Joe Roberts (basketball) explained

Joe Roberts
Height Ft:6
Height In:6
Weight Lb:214
Birth Date:18 May 1936
Birth Place:Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
Death Place:Oakland, California, U.S.
High School:East (Columbus, Ohio)
College:Ohio State (1957–1960)
Draft Year:1960
Draft Round:3
Draft Pick:21
Draft Team:Syracuse Nationals
Career Start:1960
Career End:1968
Career Number:12, 42
Career Position:Power forward
Years1:
Team1:Syracuse Nationals
Years3:1966–1967
Team3:Columbus Comets
Years4:1967–1968
Team4:Kentucky Colonels
Cyears1:
Cteam1:Golden State Warriors (assistant)
Cteam2:Los Angeles Clippers (assistant)
Highlights:As player:

As assistant coach:

Stats League:NBA and ABA
Stat1label:Points
Stat1value:1,255 (5.8 ppg)
Stat2label:Rebounds
Stat2value:1,075 (4.9 rpg)
Stat3label:Assists
Stat3value:123 (0.6 apg)
Bbr:roberjo01

Joseph C. Roberts (May 18, 1936 – October 10, 2022) was an American professional basketball player who played three seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and one season in the American Basketball Association (ABA). He played for the Syracuse Nationals and Kentucky Colonels from 1960 to 1968, having earlier played for Ohio State University's 1960 NCAA champions. After retiring from playing, he served as assistant coach of the Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Clippers.

Early life

Roberts was born in Columbus, Ohio, on May 18, 1936.[1] He attended East High School in his hometown. He then studied biological studies and physical education at Ohio State University,[1] [2] where he played for the Ohio State Buckeyes from 1957 to 1960.[3] He was a senior co-captain of the 1960 team – which included Jerry Lucas, John Havlicek, Mel Nowell, Bob Knight, and Gary Gearhart – that lost only three games en route to the 1960 NCAA title.[2] [4] Roberts was selected in the third round of the 1960 NBA draft by the Syracuse Nationals.[1]

Playing career

Roberts made his NBA debut on October 22, 1960,[1] scoring six points to go along with three rebounds against the Philadelphia Warriors.[5] He led the league in games played (80) the following year.[1] He ultimately played three seasons with the Nationals, during which time there was an unspoken rule that restricted teams to three African American players.[2] The franchise qualified for the NBA playoffs in each of those years, but lost to the Boston Celtics,[6] Warriors,[7] and Cincinnati Royals, respectively.[8]

Roberts returned to his hometown of Columbus, Ohio for the 1966–67 season as the player/manager for the Columbus Comets of the newly formed and short-lived North American Basketball League (NABL).[9] There, he played with former East High and Ohio State teammate Mel Nowell as well as former Ohio State alumni Dick Reasbeck, Gary Bradds, and Jim Doughty.[10] Roberts did return to play for the Kentucky Colonels of the ABA for one season in 1967, the ABA's first year.[1]

Coaching career

After his playing career ended, Roberts became an assistant coach for Western Michigan in the Mid-American Conference, then Iowa in the Big Ten, before being an assistant for the NBA's Golden State Warriors and coach Al Attles for five years.[11] The Warriors, led by MVP Rick Barry, won the NBA championship in 1975. Roberts coached the Warriors to their fourth win in the NBA finals against the Washington Bullets after Attles was ejected from the game.[2] [12]

Personal life and death

Roberts was married to Celia for 65 years until his death. Together, they had three children.[2]

Roberts died on the morning of October 10, 2022, at his home in Oakland, California. He was 86, and suffered from cancer prior to his death.[2]

Career statistics

NBA/ABA

Source[1]

Regular season

YearTeamGPMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGPPG
Syracuse68 11.8 .370 .596 3.6 .6 4.7
Syracuse80* 20.5 .393 .665 6.7 .6 7.7
Syracuse33 14.1 .372 .686 4.7 .5 5.5
Kentucky (ABA)37 15.2 .370 .333 .560 3.8 .4 3.7
Career (NBA)181 16.1 .383 .648 5.2 .6 6.2
Career (overall)218 15.9 .381 .333 .637 4.9 .6 5.8

Playoffs

YearTeamGPMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGPPG
1961Syracuse5 4.0 .300  - .8 .0 1.2
1962Syracuse4 16.0 .364 .714 7.0 .0 6.5
1968Kentucky (ABA)5 12.6 .333  - .333 3.0 .2 2.4
Career (NBA) 9 9.3 .344 .714 3.6 .0 3.6
Career (overall)14 10.5 .340  - .600 3.4 .1 3.1

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Joe Roberts Stats. Basketball Reference. Sports Reference LLC. January 8, 2024.
  2. News: Joe Roberts, starting power forward on Ohio State's 1960 NCAA championship team, dies at 86. Michael. Arace. October 10, 2022. October 10, 2022. The Columbus Dispatch. https://web.archive.org/web/20221010230834/https://www.dispatch.com/story/sports/college/big-10/2022/10/10/joe-roberts-starting-forward-on-osu-1960-ncaa-championship-team-dies/69553512007/. October 10, 2022.
  3. Web site: Joe Roberts College Stats. Sports-Reference.com. October 10, 2022.
  4. Web site: 1959–60 Ohio State Buckeyes Roster and Stats. Sports-Reference.com. October 10, 2022.
  5. Web site: October 22, 1960 Philadelphia Warriors at Syracuse Nationals Box Score. Basketball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. October 22, 1960. October 10, 2022.
  6. Web site: 1961 NBA Eastern Division Finals – Nationals vs. Celtics. Basketball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. October 10, 2022.
  7. Web site: 1962 NBA Eastern Division Semifinals – Nationals vs. Warriors. Basketball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. October 10, 2022.
  8. Web site: 1963 NBA Eastern Division Semifinals – Royals vs. Nationals. Basketball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. October 10, 2022.
  9. News: Of halls of fame in general and Ohio State's Joe Roberts in particular. Michael. Arace. June 1, 2022. October 10, 2022. The Columbus Dispatch. https://web.archive.org/web/20221011051214/https://www.dispatch.com/story/sports/columns/2022/06/01/ohio-state-basketball-roberts-key-team-lucas-havlicek/9998456002/. October 11, 2022.
  10. News: Sport Capers. 13. Frank. Shepherd. January 28, 1968. October 10, 2022. Coshocton Tribune.
  11. Web site: Joe Roberts: Coaching Record, Awards. Basketball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. October 10, 2022.
  12. News: Warriors Capture Title on 4–0 Sweep. 11. Leonard. Kopbett. May 26, 1975. October 10, 2022. The New York Times.