Artis Gilmore Career Highlights

Описание: With the start of new decade and Bill Russell's retirement, everybody looked for new generational bigman. Yes, Wilt was still in the league but even superman can't beat the father time. One of the young players standed out. Lew Alcindor (later Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) was drafted by Milwaukee Bucks and became NBA superstar since day 1. He wasn't the only prospect that impose comparisons with former MVP The Big Dipper. Just two years after Kareem draft, the gentle giant from Jacksonville University was ready to start his career in NBA. It didn't happen then though...

Artis Gilmore was a physical marvel. Stood at 7'2 and weighed lean 240 lbs, he brought to mind young Wilt from Kansas. He was not only large but also very athletic. He could shut down the paint and dunk on entire teams on the other end of the floor.

As we now know, Artis chose Kentucky Colonels and ABA. He became great sensation - ABA finally had someone who could be compared to Wilt and Kareem without shame. Kentucky became title contenders since his rookie year and they won it all in 1975. Artis won FMVP and his first (and last) title in professional career.

In mid-70s, A-Train bulked up which helped him in inside fights. He was always strong kid, when he became over 260 lbs it was unfair for his opponents. He was so strong that people called him 2nd strongest player ever after Wilt Chamberlain.

After merger, Artis joined to weak Chicago Bulls team. Everybody expected from his something which was impossible to do - win the title for Bulls! Unfortunately, he didn't have enough help. Bulls advanced to the playoffs in his first season in NBA but they lost in first round against future world champions Portland Trail Blazers. Blazers Center - Bill Walton - called first round against Bulls the toughest series he's ever played. Artis really held his own against future MVP.

Next seasons were even less successfull - Bulls didn't make the playoffs in 1978-1980 span. Gilmore finally won his first series in NBA in 1981 against the Knicks, but the Bulls lost in second round against another future champions - Boston Celtics.

Gilmore was one of the best centers in the league at that time but because of lack of team success and Kareem's superiority he was always underrated and overlooked. As he got older, he became less mobile and more static on defense but he refined his offensive moves to perfection. He never missed with hook shots and up and unders. With his unreal strength (he bulked up even more - to 290 lbs category) nobody could stop him from getting deep position, he was the best ever in that aspect (with the respect of Shaquille O'Neal). He was good passer but didn't have elite vision. He was a bit turnover prone but mostly because refs were unfair for him and called ridiculous amount of offensive fouls against him (because of his mythical strength reputation). He wasn't bad passer, don't come up with wrong conclusion based on boxscores.

On defense, he was immovable which makes him very good rim protector and post defender. As he got older, he lost most of his mobility but in mid-70s he was great all-around defensive anchor. Definitely a guy you'd like to lead your team on D.

After another unsuccessfull season with Bucks, he got traded to San Antonio Spurs. His first season in Spurs was his most successfull on team-standpoint. SAS advanced to WCF where they faced Showtime Lakers powerhouse. Gilmore finally (at the age of 33) had an opportunity to face Kareem h2h in playoffs series... and he did quite well. They canceled each out, but Lakers were too good and Spurs lost in 6 games.

Late in his career Gilmore came back to Bulls and ended his career in Celtics uniform. He was selected to HoF in 2011. He was one of the best centers in NBA history and the best one in ABA history. His career was long and more succesfull than you may think when you hear about him. He wasn't wasted talent - he just was always compared to the greatest of the greatest (Wilt and Kareem) because of his physical tools and skillset.

Enjoy the longest video about Artis Gilmore available on YT. I tried to find as much game footage as possible. The video is splited up into 9 different categories, kind of breakdown video (similar to the one Wilt Chamberlain Archive did for many 1960s players).

Special thanks to:

PockyCandy
wojoaderge
Torontos
Maaldweb
Karol K
sheba021
Wlit Chamberlain Archive

and many others who I can't recall at this moment.

Enjoy! 70sFan

Help me finding new footage at Patreon:

  / 70sfan