OBU, Spurs legend Bass dies at 89
Bob Bass was a prominent figure in the history of two NBA franchises. But Bass was a legend at Oklahoma Baptist University.
Bass, 89, died Friday night at his home in San Antonio, where he had was an iconic general manager of the Spurs from 1974-94. Spurs coach Gregg Popovich issued a statement through the Spurs that said, “Over the course of four decades, Bob Bass had a huge impact in both the ABA and the NBA. BB was a true pioneer in the world of professional basketball. His knowledge, passion and dedication to the game were inspiring. We send our condolences to the entire Bass family.”
But before the NBA, Bass was building quite the legacy in Shawnee. A graduate of Tulsa Rogers High School, Bass went to Oklahoma Baptist and captained the Bison three straight years in the early 1950s. He soon became the OBU basketball and baseball coach, and Bass led the Bison to perhaps the greatest success ever by an Oklahoma program in the small-college ranks. Bass’ OBU teams made three straight NAIA title games, 1965-67, back when the NAIA was loaded with great teams. The 1966 Bison won the NAIA championship.
“Bob Bass is the man who started the Bison on the road to success in men’s basketball,” John Parrish, who was OBU’s sports information director in those glory years, said in a release by the school. “Bob Bass was a developer of great teams and great players and devoted much of his life to improving the game of basketball.”
Bass was head basketball coach at OBU for 15 years, with a record of 275-146. Only Doug Tolin coached the Bison to more wins, and Tolin and Bass are the only OBU coaches to produce national-title teams. Bass was inducted into the OBU Athletics Hall of Fame in 1971 and into the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame in 2008.
“Coach Bass was responsible for putting Bison basketball on the map,” said OBU athletic director Robert Davenport. “His coaching and leadership goes well beyond Bison Hill. He will be missed.”
Bass left OBU after the 1967 NAIA Tournament to take the Denver Rockets job of the fledgling American Basketball Association. Bass coached two years with the Rockets (who became the current Nuggets) before taking the Texas Tech job. Bass left Lubbock midway through his first year to return to the ABA and coach the Miami Floridians. After a yearand-a-half, Bass moved on to coach the ABA’s Memphis Tams for a season.
But in 1974, Bass was hired by the Spurs as general manager, and he found a home. Bass had three stints as coach or interim coach, going 83-57 in the ABA and 60-51 in the NBA, but his biggest mark was in the front office. Bass established the Spurs’ winning culture.
The Spurs made the playoffs 17 times in Bass’ 20 years as general manager. Among his acquisitions: George Gervin, David Robinson, Sean Elliott, Avery Johnson, John Lucas and Alvin Robertson.
In 1994, Bass became GM of the Charlotte Hornets, who eventually moved to New Orleans. The Hornets never had a losing season in the seven years Bass ran the team.
Bass twice was named NBA Executive of the Year, once each with the Spurs and Hornets.