Dave Meyers

David William Meyers (April 21, 1953 – October 9, 2015) was an American basketball player who played for the Milwaukee Bucks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The power forward played college basketball for the UCLA Bruins. He was an All-American as a senior in 1975, when he won his second national championship with UCLA. He was drafted in the first round of the 1975 NBA draft with the second overall pick, and played four years professionally with the Bucks.

Early life Born in San Diego, California, Meyers was one of 11 children (six girls, five boys) of Bob and Pat Meyers. Bob was a standout basketball player at Marquette University and was the Warriors' captain in 1944–45. Meyers attended high school at Sonora High School in La Habra, California. As a senior, he averaged 22.7 points per game in leading the Raiders to the Orange League title and, in the postseason, the California Southern Section AA championship. Meyers was named AA Player of the Year.

College career As a sophomore in 1972–73, Meyers played a backup role on the UCLA Bruins men's basketball team, averaging 4.9 points per game, sixth on the team, and 2.9 rebounds. UCLA won the Pac-8 title, went 30–0 and captured the 1973 NCAA championship with an 87–66 win over Memphis State. Meyers recorded four points and three rebounds in the championship game.

As a junior in 1973–74, Meyers became a starter on a front line with future Hall of Famers Bill Walton and Jamaal Wilkes. Meyers averaged 11.4 points and 5.7 rebounds. He won the John Wooden Award as UCLA's Most Valuable Player,

Meyers appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated in 1975 with the headline "UCLA Still Best in the West." He was inducted into the Pac-12 Conference Hall of Honor in March 2015. Myers was inducted into the National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame in 2026.

NBA career Meyers was the second overall pick in the 1975 NBA draft by the Los Angeles Lakers. Nineteen days later,

In 1976–77, Meyers was limited to 52 games, but his playing time increased to over 25 minutes per game, while he averaged 9.7 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game, with a .467 field goal percentage.

In 1977–78, his third season, Meyers came into his own as a starter and the Bucks, after two losing seasons, rebounded to a 44–38 record. Playing alongside his former UCLA teammate Marques Johnson, Meyers played 80 games and averaged over 30 minutes per game. Meyers posted a career-high 14.7 points per game along with 6.7 rebounds and a career-high 3.0 assists.

Meyers missed the 1978–79 season with a back injury.

In the 1979–80 season, he played 79 games and just under 28 minutes per game as the Bucks went 49–33 and won the NBA Midwest Division. Meyers averaged 12.1 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game.

After five NBA seasons, on April 30, 1980, Meyers made a surprise announcement that he was retiring from basketball to spend more time with his family and devote more time to his Jehovah's Witness faith.

Career statistics

NBA

Regular season

Playoffs

College

Personal life Meyers married his wife, Linda, in 1975. Their daughter Crystal was born a year later, and son Sean followed three years later. Meyers worked as a sales representative for Motorola and took night classes in education at National University. He received his teaching certificate and, beginning in 1988, for many years he served as an elementary school teacher at Railroad Canyon Elementary School in Lake Elsinore, California. He also served as a basketball instructor, both privately and at camps, primarily for children aged 8–12.

Meyers was the older brother of Ann Meyers, who was also a basketball player and the only woman to sign a free agent contract with an NBA team (Indiana Pacers in 1979).