Reid Gettys

Reid Gettys is an American lawyer and a former college and professional basketball player.

A "set up man" in large part, Gettys played a pivotal role in the success of the powerhouse Phi Slama Jama basketball teams at the University of Houston during the early to mid-1980s.

Gettys, who ranks as Houston's all-time leader in assists with 740, was responsible for distributing the ball to teammates Akeem Olajuwon, Clyde Drexler, Benny Anders, Michael Young, Larry Micheaux and, later, Ricky Winslow. Gettys had a 17-assist game against Rice University on February 17, 1985. He also handed out 15 assists in a November 26, 1983 game against the University of Kansas.

However, he was also a dead-eye shooter from long distance (although he played prior to the 3-point line) and virtually "automatic" from the free throw line. During the 1982 NCAA Tournament, on March 21, 1982, Gettys sunk 10 consecutive free throws down the stretch to move Houston past Boston College and into the Final Four.

Gettys played his high school ball at Houston's Memorial High School, but chose to stay home to attend college and play for the legendary Guy V. Lewis, rather than following in his father, Marshall's footsteps in attending and playing for Texas Tech University.

The 6-foot-7 Gettys was drafted by the Chicago Bulls in the fifth round of the 1985 NBA draft, but never played in the NBA. He was a member of Bill Musselman's 1987–88 Albany Patroons team of the Continental Basketball Association (CBA) that posted a remarkable 48–6 record on its way to winning the CBA championship.

Gettys, who has a law degree and has worked as an attorney in Texas,^[1] later became an assistant coach at Houston under his former teammate, Drexler, and worked as an ESPN basketball analyst. Now he also commentates at Houston Rockets games.

Now, he and his wife Lisa have two sons and a daughter. One son, Grayson, is a model in New York. Stew attended The Woodlands Christian Academy, and his daughter Kathryn also goes to The Woodlands Christian Academy.

University of Houston Cougars records

• Most assists, career: 740 (in 120 games) (14 in 1981–82; 209 in 1982–83; 309 in 1983–84; 208 in 1984–85)
• Highest average, assists per game, career: 6.2 (740/120)
• Most assists, season: 309 (in 37 games; 1983–84)
• Highest average, assists per game, season: 8.4 (309/37, 1983–84)
• Most assists, game: 17, vs. Rice, February 17, 1985

References