Carl Nicks (basketball)
Encyclopedia
Orlando Carl Nicks is a retired American American
NBA player. At 6'1" 175 lb, Nicks played guard during his career.
After being selected out of Indiana State University
by the Denver Nuggets
with the 23rd overall pick in the 1980 NBA Draft
, Nicks played in three seasons with three different teams: Denver Nuggets
, Utah Jazz
, and Cleveland Cavaliers
. In his freshman season at Indiana State, Nicks only averaged 2.2 points in 24 games. Bob King, one of the assistant coaches at the time, suggested that Nicks leave the Sycamores and go to a junior college to refine his skills and work on his game, so that's what Carl did. He spent the 1977-78 season at Gulf Coast Community College in Panama City, Florida where he averaged 22.4 points a game, though the next season he returned to Indiana State. When he returned he was a more mature and more confident player. It was the 1978-79 season that he started improving and that's where he earned his nickname; Mr. Intensity. That year he averaged 19.3 points but it was the 1979 season that he really came out and started scoring he averaged 26.7 points a game. Nicks started with Larry Bird in 1978-79 and helped lead Indiana State to the championship game in the NCAA tournament by averaging 19.3ppg, 5apg, 3.5rpg and 1.8spg on 46% shooting.
Nicks was twice named to the All-Missouri Valley Conference first team, in both 1979 and 1980. He was also named to the USA Select Team in 1979 for a tour of the People's Republic of China. In 2007, Nicks was recognized by the Missouri Valley Conference as one of the Missouri Valley Conference's "50 Greatest" Players and was inducted into the Indiana State University Hall of Fame in 2007. After retirement he coached alongside Bill Hodges
at Mercer University.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
NBA player. At 6'1" 175 lb, Nicks played guard during his career.
Basketball career
Nicks finished with NBA career averages of 6.8ppg, 1.6apg and 0.8spg over those three seasons and currently holds the distinction of being the last Sycamore player drafted.After being selected out of Indiana State University
Indiana State University
Indiana State University is a public university located in Terre Haute, Indiana, United States.The Princeton Review has named Indiana State as one of the "Best in the Midwest" seven years running, and the College of Education's Graduate Program was recently named as a 'Top 100' by U.S...
by 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...
with the 23rd overall pick in the 1980 NBA Draft
1980 NBA Draft
The 1980 NBA Draft was the 34th annual draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held on June 10, 1980, before the 1980–81 season. In this draft, 23 NBA teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players and other eligible players, including international players...
, Nicks played in three seasons with three different teams: 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...
, Utah Jazz
Utah Jazz
The Utah Jazz is a professional basketball team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. They are currently a part of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
, and Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers are a professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They began playing in the National Basketball Association in 1970 as an expansion team...
. In his freshman season at Indiana State, Nicks only averaged 2.2 points in 24 games. Bob King, one of the assistant coaches at the time, suggested that Nicks leave the Sycamores and go to a junior college to refine his skills and work on his game, so that's what Carl did. He spent the 1977-78 season at Gulf Coast Community College in Panama City, Florida where he averaged 22.4 points a game, though the next season he returned to Indiana State. When he returned he was a more mature and more confident player. It was the 1978-79 season that he started improving and that's where he earned his nickname; Mr. Intensity. That year he averaged 19.3 points but it was the 1979 season that he really came out and started scoring he averaged 26.7 points a game. Nicks started with Larry Bird in 1978-79 and helped lead Indiana State to the championship game in the NCAA tournament by averaging 19.3ppg, 5apg, 3.5rpg and 1.8spg on 46% shooting.
Nicks was twice named to the All-Missouri Valley Conference first team, in both 1979 and 1980. He was also named to the USA Select Team in 1979 for a tour of the People's Republic of China. In 2007, Nicks was recognized by the Missouri Valley Conference as one of the Missouri Valley Conference's "50 Greatest" Players and was inducted into the Indiana State University Hall of Fame in 2007. After retirement he coached alongside Bill Hodges
Bill Hodges
-Notes:Hodges is a member of the Indiana State University Athletic Hall of Fame; the 1978-79 Men's Basketball Team were inducted in 1999. Hodges is a former golf coach, coaching the Armstrong Atlantic State University Pirates before moving to Indiana State. He is also a Vietnam-era veteran of the...
at Mercer University.
Indiana State statistics
- 1976-77: 2.2 ppg
- 1978-79: 19.3 ppg
- 1979-80: 26.7 ppg
- Total: 16.8 ppg