Byron Beck

Byron Beck (born January 25, 1945) is an American former professional basketball player. A 6-foot-9 forward/center out of the University of Denver, Beck was one of six players—along with Louie Dampier, Gerald Govan, Bob Netolicky, Stew Johnson, and Freddie Lewis—to participate in all nine seasons of the original American Basketball Association, from 1967 to 1976. Beck and Dampier were the only two players to remain with the franchise that originally drafted them throughout the entire existence of the ABA prior to the ABA–NBA merger, and Beck was the only player to stay with his team following the completed merger into the NBA. He played for the Denver Rockets, who were later renamed the Denver Nuggets. Beck was not blessed with superior athleticism, but he was a hard worker known for his tenacious rebounding and efficient hook shot. He represented Denver in two ABA All-Star Games, in 1969 and in 1976, the latter pitting the Denver Nuggets franchise against the rest of the ABA's All-Stars. Beck also played one season in the National Basketball Association after the Nuggets joined the NBA through the ABA–NBA merger in 1976.