Norm Nixon

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Lore & Background

Nixon was selected in the first round of the 1977 NBA draft by the Los Angeles Lakers with the 22nd overall pick. He played for the Lakers for six successful seasons. For the 1978–79 season, Nixon tied Eddie Jordan of the New Jersey Nets for the NBA lead in steals with 201. The next season (1979–80), he led the league in minutes played (3,226), minutes-per-game (39.3), and was third in assists with 642. In 1979–80, Lakers coach Jack McKinney had the 6-foot-9-inch (2.06 m) rookie Magic Johnson be a point guard, even though Nixon was already one of the best in the league. In his four years sharing play-making responsibilities with Johnson, Nixon averaged at least seven assists each season. Nixon helped the Showtime Lakers win NBA championships in 1980 (4–2) and 1982 (4–2), both against the Philadelphia 76ers. Nixon led the team in scoring in the 1982 playoffs, averaging 20.4 points per game. The Lakers lost in the 1983 NBA Finals, in which Philadelphia swept 4–0. In game one of the 1983 finals, Nixon had a violent collision with Andrew Toney of the 76ers early in the first quarter. He continued to play in games one and two despite a separated shoulder. Prior to the start of the 1983–84 season, Nixon was traded to the San Diego Clippers in exchange for the draft rights to guard Byron Scott and backup center Swen Nater. In his first year with the Clippers, Nixon led the league in total assists with 914, and regular season games played (82). He made the All-Star team for the second time in the 1984–85 season. After the 1985–86 season, he spent much of his later career on the injured list, spending more than two full seasons on the injured list before retiring for good at the end of the 1988–89 season. During his time with the Clippers, the team never made the playoffs. Nixon missed the 1986–87 season after stepping into a hole during a softball game in Central Park on July 23, 1986. He suffered severe damage to the tendon just above his left knee. Nixon ruptured his right Achilles tendon during a pre-season practice on November 4, 1987; the injury caused him to miss the entire 1987–88 season. Before his injuries, he played in 715 of 725 games available in his first nine seasons. After leaving the NBA in March 1989, Nixon played for Scavolini Pesaro of the Italian Serie A in April and May. In August 1989 Valerio Bianchini (who had coached Pesaro the previous seaso

In Their Own Story

The 1982 playoffs saw Norm Nixon at his absolute peak. Facing the Philadelphia 76ers, he took on the burden of scoring, averaging 20.4 points per game to lead the Lakers to a 4–2 championship victory. However, the following year brought physical devastation. In Game 1 of the 1983 Finals against Philadelphia, Nixon collided violently with Andrew Toney early in the first quarter. The impact resulted in a separated shoulder, yet he refused to leave the game, continuing to play through both Games 1 and 2. Despite his toughness, the Lakers could not overcome the 76ers, who swept the series 4–0. Prior to this, Nixon had been nearly unstoppable, playing in 715 of 725 available games over his first nine seasons. His career with the Lakers ended after a trade to the San Diego Clippers prior to the 1983–84 season, a move made by Jerry West specifically to free Magic Johnson from sharing the ball with Nixon.

Reader's Guide

During his NBA career, Nixon scored 12,065 points (15.7 points per game) and had 6,386 assists (8.3) in 768 games played. He was also remembered for faking a free throw at the end of a Lakers-San Antonio Spurs game on November 30, 1982, which caused a double lane violation. The referees erroneously ordered a jump ball, instead of requiring Nixon to re-shoot the free throw. The Lakers got the ball and Nixon made a field goal to tie the game, where they prevailed in overtime. The last three seconds of the game were later replayed in April 1983. Nixon participated in some of the NBA's Legends Classic games that took place during All-Star Weekend in the late 80s and early 90s, before a leg injury forced him out of a game. The league later ended these games due to fear of injuries among veteran players. Nixon became a sports agent at Premier Management Group Inc. He later established his own firm, Norm Nixon & Associates, representing such clients as Doug Edwards, Samaki Walker, Jalen Rose, Maurice Taylor, Teddy Dupay, Gary Grant, Gerald Fitch, the NFL's Peter Warrick, Larry Smith, and Al Wilson, and entertainers such as LL Cool J and TLC. With his wife, Nixon founded the Debbie Allen Dance Academy (DADA) in Culver City, California. In his retirement years, Nixon concentrated on several business ventures. He served one season as radio commentator for the Clippers (2004–05), and was an analyst for KABC-TV's NBA post-game shows during the mid-2000s. Subsequently, he was hired by Fox Sports West to take over Jack Haley's position as studio color analyst for all Lakers home games. He worked alongside studio host Bill McDonald during pregame, halftime, and postgame coverage.

Did You Know?

• Nixon was born the third of three sons to Mary Jo and Elmer Nixon, in Macon, Georgia.
• In high school, Nixon was named to all-state in both basketball and football, and was senior class president.
• In college at Duquesne University, Nixon averaged 17.2 points, 5.5 assists, and 4.0 rebounds, and left holding the record for career assists.
• On January 27, 2001, Duquesne retired Nixon's jersey number 10, but in 2019 Nixon approved his retired number being worn by sophomore point guard Sincere Carry.
• Nixon has been married to actress/producer/director/dancer Debbie Allen since 1984; they have two children together, and Nixon has two sons from previous relationships.