Kenny Carr


Kenneth Alan Carr is a retired American basketball player. Carr won a gold medal with the United States national basketball team at the 1976 Summer Olympics. Carr was the 1st round pick of the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1977 NBA draft.
A 6'7" forward from North Carolina State University, Carr won a gold medal with the United States national basketball team at the 1976 Summer Olympics. Carr played 10 seasons in the NBA with the Lakers, Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons, and Portland Trail Blazers. Carr scored 7,813 points in his NBA career and grabbed 4,999 rebounds.

Early life

As a youth, Carr was primarily a football player growing up in Washington, D.C., and did not play serious basketball until he was 14-years-old.
"It was kind of by accident, to be honest, but I just fell in love with basketball," Carr recalled. "Plus, back in those days, it was kind of tough to find football shoes that would fit me, to tell the truth."
Carr was a 1974 graduate of DeMatha Catholic in Hyattsville, Maryland, where he played under legendary coach Morgan Wootten. At DeMatha, Carr was teammates with Hall of Famer Adrian Dantley, who graduated a year ahead of Carr. The two would become Olympic teammates and college and NBA rivals. While teammates at DeMatha, Carr and Dantley led DeMatha to a 36 game winning streak.

College career

Carr played at North Carolina State at the varsity level from 1974-1977 under coach Norm Sloan.
As a freshman in 1974-1975, Carr averaged 13.8 points and 7.7 rebounds as NC State finished 22-6. NC State was defending National Champions, with Carr playing alongside Hall of Famer David Thompson, Phil Spence, Monte Towe and Tim Stoddard among others.
In 1975-1976 Carr averaged a double-double with 26.6 points, 10.3 rebounds along with 2.1 assists. He led the ACC in scoring as NC State finished 21-9, with Thompson having graduated and moved to the ABA's Denver Nuggets. Carr was named an Third team All-American – UPI, AP and NABC and First-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference.
As a junior, Carr averaged 21.0 points and 9.9 rebounds as NC State finished 17-11 in 1976-1977, with Carr playing alongside freshman Hawkeye Whitney. Carr led the ACC in scoring again and was named an Third team All-American – UPI and First-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference
In 86 career games for North Carolina State, Carr averaged 20.6 points, 9.2 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.5 steals, shooting 51% from the floor and 68% from the line.
"Kenny was a great, great player," reflected long-time N.C. State sports information director Frank Weedon. "But he was so stoic and never showed any emotions, and I think people forget about him. He may have been the second greatest player to ever play here, behind David."

1976 Olympic Team

Carr was selected to the 1976 United States men's Olympic basketball team which represented the USA in the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal. Team USA captured the Gold Medal. Team USA was coached by Dean Smith, assisted by Bill Guthridge and John Thompson.
In six Olympic Games, Carr averaged 6.8 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.0 assists. Carr was the sixth leading scorer behind his high school teammate Adrian Dantley, Scott May, Mitch Kupchak, Phil Ford and Quinn Buckner. The roster also included future NBA players Walter Davis, Phil Hubbard and Ernie Grunfeld.
"I just enjoyed throwing the ball up with some of the best players in the world," Carr said of his Olympic experience. "The best competition we had was in training camp. I think the best time of the whole thing was when we were in Chapel Hill and we would just get up and play every day. That is the most fun I have ever had."

NBA career

Los Angeles Lakers (1977-1979)

A power forward, Carr was the 1st round pick of the Los Angeles Lakers of the 1977 NBA draft, declaring for the NBA draft a year early. "I just thought my body and my game was ready to move on," Carr said of leaving college early. "I was a very physical player and I would get a lot of fouls. I was a little bigger and more aggressive than most people I played against. I got frustrated, and I figured it was time to move on."
Carr broke his right foot in his rookie season and his left foot in his second season.
In 129 games with the Lakers, Carr averaged 6.8 points and 4.0 rebounds in 15.0 minutes per game. The 1979-1980 Lakers won the NBA Championship, with Carr playing in five games before being traded.

Cleveland Cavaliers (1979-1982)

On October 24, 1979 Carr was traded by the Los Angeles Lakers to the Cleveland Cavaliers for a 1980 2nd round draft pick and a 1981 2nd round draft pick.
In 201 games with the Cavaliers, Carr average 14.1 points and 9.0 rebounds.

Detroit Pistons (1982)

On February 16, 1982 Carr was Traded by the Cleveland Cavaliers, with Bill Laimbeer, to the Detroit Pistons for Phil Hubbard, Paul Mokeski, a 1982 1st round draft pick and a 1982 2nd round draft pick.
in 28 games with the Pistons, Carr averaged 7.4 points and 4.9 rebounds.

Portland Trail Blazers (1982-1987)

On June 23, 1982 Carr was traded by the Detroit Pistons to the Portland Trail Blazers for a 1982 1st round draft pick.
On August 31, 1987, Carr announced his retirement from the Trail Blazers, due to a debilitating back injury.
In 316 games with the Trail Blazers, Carr averaged 12.4 points and 8.1 rebounds.
"To me, Kenny was one of those players that was ahead of his time," said former North Carolina, NBA rival and 1976 Olympic teammate Phil Ford about Carr. "Now, it's not uncommon to see someone with Kenny's size and strength with the ability to play on the perimeter and knock in jump shots or put the ball on the deck and drive to the basket. When we were coming along, guys with Kenny's strength and size always played inside. He was just a little before his time."

NBA Career totals

In 674 career games, Carr scored 7,813 points, had 4,999 rebounds. He shot 51% from the floor and 68% from the line.

Personal

Carr, married wife Adrianna in 1979. They raised three children: Cameron, Devon and Alyx.
Carr earned an Bachelor's Degree in Education from North Carolina State, finishing his degree while he was a rookie with the Lakers.
Carr became CEO of Carr Construction in Portland, Oregon. He started the now 110 employee company out of his basement in 1987, while playing with the Trail Blazers.
Carr had intended to return to his hometown of Washington, D.C., but the success of his business and his three children has kept him in Oregon."My kids liked being here, and we were settled," Carr said. "Once that happens, you don't necessarily live your life for yourself anymore. You make compromises."
Today, at Carr Construction, Carr works alongside his son, Devon Carr, a graduate of Oregon State University with a degree in engineering.

Honors