Willie Wise

Nickname: "Wonderous Willie"
Ht. 6-6
Wt. 220
College - Drake
ABA Teams: Los Angeles (1969-70), Utah (1970-71 to 1973-74), Virginia (1974-75 to 1975-76)

Undrafted; Walk-on with the Los Angeles Stars in 1969-70; 3-Time ABA All-Star; 2-Time ABA All-Defensive Team; Member of ABA All-Rookie Team in 1969-70; 2-Time Member of ABA All-Pro Team; Member of 1970-71 Utah Stars ABA Championship Team; After the ABA/NBA Merger Wise played for two NBA teams, the Denver Nuggets (1976-77) and the Seattle Supersonics (1977).

From Jim O'Brien's 1972-73 Complete Handbook of Pro Basketball:
Burning desire to excel in all phases of game has pushed this modestly talented player to great heights . . . Regarded as one of best two-way players in pro ranks . . . In 1971-72 season barely trailed Big Z in scoring, with 23.2 points per game compared to 23.6, and in 1973 playoffs Willie upped his norm to 25.3 to lead the team . . . During Stars' drive to Western title, he scored 20 or more points in 31 consecutive games. High game was 50 against Kentucky Colonels on February 23, 1972 . . . Strong rebounder as shown by 10.7 average, and shoots well -- 50.7% from field in regular season and 56.6 during playoffs . . . Looks pudgy and sleepy, but it is strictly a masquerade . . . Was working on ground crew for minor league baseball team in Des Moines, Iowa, where he went to school, when Los Angeles Stars invited him to come for tryout . . . Was overweight, but made team, and became starter at end of first season, and helped the Stars, a tailender all season, make it all the way to ABA Finals before bowing to Indiana Pacers . . . May be best defensive forward in league . . . Is quick enough to guard a guard when asked to. Most important, he wants to play solid defense . . . Team's pool shark . . . Jehovah Witness and interested in ministry . . . Only Utah Star who doesn't wear flag patch on shorts, owing to Jehovah's Witness faith.

GP Min FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% TReb AST PF Pnts RPG APG PPG
Career ABA Totals 475 17025 3478 7297 .477 21 96 .219 2133 2921 .730 4322 1452 1606 9110 9.1 3.1 19.2
ABA Playoff Totals 68 2592 564 1120 .504 2 10 .200 292 411 .710 644 224 223 1422 9.5 3.3 20.9
ABA All-Star Totals 3 95 20 40 .500 0 0 .000 9 11 .818 22 7 6 49 7.3 2.3 16.3

When Willie Wise played for the Utah Stars, Sports Illustrated called him "best two-way performer in pro basketball." But, to Dan Pattison, Wise was "indescribable." Read Dan Pattison's special retrospective on Wise's ABA career to find out why.

Sound Clip: Wise explains how he developed his game before playing in the ABA.

Streaming RealAudio file -- RealPlayer plug-in required (free download here)
Clip courtesy of Van Vance and used with permissio)

Wise uniform photos courtesy of Bob Lieb and James Tiucker

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