Two-time national champion at UCLA alongside Kareem and Bill Walton — the forgotten dynasty star.
Sidney Wicks was born in Los Angeles, California in 1949. He attended UCLA University under coach John Wooden and won two national championships (1969, 1970) — the first in the final year of Lew Alcindor's dynasty and the second in the first year of John Wooden's post-Alcindor run. His contribution to both championships was significant — in 1969 he was a supporting role alongside the dominant Alcindor, and in 1970 he became the centrepiece of the team following Alcindor's graduation. He averaged 18.6 points and 12.8 rebounds per game across three varsity seasons. He was a two-time All-American and All-Pac-8 First Team. He was selected second overall by the Portland Trail Blazers in the 1971 NBA Draft. His professional career produced four consecutive All-Star appearances (1973-1976). His UCLA career — overlapping the Alcindor era and the Walton era — placed him at the centre of the greatest dynasty in college basketball without ever receiving the singular attention those bookending stars generated. He was the glue across two championship years that defined a decade.
National Championship 2x (1969,1970)
Career Honours
- National Championship 2x (1969,1970)
- Tournament MOP finalist
- All-American 2x
- First-team All-Pac-8