Terry Cummings

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13 Mar 2024

Terry Cummings

Robert Terrell Cummings, born on March 15, 1961, is a retired American professional basketball player renowned for his illustrious 18-season career in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Cummings achieved significant recognition throughout his career, earning the prestigious Rookie of the Year award during his debut season. He also garnered accolades as a two-time All-Star and a two-time All-NBA selection, showcasing his prowess and impact on the court.
Cummings played a pivotal role as a leading player on numerous postseason teams, notably with the Milwaukee Bucks and the San Antonio Spurs. His contributions were instrumental in guiding his teams through the challenges of playoff competition, highlighting his skill, leadership, and versatility on the basketball court.

Born in Chicago and a product of Carver High School, Cummings continued his basketball journey at DePaul University from 1979 to 1982. During his collegiate career, he showcased his scoring prowess by averaging an impressive 16.4 points per game across 85 games. After completing his tenure at DePaul, Cummings decided to enter the highly anticipated 1982 NBA draft, eager to take his basketball career to the next level.

Selected as the second overall pick in the first round of the 1982 NBA draft by the San Diego Clippers, Cummings embarked on his professional basketball journey. His arrival in San Diego coincided with clashes with the team's owner, Donald Sterling, known for his controversial management style. Sterling's decision to have players handle their own laundry during training camp at a naval base sparked tensions among the team members, including Cummings. Despite initial friction, Cummings ultimately signed a four-year contract with the Clippers after tense negotiations with his agent.

In his debut season during 1982–83, Cummings made an immediate impact, earning the prestigious NBA Rookie of the Year Award. He showcased his versatile skills by averaging an impressive 23.7 points and 10.4 rebounds per game, marking career-high figures in both categories. Notably, on March 9, 1983, Cummings delivered a stellar performance, scoring a career-best 39 points and securing 18 rebounds in a matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers. Unfortunately, his rookie campaign was marred by health concerns as he experienced irregularities in his heartbeat, forcing him to sit out the final two weeks of the season. The Clippers struggled in his absence, underscoring Cummings' value to the team.

Following his stint with the San Diego Clippers, Cummings was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks ahead of the 1983–84 season. In Milwaukee, he continued to showcase his scoring prowess, averaging over 20 points and 8 rebounds per game for four out of his five years with the team.
During the 1985 NBA playoffs, Cummings played a pivotal role in the Bucks' success, outscoring then-rookie Michael Jordan in a series victory over the Chicago Bulls. Despite Jordan's sensational performance, Cummings' offensive prowess propelled the Bucks to a 3–1 series win. However, Milwaukee fell short in the next round, suffering a 4–0 sweep against the Philadelphia 76ers.

The subsequent season saw Cummings and his teammate Sidney Moncrief lead the Bucks to a remarkable 57–25 record and an Eastern Conference Finals appearance. In a notable game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Cummings demonstrated his versatility by recording 16 points, 17 rebounds, and 4 assists in a victory. During the playoffs, he delivered clutch performances, including a 23-point, 11-rebound effort in a first-round sweep of the New Jersey Nets and a stellar 27-point showing in a Game 7 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers.
Cummings continued to excel individually, setting personal records such as grabbing a career-high 24 rebounds against the Washington Bullets and recording a triple-double with 39 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 assists against the Dallas Mavericks. Despite his impressive contributions, the Bucks faced playoff heartbreak, including a seven-game series loss to the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Semifinals.
Throughout his tenure with the Bucks, Cummings earned recognition for his stellar play, earning selections to the 1984–85 and 1988–89 NBA All-Star Games. His impact on the court solidified his status as a key figure in Milwaukee's success during the 1980s.

After being traded to the San Antonio Spurs in May 1989, Cummings experienced a resurgence in his career. Teaming up with David Robinson and Maurice Cheeks, the Spurs underwent a remarkable transformation, skyrocketing from 21 wins in the previous season to an impressive 56 wins in 1990. During this season, Cummings achieved a career milestone by scoring a personal best of 52 points in a single game against the Charlotte Hornets.
Over the next few years, Cummings continued to be a key contributor for the Spurs, maintaining scoring and rebounding averages close to 20 and 8, respectively, from the 1989–90 season through the 1991–92 season. His consistent performance helped the team secure consecutive 50-win seasons and playoff appearances, solidifying his reputation as a reliable power forward in the league.

However, Cummings faced a setback in the summer of 1992 when he suffered a serious knee injury during a casual pickup game. This injury forced him to miss the first 74 regular-season games of the subsequent season. Despite his return to the lineup, Cummings struggled to replicate his near-All-Star numbers and was primarily utilized in a reserve role moving forward.
Cummings remained with the Spurs until the 1994–95 season, contributing veteran leadership and valuable experience to the team during his tenure in San Antonio.