Ranking the 25 best Kansas basketball NBA careers of all-time
462. . PF. Jayhawks . Bill Bridges. 7. player
Career statistics: 926 games, 11.9 PPG, 11.9 RPG, 2.8 APG, 44.2% FG
St. Louis/Atlanta Hawks, 1962-1971
Philadelphia 76ers, 1971-1972
Los Angeles Lakers, 1972-1974
Golden State Warriors, 1975
Bridges is just one of three players on this list to have averaged a double-double for his career. He was the successor of the great Bob Pettit for the Hawks franchise, making three All-Star teams between 1966 and 1970.
His best statistical season was in 1966-67 when he put up 17.4 points and 15.1 rebounds. Despite being 6-foot-6, he could grab boards over the best of them. Bridges was also named to the All-Defensive team twice in his career.
He didn’t play a single game with the team that originally drafted him — the Chicago Packers — and had to play two years in the ABL before he received enough recognition to reach the NBA. The St. Louis Hawks didn’t expect much when they signed a third-round pick to a minimum deal, but he turned out to be a pleasant surprise for the organization.