Bill Stricker Explained

Bill Stricker
Height Ft:6
Height In:9
Weight Lb:210
Nationality:American
Birth Date:22 January 1948
Death Place:Stockton, California
High School:Quincy (Quincy, California)[1]
College:Pacific (1967–1970)[2]
Draft Year:1970
Draft Round:4
Draft Pick:54
Draft Team:Baltimore Bullets
Career Position:Forward
Career Number:34
Team1:Portland Trail Blazers
Highlights:
  • 2× First-team All-PCAC (1969, 1970)

William Louis Stricker (January 22, 1948 – July 3, 2020) was an American professional basketball player who spent one season in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played in just two minutes of one game with the inaugural 1970–71 Portland Trail Blazers season. Despite his lack of play, Blazers fan took a liking to Stricker and chanted "We want Stricker, We want Stricker" in blowout games. He was allowed to play in a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, a day before being placed on waivers.[3]

Stricker was drafted from the University of the Pacific by the Baltimore Bullets during the third round (54 pick overall) of the 1970 NBA draft, but he did not sign. He was also selected by the Los Angeles Stars (who later became the Utah Stars) in the 1970 American Basketball Association draft.[4] He signed with the Stars, but the club released him in September 1970, before the start of the regular season.[5] Stricker's NBA rights were traded by the Bullets on October 22, 1970, to the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for Dorie Murrey.[6]

After his basketball career was over, Stricker had a long and successful career as a high school coach and administrator at East Union High School in Manteca, California. He coached future NBA player and coach Scott Brooks.[7]

Stricker died on July 3, 2020, at age 72.[8] [9]

Notes and References

  1. News: Barry Lavelle . Edwards looks for 3-way improvement in UOP quint . 16 March 2022 . . 1 December 1968 . 90.
  2. News: Don Bloom . 'Quincy' Stricker is pro prospect . 16 March 2022 . . 15 March 1970 . 73.
  3. Web site: Blazers History: Bill Stricker. Portland Trail Blazers. 30 December 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131230235026/http://www.nba.com/blazers/history/Player_History_Bill_Stricker-72777-41.html. 30 December 2013. dead.
  4. News: Stricker picked . 6 March 2021 . . 24 March 1970 . Sacramento, California . 24.
  5. News: 4 Rookies Dropped . 6 March 2021 . Honolulu Star-Bulletin . United Press International . 19 September 1970 . Honolulu, Hawaii . 14.
  6. News: Portland Cagers Give Up Center . 6 March 2021 . Tucson Citizen . Associated Press . 23 October 1970 . Tucson, Arizona . 35.
  7. Web site: Rembulat . Vince . Bill Stricker scores spot in Sports Hall of Fame . . February 26, 2009 . August 9, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160825233021/http://www.mantecabulletin.com/archives/1745/ . August 25, 2016 . dead .
  8. Web site: Tigers remember Bill Stricker. Pacific Tigers. July 8, 2020. October 13, 2021.
  9. News: Scott Linesburgh . Gentle Giant: Basketball legend, coach Bill Stricker dies at 72 . 16 March 2022 . Recordnet.com . 7 July 2022.