Gail Goodrich
Inducted:
1996
Player Stats
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
170 lb (77 kg)
Born
April 23, 1943
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Position
Shooting guard
College
UCLA (1962–1965)
Gail "Stumpy" Goodrich was a tenacious, left-handed guard who became one of the most prolific scorers in the history of both college and professional basketball. Standing 6'1", he was frequently told he was "too small" for the elite level, a doubt he famously dismantled at every stage.Goodrich led the Bruins to their first two NCAA Championships (1964, 1965). In the 1965 title game, he set a then-record with 42 points, cementing his status as a big-game performer.
In the NBA, Goodrich reached his pinnacle during the 1971–72 Los Angeles Lakers season. While the team featured icons like Jerry West and Wilt Chamberlain, it was Goodrich who led the squad in scoring (25.9 ppg) during their historic 33-game winning streak and eventual championship run. Known for his "heady" style, creative passing, and high-release jumper, he remained a top-tier scoring threat for over a decade. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1996.
Goodrich's Awards and Honors
- 25 retired by Los Angeles Lakers
- 2× NCAA champion (1964, 1965)
- Helms Foundation Player of the Year (1965)
- Consensus first-team All-American (1965)
- 2× First-team All-AAWU (1964, 1965)
NBA Records
- NBA champion (1972)
- 5× NBA All-Star (1969, 1972–1975)
- All-NBA First Team (1974)
- NBA Free Throws Made Leader (1974)
NBA Teams
Los Angeles Lakers (1965–1968,1970–1976)
Phoenix Suns (1968–1970)
New Orleans Jazz (1976–1979)
NBA Draft
1965: territorial pick
Los Angeles Lakers
Number Worn
11, 25
NBA Stats
Seasons Played:
14 (1965-1979)
Game Played:
1,031
Points:
19,181 (18.6 ppg)
Rebounds:
3,279 (3.2 rpg)
Assists:
4,805 (4.7 apg)
Steals:
545 (1.3 SPG)
Field Goal %:
45.6%
Free Throw %:
80.7%
NBA Championships:
1 (1972)
All-Star Selections:
5 (1969, 1972–1975)
All-NBA First Team:
1 (1974)