| No. 53 | |
|---|---|
| Position: | Center |
| League: | ABA/NBA |
| Personal information | |
| Born: | September 21, 1949 Chipley, Florida |
| Nationality: |  American
|
| Physical stats | |
| Listed height: | 7 ft 2 in (2.18 m) |
| Listed weight: | 240 lbs (109 kg) |
| National Basketball Association career | |
| NBA Debut: 1976 for the Chicago Bulls | |
| Final season: 1988 for the Boston Celtics | |
| Career information | |
| High school: | T. J. Roulhac (Chipley, Florida) Carver (Dothan, Alabama) |
| College: | Gardner–Webb (1967–1969) Jacksonville (1969–1971) |
| NBA Draft: | 1971 / Round: 7 / Pick: 117th |
| Selected by the Chicago Bulls | |
| Playing career: | 1971–1989 (18 years) |
| Career history | |
| 1971–1976 | Kentucky Colonels |
| 1976–1982 | Chicago Bulls |
| 1982–1987 | San Antonio Spurs |
| 1987 | Chicago Bulls |
| 1988 | Boston Celtics |
| 1988–1989 | Arimo Bologna |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
| NBA career playing statistics | |
| Points: | 24,941 (18.8 PPG) |
| Rebounds: | 16,330 (12.3 RPG) |
| Assists: | 1,777 (2.0 APG) |
| Steals: | 470 (0.5 SPG) |
| Blocks: | 3,178 (2.4 BPG) |
| Stats at NBA.com Stats at Basketball–Reference.com | |
| Basketball Hall of Fame (inducted in 2011) | |
Artis "A-Train" Gilmore Sr. (born September 21, 1949) is an American former basketball player who played in the American Basketball Association and National Basketball Association. He played for the Kentucky Colonels in the ABA and played for the Chicago Bulls, San Antonio Spurs, and Boston Celtics in NBA.
Early years[]
Gilmore was born in Chipley, Florida, and raised there and in Dothan, Alabama — a larger community 35 miles to the north. He graduated from Dothan's Carver High School in 1967. He played college basketball at Gardner-Webb Junior College and Jacksonville University, leading the Dolphins to the NCAA title game in 1970. During the two years that Gilmore played NCAA basketball at Jacksonville, he became one of 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[]
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 1974 game's MVP. 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).
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 1988 season, after which he was traded to the San Antonio Spurs, where he played through the 1987 season. He ended his NBA career with the Boston Celtics in 1988. Gilmore played in a total of six National Basketball Association. He led the NBA in field goal percentage in four consecutive seasons, including a career-best .670 during the 1980–81 season — 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).
He then played the 1988–1989 season with Arimo Bologna of the Serie A (basketball), where he averaged 12.3 points and 11.0 rebounds and made the European All-Star Team.
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. 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. 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.
Accolades[]
Gilmore was an 11x All-Star, 1974-75 ABA Champion, 1996-97 ABA All-Time Team, 5x All-ABA Team, 5x All-Defensive Team, 1971-72 All-Rookie, 1973-74 All-Star Game MVP, 1971-72 Most Valuable Player, and 1971-72 Rookie of the Year.