Geoff Petrie
Encyclopedia
Geoffrey Michael Petrie is a former American basketball
player and current basketball team executive. A native of Pennsylvania
, he played professional basketball in the National Basketball Association
(NBA) for the Portland Trail Blazers
where he won NBA Rookie of the Year in 1971. After retirement as a player he entered management, and is the current President of Basketball Operations for the Sacramento Kings
in the NBA.
, on April 17, 1948. He attended Springfield High School, in Springfield, Pennsylvania
, and played collegiate ball at Princeton University
.
In Petrie's sophomore season at Princeton, the team was co-champion of the Ivy League with a 20-6 (12-3 Ivy) record. Despite the fact that Princeton had three of the five first-team All-Ivy team members, including Petrie plus second-team member John Hummer
, they lost the one-game league playoff to the Jim McMillian
-led 1968 Columbia Lions men's basketball
team. That year the team rose to as high as 8th in the AP Poll
. The following season, Petrie led the Ivy League in scoring (23.9 point
s/game in conference games), and the team accumulated a 19-7 (14-0) record, including an appearance in the 1969 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
. They lost to St. John's
in the tournament, but Petrie was again on the first-team All-Ivy squad. As a senior, Petrie was second-team All-Ivy, but the Tigers placed third in the conference to the undefeated (in Ivy League games) Corky Calhoun
-led Penn Quakers men's basketball team and McMillian's Lions. Although Princeton did not appear in the 1970 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
, they hosted Penn's game. All three of his varsity years were spent under head coach
Pete Carril
. Petrie was co-captain
of the 1969-70 team with classmate Hummer. Petrie was All-East both as a junior and a senior.
Over the course of his career, Petrie accumulated 1321 point
s, which was third in school history at the end of his career in 1970 and remained seventh after the 2009-10 season. His 541 in 1968-69 was fourth to each of Bill Bradley
's single-season totals until Brian Taylor
moved him down to sixth where he still stands. He continued to rank fourth in school history with a 18.3 points/game average through the 2009-10 season. His 1969-70 single season average of 22.3 is sixth behind only Bradley and Taylor and his 20.8 average the prior year stands eighth. His 530 career field goal
stands fourth on the school list behind Bradley Kit Mueller
and Craig Robinson. 216 field goals in 1968-69 ranks fifth behind Bradley and Taylor, while his 189 the following year ranks eighth. 17 made against Fordham, January 26, 1970 trails only Bradley's three best nights.
with the Boston Celtics
' Dave Cowens
after averaging 24.8 points per game. Until Damon Stoudamire
's 54 point performance in 2005, Petrie held the Blazers' individual scoring record for one game at 51 — a feat he accomplished twice. His jersey number, 45, was retired by the Blazers. Following the 1975-76 NBA season he was traded to the Atlanta Hawks
in a transaction that landed Portland Maurice Lucas
. Petrie did not play any games for the Hawks after suffering a career-ending knee injury.
Petrie is credited as the first NBA player to switch from Converse brand athletic shoe, which were popular in the 1970s, to Nike
brand.
twice with the Sacramento Kings, first in 1999 and again in 2001.
On December 29, 2009, Petrie received a three-year extension as team president through the 2012-2013 season.
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 current basketball team executive. A native of 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...
, he played professional basketball 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...
(NBA) 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...
where he won NBA Rookie of the Year in 1971. After retirement as a player he entered management, and is the current President of Basketball Operations for the Sacramento 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...
in the NBA.
Early life
Geoff Petrie was born in Darby, PennsylvaniaDarby, Pennsylvania
Darby is a borough in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States, along Darby Creek southwest of downtown Philadelphia. It has a public library founded in 1743 and a cemetery more than 300 years old. The Quakers lived there early in the colonial era. Darby was settled about 1660 and was...
, on April 17, 1948. He attended Springfield High School, in Springfield, Pennsylvania
Springfield Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania
Springfield Township, or simply Springfield, is a township and a Census Designated Place in Delaware County in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. The population was 23,677 at the 2000 census...
, and played collegiate ball at Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
.
In Petrie's sophomore season at Princeton, the team was co-champion of the Ivy League with a 20-6 (12-3 Ivy) record. Despite the fact that Princeton had three of the five first-team All-Ivy team members, including Petrie plus second-team member John Hummer
John Hummer
John Hummer is a venture capitalist and retired professional basketball player who was an original member of the Buffalo Braves after starring for the Princeton Tigers men's basketball team...
, they lost the one-game league playoff to the Jim McMillian
Jim McMillian
James M. "Jim" McMillian is a retired American professional basketball player. After starring at Thomas Jefferson High School in Brooklyn, McMillian played college basketball at Columbia University. He led Columbia to a three-year mark of 63-14, and their last NCAA Tournament appearance in 1968,...
-led 1968 Columbia Lions men's basketball
Columbia Lions men's basketball
The Columbia Lions Basketball team is the basketball team that represents Columbia University in New York City, New York, United States. The school's team currently competes in the Ivy League. The team's last appearance in the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament was in 1968...
team. That year the team rose to as high as 8th in the AP Poll
AP Poll
The Associated Press College Poll refers to weekly rankings of the top 25 NCAA teams in one of three Division I college sports: football, men's basketball and women's basketball. The rankings are compiled by polling sportswriters across the nation...
. The following season, Petrie led the Ivy League in scoring (23.9 point
Point (basketball)
Points in basketball are used to keep track of the score in a game. Points can be accumulated by making field goals or free throws ....
s/game in conference games), and the team accumulated a 19-7 (14-0) record, including an appearance in the 1969 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
1969 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1969 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 25 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 8, 1969, and ended with the championship game on March 22 in Louisville, Kentucky...
. They lost to St. John's
St. John's Red Storm men's basketball
The St. John's Red Storm men's basketball team represents the St. John's University in Queens, New York. The team participates in the Big East Conference. The men’s coach Norm Roberts was fired on March 19, 2010...
in the tournament, but Petrie was again on the first-team All-Ivy squad. As a senior, Petrie was second-team All-Ivy, but the Tigers placed third in the conference to the undefeated (in Ivy League games) Corky Calhoun
Corky Calhoun
David "Corky" Calhoun is an American former professional basketball player.Calhoun played college basketball for the University of Pennsylvania. Calhoun was selected by the Phoenix Suns in the 1972 NBA Draft with the 4th overall pick and by the Kentucky Colonels in the 1972 American Basketball...
-led Penn Quakers men's basketball team and McMillian's Lions. Although Princeton did not appear in the 1970 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
1970 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1970 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 25 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 7, 1970, and ended with the championship game on March 21 in College Park, Maryland...
, they hosted Penn's game. All three of his varsity years were spent under head coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
Pete Carril
Pete Carril
Peter J. "Pete" Carril is a former collegiate head coach and former NBA assistant with the Sacramento Kings.-Early years:...
. Petrie was co-captain
Captain (sports)
In team sports, a captain is a title given to a member of the team. The title is frequently honorary, but in some cases the captain may have significant responsibility for strategy and teamwork while the game is in progress on the field...
of the 1969-70 team with classmate Hummer. Petrie was All-East both as a junior and a senior.
Over the course of his career, Petrie accumulated 1321 point
Point (basketball)
Points in basketball are used to keep track of the score in a game. Points can be accumulated by making field goals or free throws ....
s, which was third in school history at the end of his career in 1970 and remained seventh after the 2009-10 season. His 541 in 1968-69 was fourth to each of Bill Bradley
Bill Bradley
William Warren "Bill" Bradley is an American hall of fame basketball player, Rhodes scholar, and former three-term Democratic U.S. Senator from New Jersey. He ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic Party's nomination for President in the 2000 election.Bradley was born and raised in a suburb of St....
's single-season totals until Brian Taylor
Brian Taylor (basketball)
Brian Dwight Taylor is a retired American professional basketball player. A 6'2" guard from Princeton University, he was selected by the Seattle SuperSonics in the second round of the 1972 NBA Draft...
moved him down to sixth where he still stands. He continued to rank fourth in school history with a 18.3 points/game average through the 2009-10 season. His 1969-70 single season average of 22.3 is sixth behind only Bradley and Taylor and his 20.8 average the prior year stands eighth. His 530 career field goal
Field goal (basketball)
In basketball, the term field goal refers to a basket scored on any shot or tap other than a free throw, worth two or three points depending on the distance of the attempt from the basket. "Field Goal" is the official terminology used by the National Basketball Association in their rule book,...
stands fourth on the school list behind Bradley Kit Mueller
Kit Mueller
Christopher J. "Kit" Mueller is a retired American basketball player. He played high school basketball in the Chicago metropolitan area for Downers Grove South High School...
and Craig Robinson. 216 field goals in 1968-69 ranks fifth behind Bradley and Taylor, while his 189 the following year ranks eighth. 17 made against Fordham, January 26, 1970 trails only Bradley's three best nights.
Professional career
At 6'4" he could play either guard or forward positions and was a long range shooter in an era devoid of the three-point line. He played in two All-Star games and in 1971, the Blazers' first year in existence, was named co-Rookie of the YearNBA Rookie of the Year Award
The National Basketball Association's Rookie of the Year Award is an annual National Basketball Association award given since the 1952–53 NBA season, to the top rookie of the regular season. The winner receives the Eddie Gottlieb Trophy, which is named in honor of the Philadelphia Warriors head...
with the Boston Celtics
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
' Dave Cowens
Dave Cowens
David William Cowens is a retired American professional basketball player and NBA head coach. At 6'9", he played the center and occasionally the power forward position. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1991...
after averaging 24.8 points per game. Until Damon Stoudamire
Damon Stoudamire
Damon Lamon Stoudamire is a retired American professional basketball player who is currently an assistant coach for the Memphis Tigers men's basketball team. The , point guard was selected with the 7th overall pick by the Toronto Raptors in the 1995 NBA Draft and won the 1995–96 NBA Rookie of the...
's 54 point performance in 2005, Petrie held the Blazers' individual scoring record for one game at 51 — a feat he accomplished twice. His jersey number, 45, was retired by the Blazers. Following the 1975-76 NBA season he was traded 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:...
in a transaction that landed Portland Maurice Lucas
Maurice Lucas
Maurice Lucas was an American professional basketball player. The first two years of his postcollegiate career were spent in the American Basketball Association with the Spirits of St. Louis and Kentucky Colonels...
. Petrie did not play any games for the Hawks after suffering a career-ending knee injury.
Petrie is credited as the first NBA player to switch from Converse brand athletic shoe, which were popular in the 1970s, to Nike
Nike, Inc.
Nike, Inc. is a major publicly traded sportswear and equipment supplier based in the United States. The company is headquartered near Beaverton, Oregon, which is part of the Portland metropolitan area...
brand.
Later life
Petrie worked in the private sector for several years after leaving the NBA, and in 1985 began working for the Blazers. He worked as a commentator for Blazer radio broadcasts and several other positions before being hired as senior vice president for operations. He left Portland in 1994 and was hired by Sacramento as president of basketball operations. As an executive he won the NBA Executive of the Year AwardNBA 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,...
twice with the Sacramento Kings, first in 1999 and again in 2001.
On December 29, 2009, Petrie received a three-year extension as team president through the 2012-2013 season.