Ray Patterson (basketball)

Raymond Albert Patterson, Jr. (January 15, 1922 – August 3, 2011) was general manager of the NBA's Houston Rockets from 1972 to 1990. He was named NBA Executive of the Year in 1977,[1] and his Rockets appeared in the NBA Finals in 1981 and 1986. Among his most notable player acquisitions were Ralph Sampson in 1983 and Hakeem Olajuwon in 1984. He left the Rockets in 1990 with hopes of becoming co-owner of an NHL team in Houston, and was succeeded by his son, Steve.[2] Ray Patterson's NHL dreams never materialized, but he helped found an International Hockey League franchise, the Houston Aeros, in 1994.[3]

Ray Patterson
Personal information
Born(1922-01-15)January 15, 1922
Lafayette, Indiana, U.S.
DiedAugust 3, 2011(2011-08-03) (aged 89)
Sugar Land, Texas, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Listed weight195 lb (88 kg)
Career information
High schoolWayland Academy
(Beaver Dam, Wisconsin)
CollegeWisconsin (1942–1945)
Playing career1945–1952
PositionForward
Career history
As player:
1945–1947Midland Dow
1947–1948Flint Dow A.C.'s
1948–1949Beaver Dam Olo Soap
1949–1950Fond du Lac
1951–1952Sheboygan
As coach:
1948–1954Wayland Academy

During the 1940s, Patterson played professional basketball for the Flint Dow A.C.'s of the NBL.[4]

From 1968 to 1972, Patterson served as president, and part-time GM, for the Milwaukee Bucks.[5] Patterson drafted Lew Alcindor with the first overall pick in the 1969 draft and traded for Oscar Robertson in 1970.[6] Led by the pair, the Bucks won their first NBA championship in 1971.[7] Over his career, Patterson was responsible for the drafting, trading, or signing of nine Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame players.[8][9]

Patterson died on August 3, 2011, at age 89.[10][11]

References
  1. NBA Executive of the Year. CNN/SI. Retrieved on May 8, 2008.
  2. Eddie Sefko. "Ray Patterson ends NBA career". Houston Chronicle. August 30, 1990. Sports, 1.
  3. Neal Farmer. "Hockey comes to Houston". Houston Chronicle. January 14, 1994. Sports, 9.
  4. Harry Page. "Where are they?" San Antonio Express News. January 3, 1999. 2C.
  5. "Ray Patterson, Former Milwaukee Bucks President, Passes Away". 3 August 2011.
  6. "Ray Patterson, Former Milwaukee Bucks President, Passes Away". 3 August 2011.
  7. "Ray Patterson, Former Milwaukee Bucks President, Passes Away". 3 August 2011.
  8. "Houston Rockets Hall of Fame | Basketball-Reference.com".
  9. "Milwaukee Bucks Hall of Fame | Basketball-Reference.com".
  10. "Ray Patterson dies at 89". ESPN.com. Retrieved August 3, 2011.
  11. "Raymond Patterson Obituary (2011) - Houston, TX - Houston Chronicle". Legacy.com.


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