George Gervin
George Gervin was born on the 27th of April 1952 in Detroit, Michigan. He attended Martin Luther King Jr. High School where he struggled until his senior year. A growth spurt allowed him to average 31 points and 20 rebounds that season. His team reached the state quarterfinals under his leadership. The Detroit Free Press named him an All-State selection in 1970. Gervin received a scholarship to play for Coach Jerry Tarkanian at California State University Long Beach. Culture shock hit him hard before the first semester ended. He returned home early to transfer to Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti. As a sophomore forward in 1971, 72 he averaged 29.5 points per game. During an NCAA national semifinal game in Evansville Indiana he punched a Roanoke player. This incident led to a one-season suspension and eventual removal from the team. Invitations to try out for Olympic and Pan-American teams were withdrawn immediately.
Johnny Kerr spotted Gervin while playing for the Pontiac Chaparrals of the Continental Basketball Association. In January 1973 Kerr signed him to a $40,000 annual contract with the Virginia Squires. Financial instability plagued the Squires throughout their existence. They traded Julius Erving and Swen Nater just four months into the deal. Rumors circulated during the 1974 ABA All-Star Weekend about trading Gervin for cash. On January 30 the Spurs acquired him for $228,000 after a court sided with San Antonio. The ABA tried to block the trade claiming it was a fire sale but failed. The Squires folded within two years. Coach Bob Bass transformed the Spurs into an exciting fast-breaking team called schoolyard basketball. Gervin became the centerpiece of this new offense despite losing three playoff series early on. His trademark finger roll extended all the way to the free-throw line with unusual delicacy. He earned the nickname Iceman because he played at a high level without sweating. This rare ability defined his scoring style throughout his professional career.
Gervin won his first NBA scoring crown in the 1977, 78 season by seven-hundredths of a point over David Thompson. He scored 63 points including 33 in the second quarter during the final regular game. Despite the loss he maintained his slight lead to claim the title. In 1978, 79 the Spurs finished 48, 34 and beat Julius Erving's Philadelphia 76ers in seven games. Gervin led the league in playoff scoring with 28.6 points per game. They collapsed against Washington Bullets after leading 3, 1 in the Conference Finals. He went on to lead the NBA in scoring average three consecutive years from 1978 to 1980. His highest average reached 33.1 points per game in 1979, 80. Prior to Michael Jordan Gervin held the record for most scoring titles among guards. When replacement Ron Brewer averaged over 30 points while Gervin sat out injuries he returned to score 40+ points. Gervin said Just the way the Lord planned it regarding the situation. The Spurs became Western Conference contenders again in 1981, 82 finishing second at 48, 34. They made it back to the Conference Finals but were swept by Los Angeles Lakers.
Right before the 1985, 86 season Gervin was traded to Chicago Bulls for forward David Greenwood. He missed multiple preseason workouts amid fears of being relegated to the bench by new coach Cotton Fitzsimmons. Rising star Michael Jordan stated he was unhappy about the trade. This marked Gervin's final NBA season before retiring from the league. Although aging and no longer an all-star level player he remained effective averaging 16.2 points per game. He recorded another 40-point performance with a season-high 45 against Dallas Mavericks. He played all 82 games as the Bulls finished 30, 52 and clinched the number 8 seed. His last NBA game occurred on the 20th of April 1986 during a series sweep by Boston Celtics. When leaving the NBA he played several years in Europe including Banco Roma in Italy. During the 1986, 87 season there he averaged 26.1 points per game. He also played for Quad City Thunder of the Continental Basketball Association in 1989. Later he joined TDK Manresa in Spain where he was 38 years old. In his final Spanish game he scored 31 points and grabbed 15 rebounds.
Gervin was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1996. His jersey number 44 has been retired by the Spurs organization. He was named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History in 1996. The Athletic ranked him as the 42nd greatest player in 2021 to commemorate the league's 75th Anniversary. SLAM Magazine placed him at #45 on their Top 50 list in 2009. He remains active in San Antonio community work through seven organizations designed for underprivileged kids. One of four players in history to average 30 PPG while shooting 50 percent field goals in a season as a guard. He retired with the most blocks by any guard in NBA history. Despite being an All-Star and Hall of Famer he never appeared in an NBA or ABA championship series during his 13-year career. Gary Payton stated Gervin was his childhood idol and favorite player to watch. Former NFL quarterback Ty Detmer records receiving Gervin's autograph as a youth in San Antonio.
Since retiring from professional basketball George Gervin has been active in the San Antonio community. In 1991 he established the George Gervin Youth Center specifically for underprivileged children. His own experience as an underprivileged child in Michigan inspired this involvement. He designed seven organizations focused on helping disadvantaged youth. In 2004 he returned to Detroit to fill in on morning drive radio for WMXD. This occurred during the gap between Tom Joyner leaving Clear Channel stations and Steve Harvey Morning Show launching. Gervin had an acting role in the 2025 film Marty Supreme playing Lawrence. Lawrence owns a table tennis club frequented by Timothée Chalamet's character. His sister Barbara Gervin-Hawkins serves as a Democratic member of the Texas House of Representatives. Her husband Robert Hawkins was also a basketball player. Their eldest son George Gervin Jr. played for Harlem Globetrotters and Norrköping Dolphins in Sweden. Junior also played professionally in Mexico before retiring.
Continue Browsing
Common questions
When and where was George Gervin born?
George Gervin was born on the 27th of April 1952 in Detroit, Michigan. He attended Martin Luther King Jr. High School before receiving a scholarship to play for Coach Jerry Tarkanian at California State University Long Beach.
How did George Gervin get his nickname Iceman?
George Gervin earned the nickname Iceman because he played at a high level without sweating during his professional career. This rare ability defined his scoring style throughout his time with the San Antonio Spurs.
What happened when George Gervin punched a Roanoke player?
The incident led to a one-season suspension and eventual removal from the team after an NCAA national semifinal game in Evansville Indiana. Invitations to try out for Olympic and Pan-American teams were withdrawn immediately following this event.
Why did George Gervin retire from the NBA in 1986?
George Gervin retired from the league after playing all 82 games as the Chicago Bulls finished 30 wins and 52 losses. His last NBA game occurred on the 20th of April 1986 during a series sweep by Boston Celtics.
When was George Gervin inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame?
George Gervin was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1996. His jersey number 44 has been retired by the Spurs organization since that time.