NBA/ABA History

Kevin Durant is one of the most unique athletes in sports today.  His slender but wiry strong, 6"10 frame makes his jump shot nearly impossible to defend.  He is often compared to George Gervin.  I've always been well aware of Gervin's  scoring prowess.  To my generation Gervin is often referred to as the player most like Michael Jordan to have never won an NBA championship.  One of the players that helped build the false idea that a scoring champion couldn't win a title. 

Between 1977-78 and 1983-84 George Gervin never averaged less than 25.9ppg in a season.  Seven consecutive seasons as one of the top scorers in the NBA.  During the 1979-80 season he averaged 33.1ppg.  In 1977-78 Gervin averaged 27.2ppg without a three point line.  The Ice man didn't need a three point line to light you up.  He finished his career with a 25.1ppg average going back to his ABA days.  His patented finger roll was a beautiful sight to see and equally as difficult to counter.

Missing out on winning a championship in the NBA can damage a players legacy tremendously.  If Gervin had managed to capture a ring during his dominant playing days he would likely be more celebrated.  The San Antonio Spurs do a great job of recognizing his accomplishments as a trailblazer in their organization.  George Gervin set the standard of excellence that Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and David Robinson have transcended into championship basketball.  Today the Spurs are one of the most consistent franchises in professional sports.

If you consider yourself a true basketball fan from my generation it would be wise to take a moment and look up George Gervin's statistics.  They're nothing short of extraordinary.