Otis Birdsong

Otis Birdsong is an American former professional basketball player who starred in the National Basketball Association for twelve seasons and was a four-time NBA All-Star. He has played for the Kansas City Kings, New York Nets and the Boston Celtics.

Player Profile and Personal Life

Otis Lee Birdsong was born on December 9, 1955, in Winter Haven, Florida, USA. Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighing 190 pounds during his playing days, Birdsong played as a shooting guard and point guard, shooting right-handed.

After his basketball career, Birdsong worked in broadcasting for the University of Houston and later served as president and general manager of the NBA Development League's Arkansas RimRockers.

He has been recognized as one of the greatest athletes from Polk County, Florida.

High School and College Career

Birdsong attended Winter Haven High School, where he led the Blue Devils to a state championship and set school records for scoring. He then played college basketball at the University of Houston from 1973 to 1977.

He led the Southwest Conference in scoring and was named a consensus First-Team All-American and Southwest Conference Player of the Year in 1977.

Birdsong finished his collegiate career as Houston’s second all-time leading scorer with 2,832 points and had his No. 10 jersey retired by the Cougars.

Professional Career

Birdsong was selected by the Kansas City Kings with the second overall pick in the 1977 NBA draft. He spent four seasons with the Kings and in the 1980–81 season and earning three consecutive NBA All-Star selections.

Birdsong played a key role in leading the Kings to the 1981 Western Conference Finals before being traded to the New Jersey Nets in 1981. With the Nets, he embraced a more team-oriented role and helped the team reach the 1984 Eastern Conference Semifinals, including a memorable upset of the defending champion Philadelphia 76ers.

Birdsong finished his NBA career with the Boston Celtics and Tulsa Fast Breakers, retiring in 1990 after scoring over 12,000 points in the league.

Career Highlights

• 1975 – Gold medal, Pan American Games (Mexico City), representing the United States
• 1977 – Consensus First-Team All-American
• 1977 – Southwest Conference Player of the Year
• 1976, 1977 – First-Team All-Southwest Conference
• NBA All-Star (1979, 1980, 1981, 1984)
• 1981 – All-NBA Second Team
• 1989 – CBA champion (Tulsa Fast Breakers)

• No. 10 jersey retired by Houston Cougars