Terry Stotts was almost a dentist?!

Apparently, if Trail Blazers coach Terry Stotts wasn’t roaming the NBA sidelines, he would have been a dentist. In an interview with the Oklahoman’s Berry Tramel, Stotts reviews his pre-NBA days:

Terry Stotts was headed to dental school. Smart guy. Bachelor of sciences degree from OU. Knew his basketball limitations, that despite a sweet shot and a 6-foot-8 frame, he wouldn’t survive in the athletic world of the NBA. Dental school seemed the right path for Stotts. Then came the 1980 NBA Draft. The Houston Rockets, picking 38th overall...took Stotts.

Tramel goes on to review Stotts round-about journey to the NBA via several minor leagues and a friendship with George Karl, but also talks about Stotts’ importance to the state of Oklahoma:

Hard to believe it’s been 40 years since McCullough and Stotts led the renaissance OU season, the Sooners’ first conference title in three decades...Stotts averaged 14.5 points and shot 50 percent from the field.

Check out the rest of the story for more details on Stotts’ time at Oklahoma.