George Gervin’s last game in the NBA was on April 20, 1986, playing for the Chicago Bulls. It was the game when Michael Jordan scored 63 points versus the Boston Celtics in a round one playoff game. It was game two of the series in which one superstar was building his legendary status while the other would end his NBA career. The Bulls would be swept in the series by the Celtics as many will remember Michael Jordan’s 63 point game. They will remember Air Jordan’s flight to greatness taking off in the NBA. Meanwhile George Gervin would dish out one assist, playing 5 minutes in that game. Known as the Ice-man, George Gervin would walk away from the court very quietly after 14 seasons in the ABA & NBA. The 1985-86 season, Jordan only played 18 regular season games due to an injury. The Bulls’ 30-52 record was just enough wins to clinch the final spot in the Eastern Conference. Many would forget if it was not for the Iceman averaging 16.2 points per game that regular season playing in all 82 games, that Jordan’s 63 points versus the Celtics would have had to wait another season.

George Gervin started his career in the ABA American Basketball Association for the Virginia Squires back in 1972. It was former Bulls great announcer/ coach Johnny Red Kerr at the time who liked what he saw from Gervin when he played for the Pontiac Chaparrals of the Continental Basketball Association (CBA) and signed him and brought him to the ABA. The Squires were a team on the verge of bankruptcy and had to fold up shop and do a fire sale on all their players. Gervin was living the Will Ferrell movie about the ABA in Semi-Pro. Gervin would then be sold off like a piece of meat to the San Antonio Spurs. After two seasons with the Squires, Gervin would play for the San Antonio Spurs of the ABA. In 1974, Gervin became eligible for the NBA draft. The Phoenix Suns selected Gervin in the third round which was the 40th pick overall. Gervin would elect to stay playing with the Spurs in the ABA. Gervin would play 4 seasons in the ABA. Eventually in 1976, the ABA and NBA would emerge. The San Antonio Spurs would be one of the teams from the ABA to move into the NBA. Some teams of the ABA just folded up and did not move to the NBA.

Before David Robinson. Before Tim Duncan. San Antonio basketball was all about the Iceman, George Gervin. Gervin was an offensive juggernaut his entire career. Gervin became the Iceman because he played the game of basketball at a high level and it did not matter who he went up against, he was a cool cat. No signs of struggle from him on the court each night; the man did not show fear or even perspire during the games. The Iceman had his signature move the simple finger roll, which prevented defenders from blocking his shot. The Iceman led the NBA in scoring three years in a row from 1978-80. Gervin averaged 33.1 points per game during that 1979-80 season. Before Michael Jordan, the Iceman had the most scoring titles in league history playing the guard position. In 1980, the Iceman suffered a injury and was out three games. Gervin’s replacement, Ron Brewer, averaged 30.0 points per game. Iceman came back and put up over 40 something points making a statement the cool way. Iceman was asked about his big game returning. His cool cat response was, “Just the way the lord planned it.” Then added “Ice be Cool.”

I wonder if Michael Jordan would have stayed healthy in that 1985-86 season. If the Bulls could have figured a way to use the George Gervin and Jordan who were both guards at the time in the same offense while running a scheme tailored to both players’ strengths. If both built a nice chemistry in regular season, maybe the Bulls would have grabbed a higher seed than the 8th. In the 1978-79 season, the Iceman led everyone in playoff scoring averaging 28.6 points per game. He had the Spurs one win away from getting to the finals in 1979, but the team blew a 3-1 series lead to the Washington Bullets who won three straight. Gervin, like Jordan, has his playoff demons and foes he beat up on. Before losing to Washington, the Iceman got by his arch-rival, Julius Ewing of the Philadelphia 76ers. In 1976, Julius Ewing guided the New Jersey Nets in the ABA finals over the Ice man’s Spurs and took the series 4-3 in best out of seven.

When the Bulls acquired George Gervin from the San Antonio Spurs for forward David Greenwood, Michael Jordan was not happy with that deal. Coming to Chicago & leaving San Antonio, that was the Iceman’s home for over a decade which has to sting. Then playing the same position as the team’s up and coming superstar, probably does not help matters. Gervin played all 82 games for the Bulls during regular season. Gervin would walk away from the NBA and play on the hardwood courts of Europe. During the 1986-87 season in Europe, the Iceman averaged 26.1 points per game. The Iceman would finish his career in another CBA league and play one year with the Quad City Thunder.

George Gervin was born in Detroit and played his college ball at Eastern Michigan where he averaged 29.5 points per game. What a great career for the Ice Man. Eastern Michigan retired his number, 24. San Antonio Spurs retired his number, 44. The Iceman was on the ABA All-time team. The Iceman was voted one of the greatest 50 players of all-time in the NBA at the 50th year anniversary of the league. Same thing for the 75th NBA Anniversary. The Iceman made the College Basketball Hall of Fame and the Professional Basketball Hall of Fame. Gervin will go down as one of those greats that never won the championship. The more I read about this guy, the more I like him. Established himself in two different leagues. Cool, calm, and collectively put up 26, 595 points combined in both leagues. That’s playing with ice in your veins.