Scott Dean Wedman (born July 29, 1952) is an American former professional

basketball Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular Basketball court, court, compete with the primary objective of #Shooting, shooting a basketball (ball), basketball (appro ...

player who played thirteen seasons in the

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(NBA). He was drafted by the

Kansas City-Omaha Kings The Sacramento Kings are an American professional basketball team based in Sacramento, California. The Kings compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference. The Kings are the ...

with the sixth pick in the first round in the 1974 NBA draft from

Colorado Colorado is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States. It is one of the Mountain states, sharing the Four Corners region with Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah. It is also bordered by Wyoming to the north, Nebraska to the northeast, Kansas ...

and was a two-time

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and two-time

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Early life

Wedman was born in

Harper, Kansas Harper is a city in Harper County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population of the city was 1,313. History Harper was founded in 1877 by a colony from Iowa. The city of Harper, like Harper County ...

, the son of Tom and Georgia Wedman.May, Peter. ''The Last Banner: The Story of the 1985–86 Celtics and the NBA's Greatest Team of All Time'', Simon & Schuster, 2007. He lived on a 100-acre farm. His father, Tom, was a Boeing engineer, farm equipment manufacturer and car dealer. His family moved to

Denver, Colorado Denver ( ) is a List of municipalities in Colorado#Consolidated city and county, consolidated city and county, the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Colorado, most populous city of the U.S. state of ...

before moving back to Kansas. His older brother, Mike, was a national class pole vaulter and decathlete at the

University of Colorado The University of Colorado (CU) is a system of public universities in Colorado. It consists of four institutions: the University of Colorado Boulder, the University of Colorado Colorado Springs, the University of Colorado Denver, and the U ...

. Scott was a member of the 4-H club and participated in all aspects of farm life. Though undersized and a late bloomer, Wedman excelled at basketball, also at the University of Colorado. Wedman's parents encouraged the strict dietary regimen that he has carried with him his entire life. When he was twelve years old, Wedman's midget-league basketball team won the city championship. Wedman was not a varsity starter until his Senior year, when a growth spurt invigorated his game. He averaged 19 points a game and made All-State at Mullen High School in Denver. He was recruited heavily by both the

University of Wyoming The University of Wyoming (UW) is a Public university, public land-grant university, land-grant research university in Laramie, Wyoming, United States. It was founded in March 1886, four years before the territory was admitted as the 44th state, ...

and the University of Colorado.

College career (1970–1974)

Wedman played collegiality for the Colorado Buffaloes, following his brother Mike to the school. Wedman played for Coach Sox Walseth, scoring 1,251 career points and averaging 16.7 per game. He graduated in 1974, leaving as CU's fourth all-time leading scorer and rebounder. Wedman was twice an All-Big Eight Conference selection and lead Colorado in scoring as a junior (17.7 per game) and as a senior (20.0). Wedman was selected as a first-team All Big Eight as a junior and senior later was named to the Big 8 Conference all-decade team for the 1970s.

NBA career

Kansas City/Omaha Kings (1974–1981)

Wedman was the 2nd overall pick in the 1974 ABA draft by the Memphis Tams of the

American Basketball Association The American Basketball Association (ABA) was a major professional basketball league that operated for nine seasons from 1967 to 1976. The upstart ABA operated in direct competition with the more established National Basketball Association thr ...

and the 6th overall pick of the

Kansas City Kings The Sacramento Kings are an American professional basketball team based in Sacramento, California. The Kings compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Pacific Division (NBA), Pacific Division of the Western Confere ...

in the 1974 NBA draft. Wedman signed with the Kings. Wedman was a proficient shooter for the Kings playing under coaches Phil Johnson and Cotton Fitzsimmons and alongside Tiny Archibald and Otis Birdsong among others. He represented the Kansas City Kings twice in the

NBA All-Star Game The National Basketball Association All-Star Game is the annual all-star game hosted each February by the National Basketball Association (NBA) and showcases 24 of the league's All-star, star players. Since 2022, it was held on the third Sunday of ...

. During his time in Kansas City, Wedman gained the nickname "The Incredible Hulk" because of his extensive sessions in the weight room. On March 4, 1979, Wedman was involved in a 1-car accident in which his Porsche overturned on a rainy highway in Kansas City. At the time, doctors credited his conditioning with keeping him out of action for only a few games. He hit a career summit in 1979–80 and 1980–81, with a scoring average of 19.0 points per game. On January 2, 1980, he scored 45 points in an overtime win at Utah for his career high. Wedman was a key to Kansas City's postseason success in 1981. Despite finishing the regular season with only a 40–42 record, the Kings caught fire in the playoffs, beating Portland 2–1 and Phoenix 4–3 before losing 1–4 to Houston in the Western Conference finals. At the

1981 NBA draft The 1981 NBA draft was the 35th annual NBA draft, draft of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The draft was held on June 9, 1981, before the 1981–82 NBA season, 1981–82 season. The draft was broadcast in the United States on the NBA ...

, seeing that the Kings could not afford to keep both Wedman and fellow All-Star Otis Birdsong, Kansas City traded Birdsong and let Wedman sign with Cleveland. A small forward, Wedman averaged 34.7 minutes, 16.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists and 1.2 steals in 547 games for the Kings over seven seasons, shooting 80% from the line, 49.0% from the field and 32.3% from three (after the 3-point line was introduced in 1979).

Cleveland Cavaliers (1981–1983)

Signing a 1 million dollar contract as a free agent, Wedman's scoring initially declined, as he averaged 10.9 points per game in 1981–82, playing 30 minutes per game in 54 games for the Cavaliers. On January 14, 1983, Wedman, averaging 18.1 points in 36 minutes over 35 games, was traded by the Cleveland Cavaliers to the

Boston Celtics The Boston Celtics ( ) are an American professional basketball team based in Boston. The Celtics compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NBA), Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference (NBA), ...

for Darren Tillis and cash. Overall, Wedman averaged 13.8 points in 89 games and 32.9 minutes for Cleveland, shooting 78% from the line, 46% from the field and 31.1% on three-point shots.

Boston Celtics (1983–1986)

In Boston, he was instrumental as a player off the bench in the Celtics' NBA championships in

1984 Events January * January 1 – The Bornean Sultanate of Brunei gains full independence from the United Kingdom, having become a British protectorate in 1888. * January 7 – Brunei becomes the sixth member of the Association of Southeas ...

and 1986, playing under KC Jones. While in Boston, Wedman joined

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inductee

Bill Walton William Theodore Walton III (November 5, 1952 – May 27, 2024) was an American basketball player and television Sports commentator, sportscaster. He played college basketball, collegiately for the UCLA Bruins men's basketball, UCLA Bruins an ...

in coming off the Celtics bench, on a roster that included Hall of Famers

Larry Bird Larry Joe Bird (born December 7, 1956) is an American former professional basketball player, coach, and executive in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Nicknamed "the Hick from French Lick" and "Larry Legend" Bird is widely regarded a ...

, Kevin McHale,

Dennis Johnson Dennis Wayne Johnson (September 18, 1954 – February 22, 2007), nicknamed "DJ", was an American professional basketball player for the National Basketball Association's (NBA) Seattle SuperSonics, Phoenix Suns, and Boston Celtics. He was a c ...

Robert Parish Robert Lee Parish (born August 30, 1953) is an American former professional basketball player. A 7'1" Center (basketball), center, nicknamed "the Chief", Parish played for four teams in the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1976 to 199 ...

, Tiny Archibald, as well as Quinn Buckner,

Danny Ainge Daniel Ray Ainge ( ; born March 17, 1959) is an American former professional basketball player, coach, and professional baseball player who serves as the chief executive officer for the Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association (NB ...

and Cedric Maxwell. Boston fans remember Wedman's performance in the Memorial Day Massacre, an appellation for Game 1 of the

1985 NBA Finals The 1985 NBA World Championship Series was the championship round of the National Basketball Association (NBA)'s 1984–85 season, and the culmination of the season's playoffs. It featured the defending NBA champion and Eastern Conference pl ...

. Coming off the bench, Wedman hit all 11 of his shots, including four three-pointers, in Boston's 148–114 win over the Lakers. He often spelled Larry Bird and Kevin McHale or replaced them when they were injured. Wedman was a strict vegetarian during his playing career, not for any moral reasons but for health purposes. For this, Wedman was teased mercilessly by both Bird and McHale in practices and at meals. "He was a vital piece of our team. He knew that players like Larry and Kevin were going to get their minutes, and he accepted his role without hesitation," said Celtics Coach KC Jones about Wedman's tenure in Boston. "He had the perfect attitude. As a coach, you couldn’t ask for anything more. He was an important piece of two championship teams." Wedman averaged 14.9 minutes in his five seasons in Boston, shooting 47.2% from the floor and 35.5% on three-pointers, averaging 6.2 points and 2.1 rebounds.

Seattle SuperSonics

On October 16, 1987, he was traded by the Celtics with Sam Vincent to the Seattle SuperSonics for a 1989 second-round draft choice. However, he retired and did not play a game for the SuperSonics. For his career, Wedman played 906 games in thirteen seasons and averaged 13.2 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.0 assists, shooting 48.5% from the floor, 79.4% from the line and 33.5% on three-points.

Post playing career

He coached the now-defunct Kansas City Knights of the

. Wedman returned to Kansas City where he lives today and operates his real estate business. In June 2007, Wedman was named head coach of the Great Falls Explorers of the CBA.

Honors

* Wedman was inducted into the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame in 2007. * In 2015, Wedman was inducted into the Colorado University Athletic Hall Of Fame. * Wedman was inducted into the Pac-12 Conference Hall of Honor in 2016.

NBA career statistics

Regular season

, - , style="text-align:left;", 1974–75 , style="text-align:left;", Kansas City-Omaha , 80 , , , , 31.9 , , .465 , , , , .818 , , 6.1 , , 1.6 , , 1.0 , , .3 , , 11.1 , - , style="text-align:left;", 1975–76 , style="text-align:left;",

Kansas City The Kansas City metropolitan area is a bi-state metropolitan area anchored by Kansas City, Missouri. Its 14 counties straddle the border between the U.S. states of Missouri (9 counties) and Kansas (5 counties). With and a population of more t ...

, 82 , , , , 36.2 , , .456 , , , , .780 , , 7.4 , , 2.4 , , 1.3 , , .4 , , 15.5 , - , style="text-align:left;", 1976–77 , style="text-align:left;",

, 81 , , , , 33.9 , , .460 , , , , .855 , , 6.2 , , 2.8 , , 1.2 , , .3 , , 15.4 , - , style="text-align:left;", 1977–78 , style="text-align:left;",

, 81 , , , , 36.6 , , .509 , , , , .870 , , 5.7 , , 2.5 , , 1.2 , , .3 , , 17.7 , - , style="text-align:left;", 1978–79 , style="text-align:left;",

, 73 , , , , 34.2 , , .534 , , , , .797 , , 5.3 , , 2.0 , , 1.0 , , .4 , , 18.3 , - , style="text-align:left;", 1979–80 , style="text-align:left;",

, 68 , , , , 34.5 , , .512 , , .318 , , .801 , , 5.7 , , 2.1 , , 1.2 , , .7 , , 19.0 , - , style="text-align:left;", 1980–81 , style="text-align:left;",

, 81 , , , , 35.8 , , .477 , , .325 , , .686 , , 5.3 , , 2.8 , , 1.2 , , .6 , , 19.0 , - , style="text-align:left;", 1981–82 , style="text-align:left;",

Cleveland Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Cuyahoga County. Located along the southern shore of Lake Erie, it is situated across the Canada–U.S. maritime border and approximately west of the Ohio-Pennsylvania st ...

, 54 , , 39 , , 30.3 , , .441 , , .217 , , .733 , , 5.6 , , 2.5 , , 1.4 , , .3 , , 10.9 , - , style="text-align:left;", 1982–83 , style="text-align:left;",

, 35 , , 35 , , 36.9 , , .480 , , .409 , , .844 , , 5.9 , , 2.5 , , .7 , , .3 , , 18.1 , - , style="text-align:left;", 1982–83 , style="text-align:left;",

Boston Boston is the capital and most populous city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. The city serves as the cultural and Financial centre, financial center of New England, a region of the Northeas ...

, 40 , , 0 , , 12.6 , , .459 , , .100 , , .667 , , 1.9 , , .8 , , .5 , , .2 , , 5.2 , - , style="text-align:left; background:#afe6ba;", 1983–84† , style="text-align:left;",

, 68 , , 5 , , 13.5 , , .444 , , .154 , , .829 , , 2.0 , , 1.0 , , .4 , , .1 , , 4.8 , - , style="text-align:left;", 1984–85 , style="text-align:left;",

, 78 , , 5 , , 14.4 , , .478 , , .500 , , .764 , , 2.0 , , 1.2 , , .3 , , .1 , , 6.4 , - , style="text-align:left; background:#afe6ba;", 1985–86† , style="text-align:left;",

, 79 , , 19 , , 17.7 , , .473 , , .354 , , .662 , , 2.4 , , 1.1 , , .5 , , .3 , , 8.0 , - , style="text-align:left;", 1986–87 , style="text-align:left;",

, 6 , , 2 , , 13.0 , , .333 , , .500 , , .500 , , 1.5 , , 1.0 , , .3 , , .3 , , 3.3 , - , style="text-align:center;" colspan="2", Career , 906 , , 105 , , 28.6 , , .481 , , .335 , , .794 , , 4.8 , , 2.0 , , .9 , , .3 , , 13.2 , - , style="text-align:center;" colspan="2", All-Star , 1 , , 0 , , 20.0 , , .800 , , .000 , , .000 , , 6.0 , , 2.0 , , 1.0 , , .0 , , 8.0

Playoffs

, - , style="text-align:left;",

1975 It was also declared the ''International Women's Year'' by the United Nations and the European Architectural Heritage Year by the Council of Europe. Events January * January 1 – Watergate scandal (United States): John N. Mitchell, H. R. ...

, style="text-align:left;", Kansas City-Omaha , 6 , , , , 38.3 , , .397 , , , , .667 , , 5.8 , , 2.7 , , 1.0 , , .5 , , 11.0 , - , style="text-align:left;",

1979 Events January * January 1 ** United Nations Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim heralds the start of the ''International Year of the Child''. Many musicians donate to the ''Music for UNICEF Concert'' fund, among them ABBA, who write the song ...

, style="text-align:left;",

, 5 , , , , 34.8 , , .462 , , , , .750 , , 7.4 , , 1.8 , , 1.8 , , .6 , , 19.2 , - , style="text-align:left;",

1980 Events January * January 4 – U.S. President Jimmy Carter proclaims a United States grain embargo against the Soviet Union, grain embargo against the USSR with the support of the European Commission. * January 6 – Global Positioning Sys ...

, style="text-align:left;",

, 3 , , , , 38.7 , , .453 , , .667 , , .727 , , 7.0 , , 3.0 , , .3 , , 1.0 , , 22.7 , - , style="text-align:left;",

1981 Events January * January 1 ** Greece enters the European Economic Community, predecessor of the European Union. ** Palau becomes a self-governing territory. * January 6 – A funeral service is held in West Germany for Nazi Grand Admiral ...

, style="text-align:left;",

, 15 , , , , 43.8 , , .434 , , .281 , , .714 , , 5.8 , , 3.9 , , 1.2 , , .5 , , 20.5 , - , style="text-align:left;",

1983 1983 saw both the official beginning of the Internet and the first mobile cellular telephone call. Events January * January 1 – The migration of the ARPANET to TCP/IP is officially completed (this is considered to be the beginning of the ...

, style="text-align:left;",

, 6 , , , , 11.0 , , .583 , , .000 , , .500 , , 2.3 , , .0 , , .2 , , .0 , , 4.8 , - , style="text-align:left; background:#afe6ba;",

† , style="text-align:left;",

, 17 , , , , 13.3 , , .417 , , .571 , , .500 , , 2.8 , , 1.0 , , .4 , , .0 , , 5.2 , - , style="text-align:left;",

1985 The year 1985 was designated as the International Youth Year by the United Nations. Events January * January 1 ** The Internet's Domain Name System is created. ** Greenland withdraws from the European Economic Community as a result of a n ...

, style="text-align:left;",

, 21 , , 1 , , 16.7 , , .545 , , .455 , , .684 , , 2.8 , , 1.6 , , .6 , , .0 , , 8.7 , - , style="text-align:left; background:#afe6ba;", 1986† , style="text-align:left;",

, 12 , , 0 , , 11.8 , , .392 , , .500 , , .750 , , 1.8 , , .7 , , .8 , , .3 , , 3.8 , - , style="text-align:center;" colspan="2", Career , 85 , , 1 , , 23.1 , , .453 , , .386 , , .696 , , 3.8 , , 1.8 , , .7 , , .2 , , 10.4

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wedman, Scott 1952 births Living people 20th-century American sportsmen American Basketball Association (2000–present) coaches American men's basketball players Basketball players from Kansas Boston Celtics players Cleveland Cavaliers players Colorado Buffaloes men's basketball players Kansas City Kings draft picks Kansas City Kings players Memphis Sounds draft picks Memphis Tams draft picks NBA All-Stars People from Harper County, Kansas Small forwards