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Center · 1974–75

Dennis Awtrey

Expansion-draft pick from Chicago, traded to Phoenix on 16 September 1974 together with Curtis Perry, Nate Hawthorne and the pick that became Adrian Dantley.

Twelve NBA seasons as a 6'10" center — Philadelphia, Chicago, Phoenix, Boston, Seattle and Portland. His best year came in 1974-75 in Phoenix, 9.9 points and 8.6 rebounds a game.

New Orleans took him from Chicago in the expansion draft of May 1974 and sent him to Phoenix on 16 September, together with Curtis Perry, Nate Hawthorne and the pick that became Adrian Dantley — a month before the first game. His Topps #74 still says JAZZ.

HOW HE CAME & WENTNew Orleans claimed him from Chicago in the May 1974 expansion draft and traded him to Phoenix on 16 September 1974, together with Curtis Perry, Nate Hawthorne and the pick that became Adrian Dantley — a month before the franchise's first game.

New Orleans Jazz tenure
1974–75
Position
Center
Born
1948, Hollywood, California
College
Santa Clara
Drafted
1970, 3rd round (No. 46), Philadelphia
In the archive
(Chicago Jazz) 1974 Topps #74.

With the Jazz

DENNIS AWTREY · 1974–75

No official games for the franchise. He was on the roster without ever appearing in a box score — the story of his short stay is in the biography above. Every man who wore the badge belongs in the checklist.

Why he is in the checklist. Topps printed his 1974-75 card with JAZZ down the side while he belonged to New Orleans — taken in the May 1974 expansion draft, traded to Phoenix that September. The signed copy is in this archive, and it is the only physical trace of the stint.

More info: Basketball-Reference ↗  ·  Wikipedia ↗

Did you know

DENNIS AWTREY · 3 NOTES
  • Best remembered by some for once punching Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in the jaw.
  • Moved to Manzanita, Oregon in 2012.
  • His 1974 Topps card names the Jazz although he never played for them.