Artis Gilmore

Dominant center and Hall of Famer who starred in the ABA and NBA.

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 in 2011.

Quick Facts

Born: 21 September 1949
Birthplace: Chipley, Florida, U.S.
High school: T. J. Roulhac (Chipley, Florida); Carver (Dothan, Alabama)
College: Gardner–Webb (1967–1969); Jacksonville (1969–1971)
Draft pick: 117
Drafted by: Chicago Bulls
Career position: Center
Career number: 53

Lore & Background

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. Averaging 22.6 rebounds per game, Gilmore is second all-time in rebounds per game in Division I history and has the most for all players since 1971. Gilmore was drafted in both the ABA draft by the Kentucky Colonels and the NBA draft by the Chicago Bulls in 1971.

He signed with the Colonels and immediately became one of the most dominant players in the league. In his first season, he won the ABA Rookie of the Year and the ABA Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards. He was an ABA All-Star in all five seasons he played in the league. He was the Playoffs MVP of the 1975 ABA playoffs, recording 28 points and 31 rebounds in the decisive Game 5 for his first and only championship.

In the 1976 ABA dispersal draft, which dispersed the players in teams not making the NBA such as the Colonels, Gilmore was moved to the Chicago Bulls. 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 ft Gilmore once played in 670 consecutive games. Gilmore would play for the Bulls, the San Antonio Spurs, and Boston Celtics before departing the NBA in 1988; he closed his career out with Arimo Bologna, playing from 1988 to 1989.

Reader's Guide

Gilmore was drafted by the Kentucky Colonels in the 1971 American Basketball Association draft, and by the Chicago Bulls in the 1971 NBA draft. He signed with the Colonels. In the 1976 ABA dispersal draft, Gilmore was chosen first overall by the Chicago Bulls.

Did You Know?

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.
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.