Art Becker

{{Short description|American basketball player and coach (1942–2026)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}} {{Infobox basketball biography | name = Art Becker | image = Art Becker.png | width = 150px | caption = | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 7 | weight_lb = 205 | birth_date = {{birth date|1942|01|12}} | birth_place = Akron, Ohio, U.S. | death_date = {{death date and age|2026|04|30|1942|01|12}} | death_place = Tempe, Arizona, U.S. | high_school = Camelback (Phoenix, Arizona) | college = Arizona State (1961–1964) | draft_year = 1964 | draft_round = 3 | draft_pick = 22 | draft_team = St. Louis Hawks | career_start = 1967 | career_end = 1973 | career_position = Power forward / small forward | career_number = 34, 43, 14 | years1 = {{abay|1967|start}}–{{abay|1968|end}} | team1 = Houston Mavericks | years2 = {{abay|1969|start}}–{{abay|1970|end}} | team2 = Indiana Pacers | years3 = {{abay|1970|end}}–{{abay|1971|end}} | team3 = Denver Rockets | years4 = {{abay|1972|start}} | team4 = New York Nets | years5 = {{abay|1972|start}} | team5 = Dallas Chaparrals | highlights = * ABA champion (1970) * 2× ABA All-Star (1968, 1972) * First-team All-WAC (1963) * Second-team All-WAC (1964) | stats_league = ABA | stat1label = Points | stat1value = 5,160 (12.5 ppg) | stat2label = Rebounds | stat2value = 2,604 (6.3 rpg) | stat3label = Assists | stat3value = 410 (1.0) }}

'''Arthur C. Becker''' (January 12, 1942 – April 30, 2026) was an American professional basketball player born in Akron, Ohio.

A {{convert|6|ft|7|in|abbr=on}} forward from Arizona State University,<ref>{{Cite web |title=1969-70 Indiana Pacers Roster and Stats |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/INA/1970.html |access-date=2023-01-31 |website=Basketball-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> Becker played six seasons (1967–1973) in the American Basketball Association (ABA) as a member of the Houston Mavericks, Indiana Pacers, Denver Rockets, Dallas Chaparrals, and New York Nets.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Basketball Transactions Search Results |url=http://www.prosportstransactions.com/basketball/Search/SearchResults.php?Player=Art+Becker&Team=&BeginDate=&EndDate=&PlayerMovementChkBx=yes&submit=Search |access-date=2023-01-31 |website=www.prosportstransactions.com}}</ref> He averaged 12.5 points per game over the course of his career and appeared in two ABA All-Star Games.

From 2005, Becker served as president of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA). He also served two stints (1974–1981; 1993–1996) as men's head basketball coach at Scottsdale Community College and coached men's tennis at Scottsdale from 1981 to 1983.

Becker died under hospice care at his home in Tempe, Arizona, on April 30, 2026, at the age of 84. He had battled prostate cancer for 25 years and had recently been diagnosed with leukemia.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Obert |first1=Richard |title=Former Arizona State basketball, ABA star Art Becker dies at 84 |url=https://eu.azcentral.com/story/sports/high-school/2026/05/01/former-arizona-state-basketball-aba-star-art-becker-dies-84/89899186007/ |access-date=2 May 2026 |publisher=AZCentral |date=1 May 2026}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==Sources== * {{basketballstats|bbr=b/beckear01|name=Art Becker}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20070913084835/http://www.njcaa.org/officers.cfm NJCAA profile]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Becker, Art}} Category:1942 births Category:2026 deaths Category:ABA All-Stars Category:American men's basketball coaches Category:American men's basketball players Category:American tennis coaches Category:Arizona State Sun Devils men's basketball players Category:Basketball coaches from Ohio Category:Basketball players from Akron, Ohio Category:College tennis coaches in Arizona Category:Dallas Chaparrals players Category:Denver Rockets players Category:Houston Mavericks players Category:Indiana Pacers players Category:Junior college men's basketball coaches in the United States Category:New York Nets players Category:Power forwards Category:San Diego Conquistadors expansion draft picks Category:Small forwards Category:St. Louis Hawks draft picks Category:Undrafted ABA players