For virtually his entire life, Chris Ford was living proof that good things can happen to people who do things the right way. Despite winning an NBA championship as a player and two more as an assistant coach, Ford received the greatest honor of his career in 2021 when he was inducted into the NJSIAA Hall of Fame.
The honor came more than 50 years after his standout high school career at Holy Spirit High School in Absecon, New Jersey. But in addition to everything Ford achieved as a player and a coach, his induction into the NJSIAA Hall of Fame also recognized the humility and decency Ford showed as a person his entire life. Equally meaningful, Ford became the first person from Atlantic County to be inducted into the NJSIAA Hall of Fame, cementing his spot as a local legend.
After more than 50 years, Ford's record of 1,507 career points at Holy Spirit High School remains the all-time record. Keep in mind that there was no three-point line at that time, making Ford's record and the 33 points per game he averaged as a senior even more remarkable. As a high school star in South New Jersey, after graduation, Ford made the short journey to Philadelphia to play for the Villanova Wildcats.
During his first season on the court at Villanova, Ford averaged 16.1 points per game, helping to lead Jack Kraft's Wildcats to the Elite Eight. The following year, Ford helped Villanova reach the 1971 national title game, only to lose to legendary coach John Wooden and the UCLA Bruins 68-62. As a senior during the 1971-72 campaign, Ford put together the best season of his career, averaging 17.9 points and 6.4 rebounds per game with the Wildcats finishing 20-8, reaching the NCAA Tournament for the fourth straight season.
After his college career ended at Villanova, the Detroit Pistons selected Ford in the second round of the 1972 NBA Draft, making him the 17th overall pick. Naturally, Ford became an immediate contributor in Detroit, something the Pistons hope will be the case for their 2023 draft picks, Ausar Thompson and James Nnaji. To be on the Pistons during the upcoming season, consider FanDuel Sportsbook.
While Ford was never a star with the Pistons, he averaged more than 20 minutes per game and played in nearly every game during his first six seasons in Detroit. He was a solid role player for the Pistons, averaging as much as 12.3 points per game during the 1976-77 season. Of course, Ford's career changed in 1978 when the Pistons traded him to the Boston Celtics.
One year after that trade, Ford etched his name in NBA history. During Boston's season opener against the Rockets on October 12, 1979, Ford became the first NBA player to make a three-point shot during a game. Ford sank his three-pointer late in the first quarter. Nobody knew it at the time, but the game would never be the same.
As for Ford, he played with the Celtics for the rest of his career. During the 1980-81 season, Ford started 75 games for Boston and averaged 8.9 points per game while helping the Celtics win the NBA championship. Following the 1981-82 season, Ford retired from the NBA, averaging 9.2 points per game in his career. A year later, he joined the Celtics as an assistant coach and was a part of championship teams in 1984 and 1986.
In 1990, Ford became head coach of the Celtics. He would go on to coach five years in Boston, two years for the Milwaukee Bucks, parts of two seasons with the Los Angeles Clippers, and 30 games as the interim coach for the Philadelphia 76ers. Ford also spent two seasons as the head coach at Brandeis University, a Division III program.
Sadly, Ford passed away in January 2023 following a heart attack. However, for his 74 years on the planet, he showed others how to achieve greatness and be humble at the same time. He will be remembered forever as a member of the NJSIAA Hall of Fame with few as deserving as that distinction as Ford.
