Byron Beck
Encyclopedia
A. Byron Beck is an American
former professional basketball
player.
A 6'9" forward/center
from the University of Denver
, Beck was one of six players (along with Louie Dampier
, Gerald Govan
, Bob Netolicky
, Stew Johnson
, and Freddie Lewis
) who participated in all nine seasons (1967–1976) of the original American Basketball Association
. He played for the Denver Rockets
, who later became the Denver Nuggets
. Beck was not blessed with superior athleticism, but he was a hard worker known for his tenacious rebounding
and efficient hook shot
, and he represented Denver in two ABA All-Star
Games (1969 and 1976).
Beck also played one season in the National Basketball Association
after the Nuggets joined the NBA through the ABA-NBA merger
in 1976, and he retired in 1977 with 8,603 career ABA/NBA points and 5,261 career rebounds. On December 16, 1977, he became the first player in the Denver franchise to have his jersey
number (#40) retired.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
former 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.
A 6'9" forward/center
Center (basketball)
The center, colloquially known as the five or the post, is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. The center is normally the tallest player on the team, and often has a great deal of strength and body mass as well...
from the University of Denver
University of Denver
The University of Denver is currently ranked 82nd among all public and private "National Universities" by U.S. News & World Report in the 2012 rankings....
, Beck was one of six players (along with Louie Dampier
Louie Dampier
Louis "Louie" Dampier is a retired American professional basketball player.A 6-foot-tall guard, Dampier is one of only a handful of men to play all nine seasons in the American Basketball Association , all with the Kentucky Colonels...
, Gerald Govan
Gerald Govan
Gerald Govan is a retired American professional basketball player.Govan played high school basketball at Henry Snyder High School in Jersey City.A 6'10" forward/center from St...
, Bob Netolicky
Bob Netolicky
Robert Netolicky is a retired American basketball player. A 6'9" power forward/center, he played professionally in the now-defunct American Basketball Association from 1967 to 1976....
, Stew Johnson
Stew Johnson
Stewart "Stew" Johnson is a former professional basketball player. A 6'8" forward/center from Murray State University, Johnson was selected by the New York Knicks in the third round of the 1966 NBA Draft...
, and Freddie Lewis
Freddie Lewis
Frederick L. Lewis is a retired American basketball player. He played professionally in the National Basketball Association and now defunct American Basketball Association from 1966 to 1977....
) who participated in all nine seasons (1967–1976) of the original 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:...
. He played for the Denver Rockets
Denver Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets are a professional basketball team based in Denver, Colorado. They play in the National Basketball Association . They were founded as the Denver Rockets in 1967 as a charter franchise of the American Basketball Association, and became one of that league's more successful teams...
, who later became the Denver Nuggets
Denver Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets are a professional basketball team based in Denver, Colorado. They play in the National Basketball Association . They were founded as the Denver Rockets in 1967 as a charter franchise of the American Basketball Association, and became one of that league's more successful teams...
. Beck was not blessed with superior athleticism, but he was a hard worker known for his tenacious rebounding
Rebound (basketball)
A rebound in basketball is the act of successfully gaining possession of the basketball after a missed field goal or free throw. Rebounds in basketball are a routine part in the game, as all possessions change after a shot is successfully made...
and efficient hook shot
Hook shot
A hook shot, in basketball, is a play in which the offensive player, usually turned perpendicular to the basket, gently throws the ball with a sweeping motion of his arm in an upward arc with a follow-through which ends over his head. Unlike the jump shot, it is shot with only one hand; the other...
, and he represented Denver in two ABA All-Star
All-star
All-star is a term designating an individual as having a high level of performance in their field. Originating in sports, it has since drifted into vernacular and been borrowed heavily by the entertainment industry...
Games (1969 and 1976).
Beck also played one season in 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...
after the Nuggets joined the NBA through the ABA-NBA merger
ABA-NBA merger
The ABA–NBA merger was the merger of the American Basketball Association with the National Basketball Association, which after multiple attempts over several years finally occurred in 1976.- Origins of ABA-NBA competition :...
in 1976, and he retired in 1977 with 8,603 career ABA/NBA points and 5,261 career rebounds. On December 16, 1977, he became the first player in the Denver franchise to have his jersey
Jersey
Jersey, officially the Bailiwick of Jersey is a British Crown Dependency off the coast of Normandy, France. As well as the island of Jersey itself, the bailiwick includes two groups of small islands that are no longer permanently inhabited, the Minquiers and Écréhous, and the Pierres de Lecq and...
number (#40) retired.