Gail Goodrich

Gail Charles Goodrich Jr. ( born April 23, 1943 in Los Angeles, United States ) is a former American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix Suns and the New Orleans Jazz in the NBA. The 1.85 meter tall Goodrich played the positions of the shooting guard and point guard and won the 1972 NBA title. He is a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Career

Goodrich played in his college years in Los Angeles at the UCLA Bruins of the famous coaches John Wooden and won with the Bruins two NCAA titles. In 1965 he was selected as the "territorial pick" by the local professional team Los Angeles Lakers and was there behind Jerry West and Mahdi Abdul- Rahman replacement Guard. Because he was the smallest Laker, he was named by captain Elgin Baylor " Stumpy " (Eng. "dwarf" ). In its first three years, Goodrich increased from seven to 13 points per game, but could never play firmly in the starting five is.

1968 Goodrich was not protected in the expansion draft by the Lakers and was therefore obliged by the newly founded Phoenix Suns. When the Suns Goodrich was a performer, scored over 20 points and seven assists per game and was in 1971 committed by the Lakers. On his second attempt in Los Angeles Goodrich won by the side of Jerry West and Wilt Chamberlain 1972 NBA title and was top scorer on this team. 1973 failed Goodrich in the finals to the New York Knicks, reached in the next year a career - top mark of 25.3 points per game and became the first and only time elected to the All- NBA First Team. By 1976, Goodrich played in California, before he was transferred Jazz after failed contract negotiations for several draft picks to New Orleans.

The Jazz of the now 33 -year-old Goodrich witnessed the twilight of his career. His performances took down slowly but surely, and in 1979, he ended his career. In gratitude for his services, the Lakers pulled his jersey with the number 25 back back forever. By the way, picked up the Lakers for the 1976 agreed for Goodrich draft picks and three years later a certain Magic Johnson, Los Angeles would lead to five NBA titles in the eighties.

Later, Goodrich worked as a builder of golf courses and as a basketball analyst on TV.

Private life

Goodrich lives in a second marriage with his wife Toni in Greenwich, Connecticut. From his first marriage three grown children, a son and twin daughters come.

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