Artis Gilmore

Artis Gilmore
Mark Bruner · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Name	Artis Gilmore
Position	Center
Weight lb	240
Birth date	21 September 1949
Birth place	Marianna, Florida, United States
College	Jacksonville
Draft year	1971
Draft pick	117
Draft team	Chicago Bulls
Career start	1971
Career end	1989
Teams	* Kentucky Colonels (1971–1976) * Chicago Bulls (1976–1982) * San Antonio Spurs (1982–1985) * Boston Celtics (1985–1986) * Utah Jazz (1986–1988) * Indiana Pacers (1988–1989)

Artis Gilmore (born September 21, 1949) is an American former professional basketball player noted for his shot-blocking, rebounding, and efficient scoring. A dominant center in the American Basketball Association (ABA) and National Basketball Association (NBA), he starred at Jacksonville University and led the Kentucky Colonels to an ABA championship. His career earned induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and recognition among the era’s premier big men.

Early life and education

Gilmore was born in Marianna, Florida and raised in the American South during the era of Civil Rights Movement activism involving figures such as Martin Luther King Jr. and organizations like the NAACP. He attended public schools in Florida and developed his basketball skills in regional circuits that included camps influenced by coaches from institutions such as Fisk University and programs associated with Amateur Athletic Union play. His late start to organized varsity play drew attention from scouts representing programs like Jacksonville University, Kentucky, and Louisville.

College career

At Jacksonville University, Gilmore became a dominant collegiate player under coach Joe Williams, joining teammates who faced opponents including Memphis State and Creighton University in postseason competitions. He led Jacksonville Dolphins to the NCAA Tournament final in 1970, a run that included wins over programs such as Western Kentucky and Florida. Gilmore’s college statistics placed him among leaders nationally in rebounding and field goal percentage, drawing comparisons to centers like Lew Alcindor and Bill Walton. His collegiate success earned All-American honors and invitations to events showcasing prospects destined for professional leagues, including matchups against UCLA squads coached by John Wooden.

ABA and NBA professional career

Gilmore signed with the Kentucky Colonels of the ABA in 1971, joining a roster that confronted rivals such as the Indiana Pacers, New York Nets, and San Antonio Spurs. He was the ABA's Rookie of the Year and later earned MVP honors while leading the Colonels to the 1975 playoffs and the 1975–76 ABA championship season that featured coaches and executives who later became prominent in the NBA landscape. After the ABA–NBA merger, Gilmore’s rights were with the Chicago Bulls, where he joined teammates such as Michael Jordan’s predecessors and played under coaches who faced franchises like the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics. He subsequently played for the San Antonio Spurs, a franchise that transitioned from the ABA and featured stars such as George Gervin, before later stints with the Boston Celtics, Utah Jazz, and Indiana Pacers, competing against Hall of Famers including Isiah Thomas, Larry Bird, and Magic Johnson.

Playing style and legacy

A 7-foot-2 center, Gilmore combined rim protection, offensive efficiency, and rebounding to produce high-percentage scoring reminiscent of contemporaries like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Moses Malone. His shot-blocking and altering presence affected offenses from teams such as the Philadelphia 76ers and Cleveland Cavaliers, while his pick-and-roll and low-post moves challenged defenses coached by strategists like Phil Jackson and Pat Riley. Gilmore’s rebounding totals and field goal percentage informed later analyses of big-man efficiency alongside figures such as Wilt Chamberlain and Shaquille O'Neal. Coaches, general managers, and historians at institutions like the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame cite his durable career spanning ABA and NBA eras when assessing the evolution of the center position.

Honors and Hall of Fame

Gilmore’s professional and collegiate accomplishments resulted in multiple honors: selection to ABA and NBA All-Star rosters, ABA All-Time Team discussions that included players such as Julius Erving and George McGinnis, and eventual induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as recognition for his sustained excellence. Teams he starred for retired or honored jerseys in manners similar to commemorations at venues like the Rupp Arena and the Orleans Arena for legacy players. His inclusion in anniversary teams and statistical leaderboards cements his standing among inductees including Oscar Robertson and Bill Russell.

Personal life and later years

After retiring, Gilmore participated in community and alumni events connected to Jacksonville University and former franchises such as the Kentucky Colonels alumni groups and Chicago Bulls alumni programs. He has engaged with charitable organizations and basketball clinics that intersect with youth programs supported by municipal and private partners in cities including Chicago, San Antonio, and Salt Lake City. In later years he attended Hall of Fame ceremonies alongside contemporaries like David Thompson and assisted in promotional activities celebrating the histories of the ABA and NBA.

Category:1949 births Category:Living people Category:American men's basketball players Category:Centers (basketball) Category:Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductees