Mel Peterson

Melvin Lowell Peterson (born March 23, 1938) is an American former National Basketball Association (NBA) and American Basketball Association (ABA) player.

Mel Peterson

Personal information
Born	(1938-03-23) March 23, 1938 (age 87) Thief River Falls, Minnesota, U.S.
Listed height	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Listed weight	185 lb (84 kg)
Career information
High school	Stephenson (Stephenson, Michigan)
College	Wheaton (1956–1960)
NBA draft	1960: 11th round, 78th overall pick
Drafted by	Detroit Pistons
Playing career	1963–1970
Position	Shooting guard / small forward
Number	16, 40, 44
Career history
1963–1964	Baltimore Bullets
1967–1969	Oakland Oaks
1969–1970	Los Angeles Stars
Career highlights
ABA champion (1969) NCAA College Division champion (1957) NCAA College Division Tournament MVP (1957)
Career statistics
Points	1,032 (7.7 ppg)
Rebounds	635 (4.7 rpg)
Assists	160 (1.2 apg)
Stats at NBA.com
Stats at Basketball Reference
Medals Representing  United States Men's basketball Pan American Games 1963 São Paulo Team Competition

Collegiate career

Mel attended Wheaton College. While at Wheaton College, Mel was selected as a three-time All-American basketball player.^[1] He was also selected as the Most Outstanding Player of the 1957 NCAA Men's Division II basketball tournament, as Wheaton College won the inaugural NCAA Division II tournament.^[2] Mel finished his career at Wheaton College, averaging 22.7 points and 15.8 rebounds per game. He still ranks as Wheaton College's all-time leader in points per game, career points, field goals made, and career rebounds.^[3]

Professional career

Mel was drafted with the fourth pick in the 11th round of the 1960 NBA draft by the Detroit Pistons. On August 15, 1963, Mel signed as a free agent with the Baltimore Bullets. In two games with the Bullets, Mel recorded a total of two points and one rebound. Peterson did not play for the following three seasons. Mel made his ABA debut on October 13, 1967, for the Oakland Oaks.^[4]

Career statistics

Legend

GP	Games played	GS	Games started	MPG	Minutes per game
FG%	Field goal percentage	3P%	3-point field goal percentage	FT%	Free throw percentage
RPG	Rebounds per game	APG	Assists per game	SPG	Steals per game
BPG	Blocks per game	PPG	Points per game	Bold	Career high

†	Denotes seasons in which Peterson's team won an ABA championship

NBA/ABA

Source^[4]

Regular season

Year	Team	GP	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	PPG
1963–64	Baltimore	2	1.5	1.000		–	.5	.0	1.0
1967–68	Oakland (ABA)	77	20.6	.427	.265	.817	5.9	1.4	9.5
1968–69†	Oakland (ABA)	51	13.9	.502	.000	.800	3.3	1.1	5.4
1969–70	L.A. Stars (ABA)	4	13.3	.286	.000	1.000	3.3	.3	5.8
Career (ABA)		132	17.8	.441	.225	.820	4.8	1.2	7.8
Career (overall)		134	17.6	.442	.225	.820	4.7	1.2	7.7

Playoffs

Year	Team	GP	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	PPG
1969†	Oakland (ABA)	14	7.0	.600	.500	.583	2.0	.3	3.1
1970	L.A. Stars (ABA)	4	5.5	.500	–	.500	1.5	.5	1.8
Career		18	6.7	.583	.500	.571	1.9	.3	2.8