Kim Hughes (basketball)

Kim Hughes
No. 35, 12, 44, 3
Center
Personal information
Date of birth June 4, 1952 (1952-06-04) (age 59)
Place of birth Freeport, Illinois
Nationality American
High school Freeport (Illinois)
Listed height 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
Listed weight 220 lb (100 kg)
Career information
College Wisconsin (1970–1974)
NBA Draft 1974 / Round: 3 / Pick: 45th overall
Selected by the Buffalo Braves
Pro career 1975–1989
Career history
As player:
19751978 New York / New Jersey Nets (ABA and NBA)
19781980 Denver Nuggets
1980–1981 Cleveland Cavaliers
1981–1983 Virtus Banco di Roma (Italy)
1983–1988 Viola Reggio Calabria (Italy)
1988–1989 Basket Brescia (Italy)
As coach:
2010 Los Angeles Clippers
Career highlights and awards
Career ABA and NBA statistics
Points 1,624 (3.8 ppg)
Rebounds 2,367 (5.6 rpg)
Blocks 502 (1.2 bpg)
Stats at NBA.com
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com

Kim Hughes (born June 14, 1952, Freeport, Illinois) is a former professional basketball player. The 6-foot-11 Hughes played college basketball at the University of Wisconsin from 1970–74, averaging 15 points and 11 rebounds as a senior. His identical twin Kerry, also 6-11, was also a starter on the Badgers. Hughes was selected by the Buffalo Braves in the third round (9th pick) of the 1974 NBA draft. He played professionally in Italy during the 1974-75 season. He spent the 1975-76 season with the New York Nets of the American Basketball Association (ABA), where he averaged eight points and nine rebounds and was named to the First Team ABA All-Rookie Team. The 1976 Nets team, which featured Julius Erving, Swen Nater, and Brian Taylor, won the ABA Championship.

Hughes spent two more seasons with the Nets after the franchise moved to the NBA. In July 1978, Hughes signed with the Denver Nuggets, where he played for two full seasons. Eight games into the 1980-81 NBA season, Hughes was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers. He retired from the NBA at the end of the 1981 season, but continued to play professionally in Italy until 1989. During his ABA and NBA career, Hughes averaged 3.8 points and 5.6 rebounds per game, and had field goal and free throw percentages of 49.7% and 39.7%, respectively. He has worked as a scout and assistant coach with the NBA's Denver Nuggets, Milwaukee Bucks, and Los Angeles Clippers.

Contents

Cancer

In 2004, Hughes was diagnosed with prostate cancer, but the Clippers refused to cover the cost of his surgery. Several Clippers players, including Corey Maggette, Chris Kaman, Marko Jaric and Elton Brand, chipped in to pay for Hughes' treatment. It turned out that the cancer was more advanced than previously thought and about to metastasize. The cost of the surgery was estimated by Hughes to be at least $70,000.[1]

Recent years

On February 4, 2010, Hughes replaced Mike Dunleavy as the head coach of the Los Angeles Clippers.[2] On April 15, 2010, Hughes was released from his duties as interim head coach after going 8-25.[3]

References

External links

Sporting positions
Preceded by
Mike Dunleavy
Los Angeles Clippers head coach
2010 (interim)
Succeeded by
Vinny Del Negro