Ernie DiGregorio

Ernie DiGregorio
	DiGregorio playing for the Buffalo Braves
Personal information
Born	January 15, 1951 (age 73); North Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.
Listed height	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Listed weight	180 lb (82 kg)
Career information
High school	North Providence; (North Providence, Rhode Island)
College	Providence (1970–1973)
NBA draft	1973: 1st round, 3rd overall pick
	Selected by the Buffalo Braves
Playing career	1973–1978
Position	Point guard
Number	15, 7
Career history
1973–1977	Buffalo Braves
1977–1978	Los Angeles Lakers
1978	Boston Celtics
Career highlights and awards
	NBA Rookie of the Year (1974); NBA All-Rookie First Team (1974); NBA assists leader (1974); Consensus first-team All-American (1973);
Career NBA statistics
Points	2,997 (9.6 ppg)
Rebounds	610 (2.0 rpg)
Assists	1,594 (5.1 apg)
	Stats at NBA.com
	Stats at Basketball Reference
	College Basketball Hall of Fame; Inducted in 2019

Ernest DiGregorio (born January 15, 1951), also known as "Ernie D.", is an American former professional basketball player. He played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the Buffalo Braves, Los Angeles Lakers, and Boston Celtics from 1973 to 1978.

DiGregorio was named NBA Rookie of the Year in the 1973–74 season and shares the NBA rookie record for assists in a single game with 25. Due to a severe knee injury suffered early in DiGregorio's professional career, he played only five NBA seasons.

A 1973 NCAA All-American at Providence, DiGregorio was inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame in 2019.

Early life

DiGregorio played on the 1968 Rhode Island (Class B) champions at North Providence High School.

College and NBA career

He and Marvin Barnes led Coach Dave Gavitt's Providence team to a Final Four appearance in the 1973 NCAA Tournament in DiGregorio's senior season, where they eventually lost to Memphis State, but only after Barnes sustained a knee injury that forced an early exit. After playing for the Providence College Friars, DiGregorio played on a college all-star team, and along with Bill Walton, led the U.S. in defeating a Soviet team in an exhibition game, which helped heal the still-open wound of the United States' loss in the 1972 Summer Olympic finals.

Buffalo Braves (1973–1977)

Ernie "D" was drafted by the Kentucky Colonels of the American Basketball Association but opted instead for the NBA.

He was selected third overall by the Buffalo Braves (a franchise now known as the Los Angeles Clippers) in the 1973 NBA draft out of Providence College, and won the NBA Rookie of the Year Award in 1973–74 after averaging 15.2 points and leading the league in both free throw percentage and assists per game.^[1] DiGregorio still holds the NBA rookie record for assists in a single game with 25 (a record now shared with Nate McMillan).^[2] He would never again come close to that level of production, but managed to have a decent NBA career, most of which he spent with the Braves.^{[citation needed]}

During the 1976–77 season, DiGregorio led the league in free throw percentage a second time, with a then-NBA record 94.5%.^[3] In 1977, he joined fellow NBA stars Julius Erving, Rick Barry, Wilt Chamberlain, and Pete Maravich, in endorsing Spalding's line of rubber basketballs, with a signature "Ernie D." ball making up part of the collection.^[4]

Los Angeles Lakers (1977–1978)

Before the 1977–78 season, DiGregorio was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, and played in a Lakers' uniform in only 25 games before being waived.

Boston Celtics (1978)

The Boston Celtics signed him as a free agent but he played only sparingly for the rest of the season. He would not play in the NBA again, although he did not formally retire until 1981.^{[citation needed]}

Honors

In 1999, DiGregorio was elected to the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame.^[5]
DiGregorio was inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame in 2019.

NBA career statistics

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

Regular season


Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
1973–74	Buffalo	81	—	35.9	.421	—	.902*	2.7	8.2*	0.7	0.1	15.2
1974–75	Buffalo	31	—	23.0	.440	—	.778	1.5	4.9	0.6	0.0	7.8
1975–76	Buffalo	67	—	20.4	.384	—	.915	1.7	4.0	0.6	0.0	6.7
1976–77	Buffalo	81	—	28.0	.417	—	.945*	2.3	4.7	0.7	0.0	10.7
1977–78	L.A. Lakers	25	—	13.3	.410	—	.800	0.9	2.8	0.2	0.0	3.9
1977–78	Boston	27	—	10.1	.431	—	.923	1.0	2.4	0.4	0.0	3.9
Career		312	—	25.2	.415	—	.902	2.0	5.1	0.6	0.0	9.6

Playoffs


Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
1974	Buffalo	6	—	40.0	.430	—	.889	2.7	8.7	0.2	0.0	13.7
1976	Buffalo	9	—	24.1	.484	—	1.000	1.4	5.0	0.6	0.2	7.6
Career		15	—	30.5	.453	—	.941	1.9	6.5	0.4	0.1	10.0

College statistics


Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
1970–71	Providence	28	—	36.2	.481	—	.830	4.0	6.5	—	—	18.6
1971–72	Providence	27	—	38.0	.436	—	.802	3.0	7.9	—	—	17.7
1972–73	Providence	31	—	36.0	.478	—	.802	3.2	8.6	—	—	24.5
Career		86	—	36.7	.468	—	.812	3.4	7.7	—	—	20.5

References

^ Rhoden, William C. (March 2, 1996). "Sports of The Times;Ernie D Has Found A New Game". The New York Times.
^ "NBA.com Coaches:Nate McMillan". Retrieved November 2, 2008.
^ "HickokSports.com NBA Annual Statistical Leaders: Free Throw Percentage". Archived from the original on March 14, 2014. Retrieved November 2, 2008.
^ "Spalding Presents Street Ball, with Rick Barry and Dr. J!" advertisements on the back of Marvel and DC comic books, 1977.
^ "Ernie DiGregorio". National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame website. Archived from the original on June 16, 2011. Retrieved February 4, 2010.

External links

Career statistics and player information from NBA.com and Basketball-Reference.com

[rhoden-1] Rhoden, William C. (March 2, 1996). "Sports of The Times;Ernie D Has Found A New Game". The New York Times.

[nbacoaches-2] "NBA.com Coaches:Nate McMillan". Retrieved November 2, 2008.

[hickok-3] "HickokSports.com NBA Annual Statistical Leaders: Free Throw Percentage". Archived from the original on March 14, 2014. Retrieved November 2, 2008.

[4] "Spalding Presents Street Ball, with Rick Barry and Dr. J!" advertisements on the back of Marvel and DC comic books, 1977.

[5] "Ernie DiGregorio". National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame website. Archived from the original on June 16, 2011. Retrieved February 4, 2010.

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