World B. Free was a professional basketball player who played in the NBA from 1875 to 1988. Free was born in Atlanta, Georgia, grew up in the Brownsville neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York, and attended Guilford for college. He played for five different teams throughout the course of his 13-year career in the NBA.Â
He was a 6-foot-3 guard, selected in the second round of the 1975 NBA Draft by the Sixers. Free finished third in Rookie of the Year voting in his first season, made one All-Star team (1979-80), and was named to the All-NBA Second Team in 1979.
Though he is not currently in the Hall of Fame, Free churned out a very impressive NBA career.
What teams did World B. Free play for?
During his 13 seasons in the NBA, Free played for five different teams:
- Philadelphia 76ers
- San Diego Clippers (now the LA Clippers)
- Golden State Warriors
- Cleveland Cavaliers
- Houston Rockets
Free played in Philadelphia from 1975 to 1978 before he was traded to the Clippers. He was traded for a 1984 first-round pick that would become Charles Barkley.
He then played in San Diego for two seasons from 1978 to 1980 before being traded once again. The Clippers traded him to the Warriors for Phil Smith and a 1984 first-rounder that became Lancaster Gordon.
Free played in Golden State from 1980 to 1982. A midseason trade in December of 1982 sent him to the Cavaliers for Ron Brewer.
He remained there until 1986, when he signed a free-agent contract with the Sixers. They waived him in 1987, and he signed with the Rockets for a single season before retiring.
How good were World B. Free’s stats?
Despite being just a one-time All-Star, Free put up some monster numbers during his time in the NBA. Here are his top-five scoring seasons:
- Clippers 1979-80: 30.2 pts, 3.5 reb, 4.2 ast, 1.2 stl
- Clippers 1978-79: 28.8 pts, 3.9 reb, 4.4 ast, 1.4 stl
- Warriors 1980-81: 24.1 pts, 2.4 reb, 5.6 ast, 1.3 stl
- GSW/CLE 1982-83: 23.9 pts, 2.8 reb, 4.0 ast, 1.3 stl
- Cavaliers 1985-86: 23.4 pts, 2.9 reb, 4.2 ast, 1.2 stl
What awards did World B. Free win?
Free’s only All-Star nod came during the only season in which he eclipsed the 30-point mark. However, his All-NBA Second Team nod was in 1979, when he averaged 28.8 points. He did not make the All-Star team that year.
As noted, Free also finished third in Rookie of the Year voting during his first NBA campaign.
He also finished in the top 20 of MVP voting three times. Free finished sixth in 1978-79 with the Clippers, 14th in 1983-84 with the Cavaliers, and 20th in 1984-85 with the Cavaliers.
Is World B. Free a good 82-0 pick?
Yes, Free would be a good choice in 82-0, but only if you select him for the right team and year. Free would be a great pick for the Clippers in the 1970s and the Cavaliers in the 1980s, though there may be better selections available.
The NBA game 82-0.com has been going viral. Users select players from random teams and random decades, and Free’s impressive scoring numbers have made him a popular selection.
Here’s what you need to know about picking Free in 82-0:
- Though the 76ers drafted him, Free’s stats weren’t at their peak during his years in Philadelphia, so there are probably better choices.
- Don’t pick Free’s year with the 76ers in the 1980s. He didn’t put up big numbers.
- Free’s years with the Clippers are a great way to rack up some easy point totals in your 82-0 lineup, especially in the 1970s.
- His half-season with the Clippers in 1980 makes him a solid choice for that decade, too.
- He averaged decent numbers with the Warriors in the 1980s, but guys like Chris Mullin and Sleepy Floyd may provide better value with their rebounding and assist totals.
- As for the Cavaliers, Ron Harper or Mark Price could be suitable other options, though Free is a solid pick. Harper’s steals may give him an edge.
- Lastly, Free’s one year with the Rockets isn’t a great choice, as he wasn’t putting up great stats at that point.
Overall, Free was an underrated player in the 1970s and 1980s who doesn’t always get the love he deserves nowadays.
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