Reggie Harding
Harding with the Chicago Bulls in 1967 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | May 4, 1942 Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
| Died | September 2, 1972 (aged 30) Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Listed height | 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) |
| Listed weight | 249 lb (113 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school |
|
| NBA draft | 1963: 6th round, 48th overall pick |
| Drafted by | Detroit Pistons |
| Playing career | 1962–1968 |
| Position | Center |
| Number |
|
| Career history | |
| 1962 | Toledo Tartans |
| 1962–1963 | Holland Oilers |
| 1964–1967 | Detroit Pistons |
| 1967 | Chicago Bulls |
| 1967 | Trenton Colonials |
| 1968 | Indiana Pacers |
| Career highlights | |
| |
| Career NBA and ABA statistics | |
| Points | 2,175 (9.5 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 2,199 (9.6 rpg) |
| Assists | 396 (1.7 apg) |
| Stats at NBA.com | |
| Stats at Basketball Reference | |
Reginald Hezeriah Harding (May 4, 1942 – September 2, 1972) was an American professional basketball player. He starred while playing at Eastern High School in his hometown of Detroit, Michigan, and entered the 1962 NBA draft without playing college basketball due to eligibility issues. Harding was selected by the Detroit Pistons as the first player drafted into the National Basketball Association (NBA) without having played in college.
Harding played his first professional season in the Midwest Professional Basketball League (MPBL) before he joined the Pistons in 1964. He spent parts of four seasons in the NBA with the Pistons and the Chicago Bulls during which he was the subject of team misconduct, criminal activity and a season-long league suspension. After his NBA career ended, Harding played briefly in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA) for the Trenton Colonials and the American Basketball Association (ABA) for the Indiana Pacers.
Harding's career came to a premature end when he was imprisoned from 1969 to 1971 for a concealed weapons charge. He attempted to pursue a professional comeback after his release but he was murdered in Detroit in 1972.