Rodgers, Guy W. Jr.
Basketball
b. Sept. 1, 1935, Philadelphia, PA
d. Feb. 19, 2001
The 6-foot, 185-pound Rodgers was one of the finest ball-handlers in basketball history. At Temple University, he averaged 19.6 points per game in three seasons as a starter and set a school record with 15 assists in a game.
A consensus All-American guard in 1958, Rodgers was a territorial pick of the Philadelphia Warriors in the NBA draft. The team moved to San Francisco before the 1962-63 season, when Rodgers led the league with 825 assists.
He was sent to the Chicago Bulls for two players, a draft choice, and cash in 1966. He was the NBA assist leader with 908 in 1966-67, his only full season with Chicago. The Bulls traded him to the Cincinnati Royals for a player, two draft choices, and cash during the 1968-69 season.
Rodgers was chosen by the Milwaukee Bucks in the 1969 expansion draft and he retired after one season with them. He scored 10,415 points in 892 regular season NBA games, an 11.7 average, and had 6,917 assists, which was third all-time when he retired. Rodgers added 508 points and 286 assists in 47 playoff games.