MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2000 Regular Session

To: Rules

By: Senator(s) Michel

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING SUPERSTAR BASKETBALL PLAYER PURVIS SHORT UPON HIS INDUCTION INTO THE HISTORIC CLASS OF 2000 OF THE MISSISSIPPI SPORTS HALL OF FAME.

WHEREAS, the Jackson Touchdown Club and Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame has unveiled the historic Class of 2000 of the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame, with induction ceremonies to take place on Friday, March 10, 2000, in Jackson; and

WHEREAS, the MSHOF Class of 2000 features Purvis Short, the superstar basketball player from Hattiesburg who starred for Jackson State and NBA teams, and whose career is a matter of record; and

WHEREAS, after a stellar high school career at Blair High in Hattiesburg, Purvis attended Jackson State from 1974 through 1978; he was a 3-time All-American and All-SWAC player for the Tigers; in his freshman season of 1974-1975, he combined with his brother Eugene to pace JSU to a 25-4 record; in that season, Purvis averaged 15.1 points while Eugene was the 6th leading scorer in the nation with 26.6 points per game; Purvis and his brother, Eugene, were probably the best known basketball brother tandem in Mississippi sports history; with the Short brothers pouring in the points, the Tigers averaged 95.5 points per game; after Eugene completed his college career and was the first round draft choice (10th pick overall) of the New York Knicks in 1975, Purvis became the most prolific scorer in Jackson State history; in his sophomore year, Purvis averaged 25.5 points per game and he notched an average of 24.8 a game in his junior campaign; Short had an incredible senior season as he was named the SWAC Most Valuable Player and Player of the Year for 1977-1978; he averaged 29.5 points and 11.4 rebounds per game and was named to the All-Tournament Team of the prestigious Aloha Classic All Star game; in Purvis' first two seasons, Jackson State played in Division 2 and moved up to Division 1 in his senior year; Short finished his college career as the nation's third leading scorer with his 29.5 average as only Portland State's Freeman Williams (35.9) and Indiana State's Larry Bird (30) had higher averages; overall, Short guided JSU to a 93-23 record and shattered the Tiger scoring standards; his single season records include: highest scoring average of 29.5 points per game (1977-1978), most field goal attempts of 635 (1975-1976), and most field goals made of 324 (1975-1976); Short's career marks with the Tigers include: most points scored - 2,434, highest scoring average per game - 23.8; most field goals attempted - 2,036, and most field goals made -- 1,087; Purvis averaged 9.3 rebounds in his Jackson State career; drafted out of college by the Golden State Warriors, Short was the 5th player selected overall in the first round of the NBA draft in 1978; he played 9 seasons for the Warriors from 1978 through 1987; Purvis was named to the NBA All-Rookie Team in his first season in 1978-1979 by averaging 10.6 points per game; he led the team in scoring his second season by scoring 17 points a game; Purvis ranks among Golden State career leaders in 9 categories: games, points, field goals made and attempted, free throws made and attempted, minutes played, steals, and free throw shooting percentage; a captain and player representative for the Warriors, Purvis made his home in San Ramon, California, in the off season; Short played in 3 of the 10 Most Memorable Games in the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena; in the 10th rated Memorable Game, Purvis scored 22 points and pulled down 11 rebounds as the Warriors beat the Boston Celtics 121-106 on January 2, 1981; the game is known as the worst game Larry Bird of the Celtics ever played in the NBA as he was held to 0 for 9 from the floor with no points, no free throw attempts, 7 rebounds, 6 assists and 3 turnovers in 37 minutes of play; in the 8th rated Memorable Game, Purvis hit his stride as an NBA player in the middle of a four-year run in which he averaged more than 20 points a game and featured a rainbow jump shot that was virtually unstoppable; Golden State downed the San Antonio Spurs 154-133 in a wild game played on January 7, 1984; Purvis had 23 points by halftime as the Warriors led 72-68; Spurs' star George Gervin nearly matched Short with 20 points at the half; at the end of the third quarter, the Warriors led 107-104 and Short had 35 points; the Spurs, in a desperate attempt to stop Purvis, triple teamed Short, an incredible defense for an outside shooter in the NBA; two three-pointers, three-jumpers and a few free throws later, Short left the court to thunderous applause and a then-career high and NBA season-high 57 points to go with 15 rebounds in the Warriors' win; Purvis would later comment: "It was just one of those nights when the basket looked as big as ever and everything I threw up went in"; the 57-point performance brought Purvis NBA Player of the Week honors; in the game voted Most Memorable on the Warriors' home court, Purvis scored 14 points and watched Sleepy Floyd put on an amazing 51-point display with 29 points in 11 minutes of play in the fourth quarter; Golden State edged the vaunted Los Angeles Lakers 129-121 on May 10, 1987, in the Western Conference Semifinals, a series the Warriors would eventually lose in Game 5; Purvis and his teammates were behind by 14 points until Floyd poured in 14 straight points and brought the Warriors to a 3-point lead late in the game; Short recorded his only triple-double in 1980-1981 with 19 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists against Kansas City; in the 1984-1985 campaign Purvis had one of his finest years in pro-basketball; he posted a career high of 59 points against New Jersey on November 17, 1984, and was the 4th leading scorer in the NBA; he averaged 28 points per game in 78 games played, scored in double figures every time he played; he scored 20-29 points 28 times, 40 or more points in 8 games, and had a 7-game stretch in November in which he averaged 34.3 points per game; on November 5, 1987, the day before the 1987-1988 NBA season began, Purvis was traded to the Houston Rockets for Dave Feitl, nonlottery first round draft picks in 1989, 1990 and 1991, plus cash; he played in 81 games his first year in Houston, making a comeback from injuries that limited his playing time at Golden State; during his NBA playing days, Short endured injuries to his left knee, left heel, right thigh and shoulder; his career best shooting performance came against his old team on December 5, 1987, as he was an amazing 13 for 15 from the field for a shooting percentage of .837; he put on a spectacular show against Golden State and in the first half of a December 8, 1987, contest against the Sacramento Kings; after hitting on 13 of 15 against the Warriors, Short made 7 of 10 against the Kings, a 20 of 25 performance in 6 quarters of play; following the Ralph Sampson trade, Purvis emerged as the Rockets' sixth man; he came off the bench in 60 of the last 62 games of the season and only started 11 games the entire season; he led Houston in scoring in 9 of those games; Purvis is one of only 3 Houston players to have 10,000 or more career points and he was one of 3 Rockets who had played 10 or more seasons in the league; he topped the 30-point mark 103 times, 40 or more points on 18 occasions, and he busted 50 points twice in his career; Short completed his pro-basketball playing days with the New Jersey Nets in the 1989-1990 season, taking the court for a career high 82 games; overall, in his NBA career, Purvis played in 842 games, 347 as a started; he scored 14,607 points, with 3,625 rebounds, 2,123 assists and 878 steals; his per-game NBA averages were 17.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.5 assists; in the playoffs, he played in 18 games, 2 as a started; he scored 187 points, pulled down 52 boards, and had 30 assists in post season play; Short's playoff averages were 10.4 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.7 assists; Purvis has dedicated time and effort to many charity causes; he works with the Boys Club and the Black United Fund and makes many appearances for numerous charities; he is no stranger to Hall of Fame induction, as he was enshrined into the SWAC Hall of Fame in 1998; and

WHEREAS, Purvis currently resides in Houston and serves as the Director of Player Programs for the NBA Players Association; he and his wife, Sandra, have two sons, Derrick, age 16, and Devan, age 8; and

WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize this sports superstar who has brought honor to his university, his community and to the State of Mississippi:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend and congratulate superstar Basketball Player Purvis Short upon his induction into the Historic Class of 2000 of the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame, and wish him continued success in his future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be presented to Purvis Short at induction ceremonies and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.