School (whose other notable alum is comedian Billy Crystal), then went to the University of North Carolina, where as a point guard, Brown played for Dean Smith, who he admires greatly. Despite a solid career as a Tar Heel and being selected in the seventh round of the 1963 NBA Draft by the Baltimore Bullets, the consensus was that Brown was too small to play effectively in the league. Brown played a season with the National Association of Basketball Leagues' (NABL) Akron Wingfoots (1964-65), during which time he was selected to play in the 1964 Olympics, where he won a gold medal. Brown returned to North Carolina as an assistant coach, but soon returned to playing when the American Basketball Association (ABA) was formed in 1967.

Brown joined the New Orleans Buccaneers in the ABA's inaugural season, leading the league in assists (6.5 APG) and taking New Orleans to the first ABA Finals, losing to the Pittsburgh Pipers. Brown led the ABA in assists in 1969 and 1970 as well, and as an Oakland Oak in 1968-69, Brown won an ABA title as the Rick Barry-led Oaks finished 60-18 and 12-4 in the playoffs. Brown also played for the Washington Capitols (where the Oaks moved in 1969), the Virginia Squires (where the Caps moved a year later), and the last year and a half of his career with the Denver Rockets (now the Nuggets), where he retired in 1972. At the time he retired, he was the ABA's all-time assists leader (he would eventually finish seventh in that category in ABA history).

Brown was set to begin coaching Davidson college (NC) after his retirement, but he bolted before coaching a game to become the ABA's Carolina Cougars head coach (establishing an obvoious pattern). Brown was wildly successful in his first season, winning ABA Coach of the Year honors as the Cougars finished with a league-best 57-27 record. After being bounced in the division finals by Kentucky, Brown coached another year with Carolina, but did not make the move with them to St. Louis in 1974. Brown was then hired as coach of the Nuggets, and he guided Denver to the league's best record each of his two years, leading them to the last ABA Finals in 1975-76, losing to the New York Nets. Brown joined the Nuggets in the NBA the following year, and the Nuggets were the most successful former ABA team in each of the first two years there, winning the Midwest Division title each year and making the Western Conference finals in 1978. The following year, however, Brown resigned. According to reports, though Brown cited heart problems for his resignation, he was seen jogging a mile prior to his press conference. Many actually cited Brown's disagreement in acquiring George McGinnis as the real reason he quit.

Brown then jumped into college, taking the UCLA job in 1979. His first season saw the Bruins make it to the national title game before losing to Lousiville 59-54. After a lackluster second year, Brown left under pressure and joined the New Jersey Nets in 1981. Though Brown led the Nets to a playoff spot and a team NBA-high 44 wins his first year, Brown did not enjoy coaching the team he had. With just six games left in the 1982-83 season, Brown was fired after he told the team he was leaving to take the Kansas coaching job. At Kansas, Brown had good success, leading the Jayhawks to a Big 8 (now Big 12) title in 1986 and to an unlikely NCAA title in 1988, beating Oklahoma 83-79 in the final (the Jayhawks were the first team in NCAA history to win the title with 10+ losses). Itching for a new challenge, Brown signed on with the San Antonio Spurs after the title game.

Brown joined the Spurs at the right time; after a rough first season (21-61), Brown rided rookie David Robinson to 56 wins and an Midwest Division title in 1989-90 (the 35 win jump was the largest single-season jump at the time in NBA history). Brown took the Spurs to another division title in 1991, but was fired after 38 games in 1991-92 after a dispute with management. Shortly thereafter, he was hired by the Los Angeles Clippers, where he took the previously moribund Clippers to their most successful stretch in team history; they went 45-37 and 41-41 in his two years and made the playoffs both times (he was also married during this time). But after the 1992-93 season, Brown was on the move again, this time for the Indiana Pacers.

At Indiana, Brown directed a team that had not won any NBA playoff series to two playoff series wins in 1994, nearly leading them to an upset of the Knicks in the conference finals. Brown then led Indiana to a division title in 1995 and another conference final, but after a lackluster 1996-97 season, Brown moved on to the Philadelphia 76ers, a team in dire straights at the time. Depsite constant clashes with star guard Allen Iverson, Brown stayed with the Sixers for the longest stretch he had with any team. Over the course of six seasons, Brown guided the Sixers to five playoffs berths, the highlight being the 2000-01 season, where Philadelphia secured division and conference titles before losing to the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals. Brown won his only NBA Coach of the Year award after that season, and in 2003, he was hired to coach the Detroit Pistons, a team on the cusp of competing for a title.

In his first season with the Pistons, Brown achieved his zenith as an NBA coach, as Detroit shocked the Lakers to win the 2004 NBA title. The victory made Brown the first (and only) coach to have won an NCAA and an NBA title. Brown led the Pistons back to the Finals in 2005, but they lost to the Spurs in seven games, and Brown was bought out after the series when rumors surfaced that he was interested in a fron office job with the Cleveland Cavaliers. A week later, he was hired as coach by the New York Knicks, the team Brown idolized as a youth.

However, Brown's time in the Big Apple was anything but rosy; he clashed with players (most notably Stephon Marbury) and GM Isiah Thomas over the personnel. While Brown won his 1,000th game with the Knicks (one of only four to do so), there were few other highlights; the Knicks finished 23-59, and Brown was fired. After spending most of the next two years as a Sixers consultant, Brown returned yet again to coaching with the Charlotte Bobcats in the 2008-09 season. Yes, Brown is a nomad in any sense of the word, but few fret the details as successfully as he (usually) does, so the ends (usually) justify the means.

Season-by-Season Statistical Review (Player):
1967-68: 78 GP, 13.4 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 6.5 APG, 36.6 FG%, 81.3 FT%, 21.3 3P%
1968-69: 77 GP, 12.0 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 7.1 APG, 43.6 FG%, 79.4 FT%, 22.9 3P%
1969-70: 82 GP, 13.7 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 7.1 APG, 44.0 FG%, 82.5 FT%, 25.6 3P%
1970-71: 63 GP, 7.1 PPG, 1.7 RPG, 5.2 APG, 37.4 FG%, 82.7 FT%, 28.6 3P%
1971-72: 76 GP, 9.1 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 7.2 APG, 43.7 FG%, 81.1 FT%, 20.0 3P%

Season-by-Season Statistical Review (Coach):
1972-73 Carolina ABA: 57 Wins, 27 Losses (7-5, lost div. finals)
1973-74 Carolina ABA: 47 Wins, 37 Losses (1-4, lost div. semifinals)
1974-75 Denver ABA: 65 Wins, 19 Losses (7-6, lost div. finals)
1975-76 Denver ABA: 60 Wins, 24 Losses (6-7, lost ABA Finals)
1976-77 Denver: 50 Wins, 32 Losses (2-4, lost conf. semifinals)
1977-78 Denver: 48 Wins, 34 Losses (6-7, lost conf. finals)
1978-79 Denver: 28 Wins, 25 Losses (resigned after 53 games)
1979-80 UCLA NCAA: 22 Wins, 10 Losses (12-6 in conf., lost NCAA final)
1980-81 UCLA NCAA: 20 Wins, 7 Losses (13-5 in conf. made it to NCAA round of 32)
1981-82 New Jersey: 44 Wins, 38 Losses (0-2, lost preliminary round)
1982-83 New Jersey: 47 Wins, 29 Losses (fired after 76 games)
1983-84 Kansas NCAA: 22 Wins, 10 Losses (9-5 in conf., lost in 2nd round)
1984-85 Kansas NCAA: 26 Wins, 8 Losses (11-3 in conf., lost in 2nd round)
1985-86 Kansas NCAA: 35 Wins, 4 Losses (13-1 in conf., lost in Final Four)
1986-87 Kansas NCAA: 25 Wins, 11 Losses (9-5 in conf., lost in Sweet Sixteen)
1987-88 Kansas NCAA: 27 Wins, 11 Losses (9-5 in conf., won NCAA title)
1988-89 San Antonio: 21 Wins, 61 Losses (did not make playoffs)
1989-90 San Antonio: 56 Wins, 26 Losses (6-4, lost conf. semifinals)
1990-91 San Antonio: 55 Wins, 27 Losses (1-3, lost conf. 1st round)
1991-92 San Antonio: 21 Wins, 17 Losses (fired after 38 games)
1991-92 L.A. Clippers: 23 Wins, 12 Losses (2-3, lost conf. 1st round)
1992-93 L.A. Clippers: 41 Wins, 41 Losses (2-3, lost conf. 1st round)
1993-94 Indiana: 47 Wins, 35 Losses (10-6, lost conf. finals)
1994-95 Indiana: 52 Wins, 30 Losses (10-7, lost conf. finals)
1995-96 Indiana: 52 Wins, 30 Losses (2-3, lost conf. 1st round)
1996-97 Indiana: 39 Wins, 43 Losses (did not make playoffs)
1997-98 Philadelphia: 31 Wins, 51 Losses (did not make playoffs)
1998-99 Philadelphia: 28 Wins, 22 Losses (3-5, lost conf. semifinals)
1999-2000 Philadelphia: 49 Wins, 33 Losses (5-5, lost conf. semifinals)
2000-01 Philadelphia: 56 Wins, 26 Losses (12-11, lost NBA Finals)
2001-02 Philadelphia: 43 Wins, 39 Losses (2-3, lost conf. 1st round)
2002-03 Philadelphia: 48 Wins, 34 Losses (6-6, lost conf. semifinals)
2003-04 Detroit: 54 Wins, 28 Losses (16-7, won NBA Finals)
2004-05 Detroit: 54 Wins, 28 Losses (15-10, lost NBA Finals)
2005-06 New York: 23 Wins, 59 Losses (did not make playoffs)
2008-09 Charlotte: 35 Wins, 47 Losses (did not make playoffs)

Today, we continue with the player/coach profiles and highlight one of the most innovative coaches in the NBA. His teams, in an era of defense-dominated teams, has perfected the run-and-gun offense, and has given us concepts like the point forward. He is the coach of the Golden State Warriors, Don Nelson.

Don Nelson was born May 15, 1940 in Muskegon, Michigan. He later moved to Illinois, where he was a great ball player at Rock Island High School. Nelson then attended the University of Iowa, where he was a two time All-American and averaged 21.1 PPG and 10.5 RPG from 1958-62. Nelson was drafted 19th overall (1st pick of the third round) in the 1962 NBA Draft by the Chicago Zephyrs (now the Washington Wizards). After a decent rookie year, Nelson ended up with the Los Angeles Lakers the following season. After two non-descript seasons in L.A., he signed as a free agent with the Boston Celtics in 1965.

Nelson soon blossomed into a reliable sixth man as Boston won championships in three of his first four seasons there. Nelson averaged over 10 PPG in nine of his eleven seasons in Beantown (career best 15.4 PPG in 1969-70) and led the league in feild goal percentage in 1974-75. The following season, Nelson retired as a player. He won five NBA titles as a Celtic. But the next phase of his career was just beginning.

Immediately following his retirement, Nelson joined the Milwaukee Bucks as an assistant to coach Larry Costello (the first ever Bucks coach). However, 18 games into the 1976-77 season, Costello was replaced by Nelson (who also became Bucks GM). After a mediocre finish, Nelson took the Buck to the playoffs in his first full season, setting the stage for a memorable run. Between 1979-80 and 1985-86, the Bucks won a division title in each season (the Midwest in 1979-80, the Central every year after that). They made the conference finals three times during that span, as Nelson created innovative offense schemes, including using SF Paul Pressey as a 'point forward' to bring up the ball on the break. By the time he left the team in 1987, he had amassed seven seasons with over fifty wins (1981-87).

In 1988, Nelson resurfaced in Golden State as coach/vice president of the Warriors, who had won just one playoff series between 1978 and 1988. Nelson guided the Warriors to the playoffs four times between 1989 and 1994, winning two playoff series and getting 50 or more wins twice. Nelson also won the Coach of the Year award in 1992 (the third time he won the award; 1983 and 1985 were the other years) as his high-octane offense was driven by stars Tim Hardaway, Mitch Richmond and Chris Mullin (know collectively as Run TMC). However, Nelson resigned early in the 1994-95 season (45 games) after a dispute with Chris Webber. A year later, he was hired by the New York Knicks, but only 59 games into the 1995-96 season, he was fired despite a 34-25 record because of philosophical differences and his reported desire to trade star C Patrick Ewing to clear room to sign free agent-to be Shaquille O'Neal.

Nelson proved he wasn't done with the NBA, however, when he became GM of the Dallas Mavericks in 1996-97. In his first year as a GM alone, his trades helped the Mavericks make history as the team that used the most players in a season. Early in the 1997-98 season, he replaced Jim Cleamons as coach, and after a rough start, Nelson led Dallas to their first playoff berth since 1990 in 2001, upsetting the Utah Jazz in the first round. Nelson guided Dallas to four straight fifty win seasons (2001-04) before resigning late in the 2004-05 season. After a one-year hiatus, Nelson returned to Golden State for a dramatic encore. Nelson led the Warriors to their first playoff berth in 13 years in 2007, and in one of the greatest upsets in NBA history, took the 8th seeded Warriors to a six game upset of his former team, the Mavericks, who had won 67 games that season. Overall, Nelson ranks second in career wins (behind Lenny Wilkens) with 1,285, and has eighteen playoff berths and 75 playoff wins.

Season-by-Season Statistical Review (Player):
1962-63: 62 GP, 6.8 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 1.2 APG, 44.0 FG%, 72.9 FT%
1963-64: 80 GP, 5.2 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 1.0 APG, 41.8 FG%, 74.1 FT%
1964-65: 39 GP, 2.4 PPG, 1.9 RPG, 0.6 APG, 42.4 FG%, 76.9 FT%
1965-66: 75 GP, 10.2 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 1.1 APG, 43.9 FG%, 68.4 FT%
1966-67: 79 GP, 7.5 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 0.8 APG, 44.6 FG%, 74.2 FT%
1967-68: 82 GP, 10.0 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 1.3 APG, 49.4 FG%, 72.8 FT%
1968-69: 82 GP, 11.6 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 1.1 APG, 48.5 FG%, 77.6 FT%
1969-70: 82 GP, 15.4 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 1.8 APG, 50.1 FG%, 77.5 FT%
1970-71: 82 GP, 13.9 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 1.9 APG, 46.8 FG%, 74.4 FT%
1971-72: 82 GP, 13.8 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 2.3 APG, 48.0 FG%, 78.8 FT%
1972-73: 72 GP, 10.8 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 1.4 APG, 47.6 FG%, 84.6 FT%
1973-74: 82 GP, 11.5 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 2.0 APG, 50.8 FG%, 78.8 FT%
1974-75: 79 GP, 14.0 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 2.3 APG, 53.9 FG%, 82.7 FT%
1975-76: 75 GP, 6.4 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 1.0 APG, 46.2 FG%, 78.9 FT%

Season-by-Season Statistical Review (Coach):
1976-77 Milwaukee: 27 Wins, 37 Losses (did not make playoffs)
1977-78 Milwaukee: 44 Wins, 38 Losses (5-4, lost conf. semifinals)
1978-79 Milwaukee: 38 Wins, 44 Losses (did not make playoffs)
1979-80 Milwaukee: 49 Wins, 33 Losses (3-4, lost conf. semifinals)
1980-81 Milwaukee: 60 Wins, 22 Losses (3-4, lost conf. semifinals)
1981-82 Milwaukee: 55 Wins, 27 Losses (2-4, lost conf. semifinals)
1982-83 Milwaukee: 51 Wins, 31 Losses (5-4, lost conf. finals)
1983-84 Milwaukee: 50 Wins, 32 Losses (8-8, lost conf. finals)
1984-85 Milwaukee: 59 Wins, 23 Losses (3-5, lost conf. semifinals)
1985-86 Milwaukee: 57 Wins, 25 Losses (7-7, lost conf. finals)
1986-87 Milwaukee: 50 Wins, 32 Losses (6-6, lost conf. semifinals)
1988-89 Golden State: 43 Wins, 39 Losses (4-4, lost conf. semifinals)
1989-90 Golden State: 37 Wins, 45 Losses (did not make playoffs)
1990-91 Golden State: 44 Wins, 38 Losses (4-5, lost conf. semifinals)
1991-92 Golden State: 55 Wins, 27 Losses (1-3, lost conf. 1st round)
1992-93 Golden State: 34 Wins, 48 Losses (did not make playoffs)
1993-94 Golden State: 50 Wins, 32 Losses (0-3, lost conf. 1st round)
1994-95 Golden State: 14 Wins, 31 Losses (resigned after 45 games)
1995-96 New York: 34 Wins, 25 Losses (fired after 59 games)
1997-98 Dallas: 16 Wins, 50 Losses (did not make playoffs)
1998-99 Dallas: 19 Wins, 31 Losses (did not make playoffs)
1999-2000 Dallas: 40 Wins, 42 Losses (did not make playoffs)
2000-01 Dallas: 53 Wins, 29 Losses (4-6, lost conf. semifinals)
2001-02 Dallas: 57 Wins, 25 Losses (4-4, lost conf. semifinals)
2002-03 Dallas: 60 Wins, 22 Losses (10-10, lost conf. finals)
2003-04 Dallas: 52 Wins, 30 Losses (1-4, lost conf. 1st round)
2004-05 Dallas: 42 Wins, 22 Losses (resigned after 64 games)
2006-07 Golden State: 42 Wins, 40 Losses (5-6, lost conf. semfinals)
2007-08 Golden State: 48 Wins, 34 Losses (did not make playoffs)
2008-09 Golden State: 29 Wins, 53 Losses (did not make playoffs)

The next week will be a special week for the player profiles. Instead of the traditional player career-only profiles, we will spotlight head coaches who also had a playing career, and will highlight both aspects of their careers. The first coach to be spotlighted is the longest tenured coach in modern professional sports, the Utah Jazz' Jerry Sloan.

Jerry Sloan was born March 28, 1942 in McLeansboro, Illinois. He attended McLeansboro High School, then went on to attend the University of Evansville (Div. II school) in 1961. During his four years there, he average 15.5 PPG, leading Evansville to two appearances in the NCAA Division II Tournament, earning All-America honors as a senior. The Baltimore Bullets selected him as a junior eligible in 1964, but Sloan stayed in college (this was the same rule the Celtics used to draft Larry Bird in 1978, and the rule has since been removed). The Bullets eventually snagged Sloan with the sixth overall pick in the 1965 NBA Draft.

Sloan had a decent rookie season, averaging 5.7 PPG and 3.9 RPG in limited minutes. However, the Bullets left him exposed in the expansion draft after his rookie season, and he was the first player taken by the team drafting alone in that draft, the Chicago Bulls. This earned Sloan the nickname "The Original Bull". Sloan became a solid player for the young Bulls, leading the team to the playoffs in their first two seasons, and between 1966-67 and 1971-72, Sloan averaged at least 13.3 PPG and 7.0 RPG as the Bulls became a contender in short order in the Western Division/Conference. Sloan earned two All-Star berths (1967 and 1969), was named to four All-NBA Defensive 1st teams (1969, 1972, 1974-75), and led Chicago to the 1975 Western Conference Finals before retiring after the following season.

Sloan got into scouting with the Bulls immediately following his retirement, then became an assistant coach in 1977. In 1979, he was named head coach of the Bulls, but was only moderately successful; he led the Bulls to a playoff series win in 1980-81, but was only 94-121 before being fired 50 games into the 1981-82 season. He spent the following year as a Utah Jazz scout, then coached the CBA's Evansville Thunder before returing to Utah as an assistant in 1984 to coach Frank Layden. Seventeen games into the 1988-89 season, Layden retired and ceded the reigns to Sloan. It was the beginning of a long-term relationship.

Sloan had the good fortune to coach the Jazz during the peak years of future Hall-of-Famers John Stockton and Karl Malone, but Sloan also put his stamp on the Jazz; they were a reflection of Sloan the player in that they were physical, intense and detail-oriented. As of the 2008-09 season opener, the Jazz have had twelve season of better than 50 wins (three of 60 or more), have won six division titles, made the playoffs in seventeen out of twenty seasons, and made the NBA Finals in 1997 and 1998, losing to the Bulls both times. He has finished runner-up in the Coach of the Year twice, and is the only coach in NBA history to win 1,000 games with one team, achieving this on November 7, 2008 against Oklahoma City. Such is the profile of Jerry Sloan; a man of simplicity, who has done the most he can with any team he's been given.

Season-by-Season Statistical Review (Player):
1965-66: 59 GP, 5.7 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 1.9 APG, 41.5 FG%, 70.5 FT%
1966-67: 80 GP, 17.4 PPG, 9.1 RPG, 2.1 APG, 43.2 FG%, 79.6 FT%
1967-68: 77 GP, 13.3 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 3.0 APG, 38.5 FG%, 74.9 FT%
1968-69: 78 GP, 16.8 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 3.5 APG, 41.7 FG%, 74.5 FT%
1969-70: 53 GP, 15.6 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 3.1 APG, 42.1 FG%, 65.1 FT%
1970-71: 80 GP, 18.3 PPG, 8.8 RPG, 3.5 APG, 44.1 FG%, 71.5 FT%
1971-72: 82 GP, 16.2 PPG, 8.4 RPG, 2.6 APG, 44.4 FG%, 66.0 FT%
1972-73: 69 GP, 10.1 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 2.2 APG, 41.1 FG%, 70.7 FT%
1973-74: 77 GP, 13.2 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 1.9 APG, 44.7 FG%, 71.1 FT%
1974-75: 78 GP, 12.2 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 2.1 APG, 43.9 FG%, 74.8 FT%
1975-76: 22 GP, 10.1 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 1.0 APG, 40.0 FG%, 70.5 FT%

Season-by-Season Statistical Review (Coach): (Regular season record first, then playoff record and final result)
1979-89 Chicago: 30 Wins, 52 Losses (did not make playoffs)
1980-81 Chicago: 45 Wins, 37 Losses (2-4, lost conf. semifinals)
1981-82 Chicago: 19 Wins, 32 Losses (fired after 51 games)
1988-89 Utah: 40 Wins, 25 Losses (0-3, lost conf. 1st round)
1989-90 Utah: 55 Wins, 27 Losses (2-3, lost conf. 1st round)
1990-91 Utah: 54 Wins, 28 Losses (4-5, lost conf. 1st round)
1991-92 Utah: 55 Wins, 27 Losses (9-7, lost conf. finals)
1992-93 Utah: 47 Wins, 35 Losses (2-3, lost conf. 1st round)
1993-94 Utah: 53 Wins, 29 Losses (8-8, lost conf. finals)
1994-95 Utah: 60 Wins, 22 Losses (2-3, lost conf. 1st round)
1995-96 Utah: 55 Wins, 27 Losses (10-6, lost conf. finals)
1996-97 Utah: 64 Wins, 18 Losses (13-7, lost NBA Finals)
1997-98 Utah: 62 Wins, 20 Losses (13-7, lost NBA Finals)
1998-99 Utah: 37 Wins, 13 Losses (5-6, lost conf. semifinals)
1999-2000 Utah: 55 Wins, 27 Losses (4-6, lost conf. semifinals)
2000-01 Utah: 53 Wins, 29 Losses (2-3, lost conf. 1st round)
2001-02 Utah: 44 Wins, 38 Losses (1-3, lost conf. 1st round)
2002-03 Utah: 47 Wins, 35 Losses (1-4, lost conf. 1st round)
2003-04 Utah: 42 Wins, 40 Losses (did not make playoffs)
2004-05 Utah: 26 Wins, 56 Losses (did not make playoffs)
2005-06 Utah: 41 Wins, 41 Losses (did not make playoffs)
2006-07 Utah: 51 Wins, 31 Losses (9-8, lost conf. finals)
2007-08 Utah: 54 Wins, 28 Losses (6-6, lost conf. semifinals)
2008-09 Utah: 48 Wins, 34 Losses (1-4, lost conf. 1st round)

Today's profile is another in my series of "firsts" columns. Here is the first NBA player to play 21 seasons in the league. For 14 of those seasons, he was in the middle of the most vaunted front line in the NBA in the 1980s. He is "the Chief", Robert Parish!

Robert Parish was born August 30, 1953 in Shreveport, Louisiana. He attended Woodlawn High School in Shreveport, but wasn't a good student. When he wanted to attend college in 1972, his score was below the NCAA's standard GPA of 1.6. Parish eventually took a standardized test, but not one that counted towards the NCAA's standard. However, Centenary College (LA) converted his scores and admitted him with a scholarship. Although Cetenary had done this with 12 other admittees in previous seasons, the NCAA took notice of Parish and five others that year, and told the college to either recind the scholarships or be sactioned. Cetenary chose the latter, and was hit with a harsh penalty; it was put on probation until 1978, and its very existence wasn't acknowleged by the NCAA. As a result, Parish's stellar college numbers (21.6 PPG and 16.9 RPG during his college career) officially don't exist to this day. Parish did lead the U.S. team to a gold medal in the Pan American games, however, and was even named captain of that team. After finishing at Cetenary, Parish was chosen eighth overall in the 1976 Draft by the Golden State Warriors (he was also selected by the Utah Stars and San Antonio Spurs of the ABA, but he chose to sign with the Warriors), who were only a year removed from an NBA title.

However, Parish's tenure in Golden State was anything but rosy. The fans of the team felt he didn't live up to his draft status, and Parish felt the other Warriors players weren't great teammates (years later, he siad Rick Barry was the most arrogant player he ever met). After four frustrating years in Oakland, he soon found salvation. In 1980, the Boston Celtics traded the rights to the #1 pick and the #13 pick in the NBA Draft to the Warriors for the #3 pick and Parish. While the Warriors ended up with Joe Barry Carroll and Rickey Brown (who combined for one All-Star selection), the Celtics got Parish and Kevin McHale, who combined with Larry Bird to form the best frontcourt in the league in the 1980s. Parish said after the trade it was "like going from an outhouse to a penthouse".

In his first season as a Celtic (1980-81), Parish helped the Celtics win their first NBA title since 1976, averaging 18.9 PPG and 9.5 RPG and making the first of nine All-Star teams (1982-87, 1990-91). Over the next thirteen seasons, Parish averaged a double-double eight times (career bests 19.9 PPG in 1981-82 and 12.5 RPG in 1988-89) as the Celtics won the division nine times, claimed five conference titles, and won two additional NBA titles in 1984 and 1986. Unlike his fellow frontliners, Parish's career lasted long beyond his Boston days. After leaving the team following the 1993-94 season, he signed with the Charlotte Hornets, backing up various Hornets centers, and finished his career in 1997 by winning his fourth NBA title with the Chicago Bulls. When he retired, he had scored 23,334 points (14.5 PPG career) and had 14,715 rebounds (9.1 RPG) which ranks eighth all-time. His number 00 has been retired by the Celtics, and he was elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2003.

Season-by-Season Statistical Review:
1976-77: 77 GP, 9.1 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 1.0 APG, 50.3 FG%, 70.8 FT%
1977-78: 82 GP, 12.5 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 1.2 APG, 47.2 FG%, 62.5 FT%
1978-79: 76 GP, 17.2 PPG, 12.1 RPG, 1.5 APG, 49.9 FG%, 69.8 FT%
1979-80: 72 GP, 17.0 PPG, 10.9 RPG, 1.7 APG, 50.7 FG%, 71.5 FT%
1980-81: 82 GP, 18.9 PPG, 9.5 RPG, 1.8 APG, 54.5 FG%, 71.0 FT%
1981-82: 80 GP, 78 GS, 19.9 PPG, 10.8 RPG, 1.8 APG, 54.2 FG%, 71.0 FT%
1982-83: 78 GP, 76 GS, 19.3 PPG, 10.6 RPG, 1.8 APG, 55.0 FG%, 69.8 FT%
1983-84: 80 GP, 79 GS, 19.0 PPG, 10.7 RPG, 1.7 APG, 54.6 FG%, 74.5 FT%
1984-85: 79 GP, 78 GS, 17.6 PPG, 10.6 RPG, 1.6 APG, 54.2 FG%, 74.3 FT%
1985-86: 81 GP, 80 GS, 16.1 PPG, 9.5 RPG, 1.8 APG, 54.9 FG%, 73.1 FT%
1986-87: 80 GP, 80 GS, 17.5 PPG, 10.6 RPG, 2.2 APG, 55.6 FG%, 73.5 FT%
1987-88: 74 GP, 73 GS, 14.3 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 1.6 APG, 58.9 FG%, 73.4 FT%
1988-89: 80 GP, 80 GS, 18.6 PPG, 12.5 RPG, 2.2 APG, 57.0 FG%, 71.9 FT%
1989-90: 79 GP, 78 GS, 15.7 PPG, 10.1 RPG, 1.3 APG, 58.0 FG%, 74.7 FT%
1990-91: 81 GP, 81 GS, 14.9 PPG, 10.6 RPG, 0.8 APG, 59.8 FG%, 76.7 FT%
1991-92: 79 GP, 79 GS, 14.1 PPG, 8.9 RPG, 0.9 APG, 53.5 FG%, 77.2 FT%
1992-93: 79 GP, 79 GS, 12.6 PPG, 9.4 RPG, 0.8 APG, 53.5 FG%, 68.9 FT%
1993-94: 74 GP, 74 GS, 11.7 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 1.1 APG, 49.1 FG%, 74.0 FT%
1994-95: 81 GP, 4 GS, 4.8 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 0.5 APG, 42.7 FG%, 70.3 FT%
1995-96: 74 GP, 34 GS, 3.9 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 0.4 APG, 49.8 FG%, 70.4 FT%
1996-97: 43 GP, 3 GS, 3.7 PPG, 2.1 RPG, 0.5 APG, 49.0 FG%, 67.7 FT%

I liked the two profiles from earlier this week, I decided to continue with another NBA firsts blog. Today's profile shines the spotlight on the first (and only) player to lead the league in both scoring and assists. He also was a key player in the first Larry Bird-Celtics title team. He is Nate "Tiny" Archibald.

Nate Archibald was born September 2, 1948 in New York, New York. In his youth, Archibald was not clearly destined for success; he was frequently truant as a student at DeWitt Clinton High School in New York, and was cut from the varsity team as a sophmore. He even quit the team briefly before eventually harnessing his talents and blossoming into an elite player, becoming team captain and an All-City selection in 1966. Despite this and his improved grades, many colleges were scared to give him a scholarship. Archibald attended Arizona Western College for a year before enrolling at Texas-El Paso in 1967, where he excelled for three seasons.

After his college career ended, Archibald was a second round pick of the Cincinnati Royals (16th pick overall) in the 1970 NBA Draft. He played solidly for the Royals before they moved and became the regional Kansas City/Omaha Kings in 1972. In their first season after the move, Archibald had one of the greatest seasons in NBA history; his 34.0 PPG were a record for guards and won him the scoring title, and his 11.4 APG (a total of 910 assists, also a record) led the league; to this day, Archibald is the only player to win both titles (a note: Oscar Robertson led the league in PPG and APG, but at the time, the titles were awarded on total points and total assists, so he won neither award). Despite this, the Kings missed the playoffs in all but one of Archibald's seasons, and eventually they traded him to the New York Nets in 1976. It was here where Archibald had the roughest stretch of his career; he severely injured his foot 34 games into his first season as a Net, then was traded to Buffalo the next season, where he missed the entire season with an Achilles injury.

It was after the 1977-78 season that the Braves (who would move to San Diego and become the Clippers) sent Archibald to the Boston Celtics. It appeared that his career was finished; he feuded with player/coach Dave Cowens over playing time, and he had difficulty playing with Jo Jo White. Even when he played, he looked like he had lost several steps. The Celtics stumbled to a 29-53 record, and many in the media were ready to write him off. However, the Celtics surrounded him with talent, most notably rookie F Larry Bird, and changed his role from scorer to playmaker. It was a career-saving move.

Archibald was named an All-Star during the 1979-80 season (he made the All-Star team six time in his career; 1973, 1975-76, and 1981-82 were the others) and led Boston to the Eastern Conference Finals. The 1980-81 season was the most satisfying of his career; he won All-Star Game MVP honors and directed the Celtics to the NBA title, the first (and only) championship of his career. He played two more seasons for the Celtics before leaving to join Milwaukee in 1983. There he played his final season before retiring in 1984. He finished with career marks of 16,481 points (18.8 PPG career) and 6,476 assists (7.4 APG) and was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1991.

Season-by-Season Statistical Review:
1970-71: 82 GP, 16.0 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 5.5 APG, 44.4 FG%, 75.7 FT%
1971-72: 76 GP, 28.2 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 9.2 APG, 48.6 FG%, 82.2 FT%
1972-73: 80 GP, 34.0 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 11.4 APG, 48.8 FG%, 84.7 FT%
1973-74: 35 GP, 17.6 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 7.6 APG, 45.1 FG%, 82.0 FT%
1974-75: 82 GP, 26.5 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 6.8 APG, 45.6 FG%, 87.2 FT%
1975-76: 78 GP, 24.8 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 7.9 APG, 45.3 FG%, 80.2 FT%
1976-77: 34 GP, 20.5 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 7.5 APG, 44.6 FG%, 78.5 FT%
1977-78: missed entire season (Achilles tendon tear)
1978-79: 69 GP, 11.0 PPG, 1.5 RPG, 4.7 APG, 45.2 FG%, 78.8 FT%
1979-80: 80 GP, 14.1 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 8.4 APG, 48.2 FG%, 83.0 FT%, 22.2 3P%
1980-81: 80 GP, 13.8 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 7.7 APG, 49.9 FG%, 81.6 FT%, 0 3P
1981-82: 68 GP, 51 GS, 12.6 PPG, 1.7 RPG, 8.0 APG, 47.2 FG%, 74.7 FT%, 37.5 3P%
1982-83: 66 GP, 18 GS, 10.5 PPG, 1.4 RPG, 6.2 APG, 42.5 FG%, 74.3 FT%, 20.8 3P%
1983-84: 46 GP, 46 GS, 7.4 PPG, 1.7 RPG, 3.5 APG, 48.7 FG%, 63.4 FT%, 22.2 3P%

Continuing the Zone's look at pioneers in the NBA, today's (late) profile looks at the first black player to win the NBA's Most Valuable Player award. He also won 11 titles in 13 seasons, including eight straight from 1959-66, records that will never be achieved again. He is all-time Celtics great Bill Russell!

Bill Russell was born February 12, 1934 in Monroe, Louisiana. Russell grew up in a highly segregated society before moving to Oakland, Califonia at age 8. Russell initially struggled at basketball, even being cut from his junior high school team. Eventually, Russell became a solid ballplayer at McClymonds High School. Despite this, he wasn't offered a scholarship until University of San Francisco's Hal DeJulio took a chance, convinced that Russell had an extraordinary instinct for the game.

At San Francisco, Russell led the Dons to two NCAA championships (1955-56), averaging 20.7 PPG and 20.3 RPG during his career. John Wooden, the coach of the UCLA Bruins, called him "the greatest defensive man I've ever seen." Russell also excelled at track and field, competing in the 440 yard race and the high jump. After his senior season, he rejected an offer from the Harlem Globetrotters, enraged that owner Abe Saperstein talked to his coach and not himself. Declaring for the draft that season, the Boston Celtics had their eyes on him. According to legend, Celtic owner Walter Brown told the Rochester Royals (owners of the first pick) that the Ice Capades would be steered through town for a couple of years, and they chose Sihugo Green. The St. Louis Hawks then took Russell, but then the Celtics traded Ed Macauley and Cliff Hagan to the Hawks for Russell. With that trade (one of the most important in NBA history), the seeds for a dynasty were planted.

After missing most of the first half of the 1956-57 season with a commitment to the U.S. Olympic team, Russell made an immediate impact; in 48 games, he averaged 14.7 PPG and 19.6 RPG (his RPG average was tops in the league, but the title was given on total rebounds, which meant Maurice Stokes won the award). Russell led the Celtics to a league-best 44-28 record and their first NBA title, dispatching the Hawks in seven games. The following year, Russell won his first league MVP award (scoring 16.6 PPG and a league-record 22.7 RPG), but was injured during the Finals, and the Hawks won the series in six games. Russell would never lose another NBA Finals again.

Russell was among the greatest rebounders in NBA history; in ten of his thirteen seasons, he averaged over 20 RPG (career best 24.7 in 1963-64), and the Celtics record book doesn't list an all-time blocked shots leader because the stat wasn't kept during his career. Russell made twelve All-Star Games (1958-69) and was game MVP in 1963. Russell added four additional league MVPs (1961-63, 1965) and was the first player ever to win three straight MVPs (Wilt Chamberlain and Larry Bird are the others). And his rivalry with Chamberlain helped put the NBA on the national map for the first time, as each awed their audiences with their sheer athleticism. But in the win column, Russell was far superior, even though Chamberlain usually won the stats battle; he finished with a 85-57 regular season mark against Chamberlain, and lost just one playoff series to him. But it was the string of championships that is most impressive; the Celtics reeled off eight straight titles from 1959-66; no other major sports team has more than five straight. The Lakers were the biggest victims of the Celtic dynasty; they lost six of the 12 Finals Boston played during Russell's career.

After the 1965-66 season, Russell made history yet again, when he replaced Red Auerbach and became player/coach of the Celtics; he thus became the first African-American head coach in modern American sports. After stumbling in the 1967 playoffs (losing to Chamberlain's Philadelphia 76ers in the division finals), Russell led the Celtics to two straight titles to finish his career; it would be another 19 years before another NBA team won back-to-back titles. In game 7 of the 1969 NBA Finals (in what would prove to be his final game), Russell was handed a copy of a program that showed how the Lakers would celebrate their expected title win. Russell said "it's going to be fun to see them take out (the baloons) one at a time", and Boston won 108-106. Several months later, Russell retired as player/coach. In the ensuing years, he would coach at Seattle and Sacramento (with less success), and work in broadcasting with both ABC and CBS. But it is as a winner that Bill Russell will most be remembered. And that's exactly how Russell would prefer it.

Season-by-Season Statistical Review:
1956-57: 48 GP, 14.7 PPG, 19.6 RPG, 1.8 APG, 42.7 FG%, 49.2 FT%
1957-58: 69 GP, 16.6 PPG, 22.7 RPG, 2.9 APG, 44.2 FG%, 51.9 FT%
1958-59: 70 GP, 16.7 PPG, 23.0 RPG, 3.2 APG, 45.7 FG%, 59.8 FT%
1959-60: 74 GP, 18.2 PPG, 24.0 RPG, 3.7 APG, 46.7 FG%, 61.2 FT%
1960-61: 78 GP, 16.9 PPG, 23.9 RPG, 3.4 APG, 42.6 FG%, 55.0 FT%
1961-62: 76 GP, 18.9 PPG, 23.6 RPG, 4.5 APG, 45.7 FG%, 59.5 FT%
1962-63: 78 GP, 16.8 PPG, 23.6 RPG, 4.5 APG, 43.2 FG%, 55.5 FT%
1963-64: 78 GP, 15.0 PPG, 24.7 RPG, 4.7 APG, 43.3 FG%, 55.0 FT%
1964-65: 78 GP, 14.1 PPG, 24.1 RPG, 5.3 APG, 43.8 FG%, 57.3 FT%
1965-66: 78 GP, 12.9 PPG, 22.8 RPG, 4.8 APG, 41.5 FG%, 55.1 FT%
1966-67: 81 GP, 13.3 PPG, 21.0 RPG, 5.8 APG, 45.4 FG%, 61.0 FT%
1967-68: 78 GP, 12.5 PPG, 18.6 RPG, 4.6 APG, 42.5 FG%, 53.7 FT%
1968-69: 77 GP, 9.9 PPG, 19.3 RPG, 4.9 APG, 43.3 FG%, 52.6 FT%

The next two days are very special days in America; MLK Day today, and the inauguration of Barack Obama as president on Tuesday. To commemorate this, the Zone will do special profiles on significant pioneers in the NBA. Today, we'll start with a profile of the first black player to ever play in the NBA, Earl Lloyd.

Earl Lloyd was born April 3, 1928 in Alexandria, Virginia. Lloyd attended Parker-Gray High School in Alexandria, mainly because of racial segregation in the South at the time. He went on to star at West Virginia State University, leading the school to two CIAA Conference and Tournament titles, during which time he was a three-time All-Conference player and two-time All-American. In 1948, he led West Virginia State to the only undefeated season in the United States, before entering the NBA Draft.

Lloyd wasn't the most sought after player in the draft; although records are sketchy, reports have him listed as a ninth-round pick in the 1950 NBA Draft. Lloyd was one of three black players drafted in the preivously all-white NBA, joining Chuck Cooper (drafted by Boston), and Nat "Sweetwater" Clifton (by New York). Though Cooper was the first drafted, and Clifton was the first one to sign, Lloyd became the first to actually play in a game when, on October 31, 1950, he took the court for the Washington Capitols (who drafted him) against the Rochester Royals. Unfortuantely for Lloyd, his Capitol career lasted just seven games before being drafted into the Army at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. He then spent the next two years in the Army before returning to the NBA in 1952.

Lloyd was acquired by the Syracuse Nationals before the 1952-53 season, where he played solidly for six seasons. His best statistical year came in 1954-55, when he averaged 10.2 PPG and 7.7 RPG. That season was also historic for Lloyd and fellow black teammate Jim Tucker; they became the first black players to win an NBA title, as the Nationals beat the Fort Wayne Pistons 4 games to 3 to win their first ever NBA championship. Ironically, Lloyd finished his career with the transplanted Pistons, playing the 1958-59 and 1959-60 seasons with the Detroit Pistons before retiring after the season. According to legend, in 1965, the Pistons GM wanted to make Lloyd the first black head coach in NBA history, but Pistons management made Dave DeBusschere player/coach instead. Lloyd did briefly coach the Pistons in 1971-72 before settling into a quiet life. Still, the contributions of Lloyd, and the other early pioneers, should not be forgotten as they paved the way for the greats of today (like Kobe Bryant and LeBron James) to be the players they are today. And that early start has made the NBA the league that it is today; as racially diverse as any league in the world.

Season-by-Season Statistical Review:
1950-51: 7 GP, 6.1 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 1.6 APG, 45.7 FG%, 84.6 FT%
1951-52: did not play (military service)
1952-53: 64 GP, 7.4 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 1.0 APG, 34.4 FG%, 69.3 FT%
1953-54: 72 GP, 9.1 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 1.6 APG, 37.4 FG%, 74.6 FT%
1954-55: 72 GP, 10.2 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 2.1 APG, 36.5 FG%, 75.0 FT%
1955-56: 72 GP, 8.5 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 1.6 APG, 33.5 FG%, 77.2 FT%
1956-57: 72 GP, 9.0 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 1.6 APG, 37.3 FG%, 74.9 FT%
1957-58: 61 GP, 5.2 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 1.0 APG, 33.1 FG%, 74.5 FT%
1958-59: 72 GP, 8.4 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 1.3 APG, 34.9 FG%, 75.3 FT%
1959-60: 68 GP, 8.9 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 1.3 APG, 35.6 FG%, 80.0 FT%

In the NBA-released video commemorating the 1984 Boston Celtics, they had a segment where they showed every player with the last name Johnson in the league at the time. Today's profile highlights one of those Johnsons. Here is a profile of former Celtic Dennis Johnson.

Dennis Johnson was born September 18, 1954 in San Pedro, California. Johnson grew up in Compton, California, and originally wanted to play baseball, but he learned basketball from his dad. Initially, the thought was Johnson was too small to play basketball; he measured only five foot nine at Dominguez High School (the alma mater of current Piston Tayshaun Prince). But after a growth spurt, Los Angeles Habor College coach Jim White convinced him to play for their team. Depsite on-court success (Johnson led L.A. Habor to a junior college state title), he clashed with White and was kicked off the team three seperate times. Only two regular colleges gave Johnson scholarship offers, and he chose Pepperdine University.

At Pepperdine, Johnson played forward and center despite being six foot three, and in his only year there, he averaged 15.7 PPG, 5.8 RPG and 3.3 APG. After that season, Johnson declared for the 1976 NBA Draft, despite not knowing if an NBA team would take his baggage. The Seatte Supersonics chose Johnson with the 12th pick of the second round (29th overall), convinced he was a diamond in the rough. Johnson played as a backup during his rookie season to guards Donald "Slick" Watts and "Downtown" Fred Brown, averaging 9.2 PPG and 3.7 RPG. But after the season ended without a playoff appearance, Bill Russell resigned as coach, and after Bob Hopkins struggled early in the 1977-78 season, he was replaced by Lenny Wilkens, who installed Johnson and newly acquired Gus Williams in the backcourt. Johnson played well for Wilkens, playing primarily SG and actually having impressive leaping ability during this time. The Sonics finished strong with a 47-35 record and advanced to their first NBA Finals. However, the Sonics lost in seven games to the Washington Bullets, and Johnson had one of his worst games ever in the deciding seventh game, missing all 14 of his shots (the worst shooting performance in Finals history). Johnson gained his revenge the following season, making the first of five All-Star Game appearances (the others were 1980-82 and 1985) and leading the Sonics back to the Finals, beating the Bullets in five games, where Johnson was named Finals MVP.

Things started turning south for Johnson in Seattle during the 1979-80 season. Johnson clashed with Wilkens throughout that season (and in the seasons before that), and the Sonics eventually lost in the Western Conference Finals to the Los Angeles Lakers. Finally having had enough of the clashes, the Sonics traded Johnson to the Phoenix Suns for Paul Westphal. Johnson played very well for the Suns, averaging at least 14.2 PPG in each of his seasons with the team (including a career best 19.5 PPG in 1981-82), but as in Seattle, he clashed with his coach (John MacLeod), and the Suns grew weary of him. In 1983, he was traded once again, this time to the Boston Celtics for Rick Robey and draft picks.

In Boston, Johnson finally settled down and didn't clash with his coach (now K.C. Jones) and thoroughly enjoyed his time in Beantown. In his first season, Johnson helped the Celtics win 62 games and advance to the NBA Finals, where he copped his second title and was given credit for playing great defense against Hall-of-Famer Magic Johnson. In all, Johnson helped Boston reach four NBA Finals, winning his third title in 1986, made one All-Star team during his tenure, and was named All-NBA Defensive 1st team in 1986-87 (he made the All-Defensive 1st team six times for his career). Johnson retired after the 1989-90 season, having scored 15,535 points (14.1 PPG career) and 5,499 assists (5.0 APG).

In retirement, Johnson briefly became a scout, then plunged into coaching as a Celtics assistant from 1993-97. Johnson then stayed out of coaching until 2002-03, when he served as an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Clippers, during which time he became interim head coach for the final 24 games for the fired Alvin Gentry. In 2006, he coached the NBA Developmental League's Florida Flames, and then the Austin Toros, before tragically dying on February 22, 2007 of a heart attack. In assessing Johnson, former teammate Danny Ainge called him "one of the most underrated player of all time...and one of the best Celtics acquisition", and Bill Laimbeer, a fierce rival, said he was "a great player on a great ballclub". Such was the essence of Dennis Johnson, a player that history oftens overlooks, but a player who was respected by the players he played against, which is what really counts.

Season-by-Season Statistical Review:
1976-77: 81 GP, 9.2 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 1.5 APG, 50.4 FG%, 62.4 FT%
1977-78: 81 GP, 12,7 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 2.8 APG, 41.7 FG%, 73.2 FT%
1978-79: 80 GP, 15.9 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 3.5 APG, 43.4 FG%, 78.1 FT%
1979-80: 81 GP, 19.0 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 4.1 APG, 42.2 FG%, 78.0 FT%, 20.7 3P%
1980-81: 79 GP, 18.8 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 3.7 APG, 43.6 FG%, 82.0 FT%, 21.6 3P%
1981-82: 80 GP, 77 GS, 19.5 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 4.6 APG, 47.0 FG%, 80.6 FT%, 19.0 3P%
1982-83: 77 GP, 74 GS, 14.2 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 5.0 APG, 46.2 FG%, 79.1 FT%, 16.1 3P%
1983-84: 80 GP, 78 GS, 13.2 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 4.2 APG, 43.7 FG%, 85.2 FT%, 12.5 3P%
1984-85: 80 GP, 77 GS, 15.7 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 6.8 APG, 46.2 FG%, 85.3 FT%, 26.9 3P%
1985-86: 78 GP, 78 GS, 15.6 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 5.8 APG, 45.5 FG%, 81.8 FT%, 14.3 3P%
1986-87: 79 GP, 78 GS, 13.4 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 7.5 APG, 44.4 FG%, 83.3 FT%, 11.3 3P%
1987-88: 77 GP, 74 GS, 12.6 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 7.8 APG, 43.8 FG%, 85.6 FT%, 26.1 3P%
1988-89: 72 GP, 72 GS, 10.0 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 6.6 APG, 43.4 FG%, 82.1 FT%, 14.0 3P%
1989-90: 75 GP, 65 GS, 7.1 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 6.5 APG, 43.4 FG%, 84.3 FT%, 4.2 3P%