Bucky Buckwalter
Encyclopedia
Morris "Bucky" Buckwalter is a former National Basketball Association
coach and executive, as well as a former coach in the American Basketball Association
.
Buckwalter grew up in La Grande, Oregon
, and played high school basketball at La Grande High School
. Buckwalter played college basketball at Utah
, where his team advanced to the quarterfinals of the 1956 NCAA basketball tournament
before losing to eventual champion San Francisco
.
He served briefly as head coach of the Seattle SuperSonics
in 1972 (on an interim basis), and later served as the head coach of the Utah Stars
of the ABA, replacing Joe Mullaney.
He served as Vice-President of Basketball Operations for the Portland Trail Blazers
. In 1991 he won the NBA Executive of the Year Award
, as the Blazers posted a league-best 63-19 record. He retired from the Blazers in 1997.
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...
coach and executive, as well as a former coach in the American Basketball Association
American Basketball Association
The American Basketball Association was a professional basketball league founded in 1967. The ABA ceased to exist with the ABA–NBA merger in 1976.-League history:...
.
Buckwalter grew up in La Grande, Oregon
La Grande, Oregon
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 12,327 people, 5,124 households, and 2,982 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,833.5 people per square mile . There were 5,483 housing units at an average density of 1,260.3 per square mile...
, and played high school basketball at La Grande High School
La Grande High School
La Grande High School is a public high school in La Grande, Oregon, United States.-Academics:In 2008, 81% of the school's seniors received their high school diploma. Of 197 students, 159 graduated, 29 dropped out, and 9 are still in high school....
. Buckwalter played college basketball at Utah
Utah Utes men's basketball
The University of Utah Utes have consistently been one of the most successful basketball programs in the NCAA. They are currently an NCAA Division I program that plays in the Pacific-12 Conference. The school has made the NCAA Tournament 26 times, which ranks 16th in NCAA history and 3rd behind...
, where his team advanced to the quarterfinals of the 1956 NCAA basketball tournament
1956 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
-Midwest Region:-West Region:-Far West Region:-Final Four:-Notes:* Canisius's first-round victory over the second-ranked North Carolina State Wolfpack, considered by many to be among the top ten upsets in tournament history, set a record for most overtime periods in a Division I Men's tournament...
before losing to eventual champion San Francisco
San Francisco Dons
The San Francisco Dons is the nickname of the athletic teams at the University of San Francisco .-History:Athletics at USF dates back to its founding in 1855, when founder Anthony Maraschi, S.J. organized ball games as recreation for the first students...
.
He served briefly as 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...
in 1972 (on an interim basis), and later served as the head coach of the Utah Stars
Utah Stars
The Utah Stars was an American Basketball Association team based in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.Under head coach Bill Sharman the Stars were the first major professional basketball team to use a pre-game shootaround.-History:...
of the ABA, replacing Joe Mullaney.
He served as Vice-President of Basketball Operations 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...
. In 1991 he won the NBA Executive of the Year Award
NBA Executive of the Year Award
The National Basketball Association's Executive of the Year Award is an annual award given since the 1972–73 NBA season, to the league's best general managers. Before 2009, the Executive of the Year is presented annually by Sporting News, although it is officially recognized by the NBA. Since then,...
, as the Blazers posted a league-best 63-19 record. He retired from the Blazers in 1997.