Collis Temple
Collis Temple Jr. (born November 8, 1952) is an American former professional basketball player for Louisiana State University and the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA.
 Temple at the 2011 banquet of the Kentwood, Louisiana Rotary Club | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 8, 1952 Kentwood, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Listed height | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) |
| Listed weight | 220 lb (100 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | LSU (1971–1974) |
| NBA draft | 1974 / Round: 6 / Pick: 94th overall |
| Selected by the Phoenix Suns | |
| Position | Small forward |
| Career history | |
| 1974–1975 | San Antonio Spurs |
| 1975 | Iberia Superstars |
| Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |
Career
College
The Kentwood, Louisiana native was the first African-American to play varsity basketball at Louisiana State University (LSU). When he joined the team in 1971, the Louisiana National Guard was called to protect him from angry segregationists.[1] In the fourth season of the Slate podcast Slow Burn, Temple shared his experiences with a young David Duke while they were both students at LSU.[2][3]
As a senior, Temple earned All-Southeastern Conference honors after averaging 15.0 points and 10.5 rebounds per game.[4] In 2017, Temple was elected to the Louisiana State University Athletic Hall of Fame.
Professional
Temple was selected by the Phoenix Suns with the 94th pick of the 1974 NBA draft. He spent one season (1974–75) with the San Antonio Spurs. He averaged 1.8 points and 1.3 rebounds in 24 games.[5] In February 1975, he joined the Iberia Superstars of the European Professional Basketball League.[6]
Personal
Temple has three sons and one daughter. Collis III and Garrett Temple both played at LSU. [1]
References
- Mark Schlabach. "LSU's First Black Player Revels in Legacy's Growth". Washington Post. March 30, 2006. Retrieved on February 11, 2010.
- Spears, Marc J. (2017-02-08). "Inside Collis Temple's historic struggle as LSU's first black basketball player". The Undefeated. Retrieved 2021-01-15.
- "How David Duke Used the Ku Klux Klan, and How the Klan Made Him". Slate Magazine. 2020-06-10. Retrieved 2021-01-15.
- Collis Temple Jr. LSUSports.net. Retrieved on February 11, 2010.
- Collis Temple statistics. basketball-reference.com. Retrieved on February 11, 2010.
- "El "Iberia Superstars" hoy en Mataró" [The "Iberia Superstars" now in Mataró] (in Spanish). La Vanguardia. 25 February 1975. p. 40. Retrieved 19 November 2017.