One of my Heroes is gone: Bill Bridges, NBA great!

[JQPublic1]

Bill Bridges has died. He was one of the few Black role models in my small hometown who defied the odds in the mid 50s and made a name for himself with a basketball. The 6' 6" scrambler dominated the boards just about everywhere he played and he carried that drive with him when he turned pro.



NEWS-SUN STAFF

During his senior year (1957), Bridges scored 581 points for the Eagles. But he was more known for his rebounding skills. The former Eagle holds the career rebounding record for the Eagles with 1,045 boards over the 1955, 1956, and 1957 seasons. The closest anyone has gotten to Bridges record was Vince Taylor’s 922 boards which came over four seasons (1978 through 1981) with the Eagles.

Bridges set the record for most rebounds in a single game when he pulled down 29 boards off the glass during the 1956-1957 season. That record stood until the 1980-1981 season when Taylor had 32 in a game. Bridges also holds the single season rebounding average of 23.3 boards a game.

After graduating from Hobbs, Bridges went on to the University of Kansas where he is among the 50 top scorers in school history with 1,028 points in 78 games played. He averaged 13.2 points a game in college to go with 13.9 rebounds per game.

Bridges was a 1961 All-American and earned All-Big Eight status in 1959, 1960, and 1961. He is fourth in Kansas University history with 1,081 rebounds and first in rebounding during conference games with

580. Bridges jersey was retired by Kansas during the 2004-2005 season.

Following his time at Kansas, Bridges went on to play professionally for Kansas City Steers of the now defunct American Basketball League as well as in the NBA.

While with the Steers, Bridges set the single-game scoring record with 55 points on December 9, 1962, the league’s final season. Bridges was named All-ABL First Team in 1962. The league folded during its second season and Bridges’ team was declared the champions.

Following the folding of the American Basketball League, Bridges made the jump to the NBA where he played the next 13 seasons. Bridges played for the St. Louis (and later Atlanta) Hawks from 1963 through 1971. He spent the 1971/1972 season with the Philadelphia 76ers before playing for the Los Angeles Lakers from 1972 to 1974.

In 1975 Bridges played for the Golden State Warriors and helped lead the Oakland, Calif.-based team to its first NBA championship since relocating from Philadelphia.

Over his NBA career, Bridges scored 11,012 points and pulled down 11,054 rebounds. He finished with an 11.9 points per game and rebounds per game average. Bridges also recorded 2,553 assists during his career. He was a three-time NBA All Star (1967, 1968, and 1970) and twice was named to the NBA’s All-Defensive Second Team.


REST IN PEACE BILL:

 

[nuhuh]

Bill Bridges has died. He was one of the few Black role models in my small hometown who defied the odds in the mid 50s and made a name for himself with a basketball. The 6' 6" scrambler dominated the boards just about everywhere he played and he carried that drive with him when he turned pro.



NEWS-SUN STAFF

During his senior year (1957), Bridges scored 581 points for the Eagles. But he was more known for his rebounding skills. The former Eagle holds the career rebounding record for the Eagles with 1,045 boards over the 1955, 1956, and 1957 seasons. The closest anyone has gotten to Bridges record was Vince Taylor’s 922 boards which came over four seasons (1978 through 1981) with the Eagles.

Bridges set the record for most rebounds in a single game when he pulled down 29 boards off the glass during the 1956-1957 season. That record stood until the 1980-1981 season when Taylor had 32 in a game. Bridges also holds the single season rebounding average of 23.3 boards a game.

After graduating from Hobbs, Bridges went on to the University of Kansas where he is among the 50 top scorers in school history with 1,028 points in 78 games played. He averaged 13.2 points a game in college to go with 13.9 rebounds per game.

Bridges was a 1961 All-American and earned All-Big Eight status in 1959, 1960, and 1961. He is fourth in Kansas University history with 1,081 rebounds and first in rebounding during conference games with

580. Bridges jersey was retired by Kansas during the 2004-2005 season.

Following his time at Kansas, Bridges went on to play professionally for Kansas City Steers of the now defunct American Basketball League as well as in the NBA.

While with the Steers, Bridges set the single-game scoring record with 55 points on December 9, 1962, the league’s final season. Bridges was named All-ABL First Team in 1962. The league folded during its second season and Bridges’ team was declared the champions.

Following the folding of the American Basketball League, Bridges made the jump to the NBA where he played the next 13 seasons. Bridges played for the St. Louis (and later Atlanta) Hawks from 1963 through 1971. He spent the 1971/1972 season with the Philadelphia 76ers before playing for the Los Angeles Lakers from 1972 to 1974.

In 1975 Bridges played for the Golden State Warriors and helped lead the Oakland, Calif.-based team to its first NBA championship since relocating from Philadelphia.

Over his NBA career, Bridges scored 11,012 points and pulled down 11,054 rebounds. He finished with an 11.9 points per game and rebounds per game average. Bridges also recorded 2,553 assists during his career. He was a three-time NBA All Star (1967, 1968, and 1970) and twice was named to the NBA’s All-Defensive Second Team.


REST IN PEACE BILL:

I remember Bill Bridges as a Laker, he was instrumental getting us to the NBA finals in 72 which he would have earned an NBA Championship ring and I think he played in the 73 season also. I don't remember what happened to him after that.

 

[JQPublic1]

Bill Bridges has died. He was one of the few Black role models in my small hometown who defied the odds in the mid 50s and made a name for himself with a basketball. The 6' 6" scrambler dominated the boards just about everywhere he played and he carried that drive with him when he turned pro.



NEWS-SUN STAFF

During his senior year (1957), Bridges scored 581 points for the Eagles. But he was more known for his rebounding skills. The former Eagle holds the career rebounding record for the Eagles with 1,045 boards over the 1955, 1956, and 1957 seasons. The closest anyone has gotten to Bridges record was Vince Taylor’s 922 boards which came over four seasons (1978 through 1981) with the Eagles.

Bridges set the record for most rebounds in a single game when he pulled down 29 boards off the glass during the 1956-1957 season. That record stood until the 1980-1981 season when Taylor had 32 in a game. Bridges also holds the single season rebounding average of 23.3 boards a game.

After graduating from Hobbs, Bridges went on to the University of Kansas where he is among the 50 top scorers in school history with 1,028 points in 78 games played. He averaged 13.2 points a game in college to go with 13.9 rebounds per game.

Bridges was a 1961 All-American and earned All-Big Eight status in 1959, 1960, and 1961. He is fourth in Kansas University history with 1,081 rebounds and first in rebounding during conference games with

580. Bridges jersey was retired by Kansas during the 2004-2005 season.

Following his time at Kansas, Bridges went on to play professionally for Kansas City Steers of the now defunct American Basketball League as well as in the NBA.

While with the Steers, Bridges set the single-game scoring record with 55 points on December 9, 1962, the league’s final season. Bridges was named All-ABL First Team in 1962. The league folded during its second season and Bridges’ team was declared the champions.

Following the folding of the American Basketball League, Bridges made the jump to the NBA where he played the next 13 seasons. Bridges played for the St. Louis (and later Atlanta) Hawks from 1963 through 1971. He spent the 1971/1972 season with the Philadelphia 76ers before playing for the Los Angeles Lakers from 1972 to 1974.

In 1975 Bridges played for the Golden State Warriors and helped lead the Oakland, Calif.-based team to its first NBA championship since relocating from Philadelphia.

Over his NBA career, Bridges scored 11,012 points and pulled down 11,054 rebounds. He finished with an 11.9 points per game and rebounds per game average. Bridges also recorded 2,553 assists during his career. He was a three-time NBA All Star (1967, 1968, and 1970) and twice was named to the NBA’s All-Defensive Second Team.


REST IN PEACE BILL:

I remember Bill Bridges as a Laker, he was instrumental getting us to the NBA finals in 72 which he would have earned an NBA Championship ring and I think he played in the 73 season also. I don't remember what happened to him after that.

He didn't win a championship with the Lakers but he did get one with Golden State and before that with the defunct ABL team, the Kansas city Steers.

 

[nuhuh]

Bill Bridges has died. He was one of the few Black role models in my small hometown who defied the odds in the mid 50s and made a name for himself with a basketball. The 6' 6" scrambler dominated the boards just about everywhere he played and he carried that drive with him when he turned pro.



NEWS-SUN STAFF

During his senior year (1957), Bridges scored 581 points for the Eagles. But he was more known for his rebounding skills. The former Eagle holds the career rebounding record for the Eagles with 1,045 boards over the 1955, 1956, and 1957 seasons. The closest anyone has gotten to Bridges record was Vince Taylor’s 922 boards which came over four seasons (1978 through 1981) with the Eagles.

Bridges set the record for most rebounds in a single game when he pulled down 29 boards off the glass during the 1956-1957 season. That record stood until the 1980-1981 season when Taylor had 32 in a game. Bridges also holds the single season rebounding average of 23.3 boards a game.

After graduating from Hobbs, Bridges went on to the University of Kansas where he is among the 50 top scorers in school history with 1,028 points in 78 games played. He averaged 13.2 points a game in college to go with 13.9 rebounds per game.

Bridges was a 1961 All-American and earned All-Big Eight status in 1959, 1960, and 1961. He is fourth in Kansas University history with 1,081 rebounds and first in rebounding during conference games with

580. Bridges jersey was retired by Kansas during the 2004-2005 season.

Following his time at Kansas, Bridges went on to play professionally for Kansas City Steers of the now defunct American Basketball League as well as in the NBA.

While with the Steers, Bridges set the single-game scoring record with 55 points on December 9, 1962, the league’s final season. Bridges was named All-ABL First Team in 1962. The league folded during its second season and Bridges’ team was declared the champions.

Following the folding of the American Basketball League, Bridges made the jump to the NBA where he played the next 13 seasons. Bridges played for the St. Louis (and later Atlanta) Hawks from 1963 through 1971. He spent the 1971/1972 season with the Philadelphia 76ers before playing for the Los Angeles Lakers from 1972 to 1974.

In 1975 Bridges played for the Golden State Warriors and helped lead the Oakland, Calif.-based team to its first NBA championship since relocating from Philadelphia.

Over his NBA career, Bridges scored 11,012 points and pulled down 11,054 rebounds. He finished with an 11.9 points per game and rebounds per game average. Bridges also recorded 2,553 assists during his career. He was a three-time NBA All Star (1967, 1968, and 1970) and twice was named to the NBA’s All-Defensive Second Team.


REST IN PEACE BILL:

I remember Bill Bridges as a Laker, he was instrumental getting us to the NBA finals in 72 which he would have earned an NBA Championship ring and I think he played in the 73 season also. I don't remember what happened to him after that.

He didn't win a championship with the Lakers but he did get one with Golden State and before that with the defunct ABL team, the Kansas city Steers.

You're right, I had to go back to the stats to remember. Still, he did help the lakers advance to the finals.

 

[RoshawnMarkwees]

With Lenny Wilkens and the St. Louis Hawks at Kiel Auditorium.
Former Hawk Ed Macauley was the KTVI-TV sports reporter in St Louis in those days. The Hawks had a good team.