Cliff Pondexter
Clifton Pondexter (born September 15, 1954) is an American former professional basketball player.
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 15, 1954 Fresno, California |
| Nationality | American |
| Listed height | 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) |
| Listed weight | 233 lb (106 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | San Joaquin Memorial (Fresno, California) |
| College | Long Beach State (1973–1974) |
| NBA draft | 1974: 1st round, 16th overall pick |
| Selected by the Chicago Bulls | |
| Playing career | 1975–1986 |
| Position | Power forward |
| Number | 42, 41 |
| Career history | |
| 1975–1978 | Chicago Bulls |
| 1978–1981 | ASPO Tours |
| 1981–1982 | Bartolini Brindisi |
| 1982–1983 | Hapoal Ramat Gan Giv’atayim |
| 1983–1984 | Scavolini Pesaro |
| 1985–1986 | Hapoel Holon |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
| Career NBA and Serie A statistics | |
| Points | 1,556 (6.0 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 1,272 (4.9 rpg) |
| Assists | 252 (1.0 apg) |
| Stats at NBA.com | |
| Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |
A 6'9" power forward from Fresno, California, Pondexter starred at San Joaquin Memorial High School with his brother Roscoe.[1] At the conclusion of his college career at California State University, Long Beach, Pondexter was selected by the Chicago Bulls with the sixteenth pick of the 1974 NBA draft and by the San Diego Conquistadors in the first round of the 1974 ABA Draft.[2][3] Pondexter's NBA career was delayed by a stress fracture in his leg he suffered in the summer of 1974;[4] he did not make his professional debut until a fall 1975 exhibition game against the Kentucky Colonels.[5]
Between 1975 and 1978, Pondexter played 197 games for the Bulls. His best season was 1975-76, when he averaged 5.8 points and 5.1 rebounds per game.[3] He never fully bounced back from his injury, however, and was waived by the Bulls in the summer of 1978.[6] He then took his career to Europe.[7]
Pondexter's nephew, Quincy Pondexter, was selected by the New Orleans Hornets in the first round of the 2010 NBA draft.[8]
References
- Hannon, Kent (February 12, 1973). "Say It Ain't So, Cliff!". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved March 7, 2021.
- Cliff Pondexter page at DatabaseBasketball.com Archived 2012-10-10 at the Wayback Machine
- Career statistics. basketball-reference.com. Retrieved on July 24, 2010.
- Bob Logan. "Pondexter can only sit, watch Bulls". Chicago Tribune. December 23, 1974. C7.
- Bob Logan. "Bulls workout 'Medical Center'". Chicago Tribune. October 4, 1975. SD2.
- Bob Logan. "Bulls' top choice has operation". Chicago Tribune. August 16, 1978. E1.
- Cliff Pondexter. Legabasket. Retrieved on July 24, 2010.
- Bret Martel. "Brackins, Pondexter joining Hornets summer squad". AP. USA Today. July 8, 2010. Retrieved on July 24, 2010.