Mike Gale, a Hall of Fame CIAA basketball player while at Elizabeth City State who went on to a professional career in both the ABA and NBA, passed Saturday at the age of 70.
Gale, a Philadelphia native who played at Overbrook High School before enrolling at ECSU, was an all-CIAA guard for the Vikings playing for legendary head coach Bobby Vaughn from 1967-71.
As a 6-4 sophomore guard with his signature ‘afro’ haircut and proficiency at scoring and handling the ball, Gale teamed with 6-6 center and fellow sophomore Israel Oliver to lead ECSU to its first-ever CIAA Tournament championship in 1969 defeating a powerful Norfolk State team in the finals. In his final year at ECSU (1971), Gale was named the CIAA Player of the Year. He was selected to the CIAA Hall of Fame in 1985.
Taken in the third round of the 1971 NBA Draft by the Chicago Bulls, Gale opted to play in the American Basketball Association after landing with the Kentucky Colonels in the third round of the ABA draft.
Over three seasons in the ABA, Gale earned two All-Defensive Team nods. In 1974, Gale joined Julius Erving and the New York Nets on their way to an ABA Championship.
After a short stint with the Nets, he played five seasons in the NBA with the San Antonio Spurs. He had perhaps his best statistical season as a pro with the Spurs in 1976-77 when he averaged career highs of 10.3 points and 5.8 assists per game.
After one season with the Portland Trail Blazers, Gale capped off his basketball career with the Golden State Warriors. With Al Attles’ Warriors, Gale started 70 games, averaging 5.6 points, 3.5 assists, 2.5 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game.