Archie Clark (basketball)
Archie Clark | |
|---|---|
| Born | July 15, 1941 Conway, Arkansas, U.S. |
| Occupation | Professional basketball player (retired) |
| Years active | 1966–1976 |
| Known for | Originator of the crossover dribble technique; NBA All-Star |
Archie L. Clark (born July 15, 1941) is a retired American professional basketball athlete. Measuring 6 feet 2 inches (1.88 meters) tall, he played as a guard for five different teams in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and is widely recognized as the originator of the crossover dribble technique.
Early life
Clark entered the world in Conway, Arkansas as the fourth child among twelve siblings and grew up in Ecorse, Michigan, a suburb near Detroit. He started playing basketball during his sophomore year of high school and demonstrated talent in both basketball and baseball.
Following high school graduation, Clark encountered employment difficulties amid an economic downturn and consequently enlisted in the United States Army, where he served for three years. Shortly after his enlistment, he received a belated invitation to participate in spring training with the Detroit Tigers. While stationed at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland, Clark played intramural basketball under the guidance of coach Buzz Bennett, a former University of Minnesota athlete who played a key role in recruiting Clark to Minnesota’s basketball team.
College
At age 21, Clark was granted a basketball scholarship by the University of Minnesota and competed for three seasons (1963–66) under coach John Kundla. Playing as a guard for the Gophers, he posted averages of 11.1 points per game during his sophomore year, 14.3 points as a junior, and an impressive 24.5 points in his senior season—ranking him fourth in scoring within the Big Ten that year. Alongside future NBA All-Star Lou Hudson, Clark became the first African American to captain the team during his final year. His senior year performance earned him first-team Big Ten All-Conference recognition.
In addition to basketball, Clark contributed to the Gophers' baseball program, starting on their 1964 NCAA championship-winning team and serving as center fielder the subsequent season.
Los Angeles Lakers
Clark was selected by the Los Angeles Lakers in the fourth round (37th overall) of the 1966 NBA draft and went on to play ten seasons in the NBA (1966–1976) with teams including the Lakers, Philadelphia 76ers, Baltimore/Capital Bullets, Seattle SuperSonics, and Detroit Pistons.
As a rookie at age 25, Clark averaged 10.5 points, 2.7 assists, and 2.9 rebounds over 23.2 minutes per game while playing alongside future Hall of Famers Jerry West and Gail Goodrich. He finished third in voting for the Rookie of the Year, trailing behind Dave Bing and Lou Hudson. During the 1967–68 season, Clark secured the starting point guard role for the Lakers, posting averages of 19.9 points, 4.4 assists, and 4.2 rebounds per contest. His performance earned him selection to the Western All-Star team, where he scored 17 points in just 15 minutes on the court.
Philadelphia 76ers
In 1968, Clark was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers as part of a transaction that brought Hall of Fame center Wilt Chamberlain to Los Angeles. Chamberlain had been named NBA MVP for the 1967–68 season but departed Philadelphia amid conflicts over salary and ownership issues. Chamberlain’s time with the Lakers resulted in four NBA Finals appearances and one championship across five seasons.
Clark spent three seasons (1968–71) with Philadelphia. Initially logging 26.1 minutes per game on a roster that included Hall of Famers Hal Greer and Wali Jones, he became the starting point guard during the 1969–70 campaign, averaging 19.7 points and five assists across 37.8 minutes per game. His best statistical season came in 1970–71 when he led the team in playing time (39.6 minutes) and assists (5.4), while scoring an average of 21.3 points per game—second only to Hall of Famer Billy Cunningham. That year, Philadelphia advanced to the Eastern Conference Semifinals but fell to the Baltimore Bullets in a seven-game series; Clark averaged 23.6 points during those playoffs, including a standout performance with a game-high 37 points in Game 7.
Baltimore Bullets
On October 17, 1971, Clark was traded to the Baltimore Bullets from the 76ers, along with a 1973 second-round draft pick (Louie Nelson) and cash considerations, in exchange for Kevin Loughery and Fred Carter. Initially, Clark declined to play under his existing Philadelphia contract but returned to the Bullets nine days later amid contract renegotiations. During the 1971–72 season, he led the team by averaging 25.1 points and eight assists per game, teaming up with future Hall of Famer Earl Monroe. That season, Clark earned an All-Star selection, placed 12th in MVP voting, and was named to the All-NBA Second Team as a guard.
Contract dispute and reserve clause
Throughout the 1971–72 season, Clark and the Bullets were unable to finalize a new contract; Clark demanded $375,000 while the Bullets' offer stood at $135,000. Early in the 1972–73 campaign, Clark held out, with his lawyer exploring possible trade options. However, the Bullets filed a lawsuit to enforce the reserve clause that barred him from signing with other teams despite his contract having expired. A federal court upheld this clause in December 1972. Clark extended his holdout until a new deal was negotiated before arbitration became necessary.
In the 1972–73 season, Clark participated in only 39 games, averaging 18.3 points as the starting point guard. Following the franchise’s move to Landover, Maryland—where it was renamed the Capital Bullets—Clark sustained a separated shoulder in August 1973 that required surgery. He appeared in 56 games during the 1973–74 season, posting averages of 13.1 points and 5.1 assists while losing his starting point guard position to Kevin Porter, who averaged 14 points and 5.8 assists per contest.
Seattle SuperSonics and Detroit Pistons
On August 19, 1974, Clark was traded by the Washington Bullets to the Seattle SuperSonics in exchange for Dick Gibbs and a third-round draft pick in 1975 (48th overall, Tom Kropp). He served as Seattle’s starting point guard for one season, putting up averages of 13.9 points and 5.6 assists per game. In September 1975, Detroit Pistons acquired Clark by sending their first-round draft choice for 1978 to Seattle. Clark wrapped up his NBA tenure with the Pistons during the 1975-76 season as a reserve guard.
Career
Across his NBA career, Clark maintained averages of 16.3 points and 4.8 assists per game and earned two selections as an NBA All-Star along with All-NBA Second Team recognition in 1972.
Father of the crossover dribble
Clark is credited as an early pioneer of the crossover dribble—a signature move that earned him the nickname "Shake and Bake" and significantly influenced its widespread use throughout the NBA. His innovative approach has led many former players and coaches to regard him as the originator of the NBA crossover dribble.
NBA retired players association
In 1992, Clark co-established the National Basketball Retired Players Association together with Dave DeBusschere, Dave Bing, Dave Cowens, and Oscar Robertson.
Personal life
Following his basketball career, Clark returned to Ecorse and worked with the Michigan State Housing Development Authority. He also served as executive assistant to Wayne County Executive Ed McNamara. In 1977, Clark managed Harry White's mayoral campaign in Ecorse without success but went on to chair White's successful campaign in 1979. In 1987, Clark ran for mayor himself; although he won the primary against White, he narrowly lost the general election by fewer than 1,200 votes.
NBA
Source
Regular season
| Season | Team | Games Played | Games Started | Minutes Per Game | Field Goal % | Free Throw % | Rebounds Per Game | Assists Per Game | Steals Per Game | Blocks Per Game | Points Per Game |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Template:Nbay | L.A. Lakers | 76 | 23.2 | .452 | .708 | 2.9 | 2.7 | 10.5 | |||
| Template:Nbay | L.A. Lakers | 81 | 37.5 | .480 | .740 | 4.2 | 4.4 | 19.9 | |||
| Template:Nbay | Philadelphia | 82 | 26.1 | .478 | .697 | 3.2 | 3.6 | 13.5 | |||
| Template:Nbay | Philadelphia | 76 | 36.5 | .496 | .785 | 4.0 | 5.0 | 19.7 | |||
| Template:Nbay | Philadelphia | 82 | 82 | 39.6 | .496 | .787 | 4.8 | 5.4 | 21.3 | ||
| Template:Nbay | Philadelphia | 1 | 1 | 42.0 | .688 | .636 | 3.0 | 7.0 | 29.0 | ||
| Template:Nbay | Baltimore | 76 | 42.7 | .467 | .773 | 3.5 | 8.0 | 25.1 | |||
| Template:Nbay | Baltimore | 39 | 37.9 | .507 | .810 | 3.3 | 7.1 | 18.3 | |||
| Template:Nbay | Capital | 56 | 31.9 | .467 | .786 | 2.5 | 5.1 | 1.1 | .1 | 13.1 | |
| Template:Nbay | Seattle | 77 | 32.2 | .495 | .834 | 3.1 | 5.6 | 1.4 | .1 | 13.9 | |
| Template:Nbay | Detroit | 79 | 20.1 | .433 | .862 | 1.7 | 2.8 | .8 | .1 | 7.6 | |
| Career | 725 | 83 | 32.5 | .480 | .769 | 3.3 | 4.8 | 1.1 | .1 | 16.3 | |
| All-Star | 2 | 0 | 18.0 | .538 | 1.000 | .5 | 4.5 | 12.5 | |||
Playoffs
| Season | Team | Games Played | Minutes Per Game | Field Goal % | Free Throw % | Rebounds Per Game | Assists Per Game | Steals Per Game | Blocks Per Game | Points Per Game |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 NBA playoffs | 1966–67 Los Angeles Lakers season | 3 | 41.7 | .516 | .765 | 4.3 | 5.0 | 25.7 | ||
| 1968 NBA playoffs | 1967–68 Los Angeles Lakers season | 15 | 35.2 | .427 | .768 | 3.1 | 4.0 | 15.3 | ||
| 1969 NBA playoffs | 1968–69 Philadelphia 76ers season | 5 | 37.0 | .519 | .895 | 3.8 | 4.4 | 19.4 | ||
| 1970 NBA playoffs | 1969–70 Philadelphia 76ers season | 5 | 29.2 | .433 | .727 | 2.8 | 3.6 | 13.6 | ||
| 1971 NBA playoffs | 1970–71 Philadelphia 76ers season | 7 | 42.1 | .475 | .733 | 4.1 | 4.9 | 23.6 | ||
| 1972 NBA playoffs | 1971–72 Baltimore Bullets season | 6 | 45.2 | .437 | .847 | 4 | 7.8 | 26.7 | ||
| 1973 NBA playoffs | 1972–73 Baltimore Bullets season | 5 | 42.8 | .500 | .778 | 3,4 | 5,2 | 21,2 | ||
| 1974 NBA playoffs | 1973–74 Capital Bullets season | 7 | 23,1 | .339 | .550 | 1,9 | 2,0 | .7 | 7,3 |