All Things Basketball with GD - Week 9 Player Spotlight, Nate Archibald

Nate "Tiny" Archibald (00:28)

6'1", 150 lb.

Born in South Bronx, NY (Patterson Housing Projects) on 9/2/48

Attended DeWitt Clinton High School; cut from the team as a sophomore

Was brought back after a mentor put in a good word about him to the coach

Then excelled; named team captain & became All-City selection (1966)

Got the nickname Tiny after his father, who was called Big Tiny

Struggled with grades; not offered scholarships from major colleges

Attended Arizona Western Community College for a year before transferring to UTEP under the legendary Don Haskins for 3 solid years

Haskins coached other guards like Bobby Joe Hill who led his team to a NCAA title & later Tim Hardaway

Stood out in 5 postseason exhibition games; scored 51 pts in Aloha Classic & averaged nearly 40 PPG in those games

Only drafted in 2nd round (19th overall) of the 1970 draft (Cincinnati Royals)

In that draft: Bob Lanier, Rudy Tomjanovich, Pete Maravich, Dave Cowens, Calvin Murphy & Sam Lacey

A starter his 1st season due to the contract holdout of Flynn Robinson; struggled as a rookie but did ok

Nearly traded after his 1st season; team instead dealt Norm Van Lier to CHI

Blossomed in his next season with solid start & finished strong

Had a season for the ages his 3rd year; team moved from Cincinnati to Kansas City

Became the 1st & only player to lead the league in scoring (34 PPG) & assists (11.4); made the All Star Team for the 1st time

Broke the record at the time of Guy Rodgers (11.2 APG for CHI)

Despite those gaudy numbers his teams never finished above 36 wins

Troubles back in the Bronx - 2 brothers in jail on various charges & another brother strung out on drugs; 2 brothers lived with him in KC & the other in a rehab facility

After his stellar 1972-73 season an Achilles injury left him to play only 35 games

Did bounce back the following 2 seasons; made the All Star Game twice

Made playoffs for the 1st time (lost to CHI - WC semis 4 games to 2)

Got traded after the 1975-76 season to NYN for Jim Eakins, Brian Taylor & 2 future 1st round picks (Phil Ford & Otis Birdsong)

NYN needed some star power after entering the league following the ABA merger

Had an injury riddled season playing only 34 games (foot injury)

Traded somehow after that season to BUF for George Johnson & 2 future 1st round picks (Micheal Ray Richardson & Cliff Robinson)

Never played a game for them (torn Achilles)

Was traded yet again with team moving from Buffalo to San Diego to BOS along with Marvin Barnes, Billy Knight & a future 2nd round pick (Danny Ainge) for players like Sidney Wicks, Freeman Williams & Kermit Washington

Didn't have pleasant start due to being a bad fit next to JoJo White, clashing with player/coach Dave Cowens & dealing with having a bad reputation, a checkered injury history & a bloated contract

Transformed his game to fit what new coach Bill Fitch demanded during the offseason

His renaissance coincided with rookie season of Larry Bird

A key member in the resurgent Celtics; won a championship (1980-81)

Became an All Star Game participant in 3 seasons with BOS, one year winning an All Star MVP award

Played 2 more seasons in BOS; one season in MIL

Retired in 1984; entered Basketball Hall of Fame in 1991

Named to NBA's 50th Anniversary Team (1996); 75th Anniversary Team (2021)

Returned to college to get his bachelor's degree from UTEP & a Masters from Fordham

Runs a basketball school for underprivileged children

Worked for NBA in the Community Relations Department

Today's comparison: a healthier Kyrie Irving with passing ability of Russell Westbrook; in his BOS years like a Chris Paul

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