Byron Beck
 |
 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 25, 1945 Ellensburg, Washington, U.S. |
| Listed height | 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) |
| Listed weight | 225 lb (102 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Kittitas (Kittitas, Washington) |
| College |
|
| NBA draft | 1967: 2nd round, 15th overall pick |
| Selected by the Chicago Bulls | |
| Playing career | 1967–1977 |
| Position | Forward / center |
| Number | 40 |
| Career history | |
| 1967–1977 | Denver Rockets / Nuggets |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
| Career ABA and NBA statistics | |
| Points | 8,603 (11.5 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 5,261 (7.0 rpg) |
| Assists | 978 (1.3 apg) |
| Stats at NBA.com | |
| Stats at Basketball Reference | |
Byron Beck (born January 25, 1945) is an American former professional basketball player.
A 6 foot 9 inch forward/center from the University of Denver, Beck was one of six players (along with Louie Dampier, Gerald Govan, Bob Netolicky, Stew Johnson, and Freddie Lewis) who participated in all nine seasons (1967–1976) of the original American Basketball Association (ABA). He played for the Denver Rockets, who later became the Denver Nuggets. Beck was not blessed with superior athleticism, but he was a hard worker known for his tenacious rebounding and efficient hook shot.[original research?] He represented Denver in two ABA All-Star Games (1969 and 1976).
Beck also played one season in the National Basketball Association (NBA) after the Nuggets joined the NBA through the ABA–NBA merger in 1976, and he retired in 1977 with 8,603 career ABA/NBA points and 5,261 career rebounds. On December 16, 1977, he became the first player in the Denver franchise to have his jersey number (#40) retired. In 1981, Beck was inducted into the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame.[1]
After retiring from professional basketball, Beck moved to Kennewick, Washington where he worked as an engineer.[2]
References
[edit]- ^ "Ex-Rocket, Nugget; Byron Beck to be inducted to Hall". The Daily Sentinel. Grand Junction, Colorado. February 15, 1981. p. 30. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
- ^ Blanchette, John (March 1, 1987). "'B' Tourney Past Beckons". The Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. p. 15. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
External links
[edit]- Profile at Remember the ABA
- Career statistics from NBA.com and Basketball Reference
 | This biographical article relating to a United States basketball player, coach, or other figure born in the 1940s is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
- 1945 births
- Living people
- Amateur Athletic Union men's basketball players
- American men's basketball players
- Basketball players from Washington (state)
- Centers (basketball)
- Chicago Bulls draft picks
- Columbia Basin College alumni
- Denver Nuggets players
- Denver Pioneers men's basketball players
- Denver Rockets players
- Engineers from Washington (state)
- Junior college men's basketball players in the United States
- NBA players with retired numbers
- People from Ellensburg, Washington
- Power forwards
- American basketball biography, 1940s birth stubs