Easley’s Jeff McAlister (right) gets his picture taken with Clemson University legend and NBA star Anthony Davis on Sunday during the auction during the Orange and White Weekend. McAlister is a die-hard fan of the Clemson Tigers and a big supporter of their sports programs.
Jeff Holt | The Easley Progress
PICKENS COUNTY — When you talk about Clemson basketball, the conversation has to start with Dale Davis (1987-91).
In 2000, he became the first men’s basketball player to be inducted into Clemson’s Ring of Honor. His No. 34 jersey is officially retired and he was First Team All-ACC in 1990.
But now at 55 years old, he’s giving back to the college that helped jump-start his basketball career. Davis was back for the 5th Annual Orange and White Weekend, signing autographs for the die-hard fans of the Clemson Tigers and supporting his old stomping grounds.
“That’s what it’s all about,” said Davis. “We do it from the heart and it’s needed. The stuff that Wayne (Buckingham; an All-American himself) does and what we’ve put together is how we were raised.”
Davis did not grow up too far from the campus of Clemson University in Toccoa, Georgia – not even an hour away. He started out his college career at around 6-foot-9 and 225 pounds.
Continued Davis, “For me, being from the south, family was the No. 1 thing. As you graduate (from college), that becomes your family. Whatever we can do to support the (Clemson) family for a great cause and educating the youth. That’s what we’re all about.”
Davis, who was drafted in the NBA’s first round (13th overall) by the Indiana Pacers, bulked up as a power forward in the NBA to around 250 pounds and stood in at 6-11. Davis played in the NBA from 1991-2007, but was mainly known for playing for the Indiana Pacers throughout the 1990s.
The Clemson brotherhood and family kicked in right when Davis entered the league. Former Clemson Tigers like Tree Rollins and Horace Grant were just a few of the alums Davis eventually got to know even better in the NBA.
“We kept the Clemson family tight,” Davis said. “We always helped each other and the phone lines were always open. When we first got into the league, Tree (Rollins) let us stay in one of his properties. We always looked out for each other.”
Davis grew up in Georgia watching NBA greats like Dominique Wilkins (“The Human Highlight Film”) throwing down some high-flying dunks for the Atlanta Hawks, and then he actually got to play against Dominique when he played power forward at the end of his career.
Wilkins was known for his explosive dunks as a small forward for the Atlanta Hawks most of his career.
“I was a big fan of him coming from Georgia,” Davis said, “and I had the opportunity to play against him. Nique always joked around and later in his career he played power forward and I guarded him.”
Davis said, playing for the Indiana Pacers, he always enjoyed going back to his home state of Georgia and playing the Atlanta Hawks.
“It was always good,” Davis said. “Being in Indiana, you didn’t get the closeness of your family and friends that you grew up with and were around. I always enjoyed playing in Atlanta. I’d get 40 tickets and took care of the family and anyone else who wanted to go. It was always a homecoming.”
A Patrick Ewing memory on defense: Davis recalled one of his favorite defensive plays in the NBA and it was against the New York Knicks in the mid 1990s at Madison Square Garden.
“I was guarding (Charles) Oakley or whoever was the power forward,” Davis said. “We got switched up and Antonio (Davis) got crossed up. Then, I ended up on (Patrick) Ewing (who had the ball), and it was like everything was in slow motion. Everything is going through your mind and it was the last play (of the game). A lot of things went through my mind, playing in the Garden. We didn’t have any replays or anything like that. I kind of flinched at him (Ewing) and saw him lose his balance. He went up (for the shot) and it totally threw him off. To this day, he (Ewing) said that was a great defensive play because he expected the contact.”
A treasured victory at Littlejohn Coliseum: There is a video on YouTube from Clemson’s thrilling 97-73 win over Duke on Feb. 28, 1990. The game was just 20 minutes away from Easley at a packed Littlejohn Coliseum. The Blue Devils, with freshman point-guard Bobby Hurley and Coach Mike Krzyzewski, entered the game ranked fifth and the Tigers were ranked 20th. Dale Davis had a double-double in the victory (points and rebounds), and the fans stormed the court after the victory.
“You are watching one of the greatest up-and-coming players in Dale Davis,” said one of the commentators. “Very strong and he really improved his (shooting) range.”
Earlier in the game, one of the commentators added about a low-post player for Duke: “He has no chance against Dale Davis.”
From Wayne “Buck” Buckingham on Davis: The Orange and White Weekend capped off with a golf tournament on Sunday at Boscobel Golf and Country Club in Pendleton. Buck led the ceremony after the golf and then took some time to reflect on his good friend, Dale Davis.
“I’ve been knowing Dale since ‘86,” said Buck. “He is one of the main reasons I chose to come to Clemson to be honest. He’s always been there for me. Dale has been a big influence being the type of person that he is and I really look up to him. The hard work he put in coming out of high school, the 16 years in the league and how he gives back to the community. Dale – that’s my guy. I truly appreciate him helping me keep this thing going and putting everything together.”
Ending note: I played in the Clemson Golf Outing and had a great time on Sunday afternoon at the Boscobel Golf Club. Former Clemson backup punter Tom Murray had some great stories from his college days and hit some great shots in the best-ball format. So many Clemson stars just “gave back” that one day, and that’s what it’s all about. Wayne Buckingham does a great job putting it all on and former Atlanta Braves star Otis Nixon is a class act. It was an honor getting to interview Dale Davis – I still remember getting to see him battle in person in the low-post in the NBA as a kid when he played for the Indiana Pacers.
“Sometimes in life, you bump into something that is a crisis and I saw him (Buckingham) when he was dead – he had a massive heart attack and they brought him back,” said Nixon. “I’ve known him for several years and he calls me his big brother. He is much bigger than me, but he has a bigger heart. You can tell … he played and he is now giving back to his community. I’m going to be behind him even though I’m not from Clemson. I went to Clemson. He is alive today and is doing extremely well. The tournament is going good and we are blessed.”
Reach Jeff Holt at 864-855-0355.