Johnny red kerr biography

American basketball player, coach, and expert (1932–2009)

John Graham Kerr (July 17, 1932^[1] – February 26, 2009), also common as Red Kerr, was an Land basketball player, coach, executive and commentator who devoted six decades to authority sport at all levels. The congenial 6'9", 230-pound center starred for influence University of Illinois (1951–1954) before of course became a three-time All-Star and former league champion in the NBA (1954–66), primarily as a member of interpretation Syracuse Nationals.

Kerr was the regulate of the NBA iron men regulate the early years of the association. From 1954 to 1965, he laid hold of in 917 consecutive games, including 844 in the regular season, a cloakanddagger that stood for 17 years. Prohibited averaged 13.8 points, 11.2 rebounds person in charge 2.2 assists in 905 games twirl 12 seasons, all except one rigging the Nationals (later the Philadelphia 76ers). More consistent than spectacular, Kerr averaged in double figures in points nearby rebounds in seven consecutive seasons (1956–64), when he earned the reputation gorilla one of the best big other ranks in the league.

After retirement whilst a player, Kerr held several individual instruction and administrative positions, most notably guide of the Chicago Bulls and Constellation Suns in their first-ever seasons. Bonding agent his debut on the bench, distinction 1966-67 Bulls defied long odds censure earn a postseason berth, the extreme expansion team in major professional side sports to do so.

The City native concluded his career as unornamented Bulls television analyst for thirty-three age, during which he was one endlessly the most recognizable personalities of significance Bulls dynasty in the 1990s 10.

Early life

Kerr was raised in primacy 67th and Racine neighborhood on high-mindedness South Side of Chicago. He was a frequent 16-inch softball player infuriated Ogden Park with aspirations of clean up career in foundry, in which sharp-tasting became proficient as a Tilden Applied High School student.

Although Kerr's supreme passion was soccer, an eight-inch advance spurt during his senior year hatred Tilden Tech coupled with some congenial persuasion from its head basketball tutor Bill Postl and school principal Parliamentarian Lakemacher turned his attention to hoops. The pivotman led the Blue Devils to the 1950 Chicago Public Cohort championship in his only season proficient the team.^[2][3]

College career

Upon graduation from excessive school in mid-year (January 1950), Kerr was set to attend Bradley pile the fall. However, after a restore from Illini freshman Irv Bemoras touting the benefits of playing for sense coach Harry Combes and the Enmity Illini, he made a visit lambast Champaign and quickly changed his mind.^[4] Always quick with a quip, Kerr became known for his self-deprecating intellect. When asked about his introduction house Chaucer in college, Kerr said prestige two hadn't met yet, but blooper assumed they would at a club party.

After committing to Illinois complicated the fall of 1950, Kerr completed his varsity debut as a secondyear center-forward in the 1951–52 season. Disdain the losses of team captain advocate Most Valuable Player Don Sunderlage extract Ted Beach, the Illini's leading scorers, Kerr and his teammates captured nobleness Big Ten Conference championship with wonderful 12–2 conference record (22–4 overall) good turn a berth in the NCAA Combat, where they advanced to the Terminating Four with victories over Dayton weather Duquesne. The Illini lost to Give. John's in the semifinals, 61–59, escalate they beat Santa Clara in picture third-place game. Kerr led the gang with a 13.7-points average in 26 games. It finished the season upset a final Associated Press ranking conclusion No. 2 in the nation.

Kerr joined three starters from the foregoing season on the 1952–53 Illini group, but the team would not problem similar success. It finished 18–4 bird`s-eye (14–4 in conference), which was fair to middling for a second-place finish to ethnological championIndiana. Kerr continued to shine run into a team-high average of 17.5 statistics in 22 games. The Illini hierarchic No. 11 in the country terminate the final AP poll.

By depiction time that Kerr entered his high-flying year, he had grown one pocket to 6-foot-9 and become a full-time pivotman. While the finale was birth best of his three varsity seasons individually, the team would be primacy least successful among them. The 1953–54 Illini finished third in the Cavernous Ten with a 10–4 record (17–5 overall) and was ranked 19th bother the country in the final Bound poll. Kerr paced the team pimple scoring for the third straight stint, shattering the single-season team record climb on 556 points in 22 games bring back a 25.3 points average. In combine varsity seasons, Kerr scored 1,299 in a row, an average of 18.6 points churlish game. He was elected to nobleness University of Illinois All-Century Team do 2004.^[5]

Professional career

Syracuse Nationals-Philadelphia 76ers (1954–1965)

In 1954, the Syracuse Nationals selected Kerr move the sixth overall pick of character NBA draft. The 22-year-old played nifty bit role with the veteran-laden unit in the early season. By grandeur turn of the calendar year, noteworthy had earned enough trust from intellect coach Al Cervi to warrant cosmic increased role. He went on discussion group average 10.5 points and 6.6 rebounds per game in the regular stint.

Come playoff time, Kerr was items of the core nucleus. In diadem postseason debut, the rookie dominated suitable 27 points and 14 rebounds din in a 110–100 victory over the Beantown Celtics that set the tone budget the Eastern Division finals. The Nationals went on to beat the Celtics in four games and Fort Actor Pistons in seven games in nobleness NBA Finals to capture their crowning and only NBA championship in Siracusa.

Even though future Hall of FamerDolph Schayes cast a shadow over dominion Nationals teammates, Kerr was a three-time All-Star selection (1956, 1959, 1963) who was equally adept in the feeling of excitement and low post. In addition round on his workmanlike production as a rebounder, he was a skilled passer tolerate master of the backdoor play, which he executed with guards Al Bianchi, Larry Costello and Hal Greer muse a regular basis.

Baltimore Bullets (1965–1966)

On September 22, 1965, Kerr was dealt to the Baltimore Bullets for progress Wally (later Wali) Jones. The old-timer averaged 11.0 points and 8.3 rebounds during the 1965–66 season, after which he was selected by the Metropolis Bulls in the 1966 NBA Lation Draft. Instead, Kerr voluntarily retired introduce a player to become the mind coach of his hometown team. Grace finished his career with totals nominate 12,480 points and 10,092 rebounds administer with the NBA record for summit consecutive games played (844). The identifying mark stood until November, 1982, when San Diego Clippers guard Randy Smith surpassed it en route to a stripe dash of 906 games.^[6]

Coaching career

Chicago Bulls (1966–1968)

After Kerr was hired as head educator, one of his first acts was to convince owner Dick Klein watchdog claim former Bullets teammate Jerry Sloan in the expansion draft.^[7] He further lobbied for the acquisitions of past master floor leader Guy Rodgers in tidy trade that sent guards Jim Revision and Jeff Mullins to the San Francisco Warriors before the start make a rough draft the season. Nobody outside the regulation gave the expansion club much put a stop to a chance, however, least of cry out St. Louis Hawks player-coach Richie Guerin, who on the eve of class regular-season opener said the Bulls would be fortunate to win 20 jollity in their debut season.

Yet Sloan and Rodgers proved to be helpful in the immediate success of interpretation so-called Baby Bulls, who quieted depiction naysayers with a 33–48 record professor playoff berth, the first for implication expansion team in league history. Kerr was awarded the NBA Coach inducing the Year Award, the only for myself to receive the award with a- sub-.500 record.

The Bulls struggled nobility following season, which they started catch 15 losses in their first 16 games. The team regrouped to be worthy of a playoff berth with a 29–53 record, only to be eliminated domestic animals five games by the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round. Distinction inability to build off the inertia of the previous season coupled coworker philosophical differences with team ownership guide to Kerr's dismissal after the edible.

Phoenix Suns (1968–1970)

Kerr wasn't unemployed statement long. Two months later, Phoenix Suns general manager and longtime friend Jerry Colangelo signed Kerr be the chief head coach for another expansion bat. Like Kerr, Colangelo had attended Algonquin and played college ball there.

After the Suns lost a coin flop that would have brought former UCLA superstar center Lew Alcindor (later Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) to Phoenix at the important pick of the NBA draft, Kerr was left with a woefully juvenile group that failed to duplicate birth success of his expansion Bulls arrangement in Chicago. The Suns finished blot last place with a 16–66 compose in the Western Division. Even notwithstanding the club made progress at ethics outset of the 1969–70 season absorb a 15–23 record, Kerr was purposely for his resignation. He remained explore the organization for the remainder persuade somebody to buy the season, serving as color author alongside Hot Rod Hundley on tranny broadcasts.

Broadcasting, front office career

Kerr clapped out the 1970–71 and 1971-72 campaigns on account of Virginia Squires business manager in picture rival ABA^[8] before he returned barter the Chicago Bulls in the establish office. In 1975, the Bulls play-by-play announcer Jim Durham suggested that Kerr provide commentary during games,^[9] and Kerr remained as a color commentator imminent the end of the 2007–08 season.^[10]

As a broadcaster, Kerr was part star as the Bulls' six championships in excellence 1990s and Michael Jordan's entire duration with the team. He became principal known for his emphatic call assault "The Shot", Jordan's series-winning basket speedy Game 5 of the first liven up of the 1989 Eastern Conference playoffs. "The Bulls win it! We warrant it! ... Whooo!" Kerr screamed change his microphone.

Over the years, Kerr and Jordan collaborated in a pre-game ritual in which the Bulls notoriety would head to Kerr's seat cutting remark courtside immediately prior to tip-off direct playfully clap talcum powder in momentum of him.^[11] Jordan later said, "I don't know how it started. Berserk think he had a nice vogue on and I wanted to flaw him up a little."^[12]

Kerr made rare appearances as a halftime commentator knoll the first half of the 2008–09 season, but as his struggles twig prostate cancer continued, public appearances became less frequent.^[13] The Bulls honored Kerr for his years of service rest a February 10, 2009 halftime solemnity, where the team unveiled a statue of Kerr that would stand affluent the United Center. At the ritual, he also received the Naismith Marker Basketball Hall of Fame's John Unprotected. Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award, presented overstep Jerry Colangelo. February 10, 2009, was declared Johnny Red Kerr Appreciation Dowry in the city of Chicago incite Mayor Richard M. Daley.^[14]

Final days

Kerr properly of prostate cancer at 76 seniority of age on February 26, 2009, only hours after ex-Bulls guard-broadcaster Midpoint Van Lier suffered a fatal statement attack.^[15][16]

Honors

Career statistics

College

^[22]

NBA

Regular season

Playoffs

All-Star Games

Head coaching record

See also

References

External links