Mack Calvin

Mack Calvin

5x ABA All-Star | ABA & NBA Interim Head Coach | 1997 ABA All-Time Team

Mack Calvin was born on July 27, 1947, in Fort Worth, Texas. As a 6’0 point guard, Calvin played for the USC Trojans men’s basketball team.

In 1969, he was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers with the 187th overall pick in the 14th round but wouldn’t play for the Lakers until 1976. Calvin played 7 seasons in the American Basketball Association including the Los Angeles Stars, averaging 16.8 points per game in his first season to make the ABA All-Rookie Team. The following season, he averaged a career-high 27.2 points for The Floridians, in the process setting the ABA records for most free throws made (696) and most free throws attempted (805) in one season.

Calvin also played for the Carolina Cougars, Denver Nuggets, and Virginia Squires. In those 7 seasons, he was a 5× ABA All-Star, named to the All-ABA First Team in 1971, 1974, and 1975, and was named to the ABA All-Time Team in 1997.

After the ABA merged with the NBA in 1976, Calvin played for the Los Angeles Lakers, San Antonio Spurs, Denver Nuggets, Utah Jazz, and the Cleveland Cavaliers before retiring in 1981.

Calvin currently leads the Mack Calvin Youth Empowerment Foundation.

  • Overall Coaching Record: 1-8

Coaching Career

While playing for the American Basketball Association’s Virginia Squires, head coach Al Bianchi was fired after a 1-6 and Calvin was the interim player-coach, going 0-6 before Bill Musselman was hired. Musselman would compile a 4-22 record before being replaced by Jack Ankerson, who would have a 1-1 record, before finally hiring Zelmo Beaty to finish the last season of the ABA with a 9-33 coaching record.

Notable Players Coached

  • Fatty Taylor (2× ABA All-Defensive First Team (1973, 1974)

Coach Calvin became an assistant coach for the Milwaukee Bucks under Del Harris. In his first season as an assistant coach, the team finished with a 42–40 record, qualifying for the playoffs. They were eliminated in 5 games (3-2) by Mike Fratello and the Atlanta Hawks.

The following season, the Bucks finished with a 49–33 record, reaching the conference semifinals, but were eliminated in 4 games (4-0) by Chuck Daly and the Detroit Pistons. In 1990, the Bucks finished with a 44–38 record and later were eliminated in the first round by Phil Jackson and the Chicago Bulls in 4 games (3-1).

In 1991, the Bucks finished with a 48–34 record, they were eliminated in the first round by Jim Lynam and the Philadelphia 76ers in 3 games (3-0).

Notable Players Coached

  • Terry Cummings
    • 2× NBA All-Star (1985, 1989)
    • 1985 All-NBA Second Team
    • 1989 All-NBA Third Team
    • 1983 NBA Rookie of the Year
    • 1983 NBA All-Rookie First Team
  • Sidney Moncrief
    • 5× NBA All-Star (1982–1986)
    • 1983 All-NBA First Team
    • 4× All-NBA Second Team (1982, 1984–1986)
    • 2× NBA Defensive Player of the Year (1983, 1984)
    • 4× NBA All-Defensive First Team (1983–1986)
    • 1982 NBA All-Defensive Second Team
    • No. 4 retired by Milwaukee Bucks
  • Adrian Dantley
    • 6× NBA All-Star (1980–1982, 1984–1986)
    • 2× All-NBA Second Team (1981, 1984)
    • 1984 NBA Comeback Player of the Year
    • 1977 NBA Rookie of the Year
    • 1977 NBA All-Rookie Team
    • 2× NBA scoring champion (1981, 1984)
    • No. 4 retired by Utah Jazz
  • Alvin Robertson
    • 4× NBA All-Star (1986–1988, 1991)
    • 1986 All-NBA Second Team (1986)
    • 1986 NBA Defensive Player of the Year (1986)
    • 2× NBA All-Defensive First Team (1987, 1991)
    • 4× NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1986, 1988–1990)
    • NBA Most Improved Player (1986)
    • 3× NBA steals leader (1986, 1987, 1991)
  • Jack Sikma
    • 1979 NBA champion
    • 7× NBA All-Star (1979–1985)
    • 1982 NBA All-Defensive Second Team
    • 1978 NBA All-Rookie First Team
    • No. 43 retired by Seattle SuperSonics
  • Ricky Pierce
    • 1991 NBA All-Star
    • 2× NBA Sixth Man of the Year (1987, 1990)
  • Paul Pressey
    • 2× NBA All-Defensive First Team (1985, 1986)
    • 1987 NBA All-Defensive Second Team

Coach Calvin was an assistant coach under Mike Schuler for the Los Angeles Clippers. Schuler was fired after a 21-24 start and Calvin was the interim for 2 games going 1-1 before Larry Brown was named the full-time head coach. The Clippers finished with a 45–37 record and were eliminated in the first round in 5 games (3-2) by Jerry Sloan and the Utah Jazz.

Notable Players Coached

  • Ron Harper
    • Future 5× NBA champion (1996–1998, 2000, 2001)
    • 1987 NBA All-Rookie First Team
  • Doc Rivers (1988 NBA All-Star & Future 2008 NBA champion as head coach)