| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1950-07-18)July 18, 1950 |
| Died | July 31, 2020(2020-07-31) (aged 70) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) |
| Listed weight | 185 lb (84 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Overbrook (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) |
| College | Elizabeth City State (1967–1971) |
| NBA draft | 1971: 3rd round, 47th overall pick |
| Drafted by | Chicago Bulls |
| Playing career | 1971–1982 |
| Position | Point guard /shooting guard |
| Number | 32, 12, 11 |
| Career history | |
| 1971–1974 | Kentucky Colonels |
| 1974–1975 | New York Nets |
| 1975–1980 | San Antonio Spurs |
| 1980–1981 | Portland Trail Blazers |
| 1981–1982 | Golden State Warriors |
| Career highlights | |
| Career ABA and NBA statistics | |
| Points | 6,203 (7.4 ppg) |
| Assists | 3,146 (3.7 apg) |
| Steals | 1,349 (1.8 spg) |
Stats at NBA.com  | |
| Stats atBasketball Reference | |
Michael Eugene Gale (July 18, 1950 – July 31, 2020) was an Americanbasketball player.
After graduating fromPhiladelphia'sOverbrook High School, Gale, a 6'4"guard, playedcollege basketball atElizabeth City State University.
He was drafted in the third round of the1971 NBA draft by theChicago Bulls and by theKentucky Colonels in the 1971American Basketball Association draft. Gale opted to play for the Colonels.
Gale played in theNational Basketball Association andAmerican Basketball Association as a member of theKentucky Colonels (1971–1974), theNew York Nets (1974–1975), theSan Antonio Spurs (1975–1980), thePortland Trail Blazers (1980–1981), and theGolden State Warriors (1981–1982). He tallied 6,203 career points to go with 3,146 careerassists, and won the1974 ABA Championship while with the Nets.
He was twice named to the ABA's All-Defensive First Team. Gale died at the age of 70 on July 31, 2020.[1]Nicknamed "Sugar" because his shot was so sweet, as well as "Sticky Fingers" for being able to steal the ball. Settled down in San Antonio, TX.
Gale is remembered for an incident as a member of theSan Antonio Spurs which occurred in the1978 NBA Playoffs during the Eastern Conference semi-final series against theWashington Bullets. When the Spurs traveled to Landover, MD, for Game 6 of the series, Gale's luggage, which contained his Spurs road uniform, was lost at the airport and he had to borrow and wear a Bullets road uniform turned inside out while playing in the game.[2]