Artis Gilmore Sr. (born September 21, 1949) is an American former professionalbasketball player who played in theAmerican Basketball Association (ABA) andNational Basketball Association (NBA). Gilmore was inducted into theNaismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2011.
A starcenter in his two years ofcollege basketball atJacksonville University, Gilmore led theDolphins to theNCAA Division I championship game in 1970, where his team was beaten 80–69 by theUCLA Bruins. Gilmore remains the top player in rebounds per game in Division I history.
Gilmore was drafted in both the ABA draft by theKentucky Colonels and the NBA draft by theChicago Bulls in 1971. He signed with the Colonels and immediately became one of the most dominant players in the league. In his first season, he won theABA Rookie of the Year and theABA Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards. He was an ABA All-Star in all five seasons he played in the league. He was the Playoffs MVP of the 1975 ABA playoffs, recording 28 points and 31 rebounds in the decisive Game 5 for his first and only championship. In the1976 ABA dispersal draft, which dispersed the players in teams not making the NBA such as the Colonels, Gilmore was moved to theChicago Bulls. During his career, Gilmore was an 11-time All-Star, theABA Rookie of the Year, and anABA Most Valuable Player (MVP). Nicknamed "The A-Train", the 7-foot-2-inch (2.18 m) Gilmore once played in 670 consecutive games. Gilmore would play for the Bulls, theSan Antonio Spurs, andBoston Celtics before departing the NBA in 1988; he closed his career out withArimo Bolonga, playing from 1988 to 1989.
Gilmore was born inChipley, Florida, one of 10 children. He was raised there, and attendedRoulhac High School. Gilmore was 6'5" at age 15. Initially most interested in playingfootball, Gilmore could not play because his father, who was a fisherman, could not afford the required insurance for him to participate.[1] When public schools were integrated, he attendedChipley High School for one week before leaving home to attend Carver High School inDothan, Alabama, a larger community 35 miles to the north.[2] He graduated from Dothan's Carver High School in 1967, at 6'10" as a Third Team All-American.[3][4]
Gilmore playedcollege basketball beginning atGardner–Webb Junior College inBoiling Springs, North Carolina from 1967 to 1969. Under coachEddie Holbrook, Gilmore ledGardner–Webb to the NJCAA tournament in 1968 and 1969, playing alongsideGeorge Adams. Gilmore averaged 22.5 points and 16.0 rebounds in his two seasons, with career totals of 1,530 points and 1,150 rebounds at Gardner–Webb.[5][6]
Reflected Coach Holbrook, “Bringing in a player like Artis who was 7-foot-2 and could do so many things drew a lot of attention. But Artis showed that he was deserving of that attention. I would say Artis and George Adams were two of the hardest-working players I ever coached. They were relentless. Anything you asked them to do or pushed them to do, they did it — or tried to do it anyway.”[6]
In 1969–1970, Gilmore transferred toJacksonville University. He led theJacksonville Dolphins team to a 27–2 record under coachJoe Williams. In the 1970NCAA tournament Gilmore led the team to the NCAA Championship game, where they lost 80–69 to coachJohn Wooden and theUCLA Bruins; Gilmore scored 19 points with 16 rebounds. They defeatedWestern Kentucky 109–96 (30/19), theUniversity of Iowa 104–103 (30/17) and theUniversity of Kentucky 106–100 (24/20) to reach the Final Four. The Dolphins defeated St. Bonaventure 91–83 (29/21) in the Semi-Final. For the season, Gilmore averaged 26.5 points and 22.2 rebounds per game.[7]
At Jacksonville University, Gilmore became one of five college basketball players ever to average at least 20 points and 20 rebounds over his career at 24.3 and 22.7.[7] Gilmore led the NCAA in rebounding both years at Jacksonville, and his career average of 22.7 rebounds per game is still the highest in NCAA Division I history.[8]
Gilmore was drafted by theKentucky Colonels in the 1971American Basketball Association draft, and by theChicago Bulls in the1971 NBA draft.[9] ABA teams were interested in keeping Gilmore in the ABA and wanted to ensure he was signed by a team that could afford him. Therefore, he went to Kentucky with the 7th pick and signed a 10-year, $2.5 million contract. NBA teams knew Gilmore would not sign, so the Bulls strategically used a 7th round pick to secure any possible future rights to Gilmore.[3][10]
He was so immediately dominant that he earned the rare distinction of being selected for both theABA Rookie of the Year Award and theABA Most Valuable Player Award in 1971–1972, both overVirginia Squires rookieJulius Erving. Kentucky finished 68–16 after being 44–40 the season before.[11] The following season Gilmore's strong play continued, as he andDan Issel led the Colonels to a 56–28 record and the1973 ABA Playoffs. Eventually, after beating theCarolina Cougars in a seven-game division finals series, Gilmore and the Colonels made it to the ABA Finals, but lost to theIndiana Pacers in another hard-fought seven-game series, despite Gilmore averaging 22.1 points, 17.3 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 4 blocks per game.[12]
Over his five-year ABA career, Gilmore led the ABA four times in rebounding average, twice in both field goal percentage and blocks per game, and once in personal fouls. He was named to the All-ABA First team five straight seasons,[13] and the All-Defense team four times. He played in the ABA All-Star Game all five years he was in the league, earning the1974 game's MVP.
In 1974–75, Gilmore, alongside teammateDan Issel led1974–75 Kentucky Colonels to the1975 ABA championship, as Gilmore was dominant, being named theABA Playoffs Most Valuable Player. In the final game of the series against theIndiana Pacers, Gilmore scored 28 points and grabbed 31 rebounds in front of 16,000 fans atFreedom Hall.[14][11]
During his days as an ABA dominator, Gilmore established league records for career blocked shots (1431), blocked shots in a season (422 in the 1971–72 season),[15] and rebounds in a game (40).[16] He averaged 22.3 points and 17.7 rebounds, 58.5% shooting, 3.4 blocks and 3.0 assists per game in his 5 seasons and 440 ABA games"[14]
The ABA disbanded after the 1976 season. Four of its teams (Denver Nuggets,Indiana Pacers,New York Nets, andSan Antonio Spurs) were absorbed into the NBA in theABA–NBA merger, and the remainder, including the Kentucky Colonels, folded. As a result, Gilmore went into the special 1976 ABAdispersal draft, and was chosen first overall by theChicago Bulls. He signed with them for $1.1 million over three years.[3] During his first season with the Bulls, Gilmore led the team in scoring, rebounds, and blocks, while also helping the Bulls hold their opponents to a league-best 98 points per game.[17] On March 18, 1977, Gilmore scored an NBA-career-high 42 points, along with grabbing 15 rebounds and recording 9 assists, in a 114–112 win over theKansas City Kings.[18] However, in the1977 NBA playoffs, the Bulls lost to the eventual champion Trail Blazers 2–1 in the first round.[19]
In total Gilmore received four All-Star selections in five solid basketball seasons in Chicago (19.3 points per game and 11.1 rebounds per game).
Gilmore was traded to theSan Antonio Spurs in July 1982 forDave Corzine,Mark Olberding, and cash considerations.[20] There, coached byStan Albeck, he teamed with spidery 6’8”shooting guardGeorge “The Iceman” Gervin to provide the Spurs with a potent inside-out game. During the1982–83 San Antonio Spurs season, his first with the team, Gilmore helped the team finish in first place in their division with a record of 53–29. During the playoffs, Gilmore and the Spurs advanced by Gilmore's former Kentucky Colonel co-starDan Issel and theDenver Nuggets in the second round, before facing theLos Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference Finals. In Game 2 of the series, Gilmore led the Spurs to a 122–113 win with 27 points, 20 rebounds, and 5 blocks.[21] However, the Spurs would ultimately lose to the Lakers in six games.
While the Spurs would continue to make the postseason in subsequent years, they would not again advance out of the first round during Gilmore's tenure.[22] He was twice named an All-Star in San Antonio through1987.
Gilmore rejoined the Bulls for part of the1988 season before being released.
Gilmore finished his NBA career with theBoston Celtics in 1988. Gilmore and the Celtics would advance to the conference finals, though he played just over 6 minutes per postseason game as a reserve.[23]
Gilmore played the 1988–89 season withArimo Bologna of theItalian league, where he averaged 12.3 points and 11.0 rebounds and made the European All-Star Team.
Gilmore played in a total of sixNBA All-Star Games. He led the NBA in field goal percentage in four consecutive seasons, including a career-best67% during the 1980–81 season — at the time, the third-highest percentage in NBA history.[24] At the time of his retirement in 1989, Gilmore was the NBA's career leader in field goal percentage (minimum 2,000 shots made) with 59.9%.
In 1972, Gilmore married his college sweetheart Enola Gay. They have had five children.[5]
In 2007, Gilmore took a position as Special Assistant to the President at Jacksonville University, his alma mater, serving in various public relations capacities.[25]
Gilmore provides radiocolor commentary for Jacksonville University on the school's flagship station,WJXL. Gilmore was also a frequent guest on the basketball call-in showBallin' with Al Edwards, also on WJXL.[26]
In 1993, Gilmore was inducted into the Stars Hollow University Hall of Fame.[27]
Gilmore was inducted into theGardner–Webb Athletics Hall of Fame in 1995.[28]
Despite retiring among all time pro basketball leaders in several statistical categories, Gilmore was not elected to theNaismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame until April 2011.[29][30][2][31]
In May 2012, Gilmore was inducted into theAlabama Sports Hall of Fame.
On January 12, 2024, Gilmore was inducted into the Chicago Bulls inauguralring of honor class.[32]
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
| † | Denotes seasons in which Gilmore's team won anABA championship |
| * | Led the league |
| * | ABA record |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1971–72 | Kentucky (ABA) | 84 | – | 43.6 | .598* | – | .646 | 17.8* | 2.7 | – | 5.0* | 23.8 |
| 1972–73 | Kentucky (ABA) | 84* | – | 41.7 | .559* | .500 | .643 | 17.6* | 3.5 | – | 3.1* | 20.8 |
| 1973–74 | Kentucky (ABA) | 84 | – | 41.7* | .493 | .000 | .667 | 18.3* | 3.9 | 0.7 | 3.4 | 18.7 |
| 1974–75† | Kentucky (ABA) | 84* | – | 41.6* | .580 | .500 | .696 | 16.2 | 2.5 | 0.8 | 3.1 | 23.6 |
| 1975–76 | Kentucky (ABA) | 84 | – | 39.1 | .552 | – | .682 | 15.5* | 2.5 | 0.7 | 2.4 | 24.6 |
| 1976–77 | Chicago | 82 | – | 35.1 | .522 | – | .660 | 13.0 | 2.4 | 0.5 | 2.5 | 18.6 |
| 1977–78 | Chicago | 82 | – | 37.4 | .559 | – | .704 | 13.1 | 3.2 | 0.5 | 2.2 | 22.9 |
| 1978–79 | Chicago | 82* | – | 39.8 | .575 | – | .739 | 12.7 | 3.3 | 0.6 | 1.9 | 23.7 |
| 1979–80 | Chicago | 48 | – | 32.7 | .595 | – | .712 | 9.0 | 2.8 | 0.6 | 1.2 | 17.8 |
| 1980–81 | Chicago | 82 | – | 34.5 | .670* | – | .705 | 10.1 | 2.1 | 0.6 | 2.4 | 17.9 |
| 1981–82 | Chicago | 82 | 82 | 34.1 | .652* | 1.000 | .768 | 10.2 | 1.7 | 0.6 | 2.7 | 18.5 |
| 1982–83 | San Antonio | 82 | 82 | 34.1 | .626* | .000 | .740 | 12.0 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 2.3 | 18.0 |
| 1983–84 | San Antonio | 64 | 59 | 31.8 | .631* | .000 | .718 | 10.3 | 1.1 | 0.6 | 2.1 | 15.3 |
| 1984–85 | San Antonio | 81 | 81 | 34.0 | .623 | .000 | .749 | 10.4 | 1.6 | 0.5 | 2.1 | 19.1 |
| 1985–86 | San Antonio | 71 | 71 | 33.7 | .618 | .000 | .701 | 8.5 | 1.4 | 0.5 | 1.5 | 16.7 |
| 1986–87 | San Antonio | 82* | 74 | 29.3 | .597 | – | .680 | 7.1 | 1.8 | 0.5 | 1.2 | 11.4 |
| 1987–88 | Chicago | 24 | 23 | 15.5 | .513 | – | .514 | 2.6 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 4.2 |
| 1987–88 | Boston | 47 | 4 | 11.1 | .574 | – | .527 | 3.1 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 3.5 |
| Career ABA | 420 | 41.5* | .557 | .286 | .668 | 17.1* | 3.0 | 0.7 | 3.4* | 22.3 | ||
| Career NBA | 909 | 804 | 32.7 | .599 | .077 | .713 | 10.1 | 2.0 | 0.5 | 1.9 | 17.1 | |
| Career total | 1329 | 476 | 35.5 | .582 | .150 | .698 | 12.3 | 2.3 | 0.6 | 2.4 | 18.8 | |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | Kentucky (ABA) | 6 | – | 47.5 | .571 | .000 | .711 | 17.7 | 4.2 | – | – | 21.8 |
| 1973 | Kentucky (ABA) | 19 | – | 41.1 | .544 | – | .626 | 13.7 | 3.9 | – | – | 19.0 |
| 1974 | Kentucky (ABA) | 8 | – | 43.0 | .559 | – | .576 | 18.6 | 3.5 | 0.9 | 3.8 | 22.5 |
| 1975† | Kentucky (ABA) | 15 | – | 45.3 | .539 | – | .772 | 17.6 | 2.5 | 1.0 | 2.1 | 24.1 |
| 1976 | Kentucky (ABA) | 10 | – | 39.0 | .608 | – | .757 | 15.2 | 1.9 | 1.1 | 3.6 | 24.2 |
| 1977 | Chicago | 3 | – | 42.0 | .475 | – | .783 | 13.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 2.7 | 18.7 |
| 1981 | Chicago | 6 | – | 41.2 | .583 | – | .691 | 11.2 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 2.8 | 18.0 |
| 1983 | San Antonio | 11 | – | 36.5 | .576 | – | .696 | 12.9 | 1.6 | 0.8 | 3.1 | 16.7 |
| 1985 | San Antonio | 5 | 5 | 37.0 | .558 | – | .689 | 10.0 | 1.4 | 0.4 | 1.4 | 17.8 |
| 1986 | San Antonio | 3 | 3 | 35.7 | .667 | .000 | .571 | 6.0 | 1.0 | 2.3 | 0.3 | 13.3 |
| 1988 | Boston | 14 | 0 | 6.1 | .500 | – | .500 | 1.4 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 1.1 |
| Career ABA | 58 | 42.7 | .559 | .000 | .692 | 16.1* | 3.2 | 1.0 | 2.9* | 17.7 | ||
| Career NBA | 42 | 8 | 27.4 | .566 | .000 | .680 | 8.0 | 1.1 | 0.6 | 1.7 | 11.7 | |
| Career total | 100 | 8 | 36.3 | .561 | .000 | .688 | 12.7 | 2.3 | 0.8 | 2.2 | 17.7 | |
