Sidney Wicks

American college basketball forward who starred at UCLA, winning two NCAA championships and becoming one of the most dominant players of the early 1970s era.

Sidney Wicks was born in Los Angeles, California in 1949. He attended UCLA University under coach John Wooden and won two national championships (1969, 1970) — the first in the final year of Lew Alcindor's dynasty and the second in the first year of John Wooden's post-Alcindor run. His contribution to both championships was significant — in 1969 he was a supporting role alongside the dominant Alcindor, and in 1970 he became the centrepiece of the team following Alcindor's graduation. He averaged 18.6 points and 12.8 rebounds per game across three varsity seasons. He was a two-time All-American and All-Pac-8 First Team. He was selected second overall by the Portland Trail Blazers in the 1971 NBA Draft. His professional career produced four consecutive All-Star appearances (1973-1976). His UCLA career — overlapping the Alcindor era and the Walton era — placed him at the centre of the greatest dynasty in college basketball without ever receiving the singular attention those bookending stars generated. He was the glue across two championship years that defined a decade.

Wicks was an exceptionally athletic forward who combined size, speed, and basketball intelligence to dominate games. He possessed excellent ball-handling skills for his height and could effectively play both inside and outside, making him a versatile offensive threat. His defensive prowess and rebounding ability made him a complete player who could impact the game on both ends of the court.

Wicks helped establish UCLA's dynasty under John Wooden and represented the prototype of the modern versatile forward in college basketball.

• National Championship 2x (1969,1970)
• Tournament MOP finalist
• All-American 2x
• First-team All-Pac-8