Don Chaney: The NBA’s Forgotten Man

Don Chaney was one of the NBA’s most forgotten players. But his story is one that should be remembered.

Don Chaney – the NBA’s Forgotten Man

Don Chaney is often forgotten when people think of great NBA players. He was never an All-Star, and he never won a championship. But he was a very good player, and he had a long and successful career.

Chaney was born in 1949, in Louisiana. He played basketball at the University of Houston, and then he was drafted by the Boston Celtics in 1971. He played for the Celtics for eight years, and then he was traded to the Houston Rockets. He played for the Rockets for six years, and then he was traded to the New York Knicks. He finished his career with the Knicks, and he retired in 1984.

Chaney was a very good defensive player. He was quick and athletic, and he could guard any position on the court. Offensively, he was not a great scorer, but he was a good shooter and a good passer. He was also a very good rebounder for his size.

Chaney had a long and successful NBA career, but he is often forgotten today. He was never an All-Star, but he was a very good player. And he had a significant impact on the game of basketball.

Don Chaney – a Look Back at His Career

Don Chaney was drafted in the first round of the 1968 NBA draft by the Boston Celtics, with whom he would enjoy the majority of his success. Though he would play for eight teams during his 13-year career, it is with the Celtics that Chaney is most often associated. He was part of two NBA Championship teams with Boston (1974, 1976), and was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team in 1975.

Chaney was an excellent all-around player, and his statistics reflect that. He averaged 11.7 points per game, 5.4 rebounds per game, and 3.8 assists per game for his career. However, it is on the defensive end of the court where Chaney really made his mark. He was a tenacious defender, and was regularly tasked with guarding the opposition’s best player. His defensive prowess was recognized by his peers, as he was named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team in 1977.

Since retiring from playing in 1981, Chaney has gone on to have a successful career as a coach and executive. He has served as head coach of the Houston Rockets, Detroit Pistons, New York Knicks, and Philadelphia 76ers. He has also been an assistant coach for several teams, including the Celtics (with whom he won another NBA Championship in 2008). In total, Chaney has been involved in over 2200 NBA games as a player or coach – a truly remarkable achievement.

Though he may not be as well-known as some of his contemporaries, Don Chaney is undoubtedly one of the most accomplished players in NBA history.

Don Chaney – His Post-NBA Life

After his NBA career ended, Chaney had a short stint as a color commentator for the Houston Rockets. He then became an assistant coach for the New Jersey Nets from 1981 to 1983. In 1984, he became an assistant coach for the Atlanta Hawks, where he would stay for two years, before becoming head coach in 1986. He would coach the Hawks until he was fired midway through the 1991-1992 season.

In 1992, Chaney returned to the Houston Rockets as an assistant coach under head coach Rudy Tomjanovich. He would win two more NBA championships with the Rockets in 1994 and 1995. After the 1995-1996 season, Chaney retired from coaching and became a broadcaster for MSG Network, where he provided color commentary for New York Knicks games.

In 2001, Chaney was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.