Early life

Swen Nater was born in the Netherlands, his parents divorcing when he was three years old. When his mother remarried and the family's economic situation deteriorated, she, her husband, and Swen's younger brother moved to the United States, leaving Swen and his sister in an orphanage. After three years it appeared they would remain in the Netherlands until a television show, It Could Be You (a forerunner to This Is Your Life), discovered the situation and brought the two siblings to America to be reunited—on TV—with the rest of the family. At age nine, he was in a new country and did not speak a word of English.

College career

Nater attended and played basketball at Cypress College, a junior college in Cypress, California (where he met his wife, Marlene). He played little as a freshman, but was a Community College All-American as a sophomore. He earned a scholarship to UCLA, and reshirted his first year.

Nater helped John Wooden's UCLA Bruins win two NCAA titles. He was a backup to Bill Walton, and he never started a collegiate game—his primary role was helping to develop Walton in practice.

Professional career

Nater was drafted by The Floridians in the 1972 ABA Draft, and then by the Virginia Squires in the June 1972 ABA dispersal draft after the Floridians' demise. Nater was also drafted in the first round of the 1973 NBA Draft with the 16th overall pick by the Milwaukee Bucks; he is the only NBA first round pick who played in the NCAA without ever starting a college game. In August 1973, he opted to sign with the Squires. On November 21, 1973 the Squires traded Nater to the San Antonio Spurs for a draft pick and $300,000.

With the Spurs, Nater was the American Basketball Association Rookie of the Year and and led the ABA in field goal percentage in 1974. He led the ABA in rebounding in 1975. He was named to the All-ABA Second Team in 1974 and 1975, and participated in the ABA All-Star Game both seasons. During his three seasons in the ABA, Nater played for the Spurs, Squires, and the New York Nets.

Nater's NBA career began with the Milwaukee Bucks, and he was traded after one season to the Buffalo Braves. When the Braves played in San Diego, Nater became a local favorite. Nater led the NBA in rebounding average during the 1979-80 season, making him the only player ever to lead both the NBA and ABA in rebounding.

Before the 1983-84 season, Nater was traded by the Clippers along with a just-drafted Byron Scott to the Los Angeles Lakers for Norm Nixon, Eddie Jordan, and a 1986 second-round draft pick (which would eventually be dealt to the Phoenix Suns and become Jeff Hornacek). Nater and Scott helped lead the Lakers to the NBA Finals that year, but the next season the team did not offer him a guaranteed contract.

Nater played for Australian Udine in the Italian League, where he was the best paid player and led the league in rebounding even though the team ended up being relegated. The next season he initially accepted an offer from Barcelona in the Spanish League, but ultimately he changed his mind and decided to retire.

After the NBA

He built the basketball program Christian Heritage College in San Diego, California, and coached from 1985 to 1995. He left the position because it "was high on work and low on pay."

He then went to work for Costco, for whom he is a sporting goods assistant buyer.

Nater lives in Enumclaw, Washington with his wife of 40 years, Marlene, on a 10-acre ranch in the Cascade Mountains. They have two grown daughters.

Nater has also co-authored books with legendary basketball coaches Wooden and Pete Newell.

Publications

• Wooden, John; Nater, Swen (2006). John Wooden's UCLA Offense. Human Kinetics. ISBN 9780736061803.
• Newell, Pete; Nater, Swen (2007). Pete Newell's Playing Big. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics. ISBN 9780736068093.

[ Source: Wikipedia ]