Tag: Alvan Adams

Sooners legend Blake Griffin officially announces retirement

Blake Griffin, a generational athlete and former Oklahoma Sooner announced his retirement after a 14-year NBA career.

An Oklahoma basketball legend called it a career on Tuesday. Sooners basketball legend Blake Griffin announced his retirement in a post he shared via social media on Tuesday morning.

Griffin ended his NBA career after 14 years. The bulk of his career came as a member of the Los Angeles Clippers after he was drafted in 2009 as the first overall pick. He also spent time with the Detroit Pistons, Brooklyn Nets, and Boston Celtics.

Griffin retired as a six-time NBA All-Star, three-time All-NBA Second Team, two-time All-NBA Third Team, and the NBA Rookie of the Year in 2009.

 

As a high schooler from Oklahoma City, Griffin won multiple state championships. He signed with the Sooners and went on to earn selections on the Big 12 All-Rookie Team and to the first-team All-Big 12 after posting 14.7 points and 9.1 rebounds and ranking ninth in scoring, fourth in rebounding, and third in field goal percentage in the Big 12 Conference.

Instead of bolting for the impending NBA Draft, he stayed for one more year. He cemented his status as an Oklahoma basketball legend. During his sophomore season, he became the first player in Big 12 history to record back-to-back games of at least 20 points and 20 rebounds. He dropped 40 points and 23 rebounds against Texas Tech, becoming the only player in Big 12 history and the third player in the history of the University of Oklahoma men’s basketball program to record at least 40 points and 20 rebounds in a game, joining [autotag]Wayman Tisdale[/autotag] and [autotag]Alvan Adams[/autotag].

He led Oklahoma to a regional final that saw them lose to eventual national champion UNC. That year, Griffin averaged 22.7 points, 14.4 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game during the regular season and earned All-American first team honors. He also swept every major player of the year award. He’s the only Sooner to win the Naismith Award, Oscar Robertson Trophy, Adolph Rupp Trophy, John Wooden Award, and the Associated Press Player of the Year in the same season.

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Oklahoma men’s basketball all-time roster: Sooner Legends

With March Madness here, we look at Oklahoma’s all-time basketball team led by Coach Billy Tubbs and players like Wayman Tisdale.

We are on the cusp of an exhilarating time of the year for most sports fans nationwide, as March Madness is very near. The electricity generated by conference tournaments and the following NCAA Tournaments is an experience no collegiate sport can replicate. Selection Sunday is Mar.12.

Porter Moser’s team has had an incredibly perplexing season. They beat multiple ranked teams and played tough in some other games. However, the Sooners look like the odd team out when deciding which Big 12 teams make it into the field of 68.

Oklahoma was a mainstay in the tournament during the 2010s, as they made it six times. Their most recent berth was in 2021. The Sooners’ most recent Final Four appearance was in 2016, spearheaded by Oklahoma basketball legend Buddy Hield. With a reasonably steady program despite no national championships, what would an all-time Sooners basketball team look like? Sooners Wire chose one head coach, two assistants, and ten players to make up the all-time roster.

On this day in 1976: Alvan Adams helps the Suns to win vs. the Celtics

Alvan Adams scored 33 points and 14 rebounds in 1976 to help lead the Suns to a 105-98 win over the Celtics in the NBA Finals.

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On May 30, 1976, rookie center Alvan Adams scored 33 points and 14 rebounds to help lead the Phoenix Suns to a 105-98 win over the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals.

Behind Adams, the Suns would cut the series deficit to 2-1 as the series shifted to Phoenix. The Suns would come back to tie the series at two games apiece but the Celtics, led by Jo Jo White and Dave Cowens, would win the next two matchups to win their 13th NBA championship.

Adams was named the 1976 NBA Rookie of the Year after averaging a career-high 19 points, 9.1 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 1.5 assists and 1.5 blocks in 80 games played. Adams would go on to be named an All-Star that year, his lone appearance in the annual game.

Adams spent all 13 years of his NBA career with the Suns, one of only 48 players in history to have played their entire career with one team. His No. 33 was retired by the Suns but he later granted permission to Grant Hill to wear that number in 2007.

Adams is the Suns’ all-time leader in games played, minutes, rebounds and steals.

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