As a freshman at Michigan, he helped lead the Wolverines to the 1976 NCAA Championship Game against Indiana University. Hubbard averaged 15.1 points and 11.0 rebounds, playing alongside Rickey Green as the Wolverines had the second-place finish at the 1976 NCAA Championship.[3]
Phil Hubbard, 1976. University of Michigan Yearbook.
Hubbard was an All-American in 1977, leading the Wolverines (26–4) to the Big Ten championship. Hubbard averaged 19.5 points and 13.0 rebounds. His 389 total rebounds in the 1976–77 season remains the single season record at Michigan.[3][2]
A serious knee injury, suffered in the World University Games, required surgery and forced Hubbard to miss his entire junior year at Michigan, The knee injury would affect the rest of his career.[4][2]
In 88 career games at Michigan (1975–1979), Hubbard averaged a double-double of 16.5 points and 11.1 rebounds on 53% shooting from the floor and 63% from the line.[5]
Hubbard was selected by the Detroit Pistons in the 1st round (15th overall) in the 1979 NBA draft. Despite having a year of NCAA eligibility remaining due to his injury, Hubbard had declared himself for the NBA Draft.[8]
Hubbard played in 196 games with the Pistons over 3 seasons, averaging 11.6 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 23 minutes.[9]
Cleveland Cavaliers (1982–1989)
On February 16, 1982, Hubbard was traded by the Detroit Pistons with Paul Mokeski, a 1982 1st round draft pick (John Bagley was later selected) and a 1982 2nd round draft pick (Dave Magley was later selected) to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Kenny Carr and Bill Laimbeer.[9]
In 8 seasons and 469 games with the Cavaliers, Hubbard averaged 10.6 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 24 minutes.[9]
Overall, Hubbard averaged 10.9 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 665 career NBA games.[9]
After first serving as an NBA scout after his playing career ended, Hubbard became an assistant coach in the NBA. From 1997–2009 Hubbard was an assistant coach with the Atlanta Hawks (1997–2000), Golden State Warriors (2000–2003) and Washington Wizards (2003–2009).[10][11]
