Luther Burden

Infobox NBA Player


image_size =
name = Luther Burden
league = ABA/NBA
position = Shooting guard
nickname = Ticky
height_ft = 6
height_in = 2
weight_lb = 185
nationality = USA
birth_date = birth date and age|1953|2|28
birth_place = Haines City, Florida
college = Utah
draft = 2nd round (26th pick overall)
draft_year = 1975
draft_team = New York Knicks
career_start = 1975
career_end = 1978
former_teams = Virginia Squires 1975-76
New York Knicks
1976-78

Luther "Ticky" Burden (born February 28 1953 in Haines City, Florida) is a retired American NBA and ABA basketball player.

College

Burden attended the University of Utah. He played for the United States men's national basketball team in the 1974 FIBA World Championship, winning the bronze medal [ [http://www.usabasketball.com/history/mwc_1974.html 1974 USA Basketball] ] and scoring 20.2 points per game, a Team USA record which still stands [ [http://www.usabasketball.com/history/mwc_records.html Team USA WBC records] ] . In 1975, his junior year, he averaged 28.7 points per game and set the Western Athletic Conference record for field goals in a season with 359.

Professional basketball

Following his Junior season, he was allowed to turn pro as a hardship case. Burden was drafted by the Virginia Squires of the American Basketball Association and the New York Knicks of the National Basketball Association. He chose Virginia, but left after one season, during which he had a serious argument with coach Bill Musselman. Upon joining the Knicks, he stated "In Virginia I saw the bad side of pro basketball, in New York I know I'll see the good side" [Syracuse Herald-American, August 22, 1976, page 90] . In the 1976-77 season, Burden got into 61 games for the Knicks in a backup role, averaging 10 minutes and 5.7 points per game. However, in the 77-78 season Knicks coach Willis Reed became frustrated with Burden's lack of defensive play, and sent him to the disabled list for the remainder of the season after he played in just two games. Willis unsuccessfully attempted to trade Burden, but ending up placing him on waivers and releasing him following the season.

Unbroken World Records

Luther "Ticky" Burden's 182 points and 20.2 ppg. average in 1974 ranks as the most by a USA player in World Championship history. This record still stands today with Carmelo Anthony's, (a tri-captain of the USA World Championship Team) 179 points scored and 19.9 ppg. rank at second place.

Legal trouble

On July 3rd 1980, Burden and three other men allegedly robbed a bank in Hempstead, Long Island. Burden was convicted after the three other men struck deals and testified against him, and was given a sentence of six to eighteen years. [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9802E5D61039F93BA15753C1A967948260&n=Top%2fReference%2fTimes%20Topics%2fSubjects%2fB%2fBanks%20and%20Banking] After serving two years, Burden's conviction was overturned when a court ruled that detectives did not possess search or arrest warrants when they raided Burden's home. [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9507E4DD1239F930A35754C0A962948260] Burden would later plead guilty to receiving stolen money in conjunction with the robbery, but was released after being given credit for time served. [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9507E4DD1239F930A35754C0A962948260] [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C00E5D81738F934A3575BC0A962948260]

Later life

As of 2003, Burden was living in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, a father of five, and operating a financial management group. [http://blogs.timesunion.com/collegesports/?p=115]

References