Nate Archibald Bio: Family, Career, Wife, Awards & Net Worth

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Archibald is a retired professional basketball player and lone player leading the NBA in scores and assists. Archibald was a willing passer and an adequate mid-range shooter; this player is known chiefly to the basketball-loving people as a “Hall of Fame point guard.”

Often with a new era and new time, we tend to forget the past and overshadow the historical moments. Indeed, it does happen in sports as it’s hard to leave a mark or brand oneself.

Therefore, as we dug deeper into the good old days, let me take you into Nate Archibald’s days.

It is not only in the field where he stands aloof but ever since his early childhood when the surrounding temptation did not overpower him.

Nate Archibald
Nate Archibald (Source: Twitter)

His story should have run wild as the shy little kid grew to feature in teams such as the  Cincinnati Royals, Kansas City–Omaha Kings, and Boston Celtics for the National Basketball Association (NBA).

After coming a long way with the game, Nate had a heart transplant on the way. Overall, he hasn’t given up on his days and is still working on getting his last degree.

“One should get as much experience as they can. Learn the game, study the game, and try to do the very best because basketball is short-lived – the game of life is bigger.”
-Nate Archibald

Quick Facts:

Full Name Nathaniel “Tiny” Archibald
Date of Birth September 2, 1948
Birthplace New York City, New York
Nick Name Tiny
Religion Christianity
Nationality American
Ethnicity Black
Zodiac Sign Virgo
Age 75 Years Old
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight 150 lb (68 kg)
Hair Color Black
Eye Color Black
Build Lean Body Type
Father’s Name Big Tiny Archibald
Mother’s Name Julia Archibald
Siblings Five siblings (Nate is the second-eldest)
Education DeWitt Clinton High School
Arizona Western College
University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP)
Marital Status Married
Wife
  • Shirley Dixon (Divorced)
  • Tina Archibald
Kids Five children
Profession Retired basketball player
Position Point guard
Affiliations Cincinnati Royals / Kansas City-Omaha Kings / Kansas City Kings (1976)
New York Nets (1976-1977)
Buffalo Braves (1977-1978)
Boston Celtics (1978-1983)
Milwaukee Bucks (1983-1984)
Drafted year 1970 (Round: 2 / Pick: 19 by Cincinnati Royals)
Retired year 1984
Hall of fame Induction 1991
Jersey Number #7 Boston Celtics

#1 Sacramento Kings

Active Years 1970–1984
Net Worth $6 million
Social Media Instagram, Twitter
Last Update March, 2024

 

When Was Nate Archibald Born? Early Life And Family

Shortly after Nathaniel “Tiny” Archibald, Nate Archibald was born in New York City, New York, to his parents, Julia Archibald and Big Tiny (nicknamed) Archibald.

He was the second son among six children and grew up in New York’s South Bronx. Within the glamour city of New York lies a place manifested with gangs, bullets, and violence.

The place gives rise to murders and drugs as if nothing happened, and the two-winged dreams get crushed into the ground. However, Nate could control it all, finding his escape in the basketball.

As he grew from a child to a teenager, he commenced shooting balls in the basket at a concrete, uneven playground. The determination that he carried from his teenage phase to school gets crushed one day.

Education

During his tenure in the DeWitt Clinton High School, he had only contributed one and a half-season for his school’s team until he was cut out.

Being a sophomore, he had to run with the junior teams, which gave birth to the idea of giving up. At that moment, his two mentors, Floyd Layne and Pablo Robertson, were the ones to show him the path of encouragement. 

To illustrate, they were the former standout at Loyola of Chicago and Harlem. Thus, Archibald gave another chance at basketball and got reinstated on the squad.

DeWitt Clinton High School
Nate at DeWitt Clinton High School. (Source: Twitter) 

In addition, the shy Archibald played a transition season at tiny Arizona Western College, where he rose as a high school star with an average of 29.5 points per game.

Right then, he began to work on his academics and transferred to the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP). In UTEP, he stood as the point guard, where he worked under Hall of fame coach Don Haskins.

From 1967 to 1970, Archibald maintained attention towards him, especially since his 51-point performance in the 1970 Aloha Classic.

How tall Is Nate Archibald? Age, Height, And Body Measurements

Nate was born on September 2, 1948, making him 73. Also, his birth sign is Virgo.

And from what we know, people who fall under this sun sign are typically practical, determined, sensible, and brave.

Nate Archibald used to be lean as a player, nor was he highly built; however, he starred in every performance. Archibald stands at a decent height of 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) while weighing 150 lb (68 kg).

Stat Balls
Nate stands 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) tall. (Source: Pinterest)

As for his appearance, Archibald has a dark brown skin tone with black eyes and the same hair color. Back then, Nate had short curly black hair, and as of today, he stands shaved-headed.

Nate Archibald | Professional Career

After College graduation, Archibald entered the 1970 NBA Draft, where the Cincinnati Royals selected Nate Archibald in the second round as the 19th overall pick.

Cincinnati Royals/Kansas City Kings

Archibald debuted against the New York Knicks with The City Kings, where he posted 17 points and seven assists.

Following it, Archibald became the only player to win the titles in scores and assists in the 1972–73 season.

Back then, Nate surpassed the NBA record for a guard with his average of 34.0 points per game, which is valid until today.

Additionally, his 910 assists were the record-breaker for the NBA, leaving behind Guy Rodgers. In addition to that, Nate was titled the Sporting News NBA MVP.

New York Nets

With internal management problems, the Kings traded Archibald to the New York Nets. However, he couldn’t play much for the team as he struggled with a foot injury, ending with 34 games.

Buffalo Braves

As his injury was prolonged, the Nets traded Archibald to the Buffalo Braves. However, he couldn’t officially play the matches. During the opening, he tore his Achilles tendon, which kept him away from the games.

Boston Celtics

Later, the Buffaloes traded Archibald to the Celtics, where he had a poor start. Archibald was 20 pounds overweight during the tenure and was told to lose it, which helped him throughout the season.

Playing with the Celtics, Archibald had his first and only NBA championship in the 1980–81 season, where he paired with young NBA star Larry Bird.

Boston Celtics
Nate is playing for Boston Celtics. (Source: Twitter)

“Some guys have had a much better career than myself and haven’t won a championship. You look at players like Charles Barkley and Patrick Ewing and realize how lucky you were to win it all. I was able to persevere through the injuries and keep learning the game. I was the facilitator on a championship team. To do it with the Boston Celtics is a dream come true and something I’ll cherish for the rest of my life.”
-Nate Archibald

Post-NBA

During his NBA career, Nate Archibald took his bachelor’s degree parallelly from the University of Texas-El Paso.

After he closed his basketball career, Archibald commenced teaching in the New York City school system and then at Fordham University.

In 1990, Archibald earned his master’s degree from Fordham University, followed by his professional diploma in supervision and administration.

Additionally, Archibald dreamt of having a doctorate through California Coast University in the future at Fordham.

All in all, he dropped it off after he found his lack of funds and motivation to continue his work on it.

Moreover, Nate also became the assistant coach at the University of Georgia for a season while he spent two seasons with Texas El Paso.

Equally important, he coached for various institutions such as New Jersey Jammers of the USBL and New Jersey Jammers of the USB.

Likewise, he has also coached in the National Basketball Development League. He also stood as the head coach for the Long Beach Jam in 2004.

Nate Archibald | Awards And Highlights

Archibald spent fourteen years of life in the NBA, where he had set his name for the long run. We will discuss the career highlights and achievements in brief.

Until today, Archibald became the All-NBA First Team selection three times in 1973, 1975, and 1976 while he was the All-NBA Second Team selection two times in 1972 and 1981.

Later, when he was the 1981 NBA All-Star Game MVP, he also appeared seven times in the NBA All-Star Game selection.

Overall, Nate Archibald had played 876 professional games, where he posted 16,841 points (18.8 points per game) and 6,476 assists.

Furthermore, he was the NBA leader in free throws three times, while he entered the NBA’s 50th Anniversary All-Time team.

  • NBA Champion (1981)
  • 6× NBA All-Star (1973, 1975, 1976 & 1980–1982)
  • NBA All-Star Game MVP (1981)
  • 3× All-NBA First Team (1973, 1975 & 1976)
  • 2× All-NBA Second Team (1972 & 1981)
  • NBA scoring champion (1973)
  • NBA assists leader (1973)
  • No. 1 retired by Sacramento Kings
  • First-team All-WAC (1970)

What Is Nate Archibald’s Net Worth? Net Worth & Income

As of 2021, Nate Archibald is estimated to have a net worth of $6 million. With such a whopping net worth and a glorious career, Archibald is ever so friendly with the neighbors and gives to the community.

The former basketball player tags with his business partner Michael Dachs where they create and sell signed photo basketballs called “Stat Balls.”

They don’t do it alone and are helped by other players such as Bob Cousy, Rick Barry, George Gervin, Artis Gilmore, Robert Parish, Dolph Schayes, David Thompson, and Nate Thurmond.

Nate quotes
Nate Archibald quotes. (Source: Pinterest)

Besides this, Archibald never stopped working for youths as he opened up a basketball school for underprivileged kids.

Consequently, he also stood as the athletic director at the huge Harlem Armory homeless shelter until 1991, when it got close. By then, New York City Mayor David Dinkins honored Nate Archibald for his work 1993.

Nate Archibald | Career stats

Year
Team
GP
Min
Pts
FG%
3pt%
Reb
Ast
Stl
Blk
1983
Milwaukee Bucks
46
22.6
7.4
48.7
22.2
1.7
3.5
0.7
0.0
1982
Boston Celtics
66
27.4
10.5
42.5
20.8
1.4
6.2
0.6
0.1
1981
Boston Celtics
68
31.9
12.6
47.2
37.5
1.7
8.0
0.8
0.0
1980
Boston Celtics
80
35.2
13.8
49.9
0.0
2.2
7.7
0.9
0.2
1979
Boston Celtics
80
35.8
14.1
48.2
22.2
2.5
8.4
1.3
0.1
1978
Boston Celtics
69
24.1
11.0
45.2
1.5
4.7
0.8
0.1
1976
Brooklyn Nets
34
37.6
20.5
44.6
2.4
7.5
1.7
0.3
1975
Sacramento Kings
78
40.8
24.8
45.3
2.7
7.9
1.6
0.2
1974
Sacramento Kings
82
39.6
26.5
45.6
2.7
6.8
1.5
0.1
1973
Sacramento Kings
35
36.3
17.6
45.1
2.4
7.6
1.6
0.2
1972
Sacramento Kings
80
46.0
34.0
48.8
2.8
11.4
1971
Sacramento Kings
76
43.1
28.2
48.6
2.9
9.2
1970
Sacramento Kings
82
35.0
16.0
44.4
3.0
5.5
Career
 
876
35.6
18.8
46.7
22.4
2.3
7.4
0.8
0.1

Nate Archibald | Heart Transplant Surgery

Archibald had a successful year in the NBA; however, he ended with a tragic event at 69. Archibald was diagnosed with amyloidosis, an incurable condition due to amyloid building in the organs.

When Archibald became aware of his situation, he underwent tests for confirmation, and since it had no cure, the only option was a transplant.

In the meantime, the doctors treating him made him aware of his situation stating that he could go any time.

Subsequently, Archibald underwent a cardiac rehabilitation program before surgery and took in a strict diet. As Nate recalls,

“I took their horse pills, I ate their nasty food. It was like playing hoops to me. I was trying to get in a zone. I wanted to be left alone.”

Altogether, Archibald took 26 days with his surgery and treatments as his recovery came in remarkably.

Autograph Of Nate Archibald

Signature of NBA star Archibald.

Nate Archibald Autograph (Source: psacard.com)
Nate Archibald Autograph (Source: psacard.com)

Nate Archibald | Private Life And Social Media

The former NBA star Archibald was married to his wife, Shirley Dixon.

The duo got married in 1967 when Archibald was just a 21-year-old guy. However, it is mentioned that the former NBA player is now married to Tina Archibald.

Aside from the name, anything remotely about Tina has been missing from the public. We will update them as soon as we get some valuable information on her. 

Archibald honored by his high school alma mater
Archibald was honored by his high school alma mater. (Source: psacard.com)

Back then, Archibald was organizing youth basketball teams and had arrived on the campus of Texas Western for the 1967–1968 season. Currently, the duo shares five kids of theirs.

Social Media Presence:

Instagram handle @tinyarchibald
Twitter handle @nate_tiny

Some FAQs:

What is the birth name of Tiny Archibald?

The birth name of Archibald is Nathaniel Archibald, and his nickname, Tiny, also refers to him.

Is Nate Tiny Archibald in the hall of fame?

Nate Tiny Archibald was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 1991. This player is mainly known to the basketball-loving people as a “Hall of Fame point guard.”

Did Nate Tiny Archibald coach God Shammgod?

 Nate Tiny Archibald was God Shammgod’s middle school coach at P.S. 175. Archibald would be employed as a PE teacher in Harlem and the middle school basketball team coach. There, he would meet young kids with so much potential and talent. 

How good was Nate Archibald?

Nate Archibald had recorded an average score of 14.1 points per game, which is the second-lowest in his career. By the way, he had 671 assists and even got named to an All-Star.

When did Nate Archibald retire?

According to our sources, this professional player, Nate Archibald, retired in 1984 and finished his career with 16,481 points and 6,476 assists.

Rajani Gurung
Rajani Gurung
Hey, I'm Rajani! As a digital content writer, I write for several websites on a wide range of topics. At Playersbio, I cover to write about hot trending celebrities and news. My professional experience makes me write the hard topics in a simplified manner for easiness.

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Comments

  1. When articles are written about a person or doing a person’s bio, at the very least the author of the article should do some fact checking. Nathaniel Archibald has not been married to Shirley Dixon since the 70’s. He has remarried twice since then.. He is currently married to Tena Archibald. Obviously the writer has not spoken to Nate Archibald to get updated information.

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