Houston Rockets: Creating the all-time, one-year starting five

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World B. Free (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

Houston Rockets Starting PG – World B. Free

Lloyd Free was first given the nickname “World” by a friend on the playgrounds of Brooklyn for his 44-inch vertical leap combined with his penchant for 360 dunks.

On top of having just about the best name in league history, World B. Free also had quite an NBA career. Drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers 23rd overall in 1975, Free was already averaging 16.3 points per game by his sophomore season.

Free then began an impressive streak of scoring 20-plus points per game that started as a member of the San Diego Clippers in 1978-79 and continued for eight straight seasons, including 30.2 points per game in 1978-80.

In 1987-88, the Houston Rockets ended up being the fifth and final stop for the 6-2 guard from Atlanta, as he showed up in 58 games before retiring from the NBA at the age of 34. Although he was well past his prime, he still managed a throwback 37-point performance as a Rocket against the Sacramento Kings in 1987.

World B. Free ended his NBA career averaging 20.3 points, 2.7 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game and had one All-Star appearance in his 13-year career — but probably should have had more.

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