Benson Is Bubbling Over New Freedom
NBA Central
The Sporting News, March 13, 1982

By: Bill Nichols

Cleveland – It was a gray, frigid day two years ago when Kent Benson arrived in Boston to join the Piston, but to the 6-11 former Indiana University All-America, the move was a harbinger of spring.

Benson arrived from Milwaukee, where he had been a much-maligned center. He joined the Bucks as the first pick in the 1977 college draft and was expected to immediately lead them to the draft and was expected to immediately lead them to the promised land as another center (also the first in the draft) named Lew Alcidor did eight years earlier. It never happened.

When Benson was traded with a first-round draft choice to Detroit February 4, 1980 for center Bob Lanier, he looked at the move as having the shackles removed from his ankles. No matter that he was going from a winner to a loser. He was elated. He just wanted to be Kent Benson, not a person assigned to put the Bucks on his broad shoulders and carry them to a National Basketball Association championship.

Simply, the Bucks were not happy with Benson and he wasn’t happy with them.

“I’m much happier here (in Detroit),” said the down-to-earth Benson. “ I’m wanted here. I’m utilized to the best of my potential. We’re trying to build here. This organization has a positive attitude, so much more than in the past.

“I don’t think Nellie (Bucks coach Don Nelson) and I really liked each other but that’s in the past.

A career center, Benson now is being converted to the power forward. He will fill both roles for the Pistons for the remainder of the season.

“I’m capable of playing both positions, but I’m a little disappointed in changing positions late in the season,” said Benson. “ I’ve been a center all my life. I do look at myself as a power forward, though. I’ll do whatever it takes to help this club. I’ll do whatever Scotty (Pistons Coach Scotty Robertson) wants me to do. I feel good that Scotty has confidence in me.”

Benson Probably is enjoying his finest NBA season. At least it’s his most consistent.

As of February 24, Benson had started every game and averaged 13.3 points 9.3 rebounds and 35 minutes per night. He also is shooting .511 from the floor and .805 from the free-throw line. In one 17-game stretch, Benson averaged 16.6 points and 11 boards.

Benson, deeply religious is involved with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He is the Pistons’ most active public speaker and leads the club by a wide margin in free appearances.

“My wife and I love Detroit,” said Benson. “ The people here are tremendous. I like to get out with the people. They make the world go around.”

Along with rookies Kelly Tripuka and Isiah Thomas, hold-overs Terry Tyler and John Long and newcomers Kenny Carr and Bill Laimbeer, Benson is part of the foundation expected to lift the Pistons from a lifetime of ineptness to a genuine NBA power.

Benson is a leader of the resurgence, but he just prefers to be a part of it. “ Whether I’m a leader or not, I feel I blend in and have the respect of my coaches and peers,” he said.

After Cleveland defeated Dallas February 20, breaking a seven-game losing streak, Coach Chuck Daly looked as the assembled media, smiled and said, “That’s one in a row.”… Guard Geoff Huston was averaging 8.3 assists per game to rank fifth in the NBA. He was averaging around three more per game at home than on the road even though the veteran Cleveland statistics crew has a reputation as one of the least lenient in the league in awarding individual stats… Owner Ted Stepien, looking at a brighter future, said recently, “Things are looking up, Chuck Daly spoke to me.” Stepien and his coach have been at odds almost from the day Daly arrived in Cleveland in December.

Milwaukee strung together a 12-game winning streak, the longest in the NBA this season. It was snapped in New York February 23… Atlanta guard Eddie Johnson averaged 31.1 points during a four-game stretch to earn NBA Player of the Week honors… Forward Tom McMillen, who has more gray hair than any player in the NBA, played the best basketball of his pro career during a recent Hawks surge of five straight victories. He averaged 14 points and six rebounds a game. Center Wayne (Tree) Rollins blocked 17 shots in a three-game set.

For about six weeks, Indiana had trouble beating anyone, but February 13 they began a period of mini-success, winning four of six… Center Tom Owens has rid himself of nagging injuries and returned to the starting lineup. In eight straight games he averaged 16.6 points… Forward Louis Orr ran off a string of 22 straight free throws.

Chicago General Manager Rod Thorn will coach the Bulls until the season’s end, then he will search for a new coach. Don’t look for assistant Phil Johnson to get the job. He is close friends with fired coach Jerry Sloan and former bench boss Dick Motta… Thorn said he felt terrible firing Sloan but the Bills didn’t have his kind of players… Thorn said he will go after a young center in the draft because Artis Gilmore is 32 and backup Coby Dietrick is 33.