Baller of the Day: George Gervin

» October 1, 2008 5:45 AM | By Brandon Hoffman

George Gervin

Career Statistics

26.2 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 2.8 APG, 51 FG%, 84 FT%

“George Gervin’s playing record speaks volumes. Only Wilt Chamberlain and Michael Jordan have won more league scoring championships than Gervin’s four, and he was the first guard ever to win three titles in a row. His career scoring average of 26.2 points per game is among the game’s best as is his combined NBA/ABA total of 26,595 points.

During his career, Gervin recorded a remarkable streak of scoring double figures in 407 consecutive games. He played in 12 straight All-Star Games, including nine in the NBA, and he averaged at least 21 points in each of those dozen years. In his nine NBA seasons with San Antonio, the Spurs won five division titles. He won an All-Star Game MVP Award and twice placed second in voting for the regular-season MVP Award.

But these numbers only begin to tell the story of Gervin’s phenomenal pro career, which stretched from the early 1970s through the mid-1980s. To fully appreciate the greatness of “the Iceman” one had to see him rise up for a silky-smooth jump shot from 25 feet, twirl a heavenly finger-roll while soaring through the lane, execute a graceful reverse layup with either hand or explode for a sneaky power dunk between a pair of 7-foot defenders.

Whether he was battling a triple-team or changing directions in midair, Gervin made seemingly impossible shots look as easy as free throws. Despite his penchant for taking challenging shots, Gervin made more than half of his NBA field-goal attempts. Ironically, his effortless style of play prevented him from attaining the celebrity status of more dramatic players such as Julius Erving, Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan.” [Read]

[Note: RSS readers, there is a video within this blog]

[Sources: NBA.com, YouTube, Basketball-Reference.com]


Leave Your Comment