 Criss as a senior at NMSU | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 6, 1948 Valhalla, New York, U.S. |
| Listed height | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) |
| Listed weight | 165 lb (75 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Gorton (Yonkers, New York) |
| College |
|
| NBA draft | 1970: undrafted |
| Playing career | 1972–1985 |
| Position | Point guard |
| Number | 14, 1, 15 |
| Career history | |
| As player: | |
| 1972–1974 | Hartford Capitols |
| 1974–1975 | Cherry Hill Pros |
| 1975–1977 | Scranton Apollos |
| 1977–1981 | Atlanta Hawks |
| 1981–1982 | San Diego Clippers |
| 1982–1984 | Milwaukee Bucks |
| 1984–1985 | Atlanta Hawks |
| As coach: | |
| 1991 | Atlanta Eagles |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
| Career NBA statistics | |
| Points | 3,534 (8.5 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 592 (1.4 rpg) |
| Assists | 1,335 (3.2 apg) |
| Stats at NBA.com | |
| Stats at Basketball Reference | |
Charles Washington Criss Jr. (born November 6, 1948) is an American former professional basketball player and coach.
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A 5'8" guard from New Mexico State University, Criss began his professional career in the Eastern Basketball Association (EBA), [1] earning league Most Valuable Player honors with the Scranton Apollos in 1976, next playing for the Washington Generals. [2] He joined the Atlanta Hawks of the National Basketball Association the following year, and played eight seasons in the league with the Hawks, San Diego Clippers and Milwaukee Bucks. [3] When he entered the NBA, Criss was the league's shortest active player. [4]
In his NBA career, Criss averaged 8.5 points and 3.2 assists per game, with perhaps his best year being his first in 1978, posting averages of 11 points and 4 assists in 77 matches. [3] During the 1980 NBA playoffs, Criss averaged 14 points and 4.4 assists per game, as the Hawks eventually lost to the Philadelphia 76ers in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. [5] On February 20, 1982, while on the Clippers, Criss scored a career-best 34 points and recorded 8 assists during a 118–101 win over the San Antonio Spurs. [6] After retiring as a player, he worked as a golf instructor, an Atlanta Hawks television color commentator and a basketball summer camp coordinator. [4] Criss was head coach of the Atlanta Eagles in the United States Basketball League (USBL) during the 1991 season. [7]