Wendell Ladner

Wendell Larry Ladner (October 6, 1948 – June 24, 1975) was an American professional basketball player known for his time in the American Basketball Association (ABA) from 1970 to 1975. Born in Necaise Crossing, Hancock County, Mississippi, Ladner played high-school basketball at Hancock North Central High School in Kiln, Mississippi, and attended the University of Southern Mississippi. Undrafted in the 1970 ABA draft, he played forward for five seasons with four different teams in the ABA, including Memphis twice. At 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) and 220 pounds (100 kg), Ladner was one of the more notorious enforcers of the league, protecting Dan Issel of the Kentucky Colonels and Julius Erving of the New York Nets. He regularly faced the Pittsburgh Condors' John Brisker, perhaps the fiercest player in the ABA, once entering the Condors' locker room and yelling, "Hey, John, you wanna fight right now or wait for the game?" It was not unusual for Brisker and Ladner to beat each other bloody on the court, only to hang out together at a local bar afterward. Ladner was named to the 1971 ABA All-Rookie Team.