On an early May evening precisely 50 years ago, this year’s recipient of the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage played the Final Game of an illustrious professional career, winning a championship ring for which he had no more fingers.
The 35-year-old player-coach was likely the only person in attendance at LA’s Fabulous Forum on Monday, May 5, 1969 who was fully aware of that game’s finality for him. In a full 48 minutes of work, the Hall of Famer tallied a mere six points that night but did contribute 21 rebounds and a team-high six assists to the 10th Game 7 victory (against no defeats) on his post-season ledger.