Black Historical past & Cultural Views:
When you’ve ever seen Mr. Invoice Ray Bates play basketball, you in all probability keep in mind it. I first noticed him as a ahead with the Kentucky State College (KSU) basketball crew, enjoying towards Tennessee State College (TSU) at Kean Corridor in Nashville. I used to be a basketball participant at Fisk College, a mile away. We had no recreation one evening, so my teammates and I made a decision to look at their recreation as a bunch.
We have been a bit smug, as we had upset Tennessee State within the NCAA Division II playoffs in the identical fitness center the earlier 12 months. Fisk and Tennessee State didn’t schedule one another then, as they thought-about us beneath them. We’d by no means be again at Kean Corridor as gamers. We walked in collectively and headed to an higher part of the fitness center.
Tennessee State was nonetheless a formidable crew. Their younger middle, Bernard Bailey, was a expertise who later turned a good friend. He changed the three-time All-American Leonard “Truck” Robinson, who had gone on to play for the New York Knicks, the place he would quickly lead the league in rebounding. I didn’t know something in regards to the Kentucky State crew, however I quickly discovered to keep watch over Mr. Billy Ray Bates. Mr. isn’t an official a part of his identify, however I quickly discovered by no means to talk Mr. Bate’s identify with out placing a deal with on it.
By the third quarter, KSU had a slight lead once they captured a defensive rebound and handed the ball to Mr. Bates round half-court close to the precise sideline. Tennessee State was hustling again on protection, and Mr. Bates casually pushed the ball up court docket, finally angling towards the basket, seeing if anybody would lower him off. At no time was there lower than two males between Mr. Bates and the basket, I anticipated at any second he would move the ball to one among his teammates when he all of the sudden rose up and flew over two defenders, ending the play with a thunderous one-handed dunk.
It took a second for the group to understand what they’d seen. First, there was silence, then a loud roar of appreciation, despite the fact that he was in an opponent’s fitness center. Certainly one of my teammates, Stephen Lee, stood up and ran for no obvious motive to the decrease stage. One other bowed down as if he had seen the best. I vowed by no means to say the identify of Billy Ray Bates with out previous it with the title, Mister.
Mr. Bates was drafted by the Houston Rockets within the third spherical in 1978 however lower as a result of his agent demanded assured cash. He ended up enjoying for the Maine Lumberjacks within the now-defunct Continental Basketball Affiliation, the place he received the league’s Rookie of the 12 months and the slam dunk competitors in its All-Star recreation. Bates is credited with shattering no less than 4 backboards within the Continental League earlier than lastly making it to the NBA.
After signing a 10-day contract with the Portland Path Blazers in February 1980, the 6’4″ guard rapidly turned a crowd favourite for his slam dunks and energetic enjoying type. He as soon as scored 40 factors in 32 minutes towards San Diego and later 35 factors in 25 minutes towards the Dallas Mavericks. The league additionally took discover, naming him NBA Participant of the Week in the direction of the top of his rookie season. He averaged 25.0 ppg within the 1980 playoffs and 28.3 ppg within the 1981 playoffs. In September 1982, after three seasons in Portland, he was lower from the crew. Bates later checked right into a Portland hospital, allegedly for drug therapy.
Mr. Bates went on to the Philippines Basketball Affiliation (PBA), the place he scored 64 factors in his first recreation. He electrified crowds together with his large dunks and three-point capturing. Mr. Bates 46.2 factors over a 4 12 months profession within the Philippines, incomes the nickname “Black Superman” and having a pair of rubber sneakers named after him.
“These individuals, they cherished me. There, I used to be like Michael Jordan. I may have something I needed. All I needed to do was snap my fingers. I had my very own condominium, my very own automotive and my very own bodyguard with an Uzi. I needed to struggle off the ladies.” — Billy Ray Bates
The identify Billy Ray Bates got here up within the post-game dialogue about playoff bench scoring.
Charles Barkley stated, “Billy Ray Bates, man. I keep in mind him. I’m wondering if he’s nonetheless alive?”
Kenny Smith chimed in in regards to the tactlessness of the query.
Shaquille O’Neal added, “Sadly, he handed away.”
It seems that Mr. Bates is alive although little of his present circumstances is thought. I want him properly and am grateful for the basketball reminiscence I’ll always remember.
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