Roundfield:
Mr. Dependable
NBA Central by Bill Nichols
The Sporting News, December 5th 1981
Cleveland-
Atlanta Hawks power forward Dan Roundfield is a classic blue-collar
worker of America. He could be a leader in the lunch-pail brigade.
Roundfield punches the time clock, puts on his work clothes
and gives an honest night’s work. His peers rate him as
just about the top power forward in the NBA. He labors in near
anonymity, but is indeed skilled.
The seven-year pro lives with aches and pains, but once he takes
the floor, all the hurts are out on hold.
The 6-8 Detroit native is off to a fine start, averaging 24
points and 13 rebounds in 10 games. If he maintains this pace,
he certainly will be among the leaders when the season winds
down and the Hawks will make the playoffs.
Roundfield agreed to a three-year extension of his contract
during the off-season, which just about guarantees that he will
finish his pro career with the Hawks. He will be 35 when the
contract ends.
He doesn’t dominate the box score, but night after night,
the Hawks look to Roundfield for a key rebound, blocked shot
or a little jump shot.
Last year Roundfield played just 63 games because of calcium
deposits in his right calf and Atlanta missed the playoffs.
Since then, he has suffered a pulled groin muscle and a wrist
injury, but he continues to play every night.
Although his vocation is basketball, Roundfield is not one-dimensional.
He spends most of his off-seasons as a stock broker and also
as much time as he can with his wife Bernie and sons Corey and
Christopher.
You probably wont find Roundfield on 7-Up ads flashing a toothy
smile or mingling with the jet-setters. He’s a blue-collar
guy who keeps the Hawks competitive. Without him, the bottom
could fall out.
Milwaukee Bucks Chairman of the Board James Fitzgerald has been
hospitalized with what was believed to have been a heart attack.
This put the Marques Johnson negotiations on hold. Some people
close to the scene do not look for Johnson to return to action
until midseason.
Cavaliers forward Scotty Wedman has been suffering back spasms
and spent some time in the hospital. . . . The Cavs’ Bobby
Wilkerson has seen some time at forward as well as his customary
guard spot. . . . With a salary around $400,000 (including his
settlement with New Jersey) Atlanta’s Kevin Loughery is
the highest paid NBA coach. . . Detroit Pistons center Kent
Benson has been maligned ever since he joined Milwaukee as a
rookie in 1977. “People have the misconception that if
you’re not scoring a lot of points, you’re not doing
your job,” says Benson, who has an 11-point career scoring
average. “That’s bush. People look at statistics
and say Kent Benson isn’t doing the job, but I feel like
I am doing it. If I wasn’t doing it, Scotty Robertson
(Pistons Coach) would tell me about it.” . . . Guard Eddie
Johnson, sidelined with mental problems, is working out with
the Hawks. Loughery will evaluate Johnson after two weeks and
decide whether to reinstate him.
* * *
Artis Gilmore is talking of calling it quits next year. The
7-2 cornerstone of the Chicago Bulls said recently, “I
think about how long I’ll play almost every day. Right
now, my body feels really good, but I’m thinking next
year may be my last. That’s a good possibility.”
The Bulls are still trying to trade forward Larry Kenon. . .
. When Junior Bridgeman recovers from knee problems, the Bucks
will have to make a roster change to reinstate him. Logical
candidates to be dropped are recently signed forwards Scott
May and Bobby Dandridge and center Geoff Crompton.
Indiana rookie Herb Williams blocked eight shots against Los
Angeles and is averaging 2.5 rejections per game, logging 20
minutes per contest. . . . Veteran George McGinnis had a solid
outing against Houston in his new role as Pacers sub. Big Mac
had 12 points and 13 boards. . . . The Pacers dropped three
games by a total of six points.
This article by Bill Nichols
appeared in The Sporting News December 5, 1981
Reproduced with permission of the author.