118. Kevin Porter
Before there was John Stockton dishing out assists in the NBA, there was another small guard known to be the quintessential pass first point guard. Kevin Porter was one of the best if not the best passer in the NBA in the 1970s. He eventually set a than NBA record with 29 assists in a game and had a than record 16 games with 20 or more assists. Both of his records have since been broken, Skiles set the single season game assist record with 30, and both Magic Johnson and John Stockton have most 20 assists games than Porter, but Porter set the trend for the volume passers we have come accustomed to today.
Porter had an unusual college career. Most players stats increase in a near linear fashion from their freshman year to their senior season, Porter was the exact opposite. In his freshman season at the University of San Francisco he averaged an astonishing 33 points and 6 rebounds a game, his junior season his numbers fell to 24 points and 3 rebounds, his sophomore season to 23 and under 3 boards and his senior season 17 points and 1 rebound. Though his team did improve every season.
Porter was drafted in the third round of the 1972 NBA draft by the Capitol Bullets. He had an effective rookie season as a backup putting up a modest 7 points and 3 assists. He became a starter his second year and his numbers increased to 14 and 6. In his third season he lead the NBA in assists with 8 a game and helped the Bullets reach the NBA finals.
Following the Bullets NBA finals loss he was traded to Detroit for Dave Bing. His first season in Detroit was a disaster. His numbers where good but he got hurt and played in only 19 games. He came back his second year and found himself as a backup playing only 26 minutes a game. Part way through the following year he was traded to New Jersey.
With the Nets Porter once again flourished averaging 16 points and a league leading 11 assists for the Nets. He played only one season with the Nets than oddly enough signed a s a free agent with the Pistons once again. His second stint with the Pistons was much better than his first. He had his best season of his career in 78-79 averaging 16 points and a league leading 13 assists a game.
His second stint with the Pistons was a short one. Lasting all of one season, and he went back to his first team the Washington Bullets. He struggled some his first year with the Bullets but in his second year he lead the NBA in assists for the 4th time in his career. He temporarily stopped playing basketball the following season than come back to the Bullets the following season. His last year in the NBA he played only 11 games before being released by the Bullets.
Porter’s career averages where 12 points and 8 assists in 659 career games. He is considered by some to be amongst the games best players never to make an all-star team.
Following his NBA days he played in the Philippine Basketball Association and coached Saint Francis University for a time.
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