Purvis Short was born on July 2,1957 and is a retired American professional basketball player who played with the Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets and New Jersey Nets of the National Basketball Association from 1978 to 1990.
22 Facts About Purvis Short
1.
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Purvis Short is currently the Warriors ninth all-time leading scorer.
3.
Purvis Short was affectionately nicknamed "Rainbowman" because of the distinctive rainbow-like high arc of his jump shots, something he stated he obtained in high school.
4.
Purvis Short was a role player and sixth man his first few years in the league.
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Purvis Short attended Blair Center Hattiesburg High School, where he led his team to the state championship title in 1974.
6.
Purvis Short was allegedly recruited by 150 colleges upon graduation.
7.
Purvis Short followed in his brother's footsteps at Jackson State University, where he became the school's all-time leading scorer.
8.
Purvis Short was the NCAA's second leading scorer in 1978, averaged 8.9 rebounds per game, and was named SWAC Player of the Year in 1977 and 1978.
9.
Purvis Short was drafted with the fifth overall pick of the 1978 NBA draft by the Golden State Warriors who passed up drafting Larry Bird, who was drafted sixth.
10.
The next year, Purvis Short had a 17.0 point per game average, with a career high.
11.
Purvis Short started working out with Pete Newell during the off-seasons, which Purvis Short later claimed help improve his shooting skills significantly.
12.
Purvis Short hit 20 of 28 field goal attempts and 15 free throws.
13.
Purvis Short scored 57 points against the San Antonio Spurs and 46 against the Washington Bullets that season.
14.
Golden State reached the playoffs, an achievement Purvis Short later recalled as "the best time" in his Warriors career.
15.
Purvis Short ended up appearing in 34 games that year, with an 18.3 points per game average.
16.
At the time of the trade, Purvis Short averaged 19.4 points per game in nine seasons with the Warriors and was sixth on the all-time scoring list while second in steals.
17.
Purvis Short averaged 14.3 points per games in 81 games played that year, with 222 rebounds and 162 assists.
18.
The next season, Purvis Short had a career low 7.4 points per game in 65 games, 16 of them starts.
19.
Purvis Short retired at the end of the season, in 1992.
20.
Purvis Short took a job with the NBA Players Association's Department of Player Programs, where he was later named director of the program in 1999.
21.
Purvis Short was previously the NBA' Players' Union vice president from 1987 to 1990.
22.
Purvis Short was inducted to the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame in 1999.