Rick Bullock

Rick Bullock (born August 9, 1954) is an American former professional basketball player, who played collegiate basketball for the Texas Tech Red Raiders basketball team and was selected 57th by the New York Knicks in the 1976 NBA draft^[1]

High school career[]

A native of San Antonio, Texas, Bullock attended Thomas Jefferson High School (San Antonio). One of San Antonio’s most decorated athletes, Bullock was a 6’9 juggernaut obtaining a career total of 1,941 points in 104 games, with 893 of those points cashed in 37 games of his senior year.^[2] During his three years at Jefferson High School, Bullock averaged 24.1 points a game and was able to lead the Mustangs to win 92 of the 104 games played over a three year span with him in the lineup. Bullock led the Jefferson Mustangs to the 1972 5A State Championship losing to Dallas Roosevelt, but achieving a career high of 44 points,^[3] which still stands as a Championship game Individual high score record for University Interscholastic League^[4] State Championship games.^[5] Bullock held the San Antonio city scoring record for 25 years until West Campus’ Devin Brown broke it in 1997.

Collegiate career[]

Rick Bullock shoots a baseline jump shot over a Baylor defender during a home game on November 15th, 1975.

After high school, Bullock was a highly sought after player, and accepted a scholarship to attend Texas Tech University where he played for Coach Gerald Myers. While attending Texas Tech, Bullock was an interior colossus who led the Red Raiders to two Southwest Conference titles in the 1973 and 1976 seasons, as well as qualifying for the NCAA tournament respectfully in those years too.

His freshmen year was a great introduction, as Bullock hoisted the Red Raiders to a 19-8 record overall, finishing first in The Southwest Conference. Bullock averaged 13.8 points per game, as well as 7.5 rebounds. Texas Tech qualified for the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament, but fell to University of South Carolina in the first round 78-70.^[6] The following year, Bullock had a sensational sophomore year averaging 21.4 points and 10.7 rebounds.^[7] During Bullock’s junior year, he averaged 20.9 points and 11.0 rebounds per game.^[8] With experience under his belt, Bullock led the Red Raiders (25-6) ; (13-3, 2nd in SWC) to the NCAA Sweet 16 his senior year, going further than the first round before losing to Missouri 75-86. He was awarded All Regional honors in tourney.^[9][10]

Statistically, Bullock is an arguably one of the best, if not the best Red Raider to ever hit the hardwood. Bullock is the only Red Raider to score 2,000 points and pull down 1,000 rebounds. At one time, Bullock's 2,118 points were the scoring record, as well as his 842 career fields record of 842, which he held for 26 years, yet currently ranks third most in school history,^[11] as are his 1,057 rebounds. Bullock also achieved a school best of 50 double-doubles during his tenure with a field goal percentage of 57 percent, which is second best behind only Will Flemons. Bullock also recorded a streak of 10 straight 20-point games, the second longest streak of that kind in Texas Tech history. In regard to other prolific accomplishments, Bullock was Newcomer of the Year in 1973, Southwest Conference Player of the Year in 1975 and 1976, as well as, Southwest Conference Tournament MVP in 1976. He was a four-time All-Southwest Conference first-team selection. Bullock was also recognized nationally as a freshman All-America selection in 1973 and earned Associated All-America honorable mention as a sophomore, junior and senior. Bullock was the twice the leading vote-getter for the Universal Sports All-America and earned USBWA All-District team as a junior and a senior.^[12]

Bullock is the sole proprietor of two top 10 individual game scoring performances in Texas Tech basketball history. Bullock erupted 44 points against Eddie Sutton and the Arkansas Razorbacks men's basketball team in 1976 which ranks third as a follow up from his 41-point outburst in 1974 against Texas Christian University, which is tied with three other performances for seventh-best in Texas Tech basketball history.^[13] Bullock also pulled 22 rebounds against Adams State on December 2, 1974.^[12]

Nationally, Bullock ranked in the Top 20 in scoring and field goal percentage for three straight seasons.^[14] Bullock finished ranked among the nation's scoring leaders in 1974 (37th) and 1976 (24th). He was also ranked among the nation's leaders in field-goal percentage in 1974 (14th) and 1975 (21st). Bullock averaged 20.3 points and 8.7 rebounds in three NCAA Tournament games in 1973 and 1976 (1-2 record).^[15] Bullock also was selected as a starter for both the Coaches All-Star Game and the Pizza Hut All-Star Classic following his senior season.^[14]

Bullock was inducted as a member in the Texas Tech Hall of Fame and the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches in 1985,^[16] the Southwest Conference Hall Of Fame in 2013,^[17] the Texas Tech Ring of Honor in March 2019,^[12] the San Antonio Sports Hall of Fame ^[18] and was listed by the University Scholastic League (UIL) as one of the top 100 Texas high school basketball players of all time in 2021.^[19]

Professional career[]

The New York Knicks selected Bullock as the 57th pick in the fourth round of the 1976 NBA Draft.^[20] After a short stint with the Knicks, Bullock signed with the San Antonio Spurs in April 1977.^[21][22] Bullock shortly transitioned from the NBA to play in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA) for the Lancaster Red Roses during the 1978-79 season. While on the roster, Bullock averaged 13.8 points, 10.8 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game in his 33-game career with the Red Roses,^[23] but found tremendous success furthering his professional career in Europe playing in the EuroLeague. Bullock played for Pallacanestro Cantù and Fribourg Olympic Basket,^[24][25] formerly known as Benneton Fribourg where he won two championships in 1981 and 1982. After the 1982-1983 Euroleague season, Bullock left Fribourg Olympic and returned back to the states in July 1983. Bullock reconnected with the New York Knicks again, this time under new head coach Hubie Brown, who has replaced Red Holzman, but both parties parted ways prior to the beginning of the 1983 season.^[22][24]

Personal life[]

After his basketball career, Bullock returned home where he has worked for the city of San Antonio. He is married and has three children.

References[]

Rick Bullock[]