Swen Nater
Nater shooting with UCLA in 1972–73
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born |
January 14, 1950 Den Helder, North Holland, Netherlands |
| Nationality | Dutch |
| Listed height | 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) |
| Listed weight | 240 lb (109 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Wilson (Long Beach, California) |
| College |
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| NBA draft | 1973 / Round: 1 / Pick: 16th overall |
| Selected by the Milwaukee Bucks | |
| Playing career | 1973–1985 |
| Position | Center |
| Number | 31, 10, 35, 41 |
| Career history | |
| 1973 | Virginia Squires (ABA) |
| 1973–1975 | San Antonio Spurs (ABA) |
| 1975–1976 | New York Nets (ABA) |
| 1976 | Virginia Squires (ABA) |
| 1976–1977 | Milwaukee Bucks |
| 1977–1983 | Buffalo Braves / San Diego Clippers |
| 1983–1984 | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 1984–1985 | Australian Udine (Italy) |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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| Career ABA and NBA statistics | |
| Points | 8,980 (12.4 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 8,340 (11.6 rpg) |
| Assists | 1,235 (1.7 apg) |
| Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |
Swen Erick Nater (born January 14, 1950) is a retired Dutch professional basketball player, primarily in the American Basketball Association (ABA) and National Basketball Association (NBA). He is the only player to have led both the NBA and ABA in rebounding. Nater was a two-time ABA All-Star and was the 1974 ABA Rookie of the Year. He played college basketball for the UCLA Bruins, winning two National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) titles.
Swen Nater was born in the Netherlands, his parents divorcing when he was three years old. When his mother remarried and the family's economic situation deteriorated, she, her husband, and Swen's younger brother moved to the United States, leaving Swen and his sister in an orphanage. After three years it appeared they would remain in the Netherlands until a television show, It Could Be You (a forerunner to This Is Your Life), discovered the situation and brought the two siblings to America to be reunited—on TV—with the rest of the family. At age nine, he was in a new country and did not speak a word of English.
Nater attended and played basketball at Cypress College, a junior college in Cypress, California (where he met his wife, Marlene). He played little as a freshman, but was a Community College All-American as a sophomore. He earned a scholarship to UCLA, and reshirted his first year.
Nater helped John Wooden's UCLA Bruins win two NCAA titles. He was a backup to Bill Walton, and he never started a collegiate game—his primary role was helping to develop Walton in practice.
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