Irv Kiffin
Irv Kiffin
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Irv Kiffin

Irvin Alexander Kiffin Jr. (born August 8, 1951) is an American former professional basketball player. He played college basketball for the Virginia Union Panthers and Oklahoma Baptist Bison. Kiffin played one season for the San Antonio Spurs in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He also played in Italy and France.

Kiffin was raised in Queens, New York. His father, Irvin Kiffin, was born in Jamaica and moved to New York when he was 19. Kiffin has two sisters and a brother.

Kiffin began smoking marijuana and sniffing heroin when he was 12 before he started injecting heroin at 15. Kiffin played basketball on the playgrounds of New York and did not play at an organised level until his senior year of high school.

Kiffin received a scholarship to play for the Virginia Union Panthers. He sold drugs and stole money to support his addiction while his basketball career suffered. Kiffin dropped out of university twice due to his addiction. With the help of his partner in New York, he gave up his drug habit.

Kiffin was noticed by an assistant coach from the Oklahoma Baptist Bison while he was playing in New York and joined the team in 1972. He averaged 18 points and 10 rebounds per game as a senior. Kiffin graduated in 1975 with a degree in physical education.

Kiffin was inducted into the OBU Athletics Hall of Fame in 1987.

Kiffin played for Athletes in Action for four years. He received interest from professional teams after his fourth season. Kiffin averaged 13.9 points and 7.6 rebounds per game during his Athletes in Action stint. At the time of his departure, he was Athletes in Action's all-time scoring and rebounding leader.

On August 8, 1979, Kiffin was signed by the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). On October 6, he was traded to the San Antonio Spurs. At 28, Kiffin was the oldest rookie in the NBA during the 1979–80 season. He appeared in 26 games with the Spurs before he was released. Kiffin attended a free agent camp with the Detroit Pistons in 1980.

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