Unveiling Swen Nater: The Untold Secret Behind the Lakers' Winning Streak in Season 2

Summary

HBO's Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty chronicles the Lakers' significant roster moves that shaped their success during the Showtime era.

The show portrays a trade in Season 2, Episode 6 involving star point guard Norm Nixon. This trade took place in 1983 and resulted in the arrival of big man Swen Nater to the Lakers. Nater, who had been a prominent player at UCLA and in the ABA, played a crucial role in the Lakers' 1984 NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics.

HBO's "Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty" chronicles the significant moves made by the Lakers front office during the team's historic Showtime era. The offseason acquisitions and mid-season trades had a profound impact on the success of the franchise, and Jerry West assumed the role of General Manager after the Lakers' 1982 NBA Championship. However, the Lakers soon realized that maintaining success was their biggest challenge, rather than attaining it.

In season 2, episode 6 of "Winning Time," a pivotal trade involving star point guard Norm Nixon is depicted. The Lakers' Showtime era is marked by a tense rivalry between Nixon and the emerging superstar Magic Johnson. Prior to this trade, the Lakers had considered trading Nixon during the 1981 season for power forward David Thompson of the Denver Nuggets. Ultimately, Nixon was traded to the San Diego Clippers along with Eddie Jordan before the 1983-84 season, in response to the humiliating sweep they endured in the 1983 NBA Finals. In exchange, the Lakers acquired the draft rights to rookie Byron Scott and added Swen Nater, a "7 feet of Swedish meat."

Nater Won 2 NCAA Championships For UCLA Under Legendary Coach John Wooden

Nater achieved early success as a member of the UCLA basketball team from 1971 to 1973. Initially, he attended Cypress College in Orange County, California before transferring to UCLA where he received a scholarship. Nater had the privilege of being coached by the legendary John Wooden, one of the most esteemed basketball coaches in history. Under Wooden's guidance, Nater played a vital role in two consecutive NCAA National Championship victories with the UCLA Bruins in 1972 and 1973. During this period, he served as the backup to NBA Hall of Famer Bill Walton, whom he would later reunite with as teammates on the San Diego Clippers between 1979 and 1983.

Nater Played 5 Seasons In The ABA Before Signing With The Bucks In 1976

Despite serving as a backup to Walton during his time at UCLA, Nater defied expectations and was selected as the 16th overall pick in the first round of the 1973 NBA Draft. He became the first collegiate player ever to be chosen in the first round without starting a single game for his alma mater. In addition to being selected by the NBA, Nater was also drafted by the ABA's Virginia Squires. They offered him a lucrative 3-year, $300,000 contract, which convinced him to join the Squires instead of the Bucks. The Bucks had only offered him a one-year deal worth $50,000. However, Nater's time with the Squires was short-lived as he was later traded to the San Antonio Spurs in 1973. At that time, the Spurs were still part of the ABA before joining the NBA in 1976.

Nater Played 7 Seasons In The NBA Before Getting Traded To The Lakers In 1983

Nater quickly rose to prominence on the Spurs and was honored with the ABA's Rookie of the Year Award for his remarkable performance, averaging 14.1 points and 12.6 rebounds in his inaugural season with the team. During the 1974-75 season, Nater emerged as the league leader in total rebounds, marking his final year with the Spurs. Subsequently, Nater joined the New York Nets for their last ABA season in 1975-76, transitioning to the NBA as the franchise made the conversion at the onset of the 1976 season. Nater's exceptional skills earned him a spot in the ABA's All-Star game and the prestigious All-ABA Second Team in both 1974 and 1975, before embarking on a new chapter with the Bucks at the commencement of the 1976-77 season.

After being drafted by an NBA team, Swen Nater enjoyed a fruitful year with them, showcasing an impressive average of 13 points and 12 rebounds per game across 72 matches. Following this stint, Nater was traded to the Buffalo Braves for the 1977-78 season. Interestingly, this marked the final year of the Braves' existence as they relocated to San Diego and underwent a rebranding to become the Clippers. Nater's prowess on the court continued to shine, as he led the NBA in rebounds during the 1979-80 season with an astonishing average of 15 per game. Notably, he is the sole player to have achieved this feat in both the ABA and NBA.

Nater's right knee injury required surgery and a long rehabilitation, causing him to be sidelined for the majority of the 1981-82 and 1982-83 seasons with the Clippers. However, in his final NBA season, Nater joined the Los Angeles Lakers after being traded for Nixon and Eddie Jordan. He served as a backup to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, providing support against strong NBA centers like Moses Malone of the 76ers. Nater played a vital role in the 1984 Lakers team, which reached the NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics.