Eric Money

Eric Money, born February 6, 1955, is an American former professional basketball player who competed as a guard. A 6'0" guard out of Kettering High School in Detroit, Michigan, Money played alongside fellow future NBA players Lindsay Hairston and Coniel Norman, helping Kettering win the 1971 Detroit Public School League title. After graduating in 1972, he played collegiately at Arizona as a member of the first class eligible to play as freshmen, averaging 19.9 points per game. He averaged 18.1 points per game in his sophomore season before declaring for draft hardship eligibility and leaving the Wildcats.

The hometown Detroit Pistons selected Money in the second round, 33rd overall, of the 1974 NBA draft, and he began playing in the NBA at 19 years old. He was forced into a starting role during the 1975–76 season when an injury to starter Kevin Porter after 19 games gave him extensive playing time. Money responded with 13.0 points and 4.2 assists per game, helping the Pistons to their first playoff series victory since 1962. The trade of Porter during the 1977–78 season gave Money the starting job outright, and he went on to record the best stretch of his professional career.