Kermit Washington was a professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for 10 seasons. He was known for his physicality and toughness on the court, as well as his ability to rebound and play defense.
Washington was born in Washington, D.C. in 1951 and attended American University, where he played college basketball. He was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the 1973 NBA draft and played for the team for three seasons before being traded to the Boston Celtics.
In 1978, Washington was traded to the San Diego Clippers, where he played for four seasons. During this time, he became known for his aggressive play and was often involved in physical altercations with other players. In 1977, he was involved in a fight with Rudy Tomjanovich of the Houston Rockets that resulted in Tomjanovich suffering a serious injury.
Despite his reputation for physical play, Washington was also a skilled player. He was a strong rebounder and averaged double-digit rebounds per game in several seasons. He was also a solid defender and was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team in 1980.
In 1982, Washington was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers, where he played for two seasons. He then played for the Golden State Warriors for one season before retiring from the NBA in 1988.
After retiring from basketball, Washington became involved in humanitarian work. He founded the Kermit Washington Children's Foundation, which provided aid to children in need in Africa. However, in 2017, Washington was sentenced to six years in prison for embezzling money from his foundation.
Despite his legal troubles, Washington's basketball career is remembered for his toughness and physicality on the court. He was a solid player who contributed to several successful teams during his time in the NBA.
🏀