Wendell Ladner

Wendell Ladner

Personal information
Born	(1948-10-06)October 6, 1948 Necaise Crossing, Mississippi
Died	Jamaica, New York
Nationality	American
Listed height	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Listed weight	220 lb (100 kg)
Career information
High school	Hancock North Central (Kiln, Mississippi)
College	Southern Miss (1967–1970)
Playing career	1970–1975
Position	Forward
Number	33, 4
Career history
1970–1971	Memphis Pros
1972	Carolina Cougars
1972–1973	Memphis Tams
1973–1974	Kentucky Colonels
1974–1975	New York Nets
Career highlights and awards
ABA champion (1974) 2× ABA All-Star (1971–1972) ABA All-Rookie First Team (1971)
Career ABA statistics
Points	3,474
Rebounds	2,481
Assists	621
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com

Wendell Ladner (October 6, 1948 – June 24, 1975) was an American professional basketball player.

Ladner was born in Necaise Crossing, Hancock County, Mississippi and played high school ball at Hancock North Central High School in Kiln, Mississippi. After attending the University of Southern Mississippi, he played five seasons with five different teams in the ABA, from 1970 to 1975. A 6'5" (1.96 m) 220 lb (100 kg) forward, Ladner was one of the great "enforcers" of the American Basketball Association, protecting Dan Issel of the Kentucky Colonels and Julius Erving of the New York Nets. He was named to the 1971 ABA All-Rookie team.

Ladner died at the age of 26 in the June 24, 1975 crash of Eastern Air Lines Flight 66, in New York City. He was identified by medical examiners because he was wearing his ABA Championship ring. For many years, the Nets listed his name and number in their list of retired numbers, though Ladner's No. 4 did not hang in the rafters with the other retired numbers. His number was also given to Rick Mahorn during his tenure with the Nets. In October 2013, the Nets released a statement finally clarifying the jersey number's status. According to the Nets, the number was never formally retired, but out of respect to Ladner, Nets trainer Fritz Massmann had not issued No. 4 to other players for 17 years after Ladner's death.

External links

• Wendell Ladner at Find a Grave
• Jim O'Brien: Wendell Ladner