Lou Hudson, nicknamed “Sweet Lou” for his graceful jump shot, played for the University of Minnesota from 1963 to 1966. As one of the first Black scholarship athletes in the program’s history, he averaged 20.4 points and 8.9 rebounds per game over 65 contests, totaling 1,329 career points (17th in school history). In 1965, he earned first-team All-Big Ten and third-team All-American honors while leading the Golden Gophers to a second-place Big Ten finish with 24.8 points and 10.7 rebounds per game. The following year, despite a broken wrist requiring a cast, he averaged 19.0 points and 7.5 rebounds. His No. 14 jersey was retired by Minnesota in 1994.
Professional Career Highlights
Hudson spent 11 of his 13 NBA seasons (1966-1977) with the Hawks (including their move to Atlanta in 1968), where he became a scoring machine and franchise cornerstone. He later played for the Los Angeles Lakers (1977-1979) and briefly the Cleveland Cavaliers (1979). Key achievements include:
• Six-Time NBA All-Star (1969-1974): Selected consecutively, showcasing his consistency as a perimeter scorer.
• All-NBA Second Team (1970): Recognized for his elite offensive prowess.
• Scoring Excellence: Career average of 20.2 points per game over 941 games (13th all-time at retirement with 17,980 points; 12th overall). From 1968-1975, he averaged 24.7 points per game. He ranked top-5 in NBA scoring three times (1970: 26.7 PPG, 2nd; 1971: 25.6 PPG, 5th; 1973: 26.1 PPG, 5th) and top-20 in field goal percentage six times (3rd in 1970 at .531).
• Career Highs: Scored a personal-best 49 points on November 18, 1970, against Portland (in a 146-131 loss). Grabbed 12 rebounds twice (career high) and dished 6 assists (tied high) in single games.
• Atlanta Hawks Legacy: Scored the franchise’s first basket in Atlanta (1968). Teamed with Pete Maravich (1971-1974) for a dynamic scoring duo. His No. 14 jersey was retired by the Hawks in 2010. Also inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame.
