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{{short description|American basketball player (born 1949)}}
{{Infobox NBAretired
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
|image=Replace this image male.svg <!-- only free-content images are allowed for depicting living people - see [[WP:NONFREE]] --> |
{{Infobox basketball biography
||width=
| name = Artis Gilmore
|caption=
| image = Artis Gilmore.jpg
|position= [[Center (basketball)|Center]]
| caption = Gilmore in 2011
|number= 53
|birthdate= {{birth date and age|1949|9|21}}<br>[[Chipley, Florida]]<br/>
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1949|09|21}}
| birth_place = [[Chipley, Florida]], U.S.
|deathdate=
| height_ft = 7
|debutyear= 1972
| height_in = 2
|finalyear= 1989
| weight_lb = 240
|draftyear= 1976
| high_school =
|draftround= 1
* [[Roulhac High School|T. J. Roulhac]] (Chipley, Florida)
|draftpick= 1 (ABA Dispersal Draft)
* [[George Washington Carver High School (Dothan, Alabama)|Carver]] ([[Dothan, Alabama]])
|college= [[Gardner-Webb University|Gardner-Webb Junior College]], [[Jacksonville University|Jacksonville]]
| college =
|teams=<nowiki></nowiki>
* [[Gardner–Webb Runnin' Bulldogs men's basketball|Gardner–Webb]] (1967–1969)
*[[Kentucky Colonels]] ([[American Basketball Association|ABA]]) (1971-1976)
* [[Jacksonville Dolphins men's basketball|Jacksonville]] (1969–1971)
*[[Chicago Bulls]] (1976−1982)
| draft_year = 1971
*[[San Antonio Spurs]] (1982−1987)
| draft_round = 7
*Chicago Bulls (1987-1988)
| draft_pick = 117
*[[Boston Celtics]] (1988)
| draft_team = [[Chicago Bulls]]
*[[Fortitudo Bologna]] (1988−1989)
| career_start = 1971
|stat1label= [[Point (basketball)|Points]]
| career_end = 1989
|stat1value= 15,579
|stat2label= [[Field goal (basketball)|FG%]]
| career_position = [[Center (basketball)|Center]]
| career_number = 53
|stat2value= 59.9
| years1 = [[1971–72 ABA season|1971]]–[[1975–76 ABA season|1976]]
|stat3label= [[Block (basketball)|Blocks]]
| team1 = [[Kentucky Colonels]]
|stat3value= 1,748
| years2 = {{nbay|1976|start}}–{{nbay|1981|end}}
|letter= g
| team2 = [[Chicago Bulls]]
|bbr= gilmoar01
| years3 = {{nbay|1982|start}}–{{nbay|1986|end}}
|highlights=<nowiki></nowiki>
| team3 = [[San Antonio Spurs]]
*5x All-ABA First Team (1972-76)
| years4 = {{nbay|1987|start}}
*5x ABA All-Defensive First Team (1972-76)
| team4 = Chicago Bulls
*5x ABA All-Star (1972-76)
| years5 = {{nbay|1987|end}}
*ABA MVP (1972)
| team5 = [[Boston Celtics]]
*ABA Rookie of the Year (1972)
| years6 = 1988–1989
*ABA All-Star Game MVP (1974)
| team6 = [[Fortitudo Pallacanestro Bologna|Arimo Bologna]]
*ABA Playoff MVP (1975)
| highlights =
*1x [[NBA All-Defensive Second Team]] (1978)
*6x [[NBA All-Star]] (1978, 1979, 1981-83, 1986)
* [[ABA champion]] ([[1975 ABA Playoffs|1975]])
* [[ABA Playoffs Most Valuable Player Award|ABA Playoffs Most Valuable Player]] ([[1975 ABA Playoffs|1975]])
*[[ABA's All-Time Team]] (1997)
* [[ABA Most Valuable Player]] ({{abay|1971|end}})
*NBA career leader in [[field goal]] percentage
* 6× [[NBA All-Star]] ({{nasg|1978}}, {{nasg|1979}}, {{nasg|1981}}–{{nasg|1983}}, {{nasg|1986}})
|HOF=
* 5× ABA All-Star ([[1972 ABA All-Star Game|1972]]–[[1976 ABA All-Star Game|1976]])
* ABA All-Star Game MVP ([[1974 ABA All-Star Game|1974]])
* 5× [[All-ABA First Team]] ({{abay|1971|end}}–{{abay|1975|end}})
* 4× [[ABA All-Defensive First Team]] ([[1972–73 ABA season|1973]]–1976)
* [[NBA All-Defensive Second Team]] ({{nbay|1977|end}})
* [[ABA Rookie of the Year]] (1972)
* [[ABA All-Rookie First Team]] (1972)
* 4× [[American Basketball Association#Rebounding leaders|ABA rebounding champion]] ({{abay|1971|end}}–{{abay|1973|end}}, {{abay|1975|end}})
* [[ABA All-Time Team]]
* [[Chicago Bulls#Chicago Bulls Ring of Honor|Chicago Bulls Ring of Honor]]
* Consensus first-team [[NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans|All-American]] ([[1971 NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans|1971]])
* Second-team All-American – [[Associated Press|AP]], [[National Association of Basketball Coaches|NABC]], [[United Press International|UPI]] ([[1970 NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans|1970]])
* 2× [[List of NCAA Division I men's basketball season rebounding leaders|NCAA rebounding leader]] (1970, 1971)
* No. 53 [[Jacksonville Dolphins men's basketball#Retired numbers|retired by Jacksonville Dolphins]]
* Third-team [[Parade All-America Boys Basketball Team|''Parade'' All-American]] (1967)
| stats_league = ABA and NBA
| stat1label = [[Point (basketball)|Points]]
| stat1value = 24,941 (18.8 ppg)
| stat2label = [[Rebound (basketball)|Rebounds]]
| stat2value = 16,330 (12.3 rpg)
| stat3label = [[Block (basketball)|Blocks]]
| stat3value = 3,178 (2.4 bpg)
| HOF_player = artis-gilmore
}}
}}
'''Artis Gilmore Sr.''' (born September 21, 1949) is an American former professional [[basketball]] player who played in the [[American Basketball Association]] (ABA) and [[National Basketball Association]] (NBA). Gilmore was inducted into the [[Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame]] on August 12, 2011.


A star [[center (basketball)|center]] in his two years of [[college basketball]] at [[Jacksonville University]], Gilmore led the [[Jacksonville Dolphins men's basketball|Dolphins]] to the [[NCAA Division I]] championship game in 1970, where his team was beaten 80–69 by the [[UCLA Bruins men's basketball|UCLA Bruins]]. Gilmore remains the top player in rebounds per game in Division I history.
'''Artis Gilmore''' (born [[September 21]] [[1949]], in [[Chipley, Florida]]) is a former professional [[basketball]] player in the [[American Basketball Association]] (ABA) and [[National Basketball Association]] (NBA). Nicknamed "The A-Train" for his unprententious but dominating style of play, the durable 7 ft 2 in (2.18 m) Gilmore once played in 670 consecutive games.


Gilmore followed five All-Star seasons with the [[Kentucky Colonels]] of the ABA by becoming the first overall pick in the [[1976 ABA Dispersal draft]], which dispersed the players in the ABA clubs, such as the Colonels, that did not join the NBA. During his career, Gilmore was an 11-time All-Star, the [[ABA Rookie of the Year]], and an [[ABA Most Valuable Player]] (MVP). Nicknamed "The A-Train", the {{convert|7|ft|2|in|adj=on}} Gilmore once played in 670 consecutive games.
==Amateur Years==
He played [[college basketball]] at [[Gardner-Webb University|Gardner-Webb Junior College]] and [[Jacksonville University]], leading the Dolphins to the NCAA title game in 1970. During the two years Gilmore played NCAA basketball at Jacksonville, he became one only five college players ever to average at least 20 points and 20 rebounds over a career. He led the NCAA in rebounding both years, and his career average of 22.7 rebounds per game is still the highest in NCAA Division I history.


==Professional Career==
==Early years==
Gilmore was born in [[Chipley, Florida]], one of 10 children. He was raised there, and attended [[Roulhac High School]]. Gilmore was 6'5" at age 15. Initially most interested in playing [[American football|football]], Gilmore could not play because his father, who was a fisherman, could not afford the required insurance for him to participate.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nba.com/bulls/history/players/artis-gilmore|title=Artis Gilmore - Bulls History|website=[[NBA.com]] }}</ref> When public schools were integrated, he attended [[Chipley High School]] for one week before leaving home to attend Carver High School in [[Dothan, Alabama]], a larger community 35 miles to the north.<ref name="Left home">{{cite news |last1=Frenette |first1=Gene |title=After 17 years of waiting, Jacksonville's Artis Gilmore is finally entering the Basketball Hall of Fame |url=https://www.jacksonville.com/article/20110810/NEWS/801246456 |access-date=January 4, 2019 |date=August 10, 2011}}</ref> He graduated from Dothan's Carver High School in 1967, at 6'10" as a Third Team All-American.<ref name="nba.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/history/players/gilmore_bio.html|title=NBA.com: Artis Gilmore Bio|website=www.nba.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url = https://hoopsaddict.wordpress.com/2007/08/28/historical-glimpses-artis-gilmore/| title = Historical Glimpses: Artis Gilmore – HoopsAddict.com| date = August 28, 2007}}</ref>
He began his professional career with the [[Kentucky Colonels]] of the American Basketball Association and played there for the Louisville team until the league folded in [[1976]]. As a rookie in 1972, Gilmore had the rare distinction of being selected both the league Most Valuable Player and Rookie of the Year. Gilmore led the ABA four times in rebounding average, twice in both field goal percentage and blocks per game, and once in personal fouls. He was named to the All-ABA First team five straight seasons, and was named to the ABA's All-Defense team four times. He played in the ABA All-Star Game all five years he played in the ABA, and was named the game's MVP in 1974. In 1975, he led Kentucky to the ABA championship and was named the Playoffs MVP. During his ABA career, Gilmore established ABA records for career field goal percentage (0.557), career blocked shots (750), blocked shots in a season (287 in the 1973-74 season), and rebounds in a game (40).


==College career==
Gilmore was chosen with the 1st overall pick in the 1976 ABA [[dispersal draft]] by the [[Chicago Bulls]]. He played for Chicago through the 1982 season (rejoined the team for part of the [[1987-88 NBA season|1988 season]], after which he was traded to the [[San Antonio Spurs]], where he played through the [[1986-87 NBA season|1987 season]]. He ended his NBA career with the [[Boston Celtics]] in [[1988]]. Gilmore played in a total of six [[National Basketball Association All-Star Game|NBA All-Star Games]]. He led the NBA in field goal percentage in four consecutive seasons, including a career best [[List of National Basketball Association top individual field goal percentage seasons|.670]] during the 1980-81 season &mdash; the third highest percentage in NBA history. Gilmore remains the NBA's career leader in field goal percentage (minimum 2000 shots made) with a 59.9 percentage. Gilmore also led the NBA in turnovers once (during the 1977-78 season).
Gilmore played [[college basketball]] beginning at [[Gardner–Webb University|Gardner–Webb Junior College]] in [[Boiling Springs, North Carolina]] from 1967 to 1969. Under coach [[Eddie Holbrook]], Gilmore led [[Gardner–Webb Runnin' Bulldogs|Gardner-Webb]] to the NJCAA tournament in 1968 and 1969, playing alongside [[George Adams (basketball)|George Adams]]. Gilmore averaged 22.5 points and 16.0 rebounds in his two seasons, with career totals of 1,530 points and 1,150 rebounds at Gardner-Webb.<ref name="gardner-webb.edu">{{cite web| url = https://www.gardner-webb.edu/newscenter/final-stop-for-the-a-train-the-hall-of-fame/| title = Reference at www.gardner-webb.edu}}</ref><ref name="shelbystar.com">{{cite web| url = https://www.shelbystar.com/sports/20190208/gardner-webb-to-remember-its-1968-69-basketball-team-next-saturday| title = HONORING THEIR LEGACY}}</ref>


Reflected Coach Holbrook, “Bringing in a player like Artis who was 7-foot-2 and could do so many things drew a lot of attention. But Artis showed that he was deserving of that attention. I would say Artis and George Adams were two of the hardest-working players I ever coached. They were relentless. Anything you asked them to do or pushed them to do, they did it — or tried to do it anyway.”<ref name="shelbystar.com"/>
He then played the 1988-1989 season with [[Fortitudo Bologna|Arimo Bologna]] of the [[Serie A (basketball)|Italian league]], where he averaged 12.3 points and 11.0 rebounds and made the European All-Star Team.


In 1969–1970, Gilmore transferred to [[Jacksonville University]]. He led the [[1969–70 Jacksonville Dolphins men's basketball team|Jacksonville Dolphins]] team to a 27–2 record under coach [[Joe Williams (basketball)|Joe Williams]]. In the 1970 [[1970 NCAA University Division basketball tournament|NCAA tournament]] Gilmore led the team to the NCAA Championship game, where they lost 80–69 to coach [[John Wooden]] and the [[1969–70 UCLA Bruins men's basketball team|UCLA]] Bruins; Gilmore scored 19 points with 16 rebounds. They defeated [[1969–70 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers basketball team|Western Kentucky]] 109–96 (30/19), the [[1969–70 Iowa Hawkeyes men's basketball team|University of Iowa]] 104–103 (30/17) and the [[1969–70 Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team|University of Kentucky]] 106–100 (24/20) to reach the Final Four. The Dolphins defeated St. Bonaventure 91–83 (29/21) in the Semi-Final. For the season, Gilmore averaged 26.5 points and 22.2 rebounds per game.<ref name="sports-reference.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/artis-gilmore-1.html|title=Artis Gilmore College Stats|website=College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com}}</ref>
==Hall of Fame candidacy==
Despite an ABA career in which he averaged 22.3 points and 17.1 rebounds per game, NBA career averages of 17.1 points and 10.1 rebounds per game, Gilmore has yet to be elected to the [[Basketball Hall of Fame|Hall of Fame]]; he is one of several former ABA MVPs who have not received the honor. In addition to being pro basketball's all-time most successful field goal percentage shooter, Gilmore ranks among the top 25 all-time point scorers, as well as in the top ten in rebounds, blocked shots, games and minutes played. No other players with comparable statistical accomplishments have been omitted from the Hall of Fame. Gilmore remains ineligible for consideration of Hall of Fame enshrinement until 2012. For the past three years he failed to receive a single vote of support from a panel of nine members serving on the North American screening committee. This committee is anonymous.


At Jacksonville University, Gilmore became one of five college basketball players ever to average at least 20 points and 20 rebounds over his career at 24.3 and 22.7.<ref name="sports-reference.com"/> Gilmore led the NCAA in rebounding both years at Jacksonville, and his career average of 22.7 rebounds per game is still the highest in NCAA Division I history.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://judolphins.com/hof.aspx?hof=4| title = Artis Gilmore (1993) – Hall of Fame – Jacksonville University}}</ref>
==External links==

*[http://www.nba.com/history/players/gilmore_summary.html NBA.com: Artis Gilmore Summary]
==Professional career==

===ABA===

====Kentucky Colonels (1971–1976)====
Gilmore was drafted by the [[Kentucky Colonels]] in the 1971 [[American Basketball Association]] draft, and by the [[Chicago Bulls]] in the [[1971 NBA draft]].<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.basketballreference.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=GilmoAr01| title = BasketballReference.com Artis Gilmore page| access-date = November 29, 2008| archive-date = December 27, 2008| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081227083359/http://www.basketballreference.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=GILMOAR01| url-status = dead}}</ref> ABA teams were interested in keeping Gilmore in the ABA and wanted to ensure he was signed by a team that could afford him. Therefore, he went to Kentucky with the 7th pick and signed a 10-year, $2.5 million contract. NBA teams knew Gilmore would not sign, so the Bulls strategically used a 7th round pick to secure any possible future rights to Gilmore.<ref name="nba.com"/><ref>{{cite web | url=https://dailydsports.com/artis-gilmore/ | title=Artis Gilmore &#124; ABA &#124; MVP Rookie of the Year &#124; | date=October 22, 2018 }}</ref>

He was so immediately dominant that he earned the rare distinction of being selected for both the [[List of American Basketball Association awards and honors|ABA Rookie of the Year Award]] and the [[ABA Most Valuable Player Award]] in 1971–1972, both over [[Virginia Squires]] rookie [[Julius Erving]]. Kentucky finished 68–16 after being 44–40 the season before.<ref name="remembertheaba.com">{{cite web| url = http://www.remembertheaba.com/Kentucky-Colonels.html| title = Remember the ABA: Kentucky Colonels}}</ref> The following season Gilmore's strong play continued, as he and [[Dan Issel]] led the Colonels to a
56–28 record and the [[1973 ABA Playoffs]]. Eventually, after beating the [[Carolina Cougars]] in a seven-game division finals series, Gilmore and the Colonels made it to the ABA Finals, but lost to the [[Indiana Pacers]] in another hard-fought seven-game series, despite Gilmore averaging 22.1 points, 17.3 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 4 blocks per game.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/1973-aba-finals-pacers-vs-colonels.html|title=1973 ABA Finals - Pacers vs. Colonels|website=Basketball-Reference.com}}</ref>

Over his five-year ABA career, Gilmore led the ABA four times in rebounding average, twice in both field goal percentage and blocks per game, and once in personal fouls. He was named to the All-ABA First team five straight seasons,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gilmore Girls Fans Are Cashing In On the Netflix Revival With Crafty Merch |url=https://money.com/gilmore-girls-super-fans-money/ |access-date=2022-08-19 |website=Money |language=en}}</ref> and the All-Defense team four times. He played in the ABA All-Star Game all five years he was in the league, earning the [[1974 ABA All-Star Game|1974 game]]'s MVP.

In 1974–75, Gilmore, alongside teammate [[Dan Issel]] led [[1974–75 Kentucky Colonels season|1974–75 Kentucky Colonels]] to the [[1975 ABA Playoffs|1975 ABA championship]], as Gilmore was dominant, being named the [[ABA Playoffs Most Valuable Player]]. In the final game of the series against the [[Indiana Pacers]], Gilmore scored 28 points and grabbed 31 rebounds in front of 16,000 fans at [[Freedom Hall]].<ref name="basketball-reference.com">{{cite web| url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/g/gilmoar01.html| title = Artis Gilmore Stats {{!}} Basketball-Reference.com}}</ref><ref name="remembertheaba.com"/>

During his days as an ABA dominator, Gilmore established league records for career blocked shots (1431), blocked shots in a season (422 in the 1971–72 season),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/g/gilmoar01.html|title=Artis Gilmore Stats|website=Basketball-Reference.com}}</ref> and rebounds in a game (40).<ref name=encyc>{{cite book | title = The Official NBA Basketball Encyclopedia | publisher = Villard Books | year = 1994 | pages = 208–209 | isbn = 0-679-43293-0}}</ref> He averaged 22.3 points and 17.7 rebounds, 58.5% shooting, 3.4 blocks and 3.0 assists per game in his 5 seasons and 440 ABA games"<ref name="basketball-reference.com"/>

===NBA===

====Chicago Bulls (1976–1982)====
The ABA disbanded after the 1976 season. Four of its teams ([[Denver Nuggets]], [[Indiana Pacers]], [[New York Nets]], and [[San Antonio Spurs]]) were absorbed into the NBA in the [[ABA–NBA merger]], and the remainder, including the Kentucky Colonels, folded. As a result, Gilmore went into the special 1976 ABA [[dispersal draft]], and was chosen first overall by the [[Chicago Bulls]]. He signed with them for $1.1 million over three years.<ref name="nba.com"/> During his first season with the Bulls, Gilmore led the team in scoring, rebounds, and blocks, while also helping the Bulls hold their opponents to a league-best 98 points per game.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/CHI/1977.html|title=1976-77 Chicago Bulls Roster and Stats|website=Basketball-Reference.com}}</ref> On March 18, 1977, Gilmore scored an NBA-career-high 42 points, along with grabbing 15 rebounds and recording 9 assists, in a 114–112 win over the [[Kansas City Kings]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/artis-gilmore-career-high-points|title=Artis Gilmore Career High Points|website=StatMuse}}</ref> However, in the [[1977 NBA Playoffs]], the Bulls lost to the eventual champion Trail Blazers 2–1 in the first round.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/1977-nba-western-conference-first-round-bulls-vs-trail-blazers.html|title=1977 NBA Western Conference First Round - Bulls vs. Trail Blazers|website=Basketball-Reference.com}}</ref>

[[File:Artis Gilmore 1977.jpeg|thumb|upright=0.8|left|Gilmore with the Chicago Bulls, 1977]]

In total Gilmore received four All-Star selections in five solid basketball seasons in Chicago (19.3 points per game and 11.1 rebounds per game).

====San Antonio Spurs (1982–1987)====
Gilmore was traded to the [[San Antonio Spurs]] in July 1982 for [[Dave Corzine]], [[Mark Olberding]], and cash considerations.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/SAS/1983_transactions.html|title=1982-83 San Antonio Spurs Transactions|website=Basketball-Reference.com}}</ref> There, coached by [[Stan Albeck]], he teamed with spidery 6’8” [[shooting guard]] [[George Gervin|George “The Iceman” Gervin]] to provide the Spurs with a potent inside-out game. During the [[1982-83 San Antonio Spurs season]], his first with the team, Gilmore helped the team finish in first place in their division with a record of 53–29. During the playoffs, Gilmore and the Spurs advanced by Gilmore's former Kentucky Colonel co-star [[Dan Issel]] and the [[1982-83 Denver Nuggets season|Denver Nuggets]] in the second round, before facing the [[1982-83 Los Angeles Lakers season|Los Angeles Lakers]] in the Western Conference Finals. In Game 2 of the series, Gilmore led the Spurs to a 122–113 win with 27 points, 20 rebounds, and 5 blocks.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198305100LAL.html|title=1983 NBA Western Conference Finals Game 2: Spurs vs Lakers, May 10, 1983|website=Basketball-Reference.com}}</ref> However, the Spurs would ultimately lose to the Lakers in six games.
While the Spurs would continue to make the postseason in subsequent years, they would not again advance out of the first round during Gilmore's tenure.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/g/gilmoar01.html|title=Artis Gilmore Stats|website=Basketball-Reference.com}}</ref> He was twice named an All-Star in San Antonio through [[1986–87 NBA season|1987]].

====Chicago Bulls (1987)====
Gilmore rejoined the Bulls for part of the [[1987–88 NBA season|1988 season]] before being released.

====Boston Celtics (1988)====
Gilmore finished his NBA career with the [[Boston Celtics]] in 1988. Gilmore and the Celtics would advance to the conference finals, though he played just over 6 minutes per postseason game as a reserve.<ref>[https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/BOS/1988.html 1987-88 Boston Celtics Roster and Stats]</ref>

===Italian League===
Gilmore played the 1988–89 season with [[Fortitudo Bologna|Arimo Bologna]] of the [[Serie A (basketball)|Italian league]], where he averaged 12.3 points and 11.0 rebounds and made the European All-Star Team.

====NBA achievements====
Gilmore played in a total of six [[National Basketball Association All-Star Game|NBA All-Star Games]]. He led the NBA in field goal percentage in four consecutive seasons, including a career-best [[List of National Basketball Association top individual field goal percentage seasons|67%]] during the 1980–81 season — at the time, the third-highest percentage in NBA history.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/leaders/fg_pct_season.html|title=NBA & ABA Single Season Leaders and Records for Field Goal Pct|website=Basketball-Reference.com}}</ref> At the time of his retirement in 1989, Gilmore was the NBA's career leader in field goal percentage (minimum 2,000 shots made) with 59.9%.

==Personal life==
In 1972, Gilmore married his college sweetheart Enola Gay. They have had five children.<ref name="gardner-webb.edu"/>

In 2007, Gilmore took a position as Special Assistant to the President at Jacksonville University, his alma mater, serving in various public relations capacities.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.judolphins.com/mbasketball/news/4/8775/ |title=Artis Gilmore joins JU as Special Assistant to the President - Jacksonville University Official Athletic Site |access-date=October 4, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723082631/http://www.judolphins.com/mbasketball/news/4/8775/ |archive-date=July 23, 2011 }}</ref>

Gilmore provides radio [[color commentary]] for Jacksonville University on the school's flagship station, [[WJXL (AM)|WJXL]]. Gilmore was also a frequent guest on the basketball call-in show ''Ballin' with Al Edwards'', also on WJXL.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.ncaa.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/030408abc.html| title = Reference at www.ncaa.com}}{{dead link|date=October 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

==Honors==
In 1993, Gilmore was inducted into the Stars Hollow University Hall of Fame.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.judolphins.com/Hall_of_Fame/index|title=Hall of Fame|website=Jacksonville University}}</ref>

Gilmore was inducted into the [[Gardner-Webb]] Athletics Hall of Fame in 1995.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://gwusports.com/hof.aspx|title=Gardner-Webb Athletics Hall of Fame|website=Gardner-Webb University Athletics}}</ref>

Despite retiring among all time pro basketball leaders in several statistical categories, Gilmore was not elected to the [[Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame]] until April 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=6289323|title=Rodman, Mullin, Winter lead Hall's Class of 2011|date=April 4, 2011|website=ESPN.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.sbnation.com/nba/2011/4/5/2091793/basketball-hall-of-fame-2011-artis-gilmore| title = Artis Gilmore, Tara VanDerveer Round Out Basketball Hall Of Fame's 2011 Class| date = April 5, 2011}}, ''SB Nation'', Tom Ziller, April 5, 2011.</ref><ref name="Left home"/><ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.jacksonville.com/article/20110812/SPORTS/801246259| title = Artis Gilmore enjoys Hall of Fame induction 17 years in the making}}, ''The Florida Times-Union'', Jacksonville.com, Tania Ganguli, August 12, 2011 at 10:58 PM.</ref>

In May 2012, Gilmore was inducted into the [[Alabama Sports Hall of Fame]].

On January 12, 2024, Gilmore was inducted into the Chicago Bulls inaugural [[Chicago Bulls#Chicago Bulls Ring of Honor|ring of honor]] class.<ref>{{cite web |title=Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen headline inaugural class for Bulls' Ring of Honor |url=https://www.nba.com/news/chicago-bulls-ring-of-honor |website=NBA.com |access-date=January 12, 2024 |date=December 13, 2023 |archive-date=January 13, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240113013518/https://www.nba.com/news/chicago-bulls-ring-of-honor |url-status=live }}</ref>

==ABA and NBA career statistics==
{{NBA player statistics legend}}
{|class ="wikitable"
|-
|style="background:#afe6fa; width:3em;"|†
|Denotes seasons in which Gilmore's team won an [[List of ABA champions|ABA championship]]
|-
| style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;" |*
|Led the league
|-
| style="background:#E0CEF2; width:3em;" |*
|ABA record
|}

===Regular season===
{{NBA player statistics start}}
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{abay|1971}}
| style="text-align:left;"| [[1971–72 Kentucky Colonels season|Kentucky (ABA)]]
| '''84''' || – || '''43.6''' || bgcolor="CFECEC"|.598* || – || .646 || bgcolor="CFECEC"|17.8* || 2.7 || – || style="background:#E0CEF2;"|'''5.0'''* || 23.8
|-
| style="text-align:left"|{{abay|1972}}
| style="text-align:left;"| [[1972–73 Kentucky Colonels season|Kentucky (ABA)]]
| bgcolor="CFECEC"|'''84*''' || – || 41.7 || bgcolor="CFECEC"|.559* || .500 || .643 || bgcolor="CFECEC"|17.6* || 3.5 || – || bgcolor="CFECEC"|3.1* || 20.8
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|{{abay|1973}}
| style="text-align:left;"| [[1973–74 Kentucky Colonels season|Kentucky (ABA)]]
| '''84''' || – || bgcolor="CFECEC"|41.7* || .493 || .000 || .667 || bgcolor="CFECEC"|'''18.3*''' || '''3.9''' || 0.7 || 3.4 || 18.7
|-
| style="text-align:left;background:#afe6fa;"|{{abay|1974}}†
| style="text-align:left;"| [[1974–75 Kentucky Colonels season|Kentucky (ABA)]]
|bgcolor="CFECEC"|'''84'''* || – || bgcolor="CFECEC"|41.6* || .580 || .500 || .696|| 16.2 || 2.5 || '''0.8''' || 3.1 || 23.6
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{abay|1975}}
| style="text-align:left;"| [[1975–76 Kentucky Colonels season|Kentucky (ABA)]]
| '''84''' || – || 39.1 || .552 || – || .682 || bgcolor="CFECEC"|15.5* || 2.5 || 0.7 || 2.4 || '''24.6'''
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|1976}}
| style="text-align:left;"| [[1976–77 Chicago Bulls season|Chicago]]
| 82 || – || 35.1 || .522 || – || .660 || 13.0 || 2.4 || 0.5 || 2.5 || 18.6
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|1977}}
| style="text-align:left;"| [[1977–78 Chicago Bulls season|Chicago]]
| 82 || – || 37.4 || .559 || – || .704 || 13.1 || 3.2 || 0.5 || 2.2 || 22.9
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|1978}}
| style="text-align:left;"| [[1978–79 Chicago Bulls season|Chicago]]
| bgcolor="CFECEC"|82* || – || 39.8 || .575 || – || .739 || 12.7 || 3.3 || 0.6 || 1.9 || 23.7
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|1979}}
| style="text-align:left;"| [[1979–80 Chicago Bulls season|Chicago]]
| 48 || – || 32.7 || .595 || – || .712 || 9.0 || 2.8 || 0.6 || 1.2 || 17.8
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|1980}}
| style="text-align:left;"| [[1980–81 Chicago Bulls season|Chicago]]
| 82 || – || 34.5 || bgcolor="CFECEC"|'''.670*''' || – || .705 || 10.1 || 2.1 || 0.6 || 2.4 || 17.9
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1981}}
| style="text-align:left;"| [[1981–82 Chicago Bulls season|Chicago]]
| 82 || '''82''' || 34.1 || bgcolor="CFECEC"|.652* || '''1.000''' || '''.768''' || 10.2 || 1.7 || 0.6 || 2.7 || 18.5
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|1982}}
| style="text-align:left;"| [[1982–83 San Antonio Spurs season|San Antonio]]
| 82 || '''82''' || 34.1 || bgcolor="CFECEC"|.626* || .000 || .740 || 12.0 || 1.5 || 0.5 || 2.3 || 18.0
|-
| style="text-align:left;| {{nbay|1983}}
| style="text-align:left;"| [[1983–84 San Antonio Spurs season|San Antonio]]
| 64 || 59 || 31.8 || bgcolor="CFECEC"|.631* || .000 || .718 || 10.3 || 1.1 || 0.6 || 2.1 || 15.3
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|1984}}
| style="text-align:left;"| [[1984–85 San Antonio Spurs season|San Antonio]]
| 81 || 81 || 34.0 || .623 || .000|| .749 || 10.4 || 1.6 || 0.5 || 2.1 || 19.1
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|1985}}
| style="text-align:left;"| [[1985–86 San Antonio Spurs season|San Antonio]]
| 71 || 71 || 33.7 || .618 || .000 || .701 || 8.5 || 1.4 || 0.5 || 1.5 || 16.7
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1986}}
| style="text-align:left;"| [[1986–87 San Antonio Spurs season|San Antonio]]
|bgcolor="CFECEC"|82* || 74 || 29.3 || .597 || – || .680 || 7.1 || 1.8 || 0.5 || 1.2 || 11.4
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1987}}
| style="text-align:left;"| [[1987–88 Chicago Bulls season|Chicago]]
|24 || 23 || 15.5 || .513 || – || .514 || 2.6 || 0.4 || 0.2 || 0.5 || 4.2
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1987}}
| style="text-align:left;"| [[1987–88 Boston Celtics season|Boston]]
|47|| 4 || 11.1 || .574 || – || .527 || 3.1 || 0.3 || 0.2 || 0.4 || 3.5
|- class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:center;" colspan=2| Career ABA
| 420 || || style="background:#E0CEF2;"|41.5* || .557 || .286 || .668 ||style="background:#E0CEF2;"|17.1* || 3.0 || 0.7 || style="background:#E0CEF2;"|3.4* || 22.3
|- class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:center;" colspan=2| Career NBA
| 909 || 804 || 32.7 || .599 || .000 || .713 || 10.1 || 2.0 || 0.5 || 1.9 || 17.1
|- class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:center;" colspan=2| Career Total
| 1329 || 476 || 35.5 || .582 || .150 || .698 || 12.3 || 2.3 || 0.6 || 2.4 || 18.8
{{S-end}}

===Playoffs===
{{NBA player statistics start}}
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1972 ABA Playoffs|1972]]
| style="text-align:left;"| [[1971–72 Kentucky Colonels season|Kentucky (ABA)]]
| 6 || – || '''47.5''' || .571 || .000 || .711 || 17.7 || '''4.2''' || – || – || 21.8
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[1973 ABA Playoffs|1973]]
| style="text-align:left;"| [[1972–73 Kentucky Colonels season|Kentucky (ABA)]]
| '''19''' || – || 41.1 || .544 || – || .626 || 13.7 || 3.9 || – || – || 19.0
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[1974 ABA Playoffs|1974]]
| style="text-align:left;"| [[1973–74 Kentucky Colonels season|Kentucky (ABA)]]
| 8 || – || 43.0 || .559 || – || .576 || '''18.6''' || 3.5 || 0.9 || '''3.8''' || 22.5
|-
| style="text-align:left;background:#afe6fa;"| [[1975 ABA Playoffs|1975]]†
| style="text-align:left;"| [[1974–75 Kentucky Colonels season|Kentucky (ABA)]]
| 15 || – || 45.3 || .539 || – || .772 || 17.6 || 2.5 || 1.0 || 2.1|| 24.1
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[1976 ABA Playoffs|1976]]
| style="text-align:left;"| [[1975–76 Kentucky Colonels season|Kentucky (ABA)]]
| 10 || – || 39.0 || .608 || – || .757 || 15.2 || 1.9 || 1.1 || 3.6 || '''24.2'''
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[1977 NBA Playoffs|1977]]
| style="text-align:left;"| [[1976–77 Chicago Bulls season|Chicago]]
| 3 || – || 42.0 || .475 || – || '''.783''' || 13.0 || 2.0 || 1.0 || 2.7 || 18.7
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[1981 NBA Playoffs|1981]]
| style="text-align:left;"| [[1980–81 Chicago Bulls season|Chicago]]
| 6 || – || 41.2 || .583 || – || .691 || 11.2 || 2.0 || 1.0 || 2.8 || 18.0
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1983 NBA Playoffs|1983]]
| style="text-align:left;"| [[1982–83 San Antonio Spurs season|San Antonio]]
| 11 || – || 36.5 || .576 || – || .696 || 12.9 || 1.6 || 0.8 || 3.1 || 16.7
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[1985 NBA Playoffs|1985]]
| style="text-align:left;"| [[1984–85 San Antonio Spurs season|San Antonio]]
| 5|| '''5''' || 37.0 || .558 || – || .689 || 10.0 || 1.4 || 0.4 || 1.4 || 17.8
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1986 NBA Playoffs|1986]]
| style="text-align:left;"| [[1985–86 San Antonio Spurs season|San Antonio]]
| 3 || 3 || 35.7 || '''.667''' || .000 || .571 || 6.0 || 1.0 || '''2.3''' || 0.3 || 13.3
|-
| style="text-align:left"| [[1988 NBA Playoffs|1988]]
| style="text-align:left;"| [[1987–88 Boston Celtics season|Boston]]
| 14 || 0 || 6.1 || .500 || – || .500 || 1.4 || 0.1 || 0.0 || 0.3 || 1.1
|- class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:center;" colspan=2| '''Career ABA'''
| 58 || || 42.7 || .559 || .000 || .692|| style="background:#E0CEF2;"|16.1* || 3.2 || 1.0 ||style="background:#E0CEF2;"|2.9* || 17.7
|- class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:center;" colspan=2| '''Career NBA'''
| 42 || 8 || 27.4 || .566 || .000 || .680|| 8.0 || 1.1 || 0.6 || 1.7 || 11.7
|- class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:center;" colspan=2| '''Career Total'''
| 100 || 8 || 36.3 || .561 || .000 || .688|| 12.7 || 2.3 || 0.8 || 2.2 || 17.7
{{S-end}}

==See also==
*[[List of NBA career blocks leaders]]
*[[List of NBA career field goal percentage leaders]]
*[[List of NBA annual field goal percentage leaders]]
*[[List of NBA single-game blocks leaders]]
*[[List of NCAA Division I men's basketball season rebounding leaders]]
*[[List of NCAA Division I men's basketball players with 30 or more rebounds in a game]]

==References==
{{reflist}}


==Further reading==
==Further reading==
*{{cite book |last=Heisler |first=Mark |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Giants: The 25 Greatest Centers of All Time |year=2003 |publisher=Triumph Books |location=Chicago |id=ISBN 1-57243-577-1}}
*{{Cite book |last=Clark |first=Catherine |title=Gilmore Girls: I Do, Don't I? |publisher=HarperEntertainment |year=2002 |isbn=9780060097578}}
*{{cite book |last=Heisler |first=Mark |title=Giants: The 25 Greatest Centers of All Time |year=2003 |publisher=Triumph Books |location=Chicago |isbn=1-57243-577-1}}


==External links==
{{start box}}
{{basketballstats|nba=600014|bbr=g/gilmoar01}}
{{succession box|title=[[American Basketball Association]] Rookie of the Year|before=[[Dan Issel]] and [[Charlie Scott]]| years=1971|after=[[Brian Taylor]]}}
* {{official website|http://www. artisgilmore.com}}
{{succession box|title=[[American Basketball Association]] Most Valuable Player|before=[[Mel Daniels]]| years=1972|after=[[Billy Cunningham]]}}
* [http://www.nba.com/history/players/gilmore_summary.html NBA.com: Artis Gilmore Summary]
{{succession box|title=[[American Basketball Association]] All Star Game Most Valuable Player|before=[[Warren Jabali]]| years=1974|after=[[Freddie Lewis]]}}
* [http://www.milleronsports.com/2011/08/congratulations-artis-gilmore.html?em Radio Interview With Artis Gilmore "The Week Artis Is Inducted Into Hall of Fame" – Miller on Sports Radio]
{{succession box|title=[[American Basketball Association]] Finals Most Valuable Player|before=[[Julius Erving]]| years=[[1975 ABA Playoffs|1975]]|after=[[Julius Erving]]}}
{{end box}}


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[[de:Artis Gilmore]]
[[es:Artis Gilmore]]
[[fr:Artis Gilmore]]
[[it:Artis Gilmore]]

Latest revision as of 08:24, 5 January 2025

Artis Gilmore
Gilmore in 2011
Personal information
Born (1949-09-21) September 21, 1949 (age 75)
Chipley, Florida, U.S.
Listed height7 ft 2 in (2.18 m)
Listed weight240 lb (109 kg)
Career information
High school
College
NBA draft1971: 7th round, 117th overall pick
Selected by the Chicago Bulls
Playing career1971–1989
PositionCenter
Number53
Career history
1971–1976Kentucky Colonels
1976–1982Chicago Bulls
1982–1987San Antonio Spurs
1987Chicago Bulls
1988Boston Celtics
1988–1989Arimo Bologna
Career highlights and awards
Career ABA and NBA statistics
Points24,941 (18.8 ppg)
Rebounds16,330 (12.3 rpg)
Blocks3,178 (2.4 bpg)
Stats at NBA.com Edit this at Wikidata
Stats at Basketball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Basketball Hall of Fame

Artis Gilmore Sr. (born September 21, 1949) is an American former professional basketball player who played in the American Basketball Association (ABA) and National Basketball Association (NBA). Gilmore was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on August 12, 2011.

A star center in his two years of college basketball at Jacksonville University, Gilmore led the Dolphins to the NCAA Division I championship game in 1970, where his team was beaten 80–69 by the UCLA Bruins. Gilmore remains the top player in rebounds per game in Division I history.

Gilmore followed five All-Star seasons with the Kentucky Colonels of the ABA by becoming the first overall pick in the 1976 ABA Dispersal draft, which dispersed the players in the ABA clubs, such as the Colonels, that did not join the NBA. During his career, Gilmore was an 11-time All-Star, the ABA Rookie of the Year, and an ABA Most Valuable Player (MVP). Nicknamed "The A-Train", the 7-foot-2-inch (2.18 m) Gilmore once played in 670 consecutive games.

Early years

[edit]

Gilmore was born in Chipley, Florida, one of 10 children. He was raised there, and attended Roulhac High School. Gilmore was 6'5" at age 15. Initially most interested in playing football, Gilmore could not play because his father, who was a fisherman, could not afford the required insurance for him to participate.[1] When public schools were integrated, he attended Chipley High School for one week before leaving home to attend Carver High School in Dothan, Alabama, a larger community 35 miles to the north.[2] He graduated from Dothan's Carver High School in 1967, at 6'10" as a Third Team All-American.[3][4]

College career

[edit]

Gilmore played college basketball beginning at Gardner–Webb Junior College in Boiling Springs, North Carolina from 1967 to 1969. Under coach Eddie Holbrook, Gilmore led Gardner-Webb to the NJCAA tournament in 1968 and 1969, playing alongside George Adams. Gilmore averaged 22.5 points and 16.0 rebounds in his two seasons, with career totals of 1,530 points and 1,150 rebounds at Gardner-Webb.[5][6]

Reflected Coach Holbrook, “Bringing in a player like Artis who was 7-foot-2 and could do so many things drew a lot of attention. But Artis showed that he was deserving of that attention. I would say Artis and George Adams were two of the hardest-working players I ever coached. They were relentless. Anything you asked them to do or pushed them to do, they did it — or tried to do it anyway.”[6]

In 1969–1970, Gilmore transferred to Jacksonville University. He led the Jacksonville Dolphins team to a 27–2 record under coach Joe Williams. In the 1970 NCAA tournament Gilmore led the team to the NCAA Championship game, where they lost 80–69 to coach John Wooden and the UCLA Bruins; Gilmore scored 19 points with 16 rebounds. They defeated Western Kentucky 109–96 (30/19), the University of Iowa 104–103 (30/17) and the University of Kentucky 106–100 (24/20) to reach the Final Four. The Dolphins defeated St. Bonaventure 91–83 (29/21) in the Semi-Final. For the season, Gilmore averaged 26.5 points and 22.2 rebounds per game.[7]

At Jacksonville University, Gilmore became one of five college basketball players ever to average at least 20 points and 20 rebounds over his career at 24.3 and 22.7.[7] Gilmore led the NCAA in rebounding both years at Jacksonville, and his career average of 22.7 rebounds per game is still the highest in NCAA Division I history.[8]

Professional career

[edit]

ABA

[edit]

Kentucky Colonels (1971–1976)

[edit]

Gilmore was drafted by the Kentucky Colonels in the 1971 American Basketball Association draft, and by the Chicago Bulls in the 1971 NBA draft.[9] ABA teams were interested in keeping Gilmore in the ABA and wanted to ensure he was signed by a team that could afford him. Therefore, he went to Kentucky with the 7th pick and signed a 10-year, $2.5 million contract. NBA teams knew Gilmore would not sign, so the Bulls strategically used a 7th round pick to secure any possible future rights to Gilmore.[3][10]

He was so immediately dominant that he earned the rare distinction of being selected for both the ABA Rookie of the Year Award and the ABA Most Valuable Player Award in 1971–1972, both over Virginia Squires rookie Julius Erving. Kentucky finished 68–16 after being 44–40 the season before.[11] The following season Gilmore's strong play continued, as he and Dan Issel led the Colonels to a 56–28 record and the 1973 ABA Playoffs. Eventually, after beating the Carolina Cougars in a seven-game division finals series, Gilmore and the Colonels made it to the ABA Finals, but lost to the Indiana Pacers in another hard-fought seven-game series, despite Gilmore averaging 22.1 points, 17.3 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 4 blocks per game.[12]

Over his five-year ABA career, Gilmore led the ABA four times in rebounding average, twice in both field goal percentage and blocks per game, and once in personal fouls. He was named to the All-ABA First team five straight seasons,[13] and the All-Defense team four times. He played in the ABA All-Star Game all five years he was in the league, earning the 1974 game's MVP.

In 1974–75, Gilmore, alongside teammate Dan Issel led 1974–75 Kentucky Colonels to the 1975 ABA championship, as Gilmore was dominant, being named the ABA Playoffs Most Valuable Player. In the final game of the series against the Indiana Pacers, Gilmore scored 28 points and grabbed 31 rebounds in front of 16,000 fans at Freedom Hall.[14][11]

During his days as an ABA dominator, Gilmore established league records for career blocked shots (1431), blocked shots in a season (422 in the 1971–72 season),[15] and rebounds in a game (40).[16] He averaged 22.3 points and 17.7 rebounds, 58.5% shooting, 3.4 blocks and 3.0 assists per game in his 5 seasons and 440 ABA games"[14]

NBA

[edit]

Chicago Bulls (1976–1982)

[edit]

The ABA disbanded after the 1976 season. Four of its teams (Denver Nuggets, Indiana Pacers, New York Nets, and San Antonio Spurs) were absorbed into the NBA in the ABA–NBA merger, and the remainder, including the Kentucky Colonels, folded. As a result, Gilmore went into the special 1976 ABA dispersal draft, and was chosen first overall by the Chicago Bulls. He signed with them for $1.1 million over three years.[3] During his first season with the Bulls, Gilmore led the team in scoring, rebounds, and blocks, while also helping the Bulls hold their opponents to a league-best 98 points per game.[17] On March 18, 1977, Gilmore scored an NBA-career-high 42 points, along with grabbing 15 rebounds and recording 9 assists, in a 114–112 win over the Kansas City Kings.[18] However, in the 1977 NBA Playoffs, the Bulls lost to the eventual champion Trail Blazers 2–1 in the first round.[19]

Gilmore with the Chicago Bulls, 1977

In total Gilmore received four All-Star selections in five solid basketball seasons in Chicago (19.3 points per game and 11.1 rebounds per game).

San Antonio Spurs (1982–1987)

[edit]

Gilmore was traded to the San Antonio Spurs in July 1982 for Dave Corzine, Mark Olberding, and cash considerations.[20] There, coached by Stan Albeck, he teamed with spidery 6’8” shooting guard George “The Iceman” Gervin to provide the Spurs with a potent inside-out game. During the 1982-83 San Antonio Spurs season, his first with the team, Gilmore helped the team finish in first place in their division with a record of 53–29. During the playoffs, Gilmore and the Spurs advanced by Gilmore's former Kentucky Colonel co-star Dan Issel and the Denver Nuggets in the second round, before facing the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference Finals. In Game 2 of the series, Gilmore led the Spurs to a 122–113 win with 27 points, 20 rebounds, and 5 blocks.[21] However, the Spurs would ultimately lose to the Lakers in six games.

While the Spurs would continue to make the postseason in subsequent years, they would not again advance out of the first round during Gilmore's tenure.[22] He was twice named an All-Star in San Antonio through 1987.

Chicago Bulls (1987)

[edit]

Gilmore rejoined the Bulls for part of the 1988 season before being released.

Boston Celtics (1988)

[edit]

Gilmore finished his NBA career with the Boston Celtics in 1988. Gilmore and the Celtics would advance to the conference finals, though he played just over 6 minutes per postseason game as a reserve.[23]

Italian League

[edit]

Gilmore played the 1988–89 season with Arimo Bologna of the Italian league, where he averaged 12.3 points and 11.0 rebounds and made the European All-Star Team.

NBA achievements

[edit]

Gilmore played in a total of six NBA All-Star Games. He led the NBA in field goal percentage in four consecutive seasons, including a career-best 67% during the 1980–81 season — at the time, the third-highest percentage in NBA history.[24] At the time of his retirement in 1989, Gilmore was the NBA's career leader in field goal percentage (minimum 2,000 shots made) with 59.9%.

Personal life

[edit]

In 1972, Gilmore married his college sweetheart Enola Gay. They have had five children.[5]

In 2007, Gilmore took a position as Special Assistant to the President at Jacksonville University, his alma mater, serving in various public relations capacities.[25]

Gilmore provides radio color commentary for Jacksonville University on the school's flagship station, WJXL. Gilmore was also a frequent guest on the basketball call-in show Ballin' with Al Edwards, also on WJXL.[26]

Honors

[edit]

In 1993, Gilmore was inducted into the Stars Hollow University Hall of Fame.[27]

Gilmore was inducted into the Gardner-Webb Athletics Hall of Fame in 1995.[28]

Despite retiring among all time pro basketball leaders in several statistical categories, Gilmore was not elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame until April 2011.[29][30][2][31]

In May 2012, Gilmore was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame.

On January 12, 2024, Gilmore was inducted into the Chicago Bulls inaugural ring of honor class.[32]

ABA and NBA career statistics

[edit]
Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high
† Denotes seasons in which Gilmore's team won an ABA championship
* Led the league
* ABA record

Regular season

[edit]
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
1971–72 Kentucky (ABA) 84 – 43.6 .598* – .646 17.8* 2.7 – 5.0* 23.8
1972–73 Kentucky (ABA) 84* – 41.7 .559* .500 .643 17.6* 3.5 – 3.1* 20.8
1973–74 Kentucky (ABA) 84 – 41.7* .493 .000 .667 18.3* 3.9 0.7 3.4 18.7
1974–75† Kentucky (ABA) 84* – 41.6* .580 .500 .696 16.2 2.5 0.8 3.1 23.6
1975–76 Kentucky (ABA) 84 – 39.1 .552 – .682 15.5* 2.5 0.7 2.4 24.6
1976–77 Chicago 82 – 35.1 .522 – .660 13.0 2.4 0.5 2.5 18.6
1977–78 Chicago 82 – 37.4 .559 – .704 13.1 3.2 0.5 2.2 22.9
1978–79 Chicago 82* – 39.8 .575 – .739 12.7 3.3 0.6 1.9 23.7
1979–80 Chicago 48 – 32.7 .595 – .712 9.0 2.8 0.6 1.2 17.8
1980–81 Chicago 82 – 34.5 .670* – .705 10.1 2.1 0.6 2.4 17.9
1981–82 Chicago 82 82 34.1 .652* 1.000 .768 10.2 1.7 0.6 2.7 18.5
1982–83 San Antonio 82 82 34.1 .626* .000 .740 12.0 1.5 0.5 2.3 18.0
1983–84 San Antonio 64 59 31.8 .631* .000 .718 10.3 1.1 0.6 2.1 15.3
1984–85 San Antonio 81 81 34.0 .623 .000 .749 10.4 1.6 0.5 2.1 19.1
1985–86 San Antonio 71 71 33.7 .618 .000 .701 8.5 1.4 0.5 1.5 16.7
1986–87 San Antonio 82* 74 29.3 .597 – .680 7.1 1.8 0.5 1.2 11.4
1987–88 Chicago 24 23 15.5 .513 – .514 2.6 0.4 0.2 0.5 4.2
1987–88 Boston 47 4 11.1 .574 – .527 3.1 0.3 0.2 0.4 3.5
Career ABA 420 41.5* .557 .286 .668 17.1* 3.0 0.7 3.4* 22.3
Career NBA 909 804 32.7 .599 .000 .713 10.1 2.0 0.5 1.9 17.1
Career Total 1329 476 35.5 .582 .150 .698 12.3 2.3 0.6 2.4 18.8

Playoffs

[edit]
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
1972 Kentucky (ABA) 6 – 47.5 .571 .000 .711 17.7 4.2 – – 21.8
1973 Kentucky (ABA) 19 – 41.1 .544 – .626 13.7 3.9 – – 19.0
1974 Kentucky (ABA) 8 – 43.0 .559 – .576 18.6 3.5 0.9 3.8 22.5
1975† Kentucky (ABA) 15 – 45.3 .539 – .772 17.6 2.5 1.0 2.1 24.1
1976 Kentucky (ABA) 10 – 39.0 .608 – .757 15.2 1.9 1.1 3.6 24.2
1977 Chicago 3 – 42.0 .475 – .783 13.0 2.0 1.0 2.7 18.7
1981 Chicago 6 – 41.2 .583 – .691 11.2 2.0 1.0 2.8 18.0
1983 San Antonio 11 – 36.5 .576 – .696 12.9 1.6 0.8 3.1 16.7
1985 San Antonio 5 5 37.0 .558 – .689 10.0 1.4 0.4 1.4 17.8
1986 San Antonio 3 3 35.7 .667 .000 .571 6.0 1.0 2.3 0.3 13.3
1988 Boston 14 0 6.1 .500 – .500 1.4 0.1 0.0 0.3 1.1
Career ABA 58 42.7 .559 .000 .692 16.1* 3.2 1.0 2.9* 17.7
Career NBA 42 8 27.4 .566 .000 .680 8.0 1.1 0.6 1.7 11.7
Career Total 100 8 36.3 .561 .000 .688 12.7 2.3 0.8 2.2 17.7

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Artis Gilmore - Bulls History". NBA.com.
  2. ^ a b Frenette, Gene (August 10, 2011). "After 17 years of waiting, Jacksonville's Artis Gilmore is finally entering the Basketball Hall of Fame". Retrieved January 4, 2019.
  3. ^ a b c "NBA.com: Artis Gilmore Bio". www.nba.com.
  4. ^ "Historical Glimpses: Artis Gilmore – HoopsAddict.com". August 28, 2007.
  5. ^ a b "Reference at www.gardner-webb.edu".
  6. ^ a b "HONORING THEIR LEGACY".
  7. ^ a b "Artis Gilmore College Stats". College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com.
  8. ^ "Artis Gilmore (1993) – Hall of Fame – Jacksonville University".
  9. ^ "BasketballReference.com Artis Gilmore page". Archived from the original on December 27, 2008. Retrieved November 29, 2008.
  10. ^ "Artis Gilmore | ABA | MVP Rookie of the Year |". October 22, 2018.
  11. ^ a b "Remember the ABA: Kentucky Colonels".
  12. ^ "1973 ABA Finals - Pacers vs. Colonels". Basketball-Reference.com.
  13. ^ "Gilmore Girls Fans Are Cashing In On the Netflix Revival With Crafty Merch". Money. Retrieved August 19, 2022.
  14. ^ a b "Artis Gilmore Stats | Basketball-Reference.com".
  15. ^ "Artis Gilmore Stats". Basketball-Reference.com.
  16. ^ The Official NBA Basketball Encyclopedia. Villard Books. 1994. pp. 208–209. ISBN 0-679-43293-0.
  17. ^ "1976-77 Chicago Bulls Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference.com.
  18. ^ "Artis Gilmore Career High Points". StatMuse.
  19. ^ "1977 NBA Western Conference First Round - Bulls vs. Trail Blazers". Basketball-Reference.com.
  20. ^ "1982-83 San Antonio Spurs Transactions". Basketball-Reference.com.
  21. ^ "1983 NBA Western Conference Finals Game 2: Spurs vs Lakers, May 10, 1983". Basketball-Reference.com.
  22. ^ "Artis Gilmore Stats". Basketball-Reference.com.
  23. ^ 1987-88 Boston Celtics Roster and Stats
  24. ^ "NBA & ABA Single Season Leaders and Records for Field Goal Pct". Basketball-Reference.com.
  25. ^ "Artis Gilmore joins JU as Special Assistant to the President - Jacksonville University Official Athletic Site". Archived from the original on July 23, 2011. Retrieved October 4, 2009.
  26. ^ "Reference at www.ncaa.com".[permanent dead link‍]
  27. ^ "Hall of Fame". Jacksonville University.
  28. ^ "Gardner-Webb Athletics Hall of Fame". Gardner-Webb University Athletics.
  29. ^ "Rodman, Mullin, Winter lead Hall's Class of 2011". ESPN.com. April 4, 2011.
  30. ^ "Artis Gilmore, Tara VanDerveer Round Out Basketball Hall Of Fame's 2011 Class". April 5, 2011., SB Nation, Tom Ziller, April 5, 2011.
  31. ^ "Artis Gilmore enjoys Hall of Fame induction 17 years in the making"., The Florida Times-Union, Jacksonville.com, Tania Ganguli, August 12, 2011 at 10:58 PM.
  32. ^ "Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen headline inaugural class for Bulls' Ring of Honor". NBA.com. December 13, 2023. Archived from the original on January 13, 2024. Retrieved January 12, 2024.

Further reading

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  • Clark, Catherine (2002). Gilmore Girls: I Do, Don't I?. HarperEntertainment. ISBN 9780060097578.
  • Heisler, Mark (2003). Giants: The 25 Greatest Centers of All Time. Chicago: Triumph Books. ISBN 1-57243-577-1.
[edit]
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