Louie Dampier

Ht. 6-0
Wt. 175
College - Kentucky
ABA Teams: Kentucky (1967-68 to 1975-76)

All-American at University of Kentucky; Member of First Kentucky Colonels Team; ABA All-Time Leader in Points Scored, Three-Pointers Attempted, Three Pointers Made, Assists, Games Played, and Minutes Played; Ranks in the Top Ten in several ABA All-Time Categories: 2-Pointers Attempted, 2-Pointers Made, Free Throws Attempted, and Free Throws Made; Member of 1968 ABA All-Rookie Team; Led ABA in Three-Point Field Goal Percentage in 1973-74; Hit 57 Free Throws in a Row in 1971 for a pro record at the time; Holds ABA Playoff Game Record of 18 assists in one game; 7-Time ABA All-Star; 4-Time Member of ABA All-Pro Team; One of only a handful of players to play all nine ABA seasons; Member of 1974-75 Kentucky Colonels Championship Team; Unanimous choice for ABA Top 30 Team.

From Jim O'Brien's 1972-73 Complete Handbook of Pro Basketball:
Last year I noted that Louie likes to live it up on the road, and "sometimes late in road games, he has to pay for it." . . . "How could you question my stamina?" he said, upon seeing me the first time this season. "I lead the league in minutes played every year." . . . And so he does . . . One of great little guards in ABA history. Three-point shot was invented for him. Adolph Rupp said he was best basket-shooter he ever coached at University of Kentucky . . . Don't let him or Darel Carrier go to right corner. Both are deadly from there. Have to pick him up early or he'll let loose a three-point attempt . . . Fine free throw shooter, hitting 84 percent of 336 tosses . . . Set ABA record with 58 straight free throws . . . Once hit 55 points against Dallas . . . By the way, he never disputed that he likes to live it up on the road
GP Min FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% TReb AST PF Stl Blk Pnts RPG APG PPG
Career ABA Totals 728 27770 5290 12047 .439 794 2217 .358 2352 2849 .826 2282 4044 1633 - - 13726 3.1 5.6 18.9
ABA Playoff Totals 94 3788 598 1371 .436 119 325 .366 269 341 .789 286 617 195 - - 1584 3.0 6.6 16.9
ABA All-Star Totals 7 175 39 85 .459 3 16 .188 7 8 .875 15 15 12 2 0 88 2.1 2.1 12.6

Sound Clip -- May 1973: Dampier discusses his quick initial adjustment to the ABA's red, white and blue ball.

Some ABA players loved the red, white and blue ball, and a few hated it. Players who came to the ABA from the NBA tended to dislike the tri-colored ball, fearing that it would affect their long-range shooting.

Longtime ABA players, however, were proud of the colors and even enjoyed watching the ball spin in the air during jump shots. Louie Dampier (at left, the ABA's all-time leader in three-pointers made) was one of those players.

Streaming RealAudio file -- RealPlayer plug-in required (free download here)
Clip courtesy of Van Vance and used with permission

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