Luther Burden

Luther Dean "Ticky" Burden (February 28, 1953 – October 29, 2015) was an American NBA and ABA basketball player.[1]

Not to be confused with Luther Burden III.
Luther Burden
Burden, circa 1974
Personal information
Born(1953-02-28)February 28, 1953
Haines City, Florida, U.S.
DiedOctober 29, 2015(2015-10-29) (aged 62)
Winston-Salem, North Carolina, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Listed weight185 lb (84 kg)
Career information
High schoolSchuyler (Albany, New York)
CollegeUtah (1972–1975)
NBA draft1975: 2nd round, 26th overall pick
Selected by the New York Knicks
Playing career1975–1978
PositionShooting guard
Number15, 14
Career history
1975–1976Virginia Squires
1976–1978New York Knicks
Career highlights and awards
Career ABA and NBA statistics
Points1,762 (13.1 ppg)
Rebounds268 (2.0 rpg)
Assists194 (1.4 apg)
Stats  at NBA.com
Stats  at Basketball-Reference.com
Medals
Representing  United States
Men's basketball
FIBA World Championship
Bronze medal – third place1974 Puerto Rico Team competition

High school

Born in Haines City, Florida, Burden attended Albany, New York's Philip Schuyler High School, where he was a member of the basketball team.

College

Burden attended the University of Utah. He played for the United States men's national basketball team in the 1974 FIBA World Championship, winning the bronze medal[2] and scoring 20.2 points per game, a Team USA record which was overtaken by Kevin Durant in 2010.[3] In 1975, his junior year, he averaged 28.7 points per game and set the Western Athletic Conference record for field goals in a season with 359.

Professional basketball

Following his junior season, he was allowed to turn pro as a hardship case. Burden was drafted by the Virginia Squires of the American Basketball Association and the New York Knicks of the National Basketball Association. He chose Virginia, but left after one season, during which he had a serious argument with coach Bill Musselman. Upon joining the Knicks, he stated "In Virginia I saw the bad side of pro basketball, in New York I know I'll see the good side".[4] In the 1976–77 season, Burden got into 61 games for the Knicks in a backup role, averaging 10 minutes and 5.7 points per game. However, in the 77–78 season Knicks coach Willis Reed became frustrated with Burden's lack of defensive play, and sent him to the disabled list for the remainder of the season after he played in just two games. Reed unsuccessfully attempted to trade Burden, but ending up placing him on waivers and releasing him following the season.

On July 3, 1980, Burden and three other men allegedly robbed a bank in Hempstead, Long Island. Burden was convicted after the three other men struck deals and testified against him, and was given a sentence of six to eighteen years.[5] After serving two years, Burden's conviction was overturned when a court ruled that detectives did not possess search or arrest warrants when they raided Burden's home.[6] Burden would later plead guilty to receiving stolen money in conjunction with the robbery, but was released after being given credit for time served.[6]

Later life

As of 2010, Burden was working with the YWCA organization, mentoring and coaching basketball.[7] Since 2012, Burden experienced medical problems related to ATTR amyloidosis. He died in Winston-Salem, North Carolina on October 29, 2015, after developing a fever following cataract surgery.[1][8][9]

References
  1. "Albany native and former Knick, 'Ticky' Burden dies". Times Union (Albany). 29 October 2015. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
  2. "1974 USA Basketball". Archived from the original on August 24, 2007.
  3. "Team USA WBC records". Archived from the original on March 15, 2007.
  4. Syracuse Herald-American, August 22, 1976, page 90
  5. "Burden Given 6 to 18 Years".
  6. "SPORTS PEOPLE; Burden Pleads Guilty".
  7. "Watch Luther "Ticky" Burden Interview with Kevin Durant | BasketballElite.com Episodes | Videos | Blip". Archived from the original on 2013-10-21. Retrieved 2013-05-31.
  8. "Former Knick Luther 'Ticky' Burden dies at 62". NBA.com. Associated Press. October 29, 2015. Retrieved October 30, 2015.
  9. Dell, John (October 29, 2015). "Ticky Burden dies at age 62". Winston-Salem Journal. Retrieved October 29, 2015.
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