Bob Rule

Bobby Rule
Born	Template:Birth date Riverside, California, U.S.
Died	September 5, 2019(2019-09-05) (aged 75) Riverside, California, U.S.
Occupation	Professional basketball player
Years active	1967–1974
Known for	NBA center for Seattle SuperSonics, Philadelphia 76ers, Cleveland Cavaliers, Milwaukee Bucks; 1970 NBA All-Star

Bobby Frank Rule (June 29, 1944 – September 5, 2019) was a professional basketball athlete from the United States who played as a center in the National Basketball Association (NBA). His career included tenures with the Seattle SuperSonics, Philadelphia 76ers, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Milwaukee Bucks.

Early years

Rule’s basketball journey began at Riverside Polytechnic High School. During his early collegiate period, he honed his defensive techniques and footwork under the guidance of coach Jerry Tarkanian at Riverside City College. In 1964, Rule led the Riverside City College team to an undefeated 35–0 season, securing the institution’s inaugural state championship and earning Most Valuable Player recognition at the California Junior College State Championships. Coach Tarkanian later described Rule as "the most dominant player in the history of California junior college basketball."

Following this success, Rule competed for two seasons with the Colorado State team. In 1966, he contributed to Colorado State’s advancement to the 1966 NCAA University Division basketball tournament, where they were defeated by a Houston squad featuring future Hall of Fame inductee Elvin Hayes. During the 1966–67 season, Rule participated in the Amateur Athletic Union representing Denver Capitol Federal and was honored as an AAU All-American.

NBA

Selected in the second round of the 1967 NBA draft, Rule rapidly established himself as a vital contributor to Seattle’s newly formed franchise. He earned a spot on the 1967–68 NBA All-Rookie Team, averaging 18.1 points per game—a rookie scoring record for the SuperSonics that stood for four decades until surpassed by Kevin Durant in 2008. His average of 9.5 rebounds per game ranks second among Seattle rookies. In his debut season, Rule set a team rookie high by scoring 47 points in a single game against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Rule elevated his performance over the subsequent two seasons. The 1968–69 campaign saw him average 24.0 points and 11.5 rebounds per contest. The next year, he improved to 24.6 points and 10.3 rebounds per game, registering five games with over 40 points—including a then-franchise record of 49 points versus the Philadelphia 76ers—and earned selection to the 1970 NBA All-Star Game.

In the opening games of the 1970–71 season, Rule posted averages of 32.7 points and 13.7 rebounds across three contests before sustaining a torn achilles tendon that ended his season after four games; his final averages were 29.8 points and 11.5 rebounds per game. Post-injury, he was unable to return to All-Star caliber play and saw reduced minutes until his retirement in 1974.

Later years

In recognition of his impact, Rule was inducted into the Riverside City College Athletics Hall of Fame in 2011.

He died on September 5, 2019, in Riverside, California.

Regular season

Year	Team	GP	MPG	FG%	FT%	RPG	APG	STL	BLK	PPG
1967–68	Seattle	82	29.6	.489	.658	9.5	1.2	–	–	18.1
1968–69	Seattle	82	37.9	.469	.682	11.5	1.7	–	–	24.0
1969–70	Seattle	80	37.0	.463	.714	10.3	1.8	–	–	24.6
1970–71	Seattle	4	35.5	.480	.833	11.5	1.8	–	–	29.8
1971–72	Seattle	16	15.2	.363	.535	3.4	0.4	–	–	7.1
1971–72	Philadelphia	60	33.1	.445	.695	8.0	1.8	–	–	17.3