Who is Artis Gilmore?
Artis Gilmore is a retired professional basketball player from the National Basketball Association (NBA).
Notably, Artis is regarded as one of the NBA’s best left-handed scorers.
He has also participated in the American Basketball Association (ABA). From 1971 to 1976, he was a member of the ABA’s Kentucky Colonels.
Gilmore went on to play in the NBA for the Chicago Bulls, San Antonio Spurs, and Boston Celtics.
He also played center for the ABA and NBA teams, wearing jersey number 53. During the 1988-89 season, he also played for Arimo Bologna in the Italian League.
During his collegiate career, he also played for the Gardner-Webb Runnin’ Bulldogs and the Jacksonville Dolphins.
It’s no surprise that Gilmore is one of the most accomplished American and NBA players.
Artis has been named Most Valuable Player in both the playoffs and the All-Star game. He was also named to the ABA All-Star games five times.
Furthermore, many fans, experts, and media outlets regard him as the greatest Bulls center of all time. The player was frequently compared to other legendary centers such as Kareem Abdul Jabbar and Bill Russell.
Relationship Details, Artis Gilmore is Married?
Enola Gay is the wife of the former Bulls center. They met in college and have been together ever since.
Furthermore, they married right out of college in 1972. At the time of his marriage, Gilmore was only 23 years old.
The couple has five children and has been happily married for 49 years.
Artis and Enola have three daughters, Shawna, Priya, and Tiffany, as well as two sons, Otis James and Artis II.
All of their children are adults who have settled into their lives. Aside from that, the couple has a few grandchildren.
Quick facts about Artis Gilmore
Full Name | Artis Gilmore |
Birth Date | September 21, 1949 |
Birth Place | Chipley, Florida, the United States |
Nick Name | The A-Train, The Big A |
Religion | Christian |
Nationality | American |
Ethnicity | African American |
Education | Gardner–Webb University, Jacksonville University |
Horoscope | Virgo |
Artis Gilmore: Early Life, Age, Wiki, Parents, Ethnicity
Artis Gilmore was born in the Florida town of Chipley. Otis Gilmore and Mattie Lou Gilmore are his parents.
The former basketball player comes from a poor and hardworking family. Gilmore’s father worked as a fisherman, and his mother raised him and his nine siblings.
Otis didn’t have a steady job as a fisherman. As a result, the Gilmores struggled financially.
As the second oldest child, his childhood was cut short by his family’s financial difficulties.
Nonetheless, the upbeat and hardworking player considered himself fortunate.
The Great-A When he was a member of the Chicago Bulls,
He was also grateful to his parents for doing everything they could to provide for him and his siblings. Aside from that, he had sports to fall back on.
The athlete was passionate about football and aspired to be a tight end. His family, however, did not have enough money to cover his insurance.
Furthermore, he recognized his gifted height and transitioned to basketball. The A-Train was an instant success, and he quickly improved his basketball skills.
Education, Schooling, University
Before transferring to Chipley High School, the NBA center attended an all-black school called T. J. Roulhac.
He did not stay at the school for more than a week and transferred to Carver High School in Alabama. Furthermore, the former Bulls player graduated from Carver High School in 1967.
He mostly played basketball for T. J. and Carver in high school. Nonetheless, he was well-known as a player in Carver.
Professional Career, (Former NBA)
Beginnings of a Career
The basketballer attended Roulhac High School and Carver High School, where he participated in basketball and other sports.
He graduated from Carver with honors, including Third Team All-American status.
The athlete decided to attend Gardner-Webb University after graduating from high school. Similarly, he played collegiate basketball for George Washington University’s Runnin’ Bulldogs.
Eddie Holbrook, the then-head coach at GWU, regarded Gilmore as one of the hardest working players he had ever coached.
Artis led the Bulldogs to the NJCAA tournaments in 1968 and 1969 while playing for them. The NBA player then transferred to Jacksonville University.
Gilmore, Artis The University of Jacksonville
Artis Gilmore Assisted the Jacksonville Dolphins to the 1970 NCAA Tournament and, eventually, the NCAA Championship game while playing collegiate basketball for the Jacksonville Dolphins.
The UCLA Bruins, on the other hand, defeated the Dolphins. Nonetheless, he had a stellar career in Jacksonville.
Furthermore, his career average of 22.7 rebounds per game remains the highest in NCAA Division I history.
A Job in the ABA
The ABA and NBA were very interested in the player’s college basketball career. Both leagues were eager to have him join their teams.
As a result, he was selected in the 1971 NBA and ABA drafts. Gilmore, on the other hand, chose to play for the ABA’s Kentucky Colonels.
Learn More About This Former ABA and NBA Center: Bio of George Mikan: Net Worth, Death, NBA, Lakers, and College >>
Colonels of Kentucky
Following his draft into the ABA, the center signed a ten-year, $2.5 million contract with the Colonels.
Despite this, he only played for five seasons before the ABA folded in 1976. He made his presence known shortly after joining the ABA team.
The former athlete won the ABA Rookie of the Year Award and the ABA Most Valuable Player Award in his first season with Kentucky.
Colonels’ Quarters Gilmore, Artis
While playing for the Kentucky Colonels, Artis Gilmore
Aside from that, he led the American league in rebounding, FGPs, blocks per game, and so on.
Similarly, The Big A was a five-time All-ABA First Team selection, a four-time All-Defense selection, and a participant in five ABA All-Star Games.
Furthermore, the former NBA player was named Most Valuable Player in 1974. He was the Playoffs MVP in the 1974-75 ABA season after winning the ABA Championship.
NBA Profession
The Chicago Bulls
Artis joined the Chicago Bulls in the National Basketball League through the dispersal draft after the ABA folded in 1976.
Furthermore, he agreed to a three-year, $1.1 million contract with the Bulls. In 1978, the Spurs’ center was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team.
He also appeared in four All-Star games for the Bulls. In addition, Chicago extended his contract for three years, allowing him to play from 1976 to 1982.
Boston Celtics vs. San Antonio Spurs
After being traded to the Spurs in 1982, the A-Train brought his A-game. He was also named to two All-Star teams while playing for San Antonio.
Furthermore, he collaborated with shooting guard George Gervin to provide some jaw-dropping games for the Spurs. In 1988, he joined the Boston Celtics.
The Italian League
Following his NBA career, Artis spent a season with Arimo Bologna in the Italian League. The former Celtics player was also named to the European All-Star Team.
Hall of Fame for Basketball
In 1993, Gilmore was inducted into the “Jacksonville University Hall of Fame.” In 1995, he was inducted into the “Gardner-Webb Athletics Hall of Fame.”
Artis was also inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2011. However, he had to wait 17 years after his eligibility to be inducted.
In 2012, he was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame.
Net Worth, Salary, Assets
Through his career in the ABA and NBA, the Spurs’ center has amassed a sizable fortune.
His net worth exceeds $5 million. Furthermore, he was under contract with the Colonels for $2.5 million and the Bulls for $1.1 million.
Aside from that, the athlete made a good living through endorsements and sponsorships.
Rumors and Controversy
Talking about his rumors and controversy, he has not been in any part of rumors as well as controversy to date.
What is the Height of Artis Gilmore? Weight, Full Body Status
Height | 7’2″ (2.18 m) |
Weight | 240 lb (109 kg) |
Wingspan | 7’8 |
Hair Color | Black |
Eye Color | Dark Brown |
Build | Athletic |
Profession | Former NBA & ABA Player |
Social Media Accounts
The legendary center is not particularly active on social media. Despite this, he has over 973 followers on Twitter.
However, he hasn’t recently shared or tweeted anything. Aside from that, Artis’ Twitter account has mostly been used to share basketball-related news, events, and highlights.
Furthermore, the basketball player’s cover photo is of his family. He’s also shared adorable photos of himself with his wife and grandchildren.
You May Also Like To Read: Kendyl Tristan, Luke Macfarlane