Larry Cannon (basketball)

Lawrence T. Cannon
Born	Template:Birth date Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died	29 May 2024(2024-05-29) (aged 77) Fort Myers, Florida, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Professional basketball player, basketball coach
Years active	1969–1974 (player), 1975–1979 (coach)
Known for	ABA All-Star, 5th overall pick in 1969 NBA draft

Lawrence T. Cannon (April 12, 1947 – May 29, 2024) was a professional basketball athlete hailing from Philadelphia, USA. Although he was chosen as the fifth overall pick in the first round of the 1969 NBA draft by the Chicago Bulls, Cannon opted to pursue his career in the American Basketball Association instead. Recognized as an ABA All-Star, he maintained an average of 16.6 points per game throughout his ABA and NBA tenure after an impressive collegiate career at La Salle University. His time as a professional player was cut short due to persistent phlebitis. Cannon died at his residence in Fort Myers, Florida on May 29, 2024, at the age of 77.

High school career

Cannon, a guard by position, was born and raised in Philadelphia. While attending Abraham Lincoln High School, he established scoring records that remain unbroken, ranking just behind Wilt Chamberlain for total points scored among Philadelphia high school players. In 1965, Cannon set a Public League postseason record by scoring 49 points in Lincoln's 84–78 victory over Roxborough High School.

He earned recognition as a Parade All-American during his high school years.

Collegiate career

During his time at La Salle University, Cannon led his team with 140 assists and ranked second with 147 rebounds in the 1968–1969 season, contributing to a remarkable 23–1 team record. Across three seasons, he averaged 19.1 points per game and accumulated a total of 1,430 points, receiving All-American accolades.

As a sophomore in the 1966–1967 season under Coach Joseph Heyer, Cannon posted averages of 18.7 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game, helping La Salle achieve a 14–12 record. The following season with Coach Jim Hardin saw him improve to averages of 19.5 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 4.8 assists while the team finished with a 20–8 record.

In his senior year led by Coach Tom Gola, Cannon averaged 19.0 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 6.1 assists per game and earned second-team All-America honors. Despite being ranked second nationally behind UCLA, La Salle was prohibited from participating in the NCAA tournament due to recruiting infractions. Over his final two years, the team compiled a stellar 43–9 record including an undefeated 15–0 mark in the Middle Atlantic Conference.

Throughout his collegiate career spanning 75 games, Cannon maintained averages of 19.1 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per contest.

Professional career

Cannon was drafted fifth overall by the Chicago Bulls in the 1969 NBA draft and also selected by the Miami Floridians in the ABA draft that same year; he chose to compete in the ABA.

In his rookie season (1969–70), playing for the Floridians, he averaged 11.8 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game as the team concluded with a 23–61 record under coaches Jim Pollard and Harold Blitman.

The following season (1970–71), Cannon led the Denver Rockets with an average of 26.6 points per game while also contributing 4.2 rebounds and 5.6 assists over an 80-game span. His performance earned him a place on the All-ABA Second Team—a notable distinction achieved without participation in the ABA All-Star Game.

During the 1971–72 campaign with the Indiana Pacers, Cannon posted averages of 6.6 points, 2.6 assists, and 1.7 rebounds as part of the squad that secured the ABA Championship against the New York Nets.

Over his professional tenure, Cannon played for several teams: Miami Floridians (1969–70), Denver Rockets (1970–71), Memphis Pros (1971–72), Indiana Pacers (1971–72 and again in 1973–74) within the ABA; and also appeared for the Philadelphia 76ers (1973–74) in the NBA. He participated in a total of 213 combined ABA/NBA games with career averages of 16.6 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game.

His playing days were ultimately curtailed due to chronic phlebitis.

Coaching career

Following his playing days, Cannon moved into coaching within the Eastern Basketball Association and Continental Basketball Association. He served as head coach for the Lancaster Red Roses from 1975 through 1977 and later guided the Baltimore Metros / Mohawk Valley Thunderbirds during the 1978–79 campaign, achieving a cumulative coaching record of 40 wins and 20 losses.

ABA/NBA

Source

Regular season

|- | style="text-align:left;"| | style="text-align:left;"|Miami (ABA) | 57 || || 26.4 || .383 || .267 || .681 || 2.5 || 2.7 || || || 11.8 |- | style="text-align:left;"| | style="text-align:left;"|Denver (ABA) | 80 || || 38.7 || .436 || .261 || .794 || 4.2 || 5.2 || || || 26.6 |- | style="text-align:left;"| | style="text-align:left;"|Memphis (ABA) | 26 || || 26.7 || .370 || .250 || .753 || 2.8 || 3.0 || || || 16.8 |- | style="text-align:left;"| | style="text-align:left;"|Indiana (ABA) | 28 || || 17.1 || .383 || .167 || .718 || 1.2 || 2.6 || || || 6.6 |- | style="text-align:left;"| | style="text-align:left;"| Indiana (ABA) | 3 || || 8.7 || .429 || – || .333 || 1.0 || 1.0 || .0 || .0 || 2.3 |- | style="text-align:left;"| | style="text-align:left;"| Philadelphia (NBA) | 19 || 0 || 17.6 || .386 || || .679 || 1.9 || 2.7 || .4 || .2 || 6.2 |- class="sortbottom" | style="text-align:center;" colspan=2| Career (ABA) | 194 || || 29.9 || .412 || .257 || .762 || 3.0 || 3.7 || .0 || .0 || 17.7 |- class="sortbottom" | style="text-align:center;" colspan=2| Career (overall) | 213 || 0 || 28.8 || .411 || .257 || .760 || 2.9 || 3.6 || .3 || .2||16.6

Honors

• Inducted into the Middle Atlantic Conference Hall of Fame in the year 2018.
• One of the first inductees into the Philadelphia Big 5 Hall of Fame in 1973, joining other distinguished players including Cliff Anderson and Guy Rodgers.
• Honored by induction into the Pennsylvania Basketball Hall of Fame.
• Entered the La Salle Hall of Athletes in 1977.
• Named an Atlantic 10 Conference Legend in the year 2010.
• La Salle University retired his #20 jersey during December of 2016.
• Part of La Salle’s notable basketball squad from the 1968–69 season, which was inducted into both the Philadelphia Big 5 Hall of Fame and La Salle Hall of Athletes between the years of 2016 and 2019.