Coach Joe Roberts
NCAA Champion, NBA Champion, Former NBA Forward & Coach
Joe Roberts was American professional basketball player who played three seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and one season in the American Basketball Association (ABA). He played for the Syracuse Nationals and Kentucky Colonels from 1960 to 1968, having earlier played for Ohio State University’s 1960 NCAA champions. After retiring from playing, he served as an assistant coach of the Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Clippers.
Playing Career
Roberts played for the Ohio State Buckeyes from 1957 to 1960. He was a senior and co-captain of the 1960 team, which included Jerry Lucas, John Havlicek, Mel Nowell, Bob Knight, and Gary Gearhart. They won the 1960 NCAA title, only losing 3 games along the way.
Roberts was later selected in the third round of the 1960 NBA draft by the Syracuse Nationals (Now known as the Philadelphia 76ers).
After 3 seasons in the NBA, Roberts played for and was a manager of the Columbus Comets of the short lived North American Basketball League (NABL) league. He wrapped up his playing career in 1967, playing one season for the Kentucky Colonels of the American Basketball Association (ABA).
In 2025, he was inducted in the Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame.
Coaching Career
Golden State Warriors (1974-1979)
After a 7-year playing career, Roberts started his coaching career with the Golden State Warriors as an assistant coach. During game 4 of the 1975 Finals, Warriors Head Coach Al Attles was ejected during the first quarter, leading to Roberts filling in the role as acting head coach. The Warriors won 96-95, completing the clean sweep against the Bullets.
Notably he coached great players and young talent during his time with Golden State, a few examples include:
- Rick Barry (1975 NBA MVP, 8x All-Star, 50th & 75th NBA anniversary team selections)
- Jamaal Wilkes (1976 NBA Rookie of the Year)
- Phil Smith (2x All-Star)
- Charles Johnson
- Clifford Ray
- Robert Parish
- Purvis Short
Los Angeles Clippers (1989-1990)
After a 10-year NBA hiatus, Coach Roberts was hired as an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Clippers for a singular season in 1989. This would be his last coaching position in the NBA.
In Memoriam
Joe Roberts passed away on October 10, 2022, at the age of 86 in Oakland, California, U.S.