Dennis Awtrey

Dennis Awtrey is a former American professional basketball player who played twelve seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He has played for many NBA teams like the Chicago Bulls, Seattle SuperSonics, Phoenix Suns, and Portland Trail Blazers. He is known for his longevity in the league and a notable incident involving Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

In 1979, he became an NBA Champion while playing for the Seattle Supersonics.

Player Profile and Personal Life

Dennis Wade Awtrey was born on February 22, 1948, in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States of America. He stands 208 cm tall and his playing weight was listed at 104 kg. Awtrey played primarily as a center.

During a game in 1976, Dennis Awtrey, known for his physical play, delivered a notable punch to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's face. Frustrated by Abdul-Jabbar's frequent use of elbows, Awtrey chased him down the court, grabbed his jersey, spun him around, and landed a powerful right hook that left Abdul-Jabbar dazed.

This incident became one of the most memorable moments of Awtrey's 12-year NBA career.

High School and College Career

He attended Blackford High School. Later, Awtrey played college basketball for Santa Clara University from 1966 to 1970.

In 1969 and 1970, he was named WAC Player of the Year. Santa Clara later retired jersey number 24 in his honor.

Professional Career

Awtrey's professional basketball career began in 1970 when he was selected by the Philadelphia 76ers as the 46th overall pick in the third round of the NBA draft. Awtrey wore numbers 20, 21, and 34 throughout his career.

He started his NBA journey with the 76ers, where he played for two seasons before moving to the Chicago Bulls in 1972.

Awtrey's career was characterized by frequent team changes. After his stint with the Bulls, he played for the Phoenix Suns from 1974 to 1978, his longest tenure with a single team.

He then had brief periods with the Boston Celtics and Seattle SuperSonics, before returning to the Bulls for the 1979-1980 season.

The pinnacle of Awtrey's career came in 1979 when he won an NBA Championship with the Seattle SuperSonics.

After his championship season, he played once more for the SuperSonics in 1980-1981 before concluding his 12-year NBA career with the Portland Trail Blazers in the 1981-1982 season.

Post-Playing Career

After retiring from basketball, Awtrey moved to Manzanita, Oregon in 2012,
where he operates a bed-and-breakfast.

Career Highlights

• 1979 - NBA champion
• 1970 - WCAC Player of the Year
• 1969 - WCAC Player of the Year
• 1970 - First-team All-WCAC
• 1969 - First-team All-WCAC
• 1968 - First-team All-WCAC
• No. 24 retired by Santa Clara Broncos