South Carolina Basketball: Ranking the top-10 NBA Gamecocks of all-time
By Kevin Miller
South Carolina Basketball’s No. 6 Greatest NBA Player of All-Time:
Power Forward Tom Boswell
Tom Boswell (1974-1975) spent just one year in Columbia after transferring from South Carolina State, but he had one of the best center seasons in Gamecock history. NBA teams took notice of Boswell, and the historic Boston Celtics took the Carolina center in the first round of the draft and moved him to the power forward spot where he backed up Hall of Famer Paul Silas.
Boswell and the Celtics won the NBA Finals during his rookie season, and he slowly increased his role through three seasons with the team but couldn’t quite break through as he took two steps back with every step forward he made on the court.
After moving on to the Denver Nuggets, he started to put it all together playing next to former Gamecock teammate Alex English. He averaged over 10 points and 6 rebounds per game with the Nuggets before an eventual trade to the Utah Jazz.
Boswell was offered a bigger contract to play in Italy the following season, but after just a year overseas, he went through some self-inflicted legal trouble when he was arrested twice for minor crimes. With three years of his prime wasted with no contract offers due to his off-court behavior, Boswell returned to the Jazz for one more inconsequential season.