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Larry Cannon (basketball)

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Not to be confused with Larry Kenon.

Larry Cannon
Personal information
Born(1947-04-12)April 12, 1947
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedMay 29, 2024(2024-05-29) (aged 77)
Listed height6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Listed weight195 lb (88 kg)
Career information
High schoolAbraham Lincoln
(Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
CollegeLa Salle (1966–1969)
NBA draft1969: 1st round, 5th overall pick
Selected by the Chicago Bulls
Playing career1969–1977
PositionShooting guard
Number30, 35, 33, 14
Career history
1969–1970Miami Floridians
1970–1971Denver Rockets
1971Memphis Pros
1971–1973Indiana Pacers
1974Philadelphia 76ers
1976–1977Lancaster Red Roses
Career highlights and awards
Career ABA and NBA statistics
Points3,545 (16.6 ppg)
Rebounds620 (3.9 rpg)
Assists722 (2.6 apg)
Stats at NBA.com Edit this at Wikidata
Stats at Basketball Reference Edit this at Wikidata

Lawrence T. Cannon (April 12, 1947 – May 29, 2024) was an American basketball player. Born and raised in Philadelphia, Cannon was selected in the first round of the 1969 NBA draft by the Chicago Bulls with the fifth overall pick. Cannon was an American Basketball Association All-Star, who averaged 16.6 points per game in his ABA/NBA career after his All-American career at La Salle University. Cannon was forced to retire from basketball due to a chronic medical condition, phlebitis in his legs. Cannon died on May 29, 2024, at the age of 77.[1]

High school career

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A 6'5" (1.93 m) guard, Cannon was born and raised in Philadelphia.

At Abraham Lincoln High School in Philadelphia, Cannon set scoring records that still stand. Cannon scored more total points all-time than any Philadelphia high school player except Wilt Chamberlain. In 1965 Cannon shot 21-for-47 to score 49 points, 34 in the second half, to set a Public League and city-leagues postseason record as Lincoln defeated Roxborough High School 84–78.[2]

Cannon was a high school Parade All-American.[3]

Collegiate career

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La Salle University finished 23–1 in 1968–1969, as Cannon led the team with 140 assists and was second in rebounds (147). Cannon averaged 19.1 points per game during his three seasons, accumulating a total of 1,430 points, and was named to All-American teams.[4]

As a sophomore in 1966–1967, Cannon averaged 18.7 points, 10.3 rebounds and 3.0 assists as LaSalle finished 14–12 under Coach Joseph Heyer.[5][6]

LaSalle finished 20–8 under Coach Jim Hardin in 1967–1968, as Cannon averaged 19.5 points, 9.9 rebounds and 4.8 assists in his junior year.[7]

Under Coach Tom Gola in his senior year, Cannon averaged 19.0 points, 6.4 rebounds and 6.1 assists and received second-team All-America recognition. La Salle was not permitted to enter the NCAA basketball tournament in Cannon's senior year, despite being ranked #2 in the nation behind UCLA, due to recruiting violations by the school. Over his final two seasons LaSalle was 43–9, with a 15–0 record in the Middle Atlantic Conference.[8][9]

In 75 career games at LaSalle, Cannon averaged 19.1 points, 9.0 rebounds and 4.6 assists, with 1430 total points.[5]

Professional career

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Cannon was selected by the Chicago Bulls in the 1st round (5th pick overall) of the 1969 NBA draft and by the Miami Floridians in the American Basketball Association (ABA) 1969 ABA draft. Cannon chose to play in the ABA.

As a rookie in 1969–1970, Cannon averaged 11.8 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2.7 assists with the Floridians, who finished 23–61 under coaches Jim Pollard (5–15) and Harold Blitman (18–46).[10]

Cannon lead the Denver Rockets (ABA) with 26.6 points per game during the 1970–1971 season.[11][12]

In 1970–1971, playing for Joe Belmont (3–10) and Stan Albeck (27–44), Cannon played in 80 games, averaging 26.6 points, 4.2 rebounds and 5.6 assists. He made the All-ABA Second team. The 1st Team was: Rick Barry, Roger Brown, Mack Calvin, Mel Daniels and Charlie Scott. The 2nd Team was Zelmo Beaty, John Brisker, Joe Caldwell, Cannon, Donnie Freeman and Dan Issel. It was the only full and healthy season of Cannon's professional career.[12][11]

In 1971–1972, Cannon played for the Indiana Pacers, averaging 6.6 points, 2.6 assists and 1.7 rebounds, as the Pacers defeated the New York Nets with Rick Barry 4–2 in the ABA Finals to capture the ABA Championship.[13][11]

In his career, Cannon played for the Miami Floridians (1969–70), Denver Rockets (1970–71), Memphis Pros (1971–72), Indiana Pacers (1971–72, 1973–74) in the ABA for 194 games and Philadelphia 76ers (1973–74) in the NBA for 19 games. Overall, in his ABA/NBA career, Cannon averaged 16.6 points, 2.9 rebounds and 3.6 assists in 213 career games.[11]

Cannon was forced to retire due to phlebitis in his legs.[14]

Career statistics

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Legend
  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

ABA/NBA

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Source[15]

Regular season

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Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
1969–70 Miami (ABA) 57 26.4 .383 .267 .681 2.5 2.7 11.8
1970–71 Denver (ABA) 80 38.7 .436 .261 .794 4.2 5.2 26.6
1971–72 Memphis (ABA) 26 26.7 .370 .250 .753 2.8 3.0 16.8
1971–72 Indiana (ABA) 28 17.1 .383 .167 .718 1.2 2.6 6.6
1973–74 Indiana (ABA) 3 8.7 .429 – .333 1.0 1.0 .0 .0 2.3
1973–74 Philadelphia (NBA) 19 0 17.6 .386 .679 1.9 2.7 .4 .2 6.2
Career (ABA) 194 29.9 .412 .257 .762 3.0 3.7 .0 .0 17.7
Career (overall) 213 0 28.8 .411 .257 .760 2.9 3.6 .3 .2 16.6

Honors

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  • Cannon was elected to the Middle Atlantic Conference Hall of Fame in 2018.[4]
  • In 1973 Cannon was elected to the Big 5 Hall of Fame. He was in the inaugural class along with Cliff Anderson (St. Josephs), Wali Jones (Villanova), Stan Pawlak (Pennsylvania), and Guy Rodgers (Temple).[16]
  • Cannon was inducted into the "Pennsylvania Basketball Hall of Fame."[17]
  • Cannon was inducted into the La Salle Hall of Athletes in 1977.[18]
  • In 2010, Cannon was recognized as an Atlantic 10 Conference Legend.[18]
  • Cannon's # 20 jersey was retired by LaSalle in December, 2016.[14]
  • In 2016, La Salle's 1968–69 basketball team was enshrined in the Big 5 Hall of Fame.[19]
  • In 2019, La Salle's 1968–69 basketball team was inducted into the La Salle Hall of Athletes.[19]

References

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  1. ^ Larry Cannon, former La Salle star and Sixers forward, dies at 77, Philadelphia Inquirer (May 31, 2024).
  2. ^ "City Basketball, 1965". tedsilary.com.
  3. ^ Palestra Pandemonium: A History of the Big 5, By Robert S. Lyonsp.97 ISBN 1566399912
  4. ^ a b "Men's Basketball Great Larry Cannon Elected to Middle Atlantic Conference Hall of Fame". La Salle University Athletics.
  5. ^ a b "Larry Cannon College Stats". College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com.
  6. ^ "1966–67 La Salle Explorers Roster and Stats". College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com.
  7. ^ "1967–68 La Salle Explorers Roster and Stats". College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com.
  8. ^ odevened (September 11, 2017). "Larry Cannon: Former ABA players seeking legitimacy, respect from NBA".
  9. ^ "1968–69 La Salle Explorers Roster and Stats". College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com.
  10. ^ "1969–70 Miami Floridians Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference.com.
  11. ^ a b c d "Larry Cannon Stats". Basketball-Reference.com.
  12. ^ a b "1970–71 ABA Season Summary". Basketball-Reference.com.
  13. ^ Cannon received second-team All-America recognition
  14. ^ a b "La Salle Athletics to Retire Jersey of Men's Basketball Great Larry Cannon on Dec. 6". La Salle University Athletics.
  15. ^ "Larry Cannon ABA stats". Basketball Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved June 5, 2024.
  16. ^ "Philadelphia Big 5 – Hall of Fame". philadelphiabig5.org.
  17. ^ "Pennsylvania's Best Basketball Players". www.pahoops.org.
  18. ^ a b Gotham, Paul (January 16, 2015). "Larry Cannon, Linda Hester Named La Salle's A-10 Legends".
  19. ^ a b Writer, Donald Hunt Tribune Staff. "La Salle's 1968–69 basketball team to be inducted into the La Salle Hall of Athletes". The Philadelphia Tribune.
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