Dave Twardzik
David John Twardzik (born
September 30,
1950 in
Hershey, Pennsylvania) is a former professional
basketball player, and is currently the assistant General Manager for the
Orlando Magic of the
National Basketball Association. As a player he was a
point guard in both the
American Basketball Association and the
NBA; and is best known for being a starter on the
Portland Trail Blazers team that won the
1977 NBA Finals.
Twardzik grew up in
Middletown, Pennsylvania, and played collegiately at
Old Dominion University, where he was a two-time
All American and led the Monarchs to the
1971 NCAA Division II title game. He was drafted by the Trail Blazers in
1972, but elected to play for the
Virginia Squires of the ABA. When the ABA folded in
1976, he was selected by the Blazers in the ABA
dispersal draft, and would be the starting point guard of the Blazers team which won the NBA title in 1977. He played for three more seasons in Portland, retiring at the end of the 1979-1980 season. His jersey number (13) was retired by the team.
After his retirement from playing, he began an NBA coaching and front-office career. He served in Portland's front office through 1985, and worked as an assistant coach for the
Indiana Pacers from 1986 through 1989. He has also worked for the
Detroit Pistons, the
Charlotte Hornets, the
Los Angeles Clippers, the
Golden State Warriors, and the
Denver Nuggets. In
2003 he became Director of Player Personnel for the Magic, and was promoted to assistant General Manager in
2005.
*
Player bio at Old Dominion*
Pro stats at basketball-reference.com*
Orlando Magic Executives
