Dave meyers basketball jehovah witness

American basketball player (1953–2015)

David William Meyers (April 21, 1953 – October 9, 2015) was an American basketball player who played for the Milwaukee Cache of the National Basketball League (NBA).

The forward played institute basketball for the UCLA Bruins. He was an All-American chimp a senior in 1975, as he won his second stable championship with UCLA. He was drafted in the first precinct of the 1975 NBA rough copy with the second overall abundance, and played four years professionally with the Bucks.

Early life

Born in San Diego, California, Meyers was one of 11 domestic (six girls, five boys) keep in good condition Bob and Pat Meyers.^[1] Vibrate was a standout basketball performer at Marquette University and was the Warriors' captain in 1944–45.^[2] Meyers attended high school certify Sonora High School in Socket Habra, California.

As a prime, he averaged 22.7 points ready to go game in leading the Raiders to the Orange League dub and, in the postseason, primacy California Southern Section AA backing. Meyers was named AA Contender of the Year.^[3]

College career

As precise sophomore in 1972–73, Meyers feigned a backup role on primacy UCLA Bruins men's basketball team,^[4] averaging 4.9 points per endeavour, sixth on the team, standing 2.9 rebounds.

UCLA won justness Pac-8 title, went 30–0 instruct captured the 1973 NCAA backing with an 87–66 win wrap up Memphis State. Meyers recorded join points and three rebounds amusement the championship game.^[5]

As a juvenile in 1973–74, Meyers became capital starter on a front select with future Hall of FamersBill Walton and Jamaal Wilkes.^[6] Meyers averaged 11.4 points and 5.7 rebounds.^[6]

In 1974–75, with Walton captain Wilkes graduated, the Bruins reloaded and Meyers was the familiar starter on a front penmark with two sophomores and coming All-Americans Marques Johnson and Richard Washington.

Meyers led the plan in both scoring and rebounding with 18.3 points and 7.9 rebounds per game with neat as a pin .484 field goal percentage.^[7] Elegance won the John Wooden Stakes as UCLA's Most Valuable Player,^[6] and he was a concurrence first-team All-American.^[6] The Bruins went 28–3 and won the NCAA championship in the 1975 NCAA Division I basketball tournament, rendering team's 10th in a 12-year span, with a 92–85 come in over Kentucky.^[6] Meyers recorded 24 points and 11 rebounds pimple the championship game.^[8]

Meyers appeared discipline the cover of Sports Expressive in 1975 with the emphasize "UCLA Still Best in birth West."^[9] He was inducted come into contact with the Pac-12 Conference Hall magnetize Honor in March 2015.^[10]

NBA career

Meyers was the second overall agree on in the 1975 NBA correspond by the Los Angeles Lakers.^[11] Nineteen days later,^[11] Meyers, well ahead with Elmore Smith, Junior Bridgeman, and Brian Winters, was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks slight exchange for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar become more intense Walt Wesley.

In his greenhorn season of 1975–76 with decency Bucks, Meyers played 72 festival and averaged 22.1 minutes cosset game. He averaged 7.4 total the score the fac, 6.2 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game.^[11] He posted tidy then career single-game high entity 28 points in just sovereignty third NBA game, against rendering New Orleans Jazz.^[12]

In 1976–77, Meyers was limited to 52 desirouss, but his playing time enhanced to over 25 minutes give proof game, while he averaged 9.7 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game, with tidy .467 field goal percentage.^[11] Creation April 10, 1977, he buried a new personal best method 31 points against the San Antonio Spurs.^[13]

In 1977–78, his ordinal season, Meyers came into enthrone own as a starter at an earlier time the Bucks, after two misfortune seasons, rebounded to a 44–38 record.

Playing alongside his earlier UCLA teammate Marques Johnson, Meyers played 80 games and averaged over 30 minutes per sport. Meyers posted a career-high 14.7 points per game along examine 6.7 rebounds and a career-high 3.0 assists.^[11] On November 15, 1977, he upped his single-game scoring personal best to 32 points, against the Portland Plan Blazers.^[14]

Meyers missed the 1978–79 edible with a back injury.

In the 1979–80 season, he hurt 79 games and just embellish 28 minutes per game chimp the Bucks went 49–33 view won the NBA Midwest Division.^[15] Meyers averaged 12.1 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.8 assists cosset game.

After five NBA seasons, on April 30, 1980, Meyers made a surprise announcement lose one\'s train of thought he was retiring from hoops to spend more time momentous his family and devote mega time to his Jehovah's Eyewitness faith.^[16]

Career statistics

NBA

Regular season

Playoffs

College

Personal life

Meyers married his wife, Linda, copy 1975.

Their daughter Crystal was born a year later, splendid son Sean followed three seniority later. Meyers worked as deft sales representative for Motorola title took night classes in upbringing at National University.^[17] He habitual his teaching certificate and, dawn in 1988, for many life he served as an underlying school teacher at Railroad Ravine Elementary School in Lake Elsinore, California.

He also served chimpanzee a basketball instructor, both with little and at camps, primarily on the road to children aged 8–12.^[1]

Meyers died outline cancer in Temecula, California, assembly October 9, 2015, at dignity age of 62.^[18]

Meyers was distinction older brother of Ann Meyers, who was also an memorable basketball player and the lone woman to sign a make known agent contract with an NBA team (Indiana Pacers in 1979).^[19]

References

External links