Lou Hudson R.I.P. "Sweet Lou"

[senelcoolidge]

http://www.ajc.com/news/sports/basketball/hawks-great-lou-hudson-passes-away/nfX32/
He passed away today. For casual and ignorant basketball fans this means nothing. He was just a player that played in the 60's and 70's. But for guys that really love the game and know it, they know that he was a great shooting guard. One of the best Hawks ever.

[iTare]

RIP HOMIE

http://37.media.tumblr.com/bfa5583f8b8430745252a29c3a2a00fd/tumblr_mevicsMDv41rjjqqqo1_500.gif

[SHAQisGOAT]

Damn.. RIP

He definitely had a sweet jumpshot, one of the greatest ever from mid-range, and also, from what I've seen, he had some really good fundamentals, really knew how to move without the ball, finish inside and also play 1on1. Numbers say he was a nice rebounder and seemed like a decent passer even though I've seen/read that he could stagnate the offense plenty of times and wasn't a good defensive player.. Anyways, pretty good player, a really good scorer, an all-star.
Couple of videos with him..

single-game highlights with Pistol Pete, just one of the greatest scoring duos ever (he "hated" Maravich though, because of Pete's flashy playing-style, even in documentaries and such, long after their playing years, he demonstrated it):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ut3R7SViJlY

teaching individual offensive techniques:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMg7wqJp7xw

His best season was most likely in 1970, when he was 5th in points scored while 3rd in FG%, which is incredible for a SF/SG, ending up on the all-nba 2nd team for the only time in his career. Hawks with 48W also got to the division finals, Lou dropped considerably in the post-season though (he had some other nice runs).

Once again RIP, 69 is still young to go by today's standards.

[fpliii]

RIP

[JellyBean]

http://i1129.photobucket.com/albums/m516/eclecticspectrum/florida-evans-damn-damn-damn-animated-gif1.gif

My pops called me today about the passing of Sweet Lou. This brother was a legend here in Minnesota(University of Minnesota), according to my father. Lou had the smoothest jumper in the game and was a quality defender. Sad to hear of the passing of such an icon at the University of Minnesota and for the Atlanta Hawks.

[3243]

He later played with the Lakers as well.

Sweet Lou Hudson, R.I.P.

[Iceman#44]

Rip

[SHAQisGOAT]

Some more highlights:

http://hangtime.blogs.nba.com/2014/04/11/hawks-nba-mourn-lou-hudsons-death/?ls=iref:nbahpt3c

That jumper was money, or call it sweet.

[Draz]

Rest in peace.

[jstern]

http://i1129.photobucket.com/albums/m516/eclecticspectrum/florida-evans-damn-damn-damn-animated-gif1.gif

My pops called me today about the passing of Sweet Lou. This brother was a legend here in Minnesota(University of Minnesota), according to my father. Lou had the smoothest jumper in the game and was a quality defender. Sad to hear of the passing of such an icon at the University of Minnesota and for the Atlanta Hawks.

The gif, can't help it https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=BxX8ZBgDE0k#t=15

[215Philly]

He soo cheesy on 2k :banghead: RiP doe :(

[SHAQisGOAT]

Some more highlights:

http://hangtime.blogs.nba.com/2014/04/11/hawks-nba-mourn-lou-hudsons-death/?ls=iref:nbahpt3c

That jumper was money, or call it sweet.

And more:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcpZMNBzmhM

I swear, the NBA has so much rare/unseen footage in their vault, yet they don't release shit, only waiting for past players to die to put out these 1:30 minutes videos, which could be made much better.

[JohnMax]

http://miamiheatnamecollection.com/images/jerseys/sweet-lew.png

http://content.sportslogos.net/news/2014/01/Screen-shot-2014-01-11-at-09.52.29-.png

[LAZERUSS]

Hudson, like Havlicek, could play either guard or forward (there really wasn't a SG-PG, SF, PF designation back then.) And he was not only a very good, to even an exceptional, scorer, he was doing so on FG%'s that were typically WAY over the league average. For instance, in his 69-70 season, he averaged 25.4 ppg on a .531 FG%, in a league that shot an eFG% of .460. And again, from a more perimeter-oriented player.

Hudson played on some STACKED teams in his NBA career, but never won a ring. Those Hawks teams of the mid-to-late 60's were leaded with talent, but unfortunately, so were several teams in that span. He was playing on rosters that had Lenny Wilkins, Bill Bridges, Zelmo Beaty (a VERY under-rated center in that period), Joe Caldwell, Paul Silas, and even an aged Richie Guerin.

And, he played on LOADED Laker's teams in '77-78 and '78-79, but both badly under-achieved, and were blown out in the early rounds of the playoffs. He retired after that 78-79 season, and the Lakers added rookie Magic Johnson, and the rest was history.

RIP.

[Legends66NBA7]

Forgotten player. Too bad he didn't he get a championship in his career, he was perennial all-star for the Hawks.

RIP.

[Rake2204]

And more:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcpZMNBzmhM

I swear, the NBA has so much rare/unseen footage in their vault, yet they don't release shit, only waiting for past players to die to put out these 1:30 minutes videos, which could be made much better.Right? Thanks for the link, anyhow. It'd have been nice if whoever uploads those videos for the NBA realized their description still references Sam Lacey instead of Hudson though.

I've slowly been learning about Hudson's game. Interestingly, it was his appearance in NBA2K12 that encouraged me to research and appreciate him as a player. I thought those video game classic teams were a great way for folks too young to have experienced NBA basketball in the 70's to familiarize themselves with great players of the past.