Guy Rodgers

Guy William Rodgers (September 1, 1935 – February 19, 2001) was an American professional basketball player born in Philadelphia. He spent twelve years (1958–1970) in the NBA, and was one of the league's best playmakers in the early to mid-1960s. Rodgers led the NBA in assists twice, and placed second six times. Rodgers was inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2014.

Amateur career
Rodgers attended Northeast High School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, graduating in 1954. He played collegiately at Temple University from 1955 to 1958 for Hall of Fame Coach Harry Litwack.

Rodgers led Temple to a 74–16 record and third-place finishes in the 1956 NCAA basketball tournament, 1957 National Invitation Tournament and the 1958 NCAA basketball tournament. He became the school's leading career scorer with 1,767 points (19.6 points per game). Rodgers remains the third leading scorer in Temple history

The 1958 AP First Team All-American team consisted of four Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame inductees: Rodgers at Temple, Elgin Baylor of Seattle, fellow Philadelphia native Wilt Chamberlain of Kansas, and Oscar Robertson of Cincinnati. The other was Don Hennon of Pittsburgh.

Warriors
Rodgers was a territorial pick of the Philadelphia Warriors in the 1958 NBA draft.

Rodgers played alongside Chamberlain with the Warriors from 1959 through 1964, and parts of the 1964-65 season. In Chamberlain's famous 100-point game, Rodgers recorded 20 assists.

In the 1962–63 season, Rodgers led the NBA in assists with 10.4 per game, playing in his first NBA All-Star game. On March 14, 1963, Rodgers tied Bob Cousy's NBA record of 28 assists in a single game.

Rodgers excelled the following season as well, and was named to his second consecutive All-Star game alongside Chamberlain. The 1964 Warriors team was dominant in the regular season, and defeated the St. Louis Hawks to advance to the NBA Finals before losing the series to the Boston Celtics 4-1.

Bulls
After averaging 18.6 points and 10.7 assists in 1965-1966, Rogers was traded on September 7, 1966, to the expansion Chicago Bulls for Jim King, Jeff Mullins and cash. Rodgers played the 1966–67 season in Chicago and was named an NBA All-Star for the fourth and final time in his career. That same season, Rodgers averaged 18.0 points and handed out a then-NBA record 908 assists (11.2), which is still the Chicago Bulls single-season record.

Royals
Four games into the 1967–68 season, Rodgers was traded to the Cincinnati Royals, joining Oscar Robertson in the backcourt.

Bucks
The next season, Rodgers was left unprotected by the Royals in the NBA expansion draft, and he was selected by new Milwaukee Bucks. Rodgers joined the Bucks for his two final NBA seasons, playing alongside rookie Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and helping the Bucks to their first playoff berth and first playoff series victory during the 1970 NBA playoffs. He barely missed out on winning a title, however: before the following season, Rodgers retired, yet the Bucks would acquire his former teammate Oscar Robertson, and win their first NBA Championship. Rodgers remains one of the few players in NBA history to have played for at least two expansion teams during their inaugural season.

Personal life
Rodgers died on February 19, 2001, at age 65 after a heart attack. He was survived by sons Tony and Mark, and daughter Nicole.

"Without question Guy Rodgers was the best passer I ever played with or against. Pete Maravich was close, but Guy was better. He made every play exciting", said basketball TV analyst Jon McGlocklin, who was a teammate of Rodgers in Milwaukee.

Honors

 * Rodgers was a 2014 inductee to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. During ceremonies on August 8, 2014. Earl Monroe served as Rodgers' presenter. His son Tony, accepted on behalf of the Rodgers family.
 * Rodgers is one of four Temple retired jersey numbers. His #5 hangs in the Liacouras Center. Teammate Hal Lear (#6), Mark Macon (#12) and Bill Mlkvy (#20) are the others.
 * Rogers was inducted into the Temple Athletic Hall of Fame in 1971.
 * Rodgers was a charter member of the Philadelphia Big Five Hall of Fame in 1973.
 * The Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame inducted Rogers in 2005.