Otis Birdsong is a former professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for 12 seasons. He was born on December 9, 1955, in Winter Haven, Florida, and attended Winter Haven High School. Birdsong played college basketball at the University of Houston, where he was a standout player and helped lead the team to the Final Four in 1977.
Birdsong was selected by the Kansas City Kings with the second overall pick in the 1977 NBA draft. He quickly established himself as one of the league's top shooting guards, averaging over 20 points per game in each of his first four seasons. Birdsong was known for his smooth shooting stroke and his ability to score from anywhere on the court.
In 1981, Birdsong was traded to the New Jersey Nets, where he continued to excel. He was named an All-Star in each of his first three seasons with the Nets and helped lead the team to the playoffs in each of those seasons. Birdsong's best season with the Nets came in 1983-84, when he averaged 24.6 points per game and was named to the All-NBA Second Team.
After six seasons with the Nets, Birdsong was traded to the San Antonio Spurs in 1986. He played two seasons with the Spurs before being traded to the Boston Celtics in 1988. Birdsong played just one season with the Celtics before retiring from the NBA in 1989.
Over the course of his 12-year NBA career, Birdsong averaged 18.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game. He was a four-time All-Star and was named to the All-NBA Second Team twice. Birdsong was also a member of the 1980 United States Olympic basketball team, which won the gold medal at the Summer Olympics in Moscow.
After retiring from the NBA, Birdsong worked as a basketball coach and executive. He served as an assistant coach for the Indiana Pacers and the Atlanta Hawks, and also worked as a scout for the Miami Heat. In 2004, Birdsong was inducted into the University of Houston Athletics Hall of Honor.
Overall, Otis Birdsong was a talented and highly respected basketball player who had a successful career in the NBA. He was known for his scoring ability, his smooth shooting stroke, and his leadership on the court. Birdsong's contributions to the game of basketball have been recognized through his induction into the University of Houston Athletics Hall of Honor and his continued involvement in the sport as a coach and executive.
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