Wendell Ladner (October 6, 1948 – June 24, 1975) was an American professional basketball player most notable for his playing time in the American Basketball Association (ABA) from 1970 to 1975.
Ladner was named to the 1971 ABA All-Rookie Team and was selected to the ABA All-Star Game in his rookie season. On January 24, 1971, he scored a career-high total of 34 points in a Memphis win over the Miami Floridians.[1] He was also an all-star the following season.
Ladner was killed at the age of 26 in the June 24, 1975 crash of Eastern Air Lines Flight 66.[2] He was identified by medical examiners because he was wearing his ABA championship ring.[3][4] For many years, the Nets included his name and number in their list of retired numbers, although Ladner's #4 was not displayed in the rafters with the other retired numbers. His number was given to Rick Mahorn during his tenure with the Nets. In October 2013, a New York Daily News article explained that the number was never formally retired. However, as a tribute to Ladner, Nets trainer Fritz Massmann had not issued #4 to other players for 17 years after Ladner's death.[5]
Erving called Ladner his most unusual teammate because Ladner wanted to be Burt Reynolds with a basketball. Semi-Pro, a basketball comedy set in the 1970s starring Will Ferrell, spoofs Ladner's Reynolds persona in its trailer.
wendell, ladner, october, 1948, june, 1975, american, professional, basketball, player, most, notable, playing, time, american, basketball, association, from, 1970, 1975, personal, informationborn, 1948, october, 1948necaise, crossing, mississippi, diedjune, 1. Wendell Ladner October 6 1948 June 24 1975 was an American professional basketball player most notable for his playing time in the American Basketball Association ABA from 1970 to 1975 Wendell LadnerPersonal informationBorn 1948 10 06 October 6 1948Necaise Crossing Mississippi U S DiedJune 24 1975 1975 06 24 aged 26 Jamaica New York U S Listed height6 ft 5 in 1 96 m Listed weight220 lb 100 kg Career informationHigh schoolHancock North Central Kiln Mississippi CollegeSouthern Miss 1967 1970 NBA draft1970 undraftedPlaying career1970 1975PositionSmall forwardNumber33 4Career history1970 1972Memphis Pros1972Carolina Cougars1972 1973Memphis Tams1973 1974Kentucky Colonels1975New York NetsCareer highlights and awardsABA champion 1974 2 ABA All Star 1971 1972 ABA All Rookie First Team 1971 Career ABA statisticsPoints3 474 11 6 ppg Rebounds2 481 8 3 rpg Assists621 2 1 apg Stats at Basketball Reference comLadner was born in Necaise Crossing Hancock County Mississippi and played high school basketball at Hancock North Central High School in Kiln Mississippi After attending the University of Southern Mississippi Ladner was undrafted in the 1970 American Basketball Association ABA draft but played forward for five seasons with five different teams in the ABA from 1970 to 1975 At 6 ft 5 in 1 96 m and 220 pounds 100 kg Ladner was one of the more notorious enforcers of the ABA protecting Dan Issel of the Kentucky Colonels and Julius Erving of the New York Nets Ladner regularly faced perhaps the fiercest player in the ABA the Pittsburgh Condors John Brisker once entering the Condors locker room and yelling Hey John you wanna fight right now or wait for the game citation needed Ladner was named to the 1971 ABA All Rookie Team and was selected to the ABA All Star Game in his rookie season On January 24 1971 he scored a career high total of 34 points in a Memphis win over the Miami Floridians 1 He was also an all star the following season Ladner was killed at the age of 26 in the June 24 1975 crash of Eastern Air Lines Flight 66 2 He was identified by medical examiners because he was wearing his ABA championship ring 3 4 For many years the Nets included his name and number in their list of retired numbers although Ladner s 4 was not displayed in the rafters with the other retired numbers His number was given to Rick Mahorn during his tenure with the Nets In October 2013 a New York Daily News article explained that the number was never formally retired However as a tribute to Ladner Nets trainer Fritz Massmann had not issued 4 to other players for 17 years after Ladner s death 5 Erving called Ladner his most unusual teammate because Ladner wanted to be Burt Reynolds with a basketball Semi Pro a basketball comedy set in the 1970s starring Will Ferrell spoofs Ladner s Reynolds persona in its trailer A road in Perkinston Mississippi has been named in Ladner s honor 6 See also EditList of basketball players who died during their careersReferences Edit Memphis Pros at The Floridians Box Score January 24 1971 Basketball Reference com Retrieved 9 February 2022 Editor column Plane down pro athlete dead news interest stoked The Poughkeepsie Journal Retrieved 2020 04 21 Nelson John June 25 1975 Airplane Crash Claims Wndell Ladner s Life Kentucky New Era Associated Press p 20 Retrieved September 20 2016 Chang Dean April 20 2013 A New Nets Era but Much Has Been Left Behind The New York Times Retrieved September 20 2016 Bondy Stefan October 17 2013 SOLVED The mysterious case of Wendell Ladner s un retired jersey Nydailynews com Retrieved July 26 2015 Wendell Ladner Rd Wendell Ladner Rd Retrieved 2020 04 21 External links EditABA statistics at Basketball Reference Wendell Ladner at Find a Grave Jim O Brien Wendell Ladner Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Wendell Ladner amp oldid 1178262118, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
