Pat Cummings: Why the NBA’s Best Kept Secret is Worth Your Attention
Contents
Pat Cummings is one of the best players in the NBA. But he’s also one of the best kept secrets. Here’s why he’s worth your attention.
Who is Pat Cummings?
Pat Cummings is one of the NBA’s best kept secrets. A 6’9″ forward who can shoot, dribble, and pass, Cummings was a star for the New Jersey Nets during the 1980s. He was named to the All-Star team in 1983 and 1984, and he helped lead the Nets to the NBA Finals in 1981 and 1982.
Cummings was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks in 1987, and he continued to excel, averaging 20.4 points per game in his first season with his new team. He played four seasons with the Bucks before being traded to the New York Knicks in 1991. He retired from the NBA in 1994.
Since retiring from the NBA, Cummings has been working as a basketball analyst for ESPN. He also runs a Basketball Camp for kids in New Jersey.
Why is he the NBA’s best kept secret?
Pat Cummings was a star player in the NBA for many years, but he somehow always managed to stay under the radar. Even now, after he’s retired, people still don’t really know who he is or why he was so good. Here are a few reasons why Pat Cummings is the NBA’s best kept secret.
For one, Pat was never really part of a “big” team. He bounced around from team to team early in his career, and even when he found a home on the New Jersey Nets they were never really contenders. This meant that Pat was never on national TV very much, and people outside of diehard NBA fans probably never saw him play very often.
But even when he was on TV, Pat never really demanded attention. He was a quiet guy who just went about his business on the court. He didn’t have any flashy moves or do anything particularly exciting; he just played solid, fundamentally sound basketball. As a result, he didn’t get a lot of recognition from the media or fans during his playing days.
Finally, Pat’s story is just kind of sad. He had a lot of personal tragedies in his life, including the death of his sister and the early death of his father. These things definitely affected him and perhaps made him even more reluctant to seek out attention or talk about himself publicly.
So why is Pat Cummings the NBA’s best kept secret? Well, he was never really part of a big team, he wasn’t particularly flashy or exciting on the court, and his story is kind of sad. But if you take the time to look into his career, you’ll see that he was a phenomenal player who deserves more attention than he ever got.
What makes him worth our attention?
Pat Cummings was one of the best players in the NBA during the 1980s. A 6’9″ small forward he was a two-time All-Star and a member of the All-NBA Second Team in 1981. Cummings was also known for his tenacious defense, which helped him earn a spot on the NBA All-Defensive Second Team in 1980.
Despite his impressive credentials, Cummings was never able to carve out a long-term role with any of the teams he played for during his 14-year NBA Career He bounced around from the Milwaukee Bucks to the New York Knicks to the San Antonio Spurs to the Cleveland Cavaliers never staying with any team for more than three seasons.
Part of the reason for Cummings’ lack of stability was his own restless nature; he was frequently traded because he simply didn’t want to stay in one place for very long. But another reason was that, despite his obvious talent, Cummings was always something of a mystery man. He didn’t provide much in terms of personality or charisma, and he wasn’t especially vocal on or off the court. As a result, he was never able to establish himself as a true leader or star player and he ultimately faded into relative obscurity after his retirement from the NBA in 1992.
In recent years however, Cummings has begun to receive some well-deserved recognition for his accomplishments. In 2016, he was inducted into the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame and in 2019, he was named one of the 50 greatest players in Bucks history. More importantly, perhaps, Cummings has finally begun to receive some acknowledgement from modern fans and analysts who appreciate his all-around game and realize that he deserves to be considered one of the best players of his generation.
His journey to the NBA
Pat Cummings was always tall for his age. When he was just entering his teenage years, he was already six feet tall. Even though he excelled at basketball, he didn’t receive much attention from college recruiters. He was eventually recruited by the University of Pittsburgh, but he went largely unnoticed during his four years there.
It wasn’t until he was drafted by the New Jersey Nets in the second round of the 1979 NBA draft that people started to take notice of Pat Cummings. He quickly became one of the best players on the Nets, and he eventually signed with the Milwaukee Bucks where he enjoyed his most successful years. He was a critical part of the Bucks’ team that reached the Eastern Conference Finals in 1983 and 1984.
Pat Cummings’ career came to an end prematurely due to injuries, but he proved that he could compete with the best players in the NBA. Even though he never received the recognition that he deserved, Pat Cummings is still one of the best kept secrets in NBA history
His impact on the game
Pat Cummings was one of the NBA’s best kept secrets. He was a 6’9″ forward who could shoot, rebound, and block shots He was also a good defender. He played for the New York Knicks Indiana Pacers and Milwaukee Bucks Cummings was a two-time All-Star (1979 and 1980) and led the Knicks to the NBA Finals in 1979. He averaged 16.4 points and 8.6 rebounds per game in his 11-year career.
His unique skill set
Pat Cummings was one of the most versatile and skilled players in the NBA during his prime. A 6’9″ forward, he had the ability to play both inside and out, with a great shooting touch and the strength to battle down low. He was a key player on some great teams, including the champion Detroit Pistons of 1989, and he was named to the All-Star team in 1983.
His work ethic
Pat Cummings is one of the best players in the NBA. He was drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks in 1978 and has been with the team ever since. He’s a 6’9″ forward who can shoot, pass, and rebound. He’s also one of the hardest workers on the team.
His drive to improve
Pat Cummings was never the biggest or most talented player on his teams, but he always worked the hardest. That drive to be the best led him to a successful college career and eventually to the NBA, where he became one of the most reliable players in the league.
While he was never an All-Star or a household name, Cummings was a consistent performer for whichever team he was on. He was a versatile player who could score, rebound, and play defense at a high level. His work ethic and leadership earned him the respect of his teammates and coaches, and he became known as one of the best locker room guys in the league.
Cummings’ NBA career spanned 15 years, during which time he played for eight different teams. He was traded six times and released twice, but he always bounced back and found a way to contribute. Even after his playing days were over, Cummings stayed involved in the game as a coach and scout.
Today, Cummings is retired from basketball but still living his dream of being around the game. He serves as a color commentator for the Long Island Nets the Brooklyn Nets’ G League affiliate. He also runs basketball camps for kids in his hometown of New Jersey.
Cummings’ story is one of overcoming adversity and making the most of your opportunities. It’s an inspiring tale that should remind us all that anything is possible if you’re willing to work hard enough for it.
His passion for the game
Pat Cummings was one of the best players in the NBA during his prime, but today he is largely forgotten. That’s a shame, because Cummings was a truly passionate player who always gave 100% on the court.
Cummings was known for his strong work ethic and determination to improve his game. He was never the biggest or strongest player on the court, but he used his intelligence and quickness to compensate for his lack of size. As a result, Cummings was able to become one of the best Shooting Guards in the league.
During his time with the New York Knicks Cummings was part of one of the most successful teams in NBA history The Knicks won two championships during Cummings’ tenure, and he played a key role in both triumphs.
Although he is no longer active in the NBA, Pat Cummings still remains a big fan of the game. He frequently attends Knicks games and can often be seen cheering on his former team from courtside seats
His potential to be a star
Pat Cummings was born in New York City and raised in Queens. He attended St. John’s University, where he played Power Forward for the Red Storm basketball team After going undrafted in the 1979 NBA Draft Cummings played professionally in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA), Italy, and Spain. In 1983, he returned to the United States and joined the New York Knicks where he spent two seasons before being traded to the Milwaukee Bucks in 1985.
At 6’9″, Cummings was a versatile player who could shoot from outside or post up inside. He was a good rebounder and an excellent passer for his size. He was also a very good defender, often guarding players much taller than him. Cummings was known for his quiet personality and humble demeanor; he was not a flamboyant player and didn’t seek out publicity.
Although he was never an All-Star, Cummings had a very successful NBA career. He was a key member of the Bucks team that won the NBA title in 1986, and he later helped the Detroit Pistons win back-to-back championships in 1989 and 1990. In all, Cummings played 15 seasons in the NBA and retired with over 12,000 points and 5,500 rebounds.
Since his retirement from basketball, Cummings has worked as a color commentator for Knicks games on MSG Network and as a basketball analyst for ESPN Radio.
Cummings is one of the best kept secrets in the NBA; although he enjoyed a successful career, he is not as well-known as some of his contemporaries. However, those who know basketball appreciate his skills and recognize his potential to be a star both on and off the court.