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31. Clifford Ray

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31. Clifford Ray

Clifford Ray was taken with the 40th pick in the 1971 Draft, but despite that late selection, the Oklahoma Sooner made the Chicago Bulls roster.

Ray's calling card was his defense, and the Center had 10.6 Rebounds per Game as a rookie, a good number considering he only averaged 22.8 Minutes per Game.  Named an All-Rookie, Ray had a slight increase to 10.9 RPG but improved to 12.2 with 2.2 Blocks, the first year where that stat was officially calculated. That year, Ray was ninth in total Rebounds and Blocks and was second in Defensive Win Shares.  This was Ray's last year with Chicago, as he was traded to Golden State for Nate Thurmond.  He averaged only 8.3 Points per Game, but had 11.2 Rebounds per Game over his three years in Chicago.

Ray would win an NBA Championship with Golden State in 1975, and a second as an Assistant Coach with Boston in 2008.

The Bullet Points

  • Position: Center
  • Acquired: Selected in the 3rd Round, 40th Overall in the NBA Draft 3/29/71.
  • Departed: Traded to the Golden State Warriors with a 1975 1st Round Pick (which would be Joe Bryant) foe Nate Thurmond 9/3/74.
  • Games Played: 235
  • Per Game Averages:

    27.7 MP
    .502 eFG%
    .614 FT% 
    8.3 PTS 
    11.2 RB 
    3.3 AST 
    0.7 STL*
    2.2 BLK*

    20 Playoff Games
    28.0 MP
    .503 eFG%
    .500 FT% 
    8.7 PTS 
    9.9 RB 
    2.6 AST 
    1.3 STL*
    1.9 BLK*

    *Steals and Blocks were not stats until the the1973-74 Season.
  • Advanced Stats:

    16.7 PER 
    .557 TS%
    3.0 VORP**
    25.0 WS

    20 Playoff Games
    17.3 PER 
    .507 TS%
    0.5 VORP**
    1.3 WS

    **VORP was not calculated until the 1973-74 Season
  • Played For: Chicago Bulls
  • Major Accolades and Awards:

    All-Rookie (1972)
    Highest Rebound Percentage (1971-72 & 1972-73)
  • Other Points of Note: Finished 4th in Rookie of the Year Voting in 1972.
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