Читать книгу Indiana University Olympians. From Leroy Samse to Lilly King онлайн

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“I would go so far as to say that they should at least experience the college atmosphere,” he said. “There is no better atmosphere.”

Bellamy became the first Hoosier chosen number one overall in the NBA draft by the Chicago Packers. He lived up to it, becoming 1962 Rookie of the Year by averaging 31.6 points and 19.0 rebounds a game. In NBA history, only Chamberlain—with 37.6 and 27.0 in 1960—averaged more as a rookie. For instance, Michael Jordan averaged 28.2 points a game in winning Rookie of the Year in 1985.

Bellamy’s rookie season is nearly lost to history because Chamberlain averaged 50.4 points and 25.7 rebounds that year. Yet Bellamy was instant offense. He scored 35 in the home opener in Chicago, and 35, 37, and 45 over the next three games. In a loss to the Philadelphia Warriors, he scored 45 to Chamberlain’s 55. In the NBA All-Star game—when those games were more competitively played—Bellamy had 23 points and 17 rebounds.

“To play against guys you watched on television . . . little did I know my talent would mesh with theirs,” he said.