046 - Paul Ruffner

Thirty-five. Point. Three … For the Northwest Travelers … Not a travel agency. Not a folksy-country music band … But an expansion team in the long-forgotten, if ever remembered, Continental Basketball Association—Version I. Year II. (This one lasted just five seasons) … The squad? A collection of castoffs, college holdovers, and wishful thinkers … Soon to be rechristened the Chicagoland Travelers—a desperate rebrand to put more butts in the seats. No surprise: Didn’t work … Demoted a week before Christmas ’70—for more seasoning, they said … Turns out he didn’t need any. Basted, glazed, and cooked—every night … In frigid gyms. Where the floor creaked louder than the crowd. And more often … Buried in cities that even sounded cold—and the rims were colder: Waukegan, Rockford, and Peoria … Poured in 460 points over 13 games—to win the loop’s scoring crown … The Travelers finished 5–7 with him, 5–13 overall … His reward: A one-way ticket back to Chicago—and a comfy seat on Dick Motta’s bench … Until March 20, ’71. Final home game of the season. Made nine buckets. Added a freebie. Versus the Hawks at Chicago Stadium. Outpointed Pistol—19 to 17 in just 22 minutes. Career-high … Then gone … Unofficially? The only player ever traded from the NBA to the ABA. A joint effort to clean up the Howard Porter mess. Porter had signed contracts with both the Condors and the Bulls—while still chasing a college title … Chicago got their man. In return? Pittsburgh got cash—and him … Officially? “I’ve been told that I am not a part of the Porter mess. But I definitely feel I was part of it.” … Signed with the Condors for $40K and a fresh bonus—with the Bulls picking up the tab. ’Nuff said … One year in Pittsburgh—’71-72. Set career-highs in games (79), points (5.7), and rebounds (4.3) ... Racked up a career-best 25 points on 11-of-21-shooting in a 146-139 loss to Julius Erving and Charlie Scott on Oct. 26, ’71 … Team folded after the season. Wasn’t surprised. “I was with the worst franchise that ever was in professional basketball.” … Took a year off. Then found part-time work with the Buffalo Braves—as the backup’s backup … Barely played—just 42 games over two seasons. Averaged 1.5 and 2.0 points … Same deal for a third year? Passed … Gambled on the ABA instead … Signed with the ABA’s Baltimore Claws in Sept. ’75—but never played in an official game. Team folded before tipoff … That’s twice in three years he’d sign with a team—only to see it get cut … Hooked on with the Spirits for a couple of games. They’d fold, too—just not before he did … “The handwriting was on the wall, and it was time to quit.” … Before the league-hopping and teams collapsing came the promise … Averaged 17.6 points for state champ Cerritos JC in ’67-68. First-team All-Metro. All-Tournament … Invited to the ’68 Olympic Trials—at 19—alongside another teenager Spencer Haywood … Played two seasons at BYU. “He was a good shooter and could really jump,” said coach Stan Watts. “What’s equally important, he was really a coachable kid” … Averaged 15.1 and 9.6 as a junior … Bumped it to 17.7 and 9.8 his senior year—on 48% shooting … Helped the Cougars go 13–1 in the conference in ’69. Honorable mention All-WAC in ’70 … Drafted twice in ’70—second round by the Bulls; ninth round by the ABA’s Washington Caps … Signed with the Bulls for $125K over three seasons. And married a BYU cheerleader—all in the same week. “We met on a blind date at the Cable Car Classic.” … Born Paul Alex Ruffner on Oct. 15, 1948, in Santa Monica … After hoops? Bought and sold real estate. Then leveled up—property manager with an investor group. Called BYU games on the radio … Son Bryon played two seasons at Utah State and at Pop’s alma mater for one … Passed on June 17, 2022. Age 73.

Sources: Anaheim Bulletin, 7/18/1970; East Review, 3/21/1968; Elk Grove Herald, 3/9/1971; Grand Rapids Press, 11/14/1974, 11/18/1975; Hartford Courant, 8/25/1978; Los Angeles Times, 3/11/1968; Patriot News, 3/29/1970; Provo Daily Herald, 3/6/1988, 3/5/1989, 12/8/1995, 2/28/1996; Salt Lake City Desert News, 7/14/1971, 7/21/1971; Salt Lake Tribune, 7/8/1973, 10/26/1996; St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 11/2/1975.