Bob Hopkins
Robert M. Hopkins (November 3, 1934 – May 15, 2015) was an American basketball player and coach. He played college basketball at Grambling State University, where he scored 3,759 points (averaging 29.8 points per game for his career), and then played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for four seasons with the Syracuse Nationals.
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 3, 1934 Jonesboro, Louisiana |
| Died | May 15, 2015 (aged 80) Bellevue, Washington |
| Nationality | American |
| Listed height | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) |
| Listed weight | 205 lb (93 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Jackson (Jonesboro, Louisiana) |
| College | Grambling State (1952–1956) |
| NBA draft | 1956 / Round: 10 / Pick: 74th overall |
| Selected by the Syracuse Nationals | |
| Playing career | 1956–1962 |
| Position | Power forward / Center |
| Number | 9 |
| Coaching career | 1964–1991 |
| Career history | |
| As player: | |
| 1956–1960 | Syracuse Nationals |
| 1960–1962 | Philadelphia Tapers |
| As coach: | |
| 1964–1965 | Prairie View A&M |
| 1966–1969 | Alcorn State |
| 1969–1974 | Xavier (Louisiana) |
| 1974–1977 | Seattle SuperSonics (assistant) |
| 1977 | Seattle SuperSonics |
| 1978–1979 | New York Knicks (assistant) |
| 1984–1986 | Southern |
| 1986–1989 | Grambling State |
| 1990–1991 | Maryland Eastern Shore |
| Career NBA statistics | |
| Points | 2,237 (8.2 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 1,526 (5.6 rpg) |
| Assists | 189 (0.7 apg) |
Stats  at NBA.com | |
| Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |
| College Basketball Hall of Fame Inducted in 2013 | |
Hopkins served as the head coach for Xavier University of Louisiana Gold Rush from 1969 to 1974, coaching future ABA and NBA stars Bruce Seals and "Slick" Watts. During his tenure, coach Hopkins led the team to 89 wins and 47 losses, four winning seasons, and two NAIA District 30 Championships, leading Xavier to the national NAIA Tournament in Kansas City for two consecutive years (1972 and 1973). He would next serve on Bill Russell's coaching staff with the Seattle SuperSonics and replaced Russell, his cousin, after the 1976-77 season. Hopkins posted a 5–17 record during the 1977-78 season before being fired; he was replaced by Lenny Wilkens, who led the Sonics to the NBA Finals that season and the following, winning the NBA championship in 1979. Hopkins was elected into the College Basketball Hall of Fame in 2013. He died of heart and kidney failure on May 15, 2015.[1]
External links