Don Buse
From Hoopedia
Donald R. Buse (born August 10, 1950, in Huntingburg, Indiana) is a retired American professional basketball player.
A 6'4" (1.93 m) guard from the Evansville College, Buse was picked by the Phoenix Suns in the third round of the 1971 NBA Draft, but chose to sign with the ABA Indiana Pacers instead.
Buse played 13 seasons (1972–85) in the American Basketball Association and National Basketball Association as a member of the Indiana Pacers, the Phoenix Suns, the Portland Trail Blazers, and the Kansas City Kings. Buse was known for his dependable ball-handling, tight defense, and clutch-shooting, and he appeared in two All-Star games (one in the ABA in 1976; one in the NBA in 1977) during the course of his career. His best season occurred in 1975–76, when he led the ABA in both steals per game (4.12) and assists per game (8.2) while also contributing a career high 12.5 points per game. In the next season, his first in the NBA, Buse again led all players in steals per game (3.47) and assists per game (8.5).
Buse was an All-Defensive Team member every season from the 1974-75 season through the 1979-80 season. The first two were in the ABA and the final four were in the NBA.
Buse was selected for the NCAA squad to compete for positions on the 1972 U.S. Olympic basketball team, but was replaced by Jim Forbes after he signed a professional contract. He was a member of the 1971 USA squad that has the ignominious distinction of being the first US team not to make the medal round at the Pan American Games.
In 1987 Buse served as an assistant coach with the Sacramento Kings.
Don Buse is a member of the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame. In 1999 he was named one of Indiana's Fifty Greatest Players.
