Artis Gilmore
(Born 1949)
Hall of Fame Induction: 2011
Card Shown:
2014-15 Panini Flawless
Hall of Fame
Position: C
Height: 7’2″
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Artis Gilmore, “The A-Train,” played seventeen seasons of professional basketball, five in the ABA with the Kentucky Colonels and twelve in the NBA with the Chicago Bulls and San Antonio Spurs. The gentle giant was a tremendous rebounder and shot-blocker who controlled the paint, but Artis could also score the ball effectively.
Many were amazed at how long it took for Gilmore, one of the greatest centers to play the game, to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Twenty-three years after he retired Artis finally received the recognition that he so richly deserved.
Awards and Honor
- Artis led Jacksonville University to the Final Four in the NCAA Tournament in 1970. The Dolphins eventually lost the championship game to UCLA, 80-69.
- In 1971-72, Gilmore was selected the ABA Rookie of the Year and the ABA Most Valuable Player.
- Artis was an ABA All-Star five out of his five seasons and an NBA All-Star in seven of his twelve seasons. In 1974 he was the ABA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player.
- Artis was named to the ABA First Team in all five years that he played for the Kentucky Colonels.
- Gilmore was selected to the ABA All-Defensive First Team four times and the NBA All-Defensive Second Team once.
Points of Interest
- At Jacksonville University, Artis averaged 22.7 rebounds per game over the two years that he played for the Dolphins, setting an NCAA record that has never been broken.
- Hubie Brown, who coached Artis to an ABA Championship in 1975, ranked Gilmore in the top three strongest men to play the game. The other two he named were Wilt Chamberlain and Shaquille O’Neal.
- Artis is widely considered the second best ABA player, behind only Julius Erving.
- Gilmore retired as the NBA career leader in field goal percentage, shooting 0.5990 during his time in the league.
- Artis finished his pro basketball career averaging 18.8 points per game (17.1 NBA and 22.3 ABA) and 12.3 rebounds per game (10.1 NBA and 17.1 ABA)
Statistics
Artis Gilmore Statistics
provided by Basketball-Reference.com
Personal Autograph Interaction
We did not have a lot of interaction with Artis Gilmore at the 2023 Hall of Fame Induction weekend. We saw him in the hotel lobby a few times and at the food court eating. Joshua and I knew that we would see him on Saturday afternoon since he was one of the signers scheduled for at the Hall of Fame autograph signing. The card Artis signed (pictured below) is his 1972-73 Topps rookie card. On this card he is pictured in his Kentucky Colonels uniform and is holding the iconic red, white, and blue ball used in the ABA.
Thank you, Artis!
In-Person Autograph Photo
