Tag: Mike Gale

Former ABA veteran and Golden State Warrior guard Mike Hale passes away at 70

On Saturday, ABA product and former Golden State Warrior Mike Gale passed away at the age of 70.

As 22 teams made their return to the court in the Orlando Bubble, the league suffered a loss from the NBA family. On Saturday, Mike Gale, an 11-year ABA/NBA veteran passed away at the age of 70.

In the third round of the 1971 NBA Draft, the guard was selected by the Chicago Bulls out of North Carolina’s Elizabeth City State College. However, Gale opted to play in the American Basketball Association after landing with the Kentucky Colonels in the third round of the 1971 ABA draft.

Over three seasons in the ABA, Gale earned two All-Defensive Team nods. In 1974, Hale joined Julius Erving and the New York Nets on their way to an ABA Championship.

After a short stint with the Nets, Hale played five seasons in the NBA with the San Antonio Spurs. In a social media post, the Spurs released a statement on the passing of Gale.

Via @spurs on Twitter:

After one season with the Portland Trail Blazers, Hale capped off his basketball career with the Golden State Warriors. With Al Attles’ Warriors, Gale started 70 games, averaging 5.6 points, 3.5 assists, 2.5 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game.

Via @NBAalumni on Twitter:

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CIAA legend and former New York Net Mike Gale passes away at 70

Gale was an ABA/NBA All-Defensive First Teamer and champion.

On Saturday, as the NBA saw the last of its teams resume their 2019-20 seasons, the league’s @NBAAlumni account on Twitter acknowledged the tremendous loss it suffered earlier in the week.

On July 31, Mike Gale, an 11-year ABA/NBA veteran passed away.

Growing up in nearby Philadelphia, Gale would play for the New York Nets during the 1974-75 season. He would be traded to the San Antonio Spurs after one season, where he would spend five years.

Prior to arriving in New York, Gale was drafted by the ABA’s Kentucky Colonels. He would twice be named to the ABA’s All-Defensive First Team and would emerge as a vital cog in the Colonels’ 1974 championship team.

 

Over the course of his 11-year pro career, Gale recorded scored 6,000 points, 3,000 assists and nearly 1,300 steals.

He would eventually settle in San Antonio where he remained until his untimely death on July 31 after just having recently celebrated his 70th birthday on July 18.

The San Antonio Spurs issued a statement on the passing of Gale on Friday.

“The Spurs family mourns the passing of Mike “Sugar” Gale. Our deepest condolences go out to this family during this difficult time.”