The number one draft pick who traded himself for Hall of Famers
In short: In 1977, the Milwaukee Bucks selected Kent Benson as their top overall pick. Yet, the star center’s NBA career became a series of high-profile trades, where he was exchanged for legendary players who would go on to define their respective franchises.
Kent Benson’s ascent began in Indiana, where he earned the title of 'Indiana Mr. Basketball' in 1973. After a dominant high school career under coach Cecil Tague, he joined Bobby Knight at Indiana University. His collegiate peak arrived during the 1975–1976 season, a historic campaign where the Hoosiers achieved a perfect 32–0 record. During this undefeated run, Benson was named the NCAA tournament's Most Outstanding Player, averaging 17.3 points and 8.8 rebounds per game.
His transition to the professional ranks was famously volatile. In his NBA debut for the Milwaukee Bucks, Benson was involved in a physical altercation with Los Angeles Lakers legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Just two minutes into the game, Benson elbowed the center, prompting a retaliatory punch from Abdul-Jabbar that left Benson with a concussion. While the incident resulted in a broken hand for Abdul-Jabbar, Benson returned to the court only four days later.
Despite his immense individual talent, Benson’s professional legacy is often viewed through the lens of the players he was traded for. In 1980, Milwaukee sent him to the Detroit Pistons in exchange for Bob Lanier. Later, in 1986, the Pistons moved Benson and Kelly Tripuckca to the Utah Jazz to acquire Adrian Dantley. Over 11 NBA seasons, Benson played for Milwaukee, Detroit, Utah, and Cleveland, eventually concluding his career with a stint in Italy before transitioning into careers in life insurance and car auction commentary.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Kent Benson
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