Larry Nelson Steele (born May 5, 1949) is a former professional basketball player, best known for being on the Portland Trail Blazers team that won the

1977 NBA Finals The 1977 NBA World Championship Series was the championship round of the National Basketball Association (NBA)'s 1976–77 season, and the culmination of the season's playoffs. The Western Conference champion Portland Trail Blazers played agai ...

Early life

Born in Greencastle, Indiana, Steele grew up in Bainbridge, Indiana, and played collegiately at the University of Kentucky under coach Adolph Rupp. As a junior at Bainbridge High School, he had a high game of 46 points and 38 points as a high game during senior year. He scored a total of 1,646 high school points. His senior year he was selected All-County, All-Sectional, All-Regional, All- Semi-State, Indianapolis News 1st Team All-State, and a member of the Indiana All-Star Team. In 2003, he was inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame.

College career

At the University of Kentucky, he was a three-year starter, averaging 13.1 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game. He was selected 1st Team All-SEC twice, Co-captain, MVP, Leadership Award, Hustle Award, led the UK team in assists and free throws. In 2003, he was inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame. As a junior in 1970, Steele earned 3rd team UPI/Coaches All-SEC honors and in 1971 as a senior 2nd team AP and 3rd team UPI/Coaches All-SEC honors.

NBA Playing Career

Portland Trail Blazers

He was drafted by the Trail Blazers in 1971, with the 2nd pick in the 3rd round (37th overall) and by the Kentucky Colonels in the 1971 American Basketball Association draft. In 1974 he was drafted again by the Kentucky Colonels in the 5th round of the ABA draft of NBA players. He joined the Trail Blazers at the start of the Blazers' second season and became a roster mainstay for nine years before knee injuries forced him into retirement at the end of the 1979–80 season. Steele played his entire NBA career for the team (retiring from basketball at the end of the 1979–80 NBA season, 1979–80 season). Steele led the NBA in steal (basketball), steals in the 1973–74 NBA season—the first year steals were recorded by the league with 2.68 swipes per game. He played 20.7 MPG on the 1977 championship team (starting nine games) averaging a career high 10.3 points per game. During his nine-year NBA career, all with the Trail Blazers, he averaged 8.2 points, 2.9 assists, 1.39 steals and 24.2 minutes while starting 337 games. The Trail Blazers retired his jersey (15) on October 11, 1981.

Personal life

After his playing days, he worked in the Blazers front office in marketing and served as a commentator with broadcaster Bill Schonely. Steele later worked as a Sports presenter, broadcaster for the NBA on CBS and as a head coach at the University of Portland from 1987 to 1994. He currently runs a basketball camp in Vernonia, Oregon.

NBA career statistics

Regular season

, - , align="left" , 1971–72 NBA season, 1971–72 , align="left" , 1971-72 Portland Trail Blazers season, Portland , 72 , , - , , 18.2 , , .481 , , - , , .722 , , 3.9 , , 2.2 , , - , , - , , 5.1 , - , align="left" , 1972–73 NBA season, 1972–73 , align="left" , 1972-73 Portland Trail Blazers season, Portland , 66 , , - , , 19.7 , , .483 , , - , , .798 , , 2.3 , , 2.4 , , - , , - , , 5.9 , - , align="left" , 1973–74 NBA season, 1973–74 , align="left" , 1973-74 Portland Trail Blazers season, Portland , 81 , , - , , 32.7 , , .478 , , - , , .789 , , 3.8 , , 4.0 , , style="background:#cfecec;", 2.7* , , 0.4 , , 9.7 , - , align="left" , 1974–75 NBA season, 1974–75 , align="left" , 1974-75 Portland Trail Blazers season, Portland , 76 , , - , , 31.4 , , .548 , , - , , .836 , , 3.0 , , 3.8 , , 2.4 , , 0.2 , , 8.6 , - , align="left" , 1975–76 NBA season, 1975–76 , align="left" , 1975-76 Portland Trail Blazers season, Portland , 81 , , - , , 29.4 , , .495 , , - , , .759 , , 3.6 , , 4.0 , , 2.1 , , 0.2 , , 9.9 , - , style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;" , 1976–77 NBA season, 1976–77† , align="left" , 1976-77 Portland Trail Blazers season, Portland , 81 , , - , , 20.7 , , .500 , , - , , .806 , , 2.3 , , 2.1 , , 1.5 , , 0.2 , , 10.3 , - , align="left" , 1977–78 NBA season, 1977–78 , align="left" , 1977-78 Portland Trail Blazers season, Portland , 65 , , - , , 17.4 , , .470 , , - , , .820 , , 1.7 , , 1.3 , , 0.9 , , 0.1 , , 8.0 , - , align="left" , 1978–79 NBA season, 1978–79 , align="left" , 1978-79 Portland Trail Blazers season, Portland , 72 , , - , , 20.7 , , .420 , , - , , .824 , , 2.4 , , 2.0 , , 1.0 , , 0.1 , , 7.2 , - , align="left" , 1979–80 NBA season, 1979–80 , align="left" , 1979-80 Portland Trail Blazers season, Portland , 16 , , - , , 27.9 , , .425 , , - , , .815 , , 2.8 , , 4.2 , , 1.6 , , 0.1 , , 9.1 , -class="sortbottom" , style="text-align:center;" colspan=2, Career , 610 , , - , , 24.2 , , .483 , , - , , .796 , , 2.9 , , 2.8 , , 1.8 , , 0.2 , , 8.2

Playoffs

, - , style="text-align:left; background:#afe6ba;", 1977 NBA Playoffs, 1977† , style="text-align:left;", 1976–77 Portland Trail Blazers season, Portland , 18 , , - , , 14.5 , , .371 , , - , , .750 , , 1.5 , , 1.0 , , 0.5 , , 0.0 , , 4.2 , - , style="text-align:left;", 1978 NBA Playoffs, 1978 , style="text-align:left;", 1977–78 Portland Trail Blazers season, Portland , 6 , , - , , 31.8 , , .417 , , - , , .905 , , 4.3 , , 2.3 , , 1.2 , , 0.3 , , 11.5 , - , style="text-align:left;", 1979 NBA Playoffs, 1979 , style="text-align:left;", 1978–79 Portland Trail Blazers season, Portland , 3 , , - , , 24.3 , , .571 , , - , , .889 , , 3.7 , , 2.3 , , 3.3 , , 0.0 , , 13.3 , - class=sortbottom , style="text-align:center;" colspan=2, Career , 27 , , - , , 19.4 , , .424 , , - , , .823 , , 2.4 , , 1.4 , , 1.0 , , 0.1 , , 6.9 , -

Head coaching record

References

External links

*
Profile at Portland Trail Blazers websiteIndiana Basketball Hall of FameLarry Steele Basketball Camp
{{DEFAULTSORT:Steele, Larry 1949 births Living people American men's basketball coaches American men's basketball players Basketball coaches from Indiana Basketball players from Indiana Guards (basketball) Kentucky Colonels draft picks Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball players National Basketball Association broadcasters National Basketball Association players with retired numbers People from Greencastle, Indiana Portland Pilots men's basketball coaches Portland Trail Blazers draft picks Portland Trail Blazers players