Willie Wise

Career

A 6"6" forward from Drake University, Wise earned a spot on the American Basketball Association"s (American Bar Association) Los Angeles (later Utah) Stars in 1969. He would prove to be one of the best all-around players in the league, as he was both a proficient scorer (192 points per game during his American Bar Association career) and a highly esteemed defender. Wise later played with the Virginia Squires.

On 7 February 2009, Drake University retired Wise"s #42 jersey that he wore for the Bulldogs.

Achievements

• Indeed, while playing for the Stars, who won the 1971 American Bar Association Championship, Sports Illustrated described him as "the best two-way performer in pro basketball".

Membership

After the American Bar Association-National Basketball Association merger in 1976, Wise played one full season and part of a second in the National Basketball Association as a member of the Denver Nuggets and Seattle SuperSonics.