Denver Nuggets: 15 best draft picks of all-time
By John Buhler
Denver Pioneers, 1967 (5th round). Byron Beck. 4. player. 73. . PF/C
Big man Byron Beck played his entire 11-year professional basketball career in the Mile High City. He was selected by the Rockets in the 1967 ABA Draft in the fifth round. It was an easy choice for the Rockets, as Beck had starred in-town for the University of Denver Pioneers.This proved to be a very sound investment for the Denver professional basketball franchise.
Beck had a breakout sophomore campaign with the Rockets, as he averaged 14.5 points and 11.0 rebounds in 1968-69. He would make his first of two ABA All-Star teams that winter. For the next six seasons, Beck would average double figures in scoring, averaging another double-double during the 1970-71 ABA campaign.
However, Beck would begin to lose his rebounding prowess into his late 20s. He would make his second of two ABA All-Star games in the final year of the league’s existence in 1975-76. Since he didn’t average 10.0 points per game that season, this might have been more of a legacy move, as Beck was a model of consistency for Denver hoops during its time in the ABA.
Beck would play his final of 11 professional seasons in the NBA in 1976-77. He was a shell of himself, as he only averaged. 4.7 points per game. That being said, Beck is one of the greatest players in Rockets/Nuggets history. He averaged 11.5 points and 7.0 rebounds during his professional career. His No. 40 jersey is retired by the Nuggets organization.