“The NBA was my dream”. It was Landon Turner’s will. A talented but inefficient player for the Hoosiers in the NCAA, he had missed his first two seasons. To the point that his coach, the legendary Bobby Knight, could no longer take it in 1980.
“Go play pro”, the hot Indiana coach had thrown at him. “I’m not ready for this and you know it”replies the young player. “You’re not ready for here either”concludes the coach.
Everything was decided during a meeting against Northwestern, in February 1981. Bad during the first minutes and finally revived by his coach, Landon Turner finished very strong and finally showed his best level.
With his 2m08, his mobility and his power, often compared to James Worthy, he averaged 9.5 points and 3.7 rebounds during this 1980/81 season alongside Isiah Thomas and Ray Tolbert. During the final tournament, he is at his peak and Indiana becomes NCAA champion in 1981.
“I saw him hooked up to all these machines”
In the process, his two teammates joined the NBA. Landon Turner will play his last university season before taking the plunge. Then came the terrible July 25, 1981.
That morning, the player is in his car, accompanied, on his way to an amusement park in Ohio to join his three friends. Unfortunately, he loses control of his vehicle. He is seriously injured. He survived, but he will unfortunately remain paralyzed from the torso to the legs.
“I was lucky: my spinal cord was not severed, only damaged. I can still use my arms and hands”, will he explain laterafter spending five days in a coma, then five months in hospital. “I will never forget my coming to the hospital. I saw him hooked up to all these machines”will tell for his part Isiah Thomas.
Barely started, his sports career is already over and his new life in a wheelchair begins. To pay tribute to him, during a camp before the Draft, Bobby Knight and Red Auerbach (who really had the idea?), in the company of Bill Fitch, the Celtics coach, mentioned the idea of drafting him.
“It’s really unfortunate that Landon Turner is not here. He had the opportunity to be the best player in the country last season.”lamented Bobby Knight. “He would have been the best senior in the NBA this season, that’s for sure”continues Red Auerbach. “And he would have been in the first five picks of the Draft, depending on the needs of the teams. »
“Where do I go for the tryouts? »
As ” it would be good “ drafted for his former coach, Red Auerbach, then GM of the Celtics, says the franchise ” go draft it.” ” Consider it done “, confirms Bill Fitch.
On June 29, 1982, in 225th place, the last of the last lap (10 at the time), Boston did indeed select Landon Turner. Obviously, the former Indiana player did not expect it at all.
“Did you hear the news? »asks a radio journalist, calling him at home. “No, which one? »he replies. “The Celtics drafted you in the 10th round”concludes the journalist.
To thank the three-leaf clover franchise, Landon Turner sent a telegram the next day to Red Auebach: “You have brightened my day, thank you so much. Where do I go for the tryouts? »
The Celtics will not stop at the simple symbol of the Draft and June 29, 1982. They will send him watches to celebrate the titles of 1984 and 1986, which Landon Turner will treasure.
