Lou Hudson

To say that Lou Hudson was just a brilliant offensive weapon, or just a natural scorer, would be to diminish the skill and grace that set him apart from his contemporaries. “Sweet Lou” could funnel in points from all over the floor, but no shot was more beautiful to watch than his effortless 15-foot jumper. Hudson perfected the shot to become one of the most lethal and efficient scorers of his era. In 13 NBA seasons, the six-time NBA All-Star averaged over 20 points per game for his career. Even as a rookie, Hudson was the designated closer on a St. Louis Hawks team that featured Lenny Wilkens, Zelmo Beaty, Bill Bridges, Paul Silas, and Rod Thorn. Hudson proved he belonged, fueling the Hawks offensive attack and leading the team in scoring his first season. Then, for a seven-year stretch from 1968 to 1975, Hudson averaged 24.7 points per game to lock in his status as one of basketball’s premier guards. On November 10, 1969, in a game against the defensive-minded Jerry Sloan/Bob Love/Chet Walker Chicago Bulls, Hudson put up 57 points to set a franchise record for the Hawks.