Charles Washington Criss Jr. (born November 6, 1948) is an American former professional basketball player and coach.
A 5'8" guard from New Mexico State University, Criss began his professional career in the Eastern Basketball Association (EBA),[1] earning league Most Valuable Player honors with the Scranton Apollos in 1976, next playing for the Washington Generals.[2] He joined the Atlanta Hawks of the National Basketball Association the following year, and played eight seasons in the league with the Hawks, San Diego Clippers and Milwaukee Bucks.[3] When he entered the NBA, Criss was the league's shortest active player.[4]
In his NBA career, Criss averaged 8.5 points and 3.2 assists per game, with perhaps his best year being his first in 1978, posting averages of 11 points and 4 assists in 77 matches.[3] During the 1980 NBA playoffs, Criss averaged 14 points and 4.4 assists per game, as the Hawks eventually lost to the Philadelphia 76ers in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.[5] On February 20, 1982, while on the Clippers, Criss scored a career-best 34 points and recorded 8 assists during a 118–101 win over the San Antonio Spurs.[6] After retiring as a player, he worked as a golf instructor, an Atlanta Hawks television color commentator and a basketball summer camp coordinator.[4] Criss was head coach of the Atlanta Eagles in the United States Basketball League (USBL) during the 1991 season.[7]
NBA career statistics
GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
FG% | Field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage |
RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
Regular season
Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1977–78 | Atlanta | 77 | - | 25.1 | .999 | - | .999 | 30.2 | 1.8 | 3.4 | 0.6 | 19.4 |
1978–79 | Atlanta | 54 | - | 16.3 | .377 | - | .779 | 1.1 | 2.6 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 5.3 |
1979–80 | Atlanta | 81 | - | 22.1 | .431 | .059 | .811 | 1.4 | 3.0 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 8.3 |
1980–81 | Atlanta | 66 | - | 25.9 | .454 | .048 | .864 | 1.5 | 4.3 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 9.5 |
1981–82 | Atlanta | 27 | 0 | 20.4 | .400 | .250 | .890 | 1.4 | 2.8 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 8.7 |
1981–82 | San Diego | 28 | 20 | 30.0 | .479 | .381 | .884 | 1.6 | 4.0 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 12.9 |
1982–83 | Milwaukee | 66 | 0 | 14.0 | .451 | .194 | .895 | 1.2 | 1.9 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 6.2 |
1983–84 | Milwaukee | 6 | 0 | 17.8 | .367 | .167 | .636 | 1.5 | 2.8 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 5.0 |
1983–84 | Atlanta | 9 | 0 | 12.0 | .409 | .000 | 1.000 | 1.2 | 2.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 2.6 |
1984–85 | Atlanta | 4 | 2 | 28.8 | .412 | .000 | .669 | 3.5 | 5.5 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 4.5 |
Career | 418 | 22 | 21.4 | .432 | .179 | .831 | 1.4 | 3.2 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 8.5 |
Playoffs
Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1977–78 | Atlanta | 2 | - | 32.5 | .417 | - | .778 | 2.0 | 1.5 | 2.0 | 0.5 | 13.5 |
1978–79 | Atlanta | 9 | - | 11.0 | .414 | - | .900 | 0.6 | 1.8 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 3.7 |
1979–80 | Atlanta | 5 | - | 30.4 | .492 | .333 | .917 | 1.0 | 4.4 | 1.2 | 0.0 | 14.0 |
1982–83 | Milwaukee | 9 | - | 12.9 | .441 | .000 | .944 | 1.6 | 1.3 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 5.2 |
Career | 25 | - | 17.3 | .452 | .250 | .898 | 1.1 | 2.1 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 7.1 |
See also
References
- ^ "Charlie Criss minor league basketball statistics". Stats Crew. Retrieved February 10, 2025.
- ^ Extinct Sports Leagues - Continental Basketball Association (1946 - present)
- ^ a b Stats at Basketball-Reference
- ^ a b Summer Basketball Camp 2004 - Camp Director Charlie Criss
- ^ Charlie Criss Per Game Playoffs
- ^ Charlie Criss scores a career high 34 points (1982)
- ^ "Charlie Criss minor league basketball coaching records". Stats Crew. Retrieved February 10, 2025.
External links
- Career statistics from NBA.com and Basketball Reference
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