By The FirstThis week Coach Doherty interviews former Duke basketball and NBA legend Mike Gminski. Mike is a college basketball TV analyst for the ACC on CBS Sports.
He played four seasons with the Duke Blue Devils, from 1977 to 1980. He led the team in scoring during his junior and senior years. Gminski was named the ACC Rookie of the Year (tied) in 1977, first team All-ACC three years, 1978, 1979, and 1980, and ACC Player of the Year in 1979. He was also named an AP Second Team All-American in 1979 and 1980, and a UPI First Team All-American in 1979 and Second Team All-American in 1980. At the time of graduation, he was the Duke career leader in points (2,323), rebounds (1,242), and blocked shots (345). His jersey number 43 is retired by the Duke men’s basketball team. In 2002, Gminski was named to the ACC 50th Anniversary men’s basketball team as one of the 50 greatest players in Atlantic Coast Conference history.
Gminski was drafted in the first round by the New Jersey Nets of the NBA. He played for the Nets from 1980 to 1988. He went on to play with the Philadelphia 76ers, as well as the Charlotte Hornets and Milwaukee Bucks. He wore jersey No 42 throughout his career and only got to wear No 43 (his Duke number) in his final 8 games with the Milwaukee Bucks. He scored 10 points in his final NBA game. In 2003, Gminski, of Polish descent, was inducted into the National Polish American Sports Hall of Fame.
Gminski is in recovery from addiction and he discusses his success in the game and the booth combined with his struggle with overcoming alcoholism.
