Bucks: Marking 40 years since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar trade changed 2 franchises

Elmore Smith, shown on a 1976 Topps basketball card.

Elmore Smith was better than we thought

No one had it tougher after the trade than Elmore Smith, the 26-year-old center from Division II Kentucky State who found himself thrust into the spotlight as the man to replace Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the center for the Milwaukee Bucks.

In the annals of thankless gigs, this one had to be right up there.

Smith had a solid season in 1975-76—averaging 15.6 points, 11.4 rebounds, 3.1 blocks, 1.2 assists and one steal in 36 minutes a game, shooting a respectable 51.8 percent from the floor and making 63.2 percent of his free throws.

But the Bucks acquired former All-ABA center Swen Nater in the ABA dispersal draft following the merger of the two leagues in the summer of 1976 and Nater and Smith were thrust into a uncomfortable time-sharing arrangement at center.

The experiment ended in January 1977, when Smith and guard Gary Brokaw were traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers for forward Rowland Garrett, a first-round pick in 1977 who turned out to be Ernie Grunfeld and a 1978 first-rounder used to take George Johnson.

Smith knew about tough gigs, though—he was also the guy the Lakers picked up to replace Wilt Chamberlain in 1973.

Here are Smith’s per-game numbers with both the Lakers before the trade and the Bucks afterward. In retirement, Smith has hit it big with his Elmore Smith’s All-Natural BBQ Sauces.

Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 6/16/2015.

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