CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – Twenty-five years after the NBA honored the league’s 50-Greatest players, the Diamond Anniversary commemorated the Association’s 75-Greatest in the same building, albeit with a different name.
There has been plenty of local flavor during the All-Star festivities all weekend long, and Sunday night’s halftime ceremony at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse featured yet another sampling featuring five players from the Buckeye state.
First was Jerry Lucas, from the once-dubbed “basketball capital of Ohio,” Middletown.
The Middies had already won five state championships before Lucas added two more to that total in 1955-56 and 1956-57. A loss in the state semi-final snapped a 76-game win-streak and ended the bid for a three-peat.
After going on to star at Ohio State, winning the 1960 National Championship as well as earning the National College Player of the Year honors in 1961 and 1962
Joining him at Ohio State and on the NBA’s list of 75-Greatest was John Havlicek of Bridgeport, Ohio.
Havlicek was drafted in with the 7th overall pick in the 1962 NBA draft by the Boston Celtics and went on to win eight NBA Championships, including an NBA Finals MVP in 1974.
Lewis had was drafted by the Cincinnati Royals and won Rookie of the Year honors in 1964. He won an NBA Championship in 1973 and was a seven-time All-Star. His #11 was retired with the Buckeyes as the second number ever retired by the college in any sport
The next trio of honorees were all born in the Rubber City.
Nate Thurmund dominated at Central High School in Akron before going on to star at Bowling Green. He was selected with the 3rd overall pick in the 1963 NBA Draft by the San Francisco Warriors.
Thurmund was a seven-time All-Star with the Warriors and Bulls before returning home to Northeast Ohio to wrap up his career with the Cavaliers.
In case you hadn’t heard, LeBron James and Stephen Curry were also included in the 75-Greatest.
Curry was born in Akron while his father, Dell, was a member of the Wine and Gold before moving to Charlotte where the elder Curry wrapped up his career.
Steph wound up setting records at Davidson, before being selected by the Warriors with the 7th overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft. He’s won Three NBA Championships, all coming against the Cavs while racking up two NBA MVP awards and an NBA All-Star MVP award on Sunday evening at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse.
As for LeBron?
He’s at four championships and counting. The King also knocked down the game-winner in his return to Cleveland at Sunday’s All-Star game, his 18th appearance.