Mel Hutchins led BYU to an NIT Title in 1951, and the Second Team All-American was drafted Second Overall the year after by the Tri-Cities Hawks, who moved to Milwaukee right after.
Hutchins was incredible in his first pro year, where he became the first rookie to lead the NBA in rebounds. Named by the sportswriters as their Rookie of the Year, Hutchins became a more balanced player, averaging a double-double as a sophomore (11.7 Points and 11.2 Rebounds) and was an All-Star for the first time.
The struggling Hawks sold his rights to the Fort Wayne Pistons, where he was on a much better team. Hutchins went to three more All-Stars and helped them reach back-to-back Finals in 1955 and 1956. He was also fourth and eighth, respectively, in MVP voting in those seasons. Hutchins was dealt to New York in the 1957 off-season, but a devastating knee injury ended his career. He only played 18 Games that year and never competed again.
The staunch defender is a “what might have been” in a sport littered with them, but there were many accolades in that brief career.
Comments powered by CComment