Larry Nelson Steele (born May 5, 1949) is a former professional basketball player, best known for being on the Portland Trail Blazers team that won the 1977 NBA Finals.
This article is about the basketball player. For the songwriter and impresario, see Larry Steele (producer).
Born in Greencastle, Indiana, Steele grew up in Bainbridge, Indiana, and played collegiately at the University of Kentucky under coach Adolph Rupp. As a junior at Bainbridge High School, he had a high game of 46 points and 38 points as a high game during senior year. He scored a total of 1,646 high school points. His senior year he was selected All-County, All-Sectional, All-Regional, All- Semi-State, Indianapolis News 1st Team All-State, and a member of the Indiana All-Star Team. In 2003, he was inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame.[1]
College career
At the University of Kentucky, he was a three-year starter, averaging 13.1 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game. He was selected 1st Team All-SEC twice, Co-captain, MVP, Leadership Award, Hustle Award, led the UK team in assists and free throws. In 2003, he was inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame.[2] As a junior in 1970, Steele earned 3rd team UPI/Coaches All-SEC honors and in 1971 as a senior 2nd team AP and 3rd team UPI/Coaches All-SEC honors.[3]
NBA Playing Career
Portland Trail Blazers
He was drafted by the Trail Blazers in 1971, with the 2nd pick in the 3rd round (37th overall) and by the Kentucky Colonels in the 1971 American Basketball Association draft. In 1974 he was drafted again by the Kentucky Colonels in the 5th round of the ABA draft of NBA players.[4] He joined the Trail Blazers at the start of the Blazers' second season and became a roster mainstay for nine years before knee injuries forced him into retirement at the end of the 1979–80 season.[5]
Steele played his entire NBA career for the team (retiring from basketball at the end of the 1979–80 season). Steele led the NBA in steals in the 1973–74 NBA season—the first year steals were recorded by the league with 2.68 swipes per game. He played 20.7 MPG on the 1977 championship team (starting nine games) averaging a career high 10.3 points per game. During his nine-year NBA career, all with the Trail Blazers, he averaged 8.2 points, 2.9 assists, 1.39 steals and 24.2 minutes while starting 337 games. The Trail Blazers retired his jersey (15) on October 11, 1981.
Personal life
After his playing days, he worked in the Blazers front office in marketing and served as a commentator with broadcaster Bill Schonely.[6] Steele later worked as a broadcaster for the NBA on CBS and as a head coach at the University of Portland from 1987 to 1994. He currently runs a basketball camp in Vernonia, Oregon.[7]
NBA career statistics
Steele on the cover of a Portland Trail Blazers program in 1971.
Legend
GP
Games played
GS
Games started
MPG
Minutes per game
FG%
Field goal percentage
3P%
3-point field goal percentage
FT%
Free throw percentage
RPG
Rebounds per game
APG
Assists per game
SPG
Steals per game
BPG
Blocks per game
PPG
Points per game
Bold
Career high
†
Won an NBA championship
*
Led the league
Regular season
Year
Team
GP
GS
MPG
FG%
3P%
FT%
RPG
APG
SPG
BPG
PPG
1971–72
Portland
72
-
18.2
.481
-
.722
3.9
2.2
-
-
5.1
1972–73
Portland
66
-
19.7
.483
-
.798
2.3
2.4
-
-
5.9
1973–74
Portland
81
-
32.7
.478
-
.789
3.8
4.0
2.7*
0.4
9.7
1974–75
Portland
76
-
31.4
.548
-
.836
3.0
3.8
2.4
0.2
8.6
1975–76
Portland
81
-
29.4
.495
-
.759
3.6
4.0
2.1
0.2
9.9
1976–77†
Portland
81
-
20.7
.500
-
.806
2.3
2.1
1.5
0.2
10.3
1977–78
Portland
65
-
17.4
.470
-
.820
1.7
1.3
0.9
0.1
8.0
1978–79
Portland
72
-
20.7
.420
-
.824
2.4
2.0
1.0
0.1
7.2
1979–80
Portland
16
-
27.9
.425
-
.815
2.8
4.2
1.6
0.1
9.1
Career
610
-
24.2
.483
-
.796
2.9
2.8
1.8
0.2
8.2
Playoffs
Year
Team
GP
GS
MPG
FG%
3P%
FT%
RPG
APG
SPG
BPG
PPG
1977†
Portland
18
-
14.5
.371
-
.750
1.5
1.0
0.5
0.0
4.2
1978
Portland
6
-
31.8
.417
-
.905
4.3
2.3
1.2
0.3
11.5
1979
Portland
3
-
24.3
.571
-
.889
3.7
2.3
3.3
0.0
13.3
Career
27
-
19.4
.424
-
.823
2.4
1.4
1.0
0.1
6.9
Head coaching record
Statistics overview
Season
Team
Overall
Conference
Standing
Postseason
Portland (West Coast Conference) (1987–1993)
1987–88
Portland
6-22
1-13
8th
1988–89
Portland
2-26
2-12
T-7th
1989–90
Portland
11-17
7-7
4th
1990–91
Portland
5-23
3-11
8th
1991–92
Portland
10-18
3-11
8th
1992–93
Portland
9-18
3-11
7th
1993–94
Portland
13-17
6-8
T-5th
Portland:
56-141
25-73
Total:
56-141
National championPostseason invitational champion Conference regular season championConference regular season and conference tournament champion
Division regular season champion
Division regular season and conference tournament champion
Conference tournament champion
See also
List of National Basketball Association players with most steals in a game
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