Scott Wedman

The University of Colorado has had 15 players compete in the National Basketball Association but none have scored more points or played in more games than Scott Wedman.

The first former Buff to play on NBA championship teams during his days with the Boston Celtics (1983-1987), Wedman played with the likes of Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, Robert Parish, Dennis Johnson, Danny Ainge and Bill Walton on the 1984 and 1986 title squads coached by K. C. Jones.

Best remembered in Boston when he hit all 11 of his shots, including four three-pointers, in the Celtics’ 148-114 “Memorial Day Massacre” win over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 1 of the 1985 NBA Finals, Wedman often spelled Bird and McHale or replaced them whenever they were injured.

A 13-season NBA veteran, Wedman was picked sixth in the 1974 draft by the Kansas City-Omaha Kings where he played seven seasons (1975-1981) and was named to the 1976 and 1980 all-star teams. After a season-and-a-half with the Cleveland Cavaliers (1982-1983), Wedman was traded to the Celtics in January, 1983.

During his time in Kansas City, Wedman gained the nickname “The Incredible Hulk” because of his extensive weight-training sessions. He also was teased mercilessly by both Bird and McHale in practices and at meals because of his vegetarian diet for health purposes. “I just enjoyed playing,” said Wedman, who returned to Kansas City after his playing days and now owns a real estate business there. “I enjoyed it at all stages. I never looked at it as work, even though I spent a lot of time at it. I enjoyed all sports, but I really took to basketball.” With Denver policeman Bill O’Hayre coaching him in football, basketball and baseball at St. Mary’s starting in the third grade, Wedman developed into a stellar all-around athlete. After ending his prep career at Mullen as an all-state player for Rick Egloff, Wedman led CU in the early 1970s. The late Sox Walseth, a 1998 Colorado Sports Hall of Fame inductee who coached the Buffs for 20 seasons, called Wedman “one of the best we’ve ever had here.” Without the benefit of a freshman season and a 3-point line, due to NCAA rules then, Wedman finished his Buff career with a 16.7 average for 75 games (1971-1972 to 1973-74). A two-time All-Big Eight pick, Wedman shot more than 49 percent from the field during his collegiate career and left the Boulder campus as the No. 4 all-time scorer and No. 3 rebounder (684, 9.1). “I had a great experience in Boulder,” said Wedman. “It all started with Sox. And we had a good group of freshmen; none of us were superstars, but we were all really good. I just seemed to blossom.”

Influenced by Walseth, Wedman has run basketball clinics the past 17 years and has worked with players like Luke Walton in the off-season. He coached the KC Knights of the American Basketball Association to the finals in 2003 after posting a 23-9 regular-season mark.