Bob Weiss
Encyclopedia
Robert William "Bob" Weiss (born May 7, 1942 in Easton
, Pennsylvania
) is a retired American
professional basketball
player and head coach in the NBA
. He is currently coaching Shanxi Zhongyu in the Chinese Basketball Association
.
He was most recently the head coach of the Seattle SuperSonics
of the National Basketball Association
(NBA). He was named to the position on July 18, 2005, after 26 seasons as a coach in the league. After a 13-17 start to the 2005-06 season
, his three-year deal was terminated on January 3, 2006.
Weiss played college basketball
at Penn State University from 1963 to 1965 and averaged 16.3 points per game during his senior season.
The NBA's Philadelphia 76ers
selected Weiss in the 1965 NBA Draft
. Weiss was a member of the 76ers' 1967 championship
team, after which he was taken by the Seattle SuperSonics
in the 1967 NBA Expansion Draft
. Weiss played in the NBA for twelve seasons, including six with the Chicago Bulls
.
Upon his retirement as a player in 1977, Weiss joined the Buffalo Braves
as an assistant coach. In 1980, he moved to the Dallas Mavericks
, an expansion franchise.
After six years in Dallas, Weiss accepted his first head coaching job in 1986 with the San Antonio Spurs
. He coached the Spurs for two seasons, never posting a winning record. He did, however, lead them to the playoffs
in 1988.
After one year as an assistant with the Orlando Magic
, Weiss moved to the Atlanta Hawks
as head coach. In three seasons, his Hawks teams posted a record of 124-122 and made the playoffs twice.
Weiss left the Hawks in 1993. He spent one year as head coach of the Los Angeles Clippers
before joining the Sonics as an assistant coach. He served in that post for 12 years under both George Karl
and Nate McMillan
, going to the NBA Finals in 1996. He was promoted to head coach in 2005 after McMillan left for the Portland Trail Blazers
. However, Weiss did not last even one season, as the Sonics struggled to a losing record. He was fired midway through the year and replaced with Bob Hill
.
Weiss is the only person to be affiliated with the Clippers' franchise in all three cities of the organization's history. He was a player with the Buffalo Braves, an assistant coach with the San Diego Clippers, and a head coach with the Los Angeles Clippers. Weiss's all-time regular season coaching record is 210-282 (42.7%).
Easton, Pennsylvania
Easton is a city in Northampton County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 26,800 as of the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Northampton County....
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
) is a retired American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player and head coach in the NBA
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
. He is currently coaching Shanxi Zhongyu in the Chinese Basketball Association
Chinese Basketball Association
The Chinese Basketball Association , often abbreviated to the CBA, is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in China.The league is commonly known as the CBA, and this acronym is often used even in Chinese...
.
He was most recently the head coach of the Seattle SuperSonics
Seattle SuperSonics
The Seattle SuperSonics were an American professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington that played in the Pacific and Northwest Divisions of the National Basketball Association from 1967 until 2008. Following the 2007–08 season, the team relocated to Oklahoma City, and now plays as...
of the National Basketball Association
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
(NBA). He was named to the position on July 18, 2005, after 26 seasons as a coach in the league. After a 13-17 start to the 2005-06 season
2005-06 NBA season
The 2005–06 NBA season was the 60th season of the National Basketball Association. It began on November 1, 2005 and ran through April 19, 2006...
, his three-year deal was terminated on January 3, 2006.
Weiss played college basketball
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
at Penn State University from 1963 to 1965 and averaged 16.3 points per game during his senior season.
The NBA's Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers are a professional basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . Originally known as the Syracuse Nationals, they are one of the oldest franchises in the NBA...
selected Weiss in the 1965 NBA Draft
NBA Draft
The NBA Draft is an annual event in which the thirty teams from the National Basketball Association can draft players who are eligible and wish to join the league. These players are usually amateur U.S. college basketball players, but international players are also eligible to be drafted...
. Weiss was a member of the 76ers' 1967 championship
NBA Finals
The NBA Finals is the championship series of the National Basketball Association . The series was named the NBA World Championship Series until 1986....
team, after which he was taken by the Seattle SuperSonics
Seattle SuperSonics
The Seattle SuperSonics were an American professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington that played in the Pacific and Northwest Divisions of the National Basketball Association from 1967 until 2008. Following the 2007–08 season, the team relocated to Oklahoma City, and now plays as...
in the 1967 NBA Expansion Draft
1967 NBA Expansion Draft
The 1967 NBA Expansion Draft was the third expansion draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held on May 1, 1967, so that the newly founded San Diego Rockets and Seattle SuperSonics could acquire players for the upcoming 1967–68 season. Seattle and San Diego had been awarded...
. Weiss played in the NBA for twelve seasons, including six with the Chicago Bulls
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1966. They play their home games at the United Center...
.
Upon his retirement as a player in 1977, Weiss joined the Buffalo Braves
Los Angeles Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers are a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, United States. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
as an assistant coach. In 1980, he moved to the Dallas Mavericks
Dallas Mavericks
The Dallas Mavericks are a professional basketball team based in Dallas, Texas. They are members of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association , and the reigning NBA champions, having defeated the Miami Heat in the 2011 NBA Finals.According to a 2011...
, an expansion franchise.
After six years in Dallas, Weiss accepted his first head coaching job in 1986 with the San Antonio Spurs
San Antonio Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs are an American professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas. They are part of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association ....
. He coached the Spurs for two seasons, never posting a winning record. He did, however, lead them to the playoffs
NBA Playoffs
The National Basketball Association Playoffs is a best-of-seven elimination tournament among sixteen teams in the Eastern Conference and Western Conference , ultimately deciding the final four teams who will play in the NBA Conference Finals.-Format:Following the NBA regular season, eight teams in...
in 1988.
After one year as an assistant with the Orlando Magic
Orlando Magic
The Orlando Magic is a professional basketball team based in Orlando, Florida. They play in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association and are currently coached by Stan Van Gundy...
, Weiss moved to the Atlanta Hawks
Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are part of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association .-The first years:...
as head coach. In three seasons, his Hawks teams posted a record of 124-122 and made the playoffs twice.
Weiss left the Hawks in 1993. He spent one year as head coach of the Los Angeles Clippers
Los Angeles Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers are a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, United States. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
before joining the Sonics as an assistant coach. He served in that post for 12 years under both George Karl
George Karl
George Matthew Karl is a former National Basketball Association and American Basketball Association player. He is the current head coach of the Denver Nuggets. On December 10, 2010 he became the seventh coach in NBA history to record 1,000 wins.-Biography:Karl was born in Penn Hills,...
and Nate McMillan
Nate McMillan
Nathaniel "Nate" McMillan is a retired American professional basketball player and current head coach of the NBA's Portland Trail Blazers...
, going to the NBA Finals in 1996. He was promoted to head coach in 2005 after McMillan left for the Portland Trail Blazers
Portland Trail Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers, commonly known as the Blazers, are an American professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The Trail Blazers originally played their home games in the...
. However, Weiss did not last even one season, as the Sonics struggled to a losing record. He was fired midway through the year and replaced with Bob Hill
Bob Hill
Robert W. Hill is an American basketball coach. Hill grew up in Mount Sterling, Ohio moving to Worthington, Ohio for high school. Upon graduating from high School, Hill entered Bowling Green State University. Hill is currently the head coach of the Tokyo Apache in Japan...
.
Weiss is the only person to be affiliated with the Clippers' franchise in all three cities of the organization's history. He was a player with the Buffalo Braves, an assistant coach with the San Diego Clippers, and a head coach with the Los Angeles Clippers. Weiss's all-time regular season coaching record is 210-282 (42.7%).