RIP to one of our own, one of our best -- Craig Stanke

For some reason, the name Dave Bing came to mind when I read that question. At which time, I figured Dave Bing wasn't even an NBA player, although I was sure he was an athlete of some sort. Sure enough, he was drafted in 1966.

I have no idea why Dave Bing popped into my head.

 

Never mind, Amy edited it. It originally said first-round draft pick, of which there were 20 in the NBA in 1966.

 

Clarified it was first pick - not just first round. Sorry. I'm a lousy trivia question asker.

Not Dave Bing.

 

First shot right out of the box!

 

Cazzie, my favorite player as a kid. My first fanboi heartache when he got traded in 1971, but really one of those rare transactions that benefited all parties: Cazzie Russell, Jerry Lucas, the Warriors, the Knicks, the fans.

 

Dingdingdingdingding ... Frank got it. (Yes, Doyel, you got it without the clue, too. I didn't forget.)

Craig needed the clue "Michigan" as did the group at Runyon's.

Cazzie seems like a very nice man. The details of his basketball career only came out in bits and pieces as I asked questions during the flight.

 

I would never have guessed or thought of Cazzie without looking it up.

I'd thought of a couple other possibilities, but when I checked, was always a year or two off. I was getting frustrated, and, admittedly, close to cheating and looking it up! But I didn't, until seeing Frank_Ridgeway's answer.

And, JackReacher, Bing came into your head because he was close -- picked No. 2 in that draft.

Think Cazzie was known to be among the more personable guys in the NBA at that time, and always a fan favorite, so I'm guessing, Amy, that you enjoyed your plane ride with him.

If I remember correctly, he also was a bit of a streaky player and when he got going, could really shoot the lights out.

 

Well, the strange thing about being a 12-year-old sports fan is that you can develop an irrational dislike for someone like Bill Bradley -- who was actually a far better fit with the Knicks than Russell was -- and then three decades later believe he would make a great U.S. president.

 

indeed. cazzie could light it up and scored in bunches. bradley was by far the better fit for those knicks, a far better defender and underrated passer, and also hs stretches n later years when he could lihjy it up when knicks needed uim to due to injuries.

that trade made cazzie happy and was HUGE for the knicks' lucas was a revelation plaing center for the oft-injured reed and was a key player off the bench o their '72-73. a tremendous long-range shooter and good rebounder. enjoyable teams the knicks og my youth were.