Artis Gilmore Biography

Artis Gilmore, born on September 21, 1949, is an American former professional basketball player who competed in the ABA and NBA. He was honored with induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2011. During his college career at Jacksonville University, Gilmore served as a standout center and led his team to the NCAA Division I championship game in 1970. In 1971, he was selected in both the ABA draft by the Kentucky Colonels and the NBA draft by the Chicago Bulls. Gilmore earned recognition as ABA Rookie of the Year and ABA Most Valuable Player, and he was named to 11 All-Star teams. He has played for the Chicago Bulls, San Antonio Spurs, and Boston Celtics, and concluded his NBA career in 1988 before joining Arimo Bologna for the 1988–1989 season. His collegiate basketball journey began at Gardner–Webb Junior College in Boiling Springs, North Carolina, from 1967 to 1969.