Legends of Basketball Official Website

Mack Calvin

Sergeant at Arms

Playing at Long Beach Poly High School in California, Mack Calvin contributed to the rich basketball tradition of the state. After a successful high school career, the 6-foot point guard brought his game to Long Beach City College and the University of Southern California.

When it came time for the 1969 NBA Draft, the Fort Worth, Texas native did not have to relocate very far when he was selected by the Los Angeles Lakers. Before playing with the Lakers, however, Calvin refined his skills in the ABA. He began his professional career with the Los Angeles Stars averaging 16.8 points per game in his first season, which earned him ABA All-Rookie Team. In his sophomore campaign as a Miami Floridian, he averaged a career-high 27.2 points and is known for setting the ABA records for most free throws made (696) and attempted (805) in one season.

He also spent time with the Carolina Cougars, Denver Nuggets and Virginia Squires before the ABA and NBA merged in 1976. His impressive ABA career saw him score 10,620 points and dish out 3,067 assists, as well as appear in five All-Star games.

When Calvin entered the NBA, he played with five teams, including the Los Angeles Lakers, the San Antonio Spurs, the Denver Nuggets (which had joined the NBA in 1976), the Utah Jazz and the Cleveland Cavaliers. Upon his retirement in 1981, Calvin finished with an NBA career scoring average of 7 points per game. During the 1975-1976 season, he spent six games as coach of the Virginia Squires and was the interim coach of the Los Angeles Clippers in the 1991-1992 season.

Over the last 35 years, Calvin, better known as “Coach Calvin,” has conducted a Fundamentals Basketball Camp for young players, traditionally in his hometown of Long Beach. A devout Christian, he has provided this weeklong camp free of charge to boys and girls, ages 8 to 17.

Mack is the proud parent of one adult daughter, Christy Michelle Calvin, who has followed in his footsteps and pursued a career in sports television. In addition, Christy works very closely with his basketball camp and non-profit company.