M. L. Carr

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Michael Leon (M.L.) Carr (born January 9, 1951 in Wallace, North Carolina) is a former basketball player in the National Basketball Association and American Basketball Association, and former head coach and General Manager of the Boston Celtics. He coached the Celtics for two seasons, posting a career record of 48 wins and 116 losses.

[edit] Playing career

After graduating from Guilford College, Carr was selected by the Kentucky Colonels of the ABA with the 7th pick of the 5th round of the 1973 NBA Draft. However, he did not play due to injury, and was subsequently released. The following season, Carr played in Israel in the European Pro Basketball league. He led his team to the championship, led the league in scoring, and was second in rebounding, so he was named MVP.

During the 1975-76 season, Carr played for the Spirits of St. Louis in the ABA, averaging 12.2 points and 6.2 rebounds per game, and was named to the ABA's All-Rookie Team. He then joined the NBA, playing for the Detroit Pistons from 1976–79 and the Celtics from 1979–85. He averaged 9.7 points and 4.3 rebounds per game during his NBA career, while being selected to the All-Defense second team during the 1979 season after leading the league in steals.

[edit] Coaching career

Carr later became the General Manager of the Celtics in 1994. He later took over as coach for the 1995-96 and 1996-97 seasons. In his last year as coach, the Celtics had the worst record in team history, winning just 15 games and losing 67, and was replaced as coach at the end of season by Rick Pitino. After the 1997 season, he became the Celtics' Director of Corporate Development.

Carr later became president of the WNBA's Charlotte Sting as part of a failed attempt to become the owner of an expansion NBA team in Charlotte, along with Steve Belkin and former teammate Larry Bird. He is now an investor in the Charlotte Bobcats.