The NBA Finals date back to 1947 (when they were known as the Basketball Association of America Finals) and the very 1st NCAA tourney was held in 1939. Olympic basketball competition is even older: it debuted as a demonstration event in 1904 and the men’s version became a medal sport in 1936, with the women finally getting their chance to go for the gold in 1976. The United States has dominated Olympic basketball competition from the start: the men have won 15 gold medals in the 18 tournaments they have participated in during the past 84 years, while the women have won 8 gold medals in the 10 tournaments in which they have competed during the past 44 years. Those of you who were looking forward to the 2020 Olympics opening ceremonies in Tokyo on July 24, 2020 will have to wait an extra 364 days, as the coronavirus caused a postponement until July 23, 2021. Due to the absence of college basketball since mid-March, HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel decided to fill the void by trying to interview as many prior Olympic players/coaches as possible so that you have something to read this summer while not watching the Summer Games. We continue our coverage by chatting with Kenny Davis about playing in 1 of the most controversial games in the history of the sport. Today marks the 48th anniversary of Kenny scoring 2 PTS for team USA in a 66-35 win over Czechoslovakia in Olympic round-robin pool play.
(photo credit: kentuckysportsradio.com)
You were a 5’11” PG: did you view your size as an advantage or disadvantage on the court? I never looked at it that way. Height is more of a factor now but in high school I actually played forward! Back then we had a 2-guard system rather than a PG and separate SG. It only changed about 30 years ago.
How did you end up at Georgetown College? They were 1 of the 1st camps in the state of Kentucky. I went there after my junior year and enjoyed being there. The system used by the head coach featured guards because he felt there were not enough big men that he could get to come to Georgetown. It ended up being a perfect system for me.
You were a 3-time NAIA All-American: what did it mean to you to receive such outstanding honors? It was very special: I never expected that to happen but I was very pleased that it happened. I was proudest of being 2nd-team as a sophomore.
In the summer of 1971 you were drafted by the Knicks but never played pro basketball: did you see that as a validation of your college career, or the realization of a lifelong dream of reaching the NBA, or other? That was an honor as well. I had played on a couple of national teams and thought that I had a chance to make the Olympic team in 1972. After I got back from Munich I got an offer from Converse while playing AAU ball so I chose that route. Looking back I wish that I had pursued the opportunity to play in the NBA after they implemented the 3-PT shot.
You were named captain of the US basketball team at the 1972 Olympics: what is the secret to being a good leader? The captain was elected by the rest of the team, which made it even more special. I had already graduated and had played other international games, which were 2 big factors.
Terrorists murdered 11 Israeli athletes/coaches just a few days before the gold medal game: how was your team able to stay focused in light of the tragedy that took place in the Olympic Village? They turned it into a military barracks and placed a guard outside our room, but we could not use that as an excuse. It affected everyone and was not much fun to play after it took place. If we had taken a vote I think that everyone would have said they wanted to go home, but I do not know if that would have been the right thing to do.
The US suffered its 1st-ever Olympic loss at the hands of the USSR in the gold medal game by a score of 51-50, followed by you announcing that the team refused to accept the silver medal, and you even have a provision in your will (Article IX) that none of your descendants may ever accept the medal: who do you blame the most for the controversial loss (Bill Walton for not playing, Coach Iba for using a slow tempo, the Secretary General, the timekeeper, the refs, other), and why is no medal better than a silver medal? The medal is the symbol of the achievement rather than the achievement itself. To take a symbol of something we did not accomplish is not something that anyone wanted. If I had to blame 1 person it would be William Jones for coming out of the stands and requesting that they put 3 seconds back on the clock, which is illegal. If Walton was on our team then I think we would have won, but that was a personal choice for him.
You later spent 4 decades as a sales representative for Converse as well as a motivational speaker: how did you like working for Converse, and what is the key to motivating others? Converse was the king of basketball footwear back in 1972, but my assignment changed over time. At 1st I tried to get players to wear our product, and by the end I was trying to get rock stars to wear them! They let me live wherever I wanted and paid me very well. The key to motivating people is to be a good person and not be a phony. My parents gave me 2 great gifts: roots and wings. The wings inspired me to put a piece of cloth with “USA” stitched on it and walk into a cheering stadium, which is a memory that will stay with me the rest of my life.
You got to carry the Olympic torch on its way to the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta: what did it mean to you to carry the torch, and what was your reaction to the news that the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo were postponed due to the coronavirus? I do not think they had any choice but to postpone the Games once the pandemic started. Hopefully the same people from this year will get the opportunity to compete next year. The way we react to the situation will make all the difference. When they called me in 1996 I was ecstatic. They gave me an opportunity to purchase the torch and I still have it in my office. I have gone online to try to buy other torches from different Olympics: I think it would be a cool collectible!
When people look back on your career, how do you want to be remembered the most? That I gave it my all. We are endowed by our creator with certain talents and we have the responsibility to develop them as best we can. I did as much as I could with the talent that was given to me.
To learn more about Kenny’s career and the 1972 Olympics you can check out “Better Than Gold: Olympian Kenny Davis and the Most Controversial Basketball Game in History” by Gary West: www.amazon.in/Better-Than-Gold-Controversial-Basketball/dp/1938905687