Mel Grant Counts is an American retired basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1964 to 1976. An excellent outside shooter for a 7 footer, he was on the United States Olympic basketball team that won the gold at the 1964 Summer Olympics. He played in college for Oregon State University and was selected by the Boston Celtics in the 1964 NBA draft. The Celtics won the NBA Championship in 1965 and 1966 with Counts on the team as Bill Russell's backup, but he was traded for the 1967 season to the Baltimore Bullets. Halfway through that season he was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, who made it to the playoffs that year.
The next three seasons Counts' Lakers made it to the NBA Finals, where they would play in and ultimately lose three years in a row. In the 1969 NBA Finals, Counts indirectly played a role in one of the most controversial coaching decisions in NBA history. In game 7, starting Laker center Wilt Chamberlain, who had never fouled out of a game, picked up his 5th foul with 6 minutes to play. A minute later, Wilt came off the floor limping and was replaced by Counts with the Lakers trailing the Celtics by nine points. The Lakers cut the deficit to one point on a shot by Counts, with coach Butch van Breda Kolff refusing to reinsert Chamberlain into the game in the final minutes even though Wilt said his knee felt good enough to play. The Lakers lost the game, 108–106, and the series, 4–3.
Counts played one more season with the Lakers before being traded to the Phoenix Suns with the Lakers gaining the return of hall of famer Gail Goodrich (he started with the Lakers but went to Phoenix in the 1967 expansion draft). After several more stops around the league, including a return to the Lakers in 1973, Counts ended his career with the New Orleans Jazz in 1976.
As of 2006, he was working as a real estate agent in Salem, Oregon. [1] His son Brent played college basketball at the University of the Pacific, his son Brian played at Western Oregon State and his son Chris played at Sheridan Junior College and South Dakota State. His grandsons Brent Jr. played at St. Martin's University and Patrick at Chemeketa Community College and California Maritime Academy. Mixed martial artist Chael Sonnen is his nephew.
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Some of their strengths
Mel Counts has many admirable traits.
Based on spiritual traditions from around the world, they are someone who can be described as Practical, Energetic, Generous, Intelligent, Inquisitive, Sophisticated, and Passionate.
Intelligent and Inquisitive
According to Mysticism’s Astrology tradition, Mel Counts is someone who is an intelligent, inquisitive, and imaginative person, who is practical, considerate, kind, and diplomatic in dealings with others. A person who defines themself by their friends and what groups they belong to.
Warm and Caring
Based on Daoism’s Ba-Zi or ‘Chinese Zodiac’ tradition, people who know Mel Counts well know them as someone who can be warm, caring, and compassionate, like a lamp or torch.
Optimistic and Frank
According to Hinduism’s Jyotisha or ‘Vedic Astrology’ tradition, many would also describe Mel Counts as someone who is optimistic, principled, adventurous, and direct.
A person who isn't shy about expressing their opinions, loves competition, loves learning things themself, who is known for being inventive and original, and who loves being surrounded by friends and loved ones.
Assertive and Protective
Based on the Mayan Tzolk’in or ‘Mayan Astrology’ tradition, Mel Counts is someone who is a somewhat private person who has a strong personality and ability to read other people.
They are also someone who is curious, dynamic, and positive, and who enjoys inspiring and communicating with other people.
Justice-seeking and Peaceful
According to Judaism’s Kabbalah tradition, Mel Counts tends to be someone who loves peace and is ready to go to any costs to achieve it. Who has a taste for the good things in life, tends to be a good organizer, has a thirst for knowledge, and who tends to have the respect of friends and acquaintances.
Some of Mel Counts's challenges
While Mel Counts has many strengths, nobody is perfect. They also have some challenging traits they need to manage.
For example, Mel Counts can be Stubborn, Hesitant, Narcissistic, Difficult, Perfectionist, Impulsive, and Careless.
Hesitant and Narcissistic
One of Mel Counts's key challenges is that they are someone who can be hesitant and narcissistic.
Mel Counts must also exercise caution as they can be short-tempered and aggressive.
Pushy and Restless
Mel Counts is someone who can be arrogant and bossy, who can have difficulty concentrating and focusing, be unable to separate emotions from business decisions, and who can engage in excessive spending in support of an expensive lifestyle and habits.
Pleasure-seeking and Indecisive
Finally, Mel Counts also can put others first too much, and hem-and-haw too much when making a decision.
