Quinn Buckner Biography
Quinn Buckner is an American basketball player from Phoenix, Illinois who played both basketball and football at Indiana University. Buckner was a valuable contributor on the legendary 1976 IU National Champion team that went undefeated. He was drafted in both the NBA and NFL, but would go on to play basketball professionally for the Milwaukee Bucks, Boston Celtics, and Indiana Pacers. He also coached one season in the NBA for the Dallas Mavericks.
Buckner is also well known for broadcasting and being the color commentator for Indiana Pacers basketball games. Throughout his career, Buckner was lauded for his defense and ability to win at every level. Buckner was part of the 1972 Illinois state championship Thornridge High School team, the 1976 national champion unbeaten IU team, the 1976 US Olympic gold-medal winning team, and the 1984 Boston Celtic championship team.
- Name: William Quinn Buckner
- Position: Point Guard/Guard
- Nationality: USA
- Age: 70 years old
- Birthday: August 20, 1954
- Birthplace: Phoenix, Illinois
- High School: Thornridge High School (Dolton, Illinois)
- Height: 6’3″ (191 cm)
- Weight: 190 lbs (86 kg)
- Seasons: 4 (1972-1973, 1973-1974, 1974-1975, 1975-1976)
- Number: #21 / #28 / #25
- NBA Draft: 1976 / 1st round / #7 overall by the Milwaukee Bucks
- Professional Playing Career: Milwaukee Bucks (1976-1982), Boston Celtics (1982-1985), and Indiana Pacers (1985-1986)
- Coaching Career: Head Coach of the Dallas Mavericks (1993-1994)
- Broadcasting Career: ESPN, NBC, CBS, and color commentary for the Indiana Pacers
Awards and Accolades
- College Basketball Hall of Fame (Inducted: 2015)
- 1984 NBA Champion (Boston Celtics)
- 1982 NBA All-Defensive Second Team
- 1981 NBA All-Defensive Second Team
- 1980 NBA All-Defensive Second Team
- 1978 NBA All-Defensive Second Team
- 1976 NCAA Champion (Indiana Hoosiers)
- 1975 Third-team NABC All-American
- 1975 First-team All-Big Ten
- 1974 First-team All-Big Ten
- 1972 Illinois Mr. Basketball
- 1972 Mr. Basketball USA
Quinn Buckner’s High School Career
Quinn Buckner was one of the most successful high school athletes in Illinois state history. In fact, Buckner is the only athlete to win Chicago area Player of the Year in both basketball and football.
In football, Buckner was all-state. While most remember Buckner for his time on the hardwood, he was just as successful on the gridiron and went on to play in college. Interestingly, while he played both basketball and football, he actually was officially enrolled at IU on a football scholarship.
In basketball, Buckner was part of several high school teams that could best be described by only one word: dominant. As, a junior and senior, Thornridge won back-to-back state championships. In fact, during those two seasons, they won 58 games in a row (and 62 of 63 games).
But, it is Buckner’s senior season that is most fondly remembered. That year, Buckner was captain of Thornridge High School’s legendary 1972 team that many consider the greatest Illinois high school basketball team of all time. Led by Buckner, they finished the season 33-0 overall and never allowed an opponent to come within 14 points. In an era without the three-point shot, the team was dominant offensively and averaged 88 points per game. In the state title game, they won by an impressive margin with the final score being 104-69. After the season, Buckner was named National Player of the Year.
“Quinn Buckner was the most mature high school athlete I ever saw, both physically and mentally. And that team was the same way. It was really a tough group. Their business was winning. And business was good,” stated former Chicago Bulls announcer Jim Durham.
Buckner was heavily recruited for basketball. Among his most avid suitors were UCLA’s John Wooden and IU’s Bobby Knight. Ultimately, Buckner would choose Indiana, where his father was part of the 1945 Big Ten football champion team. Buckner’s father was not fond of UCLA, particularly after John Wooden tried to discourage Quinn from playing football. Buckner’s father told him, “If you go to UCLA and win a (basketball) championship, you’ll be one of many. If you go to IU and win a championship, you’ll be one of few.”
Quinn Buckner’s Seasons with the Hoosiers
22-6 (11-3 Big Ten)
🏅 NCAA Final Four
23-5 (12-2 Big Ten)
🏆 CCA Tournament Champions
31-1 (18-0 Big Ten)
🏅 NCAA Elite Eight
32-0 (18-0 Big Ten)
🏆 NCAA Champions
Quinn Buckner’s Statistics at Indiana University
Season | G | FG | FGA | FT | FTA | TRB | PTS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1972-1973 | 28 | 130 | 318 | 41 | 69 | 134 | 301 |
1973-1974 | 28 | 103 | 273 | 23 | 41 | 106 | 229 |
1974-1975 | 32 | 165 | 335 | 49 | 84 | 123 | 379 |
1975-1976 | 32 | 123 | 279 | 40 | 82 | 91 | 286 |
Career | 120 | 521 | 1205 | 153 | 276 | 454 | 1195 |
Quinn Buckner’s Indiana University Career
Football
Buckner was recruited to play both football and basketball. He entered campus during the first year of a NCAA rule change that allowed freshmen to play immediately on varsity teams. Taking advantage of the new rules, Indiana immediately started Buckner at safety who was an instant star on the football field. He was also a dynamic kick and punt returner.During his first season playing college football, he led the Hoosiers in interceptions, passes broken up, and kickoff returns.