Bo Lamar, whose four-year career in professional basketball included stints with the San Diego Conquistadors/Sails, Indiana Pacers, and Los Angeles Lakers, died Monday, Feb 16. He was 74.
Louisiana-Lafayette confirmed Lamar’s death to KLFY.
A native of Columbus, Ohio, Lamar was a three-time All-American at Louisiana-Lafayette - then known as the University of Southwest Louisiana - where he played from 1969-73. He was named first-team All-America in 1972 and 1973, leading the Ragin' Cajuns to a 90–23 record in his four seasons.
Lamar was drafted by the Detroit Pistons in the third round of the 1973 NBA Draft. A week later, he was drafted by the Conquistadors with the first overall selection in the ABA’s draft held specifically for college seniors.
Lamar opted to join the ABA, where he took advantage of the league’s three-point line. As a rookie with the Conquistadors in 1973-74, he led the league in threes attempted (247) and made (69). After the season, he was chosen to the ABA All-Rookie team along with Swen Nater, John Williamson, Mike Green and Larry Kenon.
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Thanks in part to Lamar’s range, the Conquistadors led the ABA in points per game in 1973-74 under head coach Wilt Chamberlain. But they failed to post a winning season, or even make the playoffs in 1974-75. Eleven games into the 1975-76 season, the franchise ceased operations.
Lamar joined the Pacers in November 1975 when the San Diego players became available in a “dispersal draft.” Lamar averaged 26.3 points per game in his final ABA season, and 25.9 points per game in three years in the league overall.
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In October 1976, just after the ABA/NBA merger, Lamar was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers. He averaged 7.4 points and 16.1 minutes per game in 71 games with the Lakers in his final pro season.
Lamar was inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and the UL Athletics Hall of Fame. He remains one of only two Ragin’ Cajuns players to average more than 20 points a game in three different seasons.
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