duncan228
08-18-2008, 03:01 PM
I thought this was timely, it goes with all the Spurs history that's been educating us on the board lately.
http://newsok.com/bass-known-for-building-coaching-winning-basketball-teams/article/3284950/?tm=1219028150
Bass known for building, coaching winning basketball teams
By Mike Baldwin
Best known for his work in the San Antonio Spurs' front office, Bob Bass could also coach, a part of his career that's more than a footnote.
Bass' fast-paced style of play was one reason the Spurs were one of four ABA teams invited to play in the NBA in 1976.
After more than 50 years in basketball, Bass will be inducted into the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame tonight at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum.
Bass' legacy is as an astute general manager who twice was named the NBA's Executive of the Year. During his 20 seasons with the Spurs, mostly in the front office, San Antonio made the playoffs 17 times.
But the Spurs might have never become one of the NBA's model franchises if they hadn't played a frenetic, entertaining style when Bass was the head coach their final two years in the ABA.
Former Spurs owner Red McCombs once said: "Bob came from the days you had to know every aspect of the business. He understood marketing, sales and that (basketball) was entertainment for the fans. And he was as good as anybody I ever saw at spotting talent.
Bass joined the Spurs shortly after Geroge "Iceman Gervin was signed. Years later they drafted David Robinson.
"You have to have talent to win, Bass said. "I was blessed to be around some very outstanding players. George Gervin was a great player. I moved him from small forward to guard so they would have to chase him. It was a little later you saw other big guards like Magic Johnson.
Bass began his career at Cromwell High School. Two years later he began a 15-year run at Oklahoma Baptist, his alma mater. He also coached two years at Texas Tech but spent the bulk of his career nearly 40 years in professional basketball.
In 1967, he began his pro career coaching with the Denver Nuggets in the ABA. He also coached ABA franchises in Memphis and Miami and the Spurs, where he soon gave up coaching for a front office job.
He never talked about circumstances surrounding his departure from the Spurs in 1994. A year later he began a successful nine-year run with the Charlotte Hornets, who later moved to New Orleans and played two seasons in Oklahoma City.
"He's one of the most respected basketball people who have been in the league, said Hornets general manager Jeff Bower. "The respect among his peers goes without saying. The fact he built perennial playoff teams showed how creative he was and his eye for talent.
One of his favorite memories is when OBU won the 1966 NAIA title. Back then there were very few NCAA Division II and Division III schools.
"At that time no Oklahoma school had ever won the NAIA title, Bass said. "All I ever wanted to do was coach and be in basketball. It was a great ride and a lot of fun.
Bass, 79, lives in San Antonio and spends much of his time at his other residence on the Texas Gulf Coast. He was inducted into the San Antonio Sports Hall of Fame two years ago.
He now joins a prestigious group of Oklahoma sports stars legends like Mickey Mantle, Johnny Bench and Barry Switzer.
"With names like that it overwhelms me, Bass said. "I haven't been back to Oklahoma for quite some time. I'm very excited about this. I always enjoyed my years in Oklahoma and feel fortunate and honored to go in.
http://newsok.com/bass-known-for-building-coaching-winning-basketball-teams/article/3284950/?tm=1219028150
Bass known for building, coaching winning basketball teams
By Mike Baldwin
Best known for his work in the San Antonio Spurs' front office, Bob Bass could also coach, a part of his career that's more than a footnote.
Bass' fast-paced style of play was one reason the Spurs were one of four ABA teams invited to play in the NBA in 1976.
After more than 50 years in basketball, Bass will be inducted into the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame tonight at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum.
Bass' legacy is as an astute general manager who twice was named the NBA's Executive of the Year. During his 20 seasons with the Spurs, mostly in the front office, San Antonio made the playoffs 17 times.
But the Spurs might have never become one of the NBA's model franchises if they hadn't played a frenetic, entertaining style when Bass was the head coach their final two years in the ABA.
Former Spurs owner Red McCombs once said: "Bob came from the days you had to know every aspect of the business. He understood marketing, sales and that (basketball) was entertainment for the fans. And he was as good as anybody I ever saw at spotting talent.
Bass joined the Spurs shortly after Geroge "Iceman Gervin was signed. Years later they drafted David Robinson.
"You have to have talent to win, Bass said. "I was blessed to be around some very outstanding players. George Gervin was a great player. I moved him from small forward to guard so they would have to chase him. It was a little later you saw other big guards like Magic Johnson.
Bass began his career at Cromwell High School. Two years later he began a 15-year run at Oklahoma Baptist, his alma mater. He also coached two years at Texas Tech but spent the bulk of his career nearly 40 years in professional basketball.
In 1967, he began his pro career coaching with the Denver Nuggets in the ABA. He also coached ABA franchises in Memphis and Miami and the Spurs, where he soon gave up coaching for a front office job.
He never talked about circumstances surrounding his departure from the Spurs in 1994. A year later he began a successful nine-year run with the Charlotte Hornets, who later moved to New Orleans and played two seasons in Oklahoma City.
"He's one of the most respected basketball people who have been in the league, said Hornets general manager Jeff Bower. "The respect among his peers goes without saying. The fact he built perennial playoff teams showed how creative he was and his eye for talent.
One of his favorite memories is when OBU won the 1966 NAIA title. Back then there were very few NCAA Division II and Division III schools.
"At that time no Oklahoma school had ever won the NAIA title, Bass said. "All I ever wanted to do was coach and be in basketball. It was a great ride and a lot of fun.
Bass, 79, lives in San Antonio and spends much of his time at his other residence on the Texas Gulf Coast. He was inducted into the San Antonio Sports Hall of Fame two years ago.
He now joins a prestigious group of Oklahoma sports stars legends like Mickey Mantle, Johnny Bench and Barry Switzer.
"With names like that it overwhelms me, Bass said. "I haven't been back to Oklahoma for quite some time. I'm very excited about this. I always enjoyed my years in Oklahoma and feel fortunate and honored to go in.