Scott Wedman

Scott Dean Wedman (born July 29, 1952) is an American former professional basketball player who played several seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was drafted by Kansas City-Omaha Kings in the first round in the 1974 NBA draft.

Early life

Wedman was born in Harper, Kansas.^[1] He lived on a 100-acre farm. His father was a Boeing engineer. His family moved to Denver before moving back to Kansas. He was a member of the 4-H club and participated in all aspects of farm life. Though undersized and a late bloomer, Wedman excelled at basketball. Wedman's parents encouraged the strict dietary regimen that he would carry with him his entire life.^[2]

When he was twelve years old, Wedman's midget-league basketball team won the city championship. Wedman was not a varsity starter until his Senior year, when a growth spurt invigorated his game. He averaged 19 points a game and made All-State.^[1]

Kansas City Kings

Wedman was a proficient shooter. He represented the Kansas City Kings twice in the NBA All-Star Game. During his time in Kansas City, Wedman gained the nickname "The Incredible Hulk" because of his extensive sessions in the weight room. On March 4, 1979, Wedman was involved in a 1-car accident in which his Porsche overturned on a rainy highway in Kansas City. At the time, doctors credited his conditioning with keeping him out of action for only a few games.

He hit a career summit in 1979–80 and 1980–81, with a scoring average of 19.0 points per game. On January 2, 1980, he scored 45 points in an overtime win at Utah for his career high. Wedman was a key to Kansas City's postseason success in 1981. Despite finishing the regular season with only a 40-42 record, the Kings caught fire in the playoffs, beating Portland and Phoenix before losing in the Western Conference finals to Houston in five games.

At the 1981 NBA draft, seeing that the Kings could not afford to keep both Wedman and fellow All-Star Otis Birdsong, Kansas City traded Birdsong to another team and let Wedman sign with Cleveland.

The Kansas City franchise went 30-52 in 1981–82 and never approached the same attendance levels at Kemper Arena before owners moved the team to Sacramento in 1985.

Later career

Cleveland Cavaliers

Wedman never found the same scoring groove after signing with Cleveland, where he averaged only 10.9 points per game in 1981–82.

On January 14, 1983, Wedman was traded by the Cleveland Cavaliers to the Boston Celtics for Darren Tillis and cash.

Boston Celtics

In Boston, he was instrumental as a player off the bench in the Celtics' NBA championships in 1984 and 1986. Boston fans remember Wedman's performance in the Memorial Day Massacre, an appellation for Game 1 of the 1985 NBA Finals. Coming off the bench, Wedman hit all 11 of his shots, including four three-pointers, in Boston's 148-114 win over the Lakers. He often spelled Larry Bird and Kevin McHale or replaced them when they were injured.

Wedman was also a strict vegetarian during his playing career, not for any moral reasons but for health purposes. For this, Wedman was teased mercilessly by both Bird and McHale in practices and at meals.

Seattle SuperSonics

On October 16, 1987, he was traded by the Celtics with Sam Vincent to the Seattle SuperSonics for a 1989 second-round draft choice. However, he retired and did not play a game for the SuperSonics.

Post playing career

He coached the now-defunct Kansas City Knights of the American Basketball Association.

Wedman returned to Kansas City where he lives today and operates his real estate business.

In June 2007, Wedman was named head coach of the Great Falls Explorers of the CBA.

References

External links

• Scott Wedman's NBA statistics