Blue Ducks pick coach
May 7, 2005 - United States Basketball League (USBL)
Brevard Blue Ducks News Release
Melbourne, FL – The Brevard Blue Ducks took a big step today – but in a “tiny” way - hiring Hall of Fame player Nate “Tiny” Archibald as the team’s head coach for the 2005 season.
“I am thrilled to be back to coaching with the Blue Ducks,” stated Archibald. “I love teaching kids the game of basketball. I think this is going to be a great experience for both me and the players.”
Hailing from the Bronx, Archibald first made an impact in basketball at Texas El-Paso where he scored over 20 points per game his last two years. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Royals in the second round (19th overall) in the 1970 NBA draft.
A penetrator, pinpoint passer and outside shooter with great range, the 6’1” Archibald finished his rookie season averaging over 16 PPG. He went on to log 14 NBA seasons with Cincinnati (1970-72), Kansas City (1972-76), the New York Nets (1976-77), Buffalo (1977-78), Boston Celtics (1978-83) and the Milwaukee Bucks (1983-84).
One of his most accomplished feats was in 1973 when he became the only NBA player in history to lead the league in both scoring (34.0 PPG) and assists (11.4 APG).
Nate finished his career having scored 16,481 points (18.8 PPG avg.) and dishing out 6,476 assists. He is a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame and in 1996 joined such stars as Kareem-Abdul Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird and Michael Jordan when he was named as “One of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History.”
Still very much involved in the game of basketball as a coach, instructor and participant in the NBA Legends Tour, Archibald sees himself not just as a teacher, but a student himself.
“I still consider myself in the learning mode,” he said. Adding, “Players today are better than in the past…ability wise. But they still have a lot to learn. Their fundamentals need to be better. My job is to teach them things they don’t know, broaden their horizons and make them better.”
Nate Archibald Facts
Full Name: Nathaniel Archibald
Born: 9/2/48 in New York
College: Texas El-Paso
High School: DeWitt Clinton (Bronx, NY)
Drafted by: NBAÂ’s Cincinnati Royals (1970)
Nickname: Tiny
Height/Weight: 6’1”/160 lbs.
Honors: Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (1991); NBA Champion (1981); All-NBA First Team (1973, 75, 76); League scoring and assist leader (1973); Six-time All Star; All Star Game MVP (1981); Names One of 50 Greatest Players in NBA History (1996)
DUCK NOTES:
The Blue Ducks will once again play their games this season at the Clemente Center on the campus of Florida Tech in Melbourne. Season tickets and 5-game “Flex Packs” are on sale now. Individual game tickets will go on sale as soon as a schedule is released.
For tickets or information, call (321) 751-BLUE or visit the teamÂ’s website at www.BrevardBlueDucks.com.
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United States Basketball League Stories from May 7, 2005
- Blue Ducks pick coach - Brevard Blue Ducks
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