Don Buse
Encyclopedia
Donald R. Buse is a retired American
professional basketball
player.
A 6'4" (1.93 m) guard from the University of Evansville
, Buse played 13 seasons (1972–1985) in the American Basketball Association
and National Basketball Association
as a member of the Indiana Pacers
, the Phoenix Suns
, the Portland Trail Blazers
, and the Kansas City Kings
.
He started from 1964–1968, and led the Dutchmen to Sectional Championships in 1967 and 1968.
They finished the 1968 season undefeated but lost the Regional Championship game to perennial power Jeffersonville High School. Buse was selected to the Indiana All-Star Team in 1968.
Buse went on to play professionally for the Indiana Pacers
, the Phoenix Suns
, the Portland Trail Blazers
, and the Kansas City Kings
.
Buse was known for his dependable ball-handling, tight defense, and clutch-shooting, and he appeared in two All-Star
games (one in the ABA in 1976
; one in the NBA in 1977
) during the course of his career. His best season occurred in 1975–76, when he led the ABA in both steals
per game (4.12) and assists
per game (8.2) while also contributing a career high 12.5 points per game. In the next season, his first in the NBA, Buse again led all players in steals per game (3.47) and assists per game (8.5).
In 1979, Buse helped take the Suns deep into the playoffs on a team with notable players, such as Paul Westphal
, Walter Davis
, Truck Robinson
and Alvan Adams
.
Buse was an All-Defensive Team member six times, from the 1974-75 season through the 1979-80 season. The first two were in the ABA and the final four were in the NBA.
After Buse's career he was selected to several All-time teams, including:
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.
A 6'4" (1.93 m) guard from the University of Evansville
University of Evansville
The University of Evansville is a small, private university with approximately 3,050 students located in Evansville, Indiana. Founded in 1854 as Moores Hill College, it is located near the interchange of the Lloyd Expressway and U.S. Route 41. It is affiliated with the United Methodist Church...
, Buse played 13 seasons (1972–1985) 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:...
and 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...
as a member of the Indiana Pacers
Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers are a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They are members of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association...
, the Phoenix Suns
Phoenix Suns
The Phoenix Suns are a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association and the only team in their division not to be based in California. Their home arena since 1992 has been the US...
, 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...
, and the Kansas City Kings
Sacramento Kings
The Sacramento Kings are a professional basketball team based in Sacramento, California, United States. They are currently members of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
.
High school
Named an Indiana All-Star in 1968, following stellar career at Holland (Ind.) High.He started from 1964–1968, and led the Dutchmen to Sectional Championships in 1967 and 1968.
They finished the 1968 season undefeated but lost the Regional Championship game to perennial power Jeffersonville High School. Buse was selected to the Indiana All-Star Team in 1968.
College
- Played for legendary Arad McCutchanArad McCutchanArad A. McCutchan was a well-known collegiate basketball coach. The Evansville, Indiana native coached his hometown University of Evansville from 1946 to 1977, guiding the Purple Aces to a 515-313 record....
at Evansville College; leading the Purple Aces to a four-year record of 68-42 and the 1971 NCAA Men's Division II Basketball ChampionshipNCAA Men's Division II Basketball ChampionshipThe NCAA Division II Men's Basketball Championship is an annual championship tournament for colleges and universities that are members of NCAA Division II, a grouping of schools in the United States that are generally smaller than the higher-profile institutions of Division I...
title. - Ranks # 13 all-time in scoring (1,426 pts.)
- Ranks # 9 all-time in scoring average (16.9)
- Ranks # 9 all-time in field goal percentage (.497)
- Ranks # 7 all-time in free throws (364)
- Ranks # 7 all-time in free throw percentage (78.5)
- Selected as 1st Team All-Indiana Collegiate Conference in 1970-71 and 1971-72.
- Selected as 1st Team All-District_College Division (NABC) in 1972.
- Selected as 3rd Team All-American_College Division (UPI) in 1972.
- Selected as 3rd Team All-American_College Division (NABC) in 1972.
- Selected as Honorable Mention All-American_College Division (AP) in 1972.
- Selected as 1st Team All-American_College Division (Universal Sports) in 1972.
- Retired his number (#10)
- Selected to the USA BasketballUSA BasketballUSA Basketball is a non-profit organization and the governing body for basketball in the United States. The organization represents the United States in FIBA and the men's and women's national basketball teams in the United States Olympic Committee...
Team in 1971; Pan-American Games participant. - Invited to U.S. Olympic Trials in 1972; declined invitation for professional basketball career.
Career
Don Buse was selected for the NCAA squad to compete for positions on the 1972 U.S. Olympic basketball team, but he was replaced by Jim Forbes as he signed a professional contract.Buse went on to play professionally for the Indiana Pacers
Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers are a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They are members of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association...
, the Phoenix Suns
Phoenix Suns
The Phoenix Suns are a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association and the only team in their division not to be based in California. Their home arena since 1992 has been the US...
, 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...
, and the Kansas City Kings
Sacramento Kings
The Sacramento Kings are a professional basketball team based in Sacramento, California, United States. They are currently members of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
.
Buse was known for his dependable ball-handling, tight defense, and clutch-shooting, and he appeared in two 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 (one in the ABA in 1976
1976 ABA All-Star Game
GAME 9: at McNichols Arena, Denver, Colorado, January 27, 1976MVP: David Thompson, Denver NuggetsCoaches:* All-Stars: Kevin Loughery, New York Nets* Denver: Larry Brown, Denver NuggetsIn the 1976 ABA All Star Game, the league abandoned the usual East vs...
; one in the NBA in 1977
1977 NBA All-Star Game
GAME 27: at MECCA Arena in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on February 13, 1977.MVP: Julius ErvingCoaches: East: Gene Shue, West: Larry Brown.-Eastern Conference: -Western Conference: -Score by periods: *Halftime— East, 68-58*Third Quarter— West, 97-89...
) during the course of his career. His best season occurred in 1975–76, when he led the ABA in both steals
Steal (basketball)
In basketball, a steal occurs when a defensive player legally causes a turnover by his positive, aggressive action. This can be done by deflecting and controlling, catching, or batting to a teammate a pass or dribble of an offensive player...
per game (4.12) and assists
Assist (basketball)
In basketball, an assist is attributed to a player who passes the ball to a teammate in a way that leads to a score by field goal, meaning that he or she was "assisting" in the basket. There is some judgment involved in deciding whether a passer should be credited with an assist...
per game (8.2) while also contributing a career high 12.5 points per game. In the next season, his first in the NBA, Buse again led all players in steals per game (3.47) and assists per game (8.5).
In 1979, Buse helped take the Suns deep into the playoffs on a team with notable players, such as Paul Westphal
Paul Westphal
Paul Westphal is a retired American basketball player and current head coach of the National Basketball Association's Sacramento Kings. Westphal has had a storied career in the NBA, both as a player and as a coach. As a player, he won an NBA championship with the Boston Celtics in the 1974 NBA...
, Walter Davis
Walter Davis
-Sports:* Walter Davis an Australian rugby union player* Walter Davis , Millwall F.C. and Wales international footballer* Walt Davis , American basketball player and high-jumper...
, Truck Robinson
Truck Robinson
Leonard Eugene Robinson was a power forward for the Washington Bullets , Atlanta Hawks , New Orleans Jazz , Phoenix Suns , and New York Knicks ....
and Alvan Adams
Alvan Adams
Alvan Leigh Adams is a retired American professional basketball player. After starring at the University of Oklahoma, the 6'9" power forward/center was selected by the Phoenix Suns with the 4th pick of the 1975 NBA Draft...
.
Buse was an All-Defensive Team member six times, from the 1974-75 season through the 1979-80 season. The first two were in the ABA and the final four were in the NBA.
After Buse's career he was selected to several All-time teams, including:
- Selected to the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame 'Silver Anniversary' Team in 1993.
- Selected to the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in 1998.
- Selected as one of Indiana's Greatest 50 players http://hoopedia.nba.com/index.php?title=Indiana%27s_Fifty_Greatest_PlayersIndiana's_Fifty_Greatest_Players in 1999.
- Selected to the All-Time University of EvansvilleUniversity of EvansvilleThe University of Evansville is a small, private university with approximately 3,050 students located in Evansville, Indiana. Founded in 1854 as Moores Hill College, it is located near the interchange of the Lloyd Expressway and U.S. Route 41. It is affiliated with the United Methodist Church...
Basketball Team in 2005.
External links
- "No Boo-boos For Boo Boo", 1977 Sports IllustratedSports IllustratedSports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
article - "Buse Putting Go in Pacers", 1982 Sporting NewsThe Sporting NewsSporting News is an American-based sports magazine. It was established in 1886, and it became the dominant American publication covering baseball — so much so that it acquired the nickname "The Bible of Baseball"...
article - Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame http://hoopshall.com/hall/b/don-buse/