Meyers Leonard, a former NBA player who played for Hughes when the Badgers alum was an assistant coach with the Portland Trailblazers from 2012-14, shared the news in a post to Instagram<\/a>. Hughes played 15 professional seasons, including one in the ABA and five in the NBA, before coaching an additional 14 seasons across three NBA franchises.\u00a0<\/p>\n Hughes finished the 2009-10 campaign as the Los Angeles Clippers interim coach, going 8-25 in his lone NBA head job.<\/p>\n \n People are also reading\u2026\n <\/p>\n Meet our Wisconsin men’s basketball All-Badgers Quarter Century Team<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cI promise to carry on your memory,\u201d Leonard said, in part, in a long message posted to Instagram. \u201cI promise that some day my two boys will know about Kim Hughes, when they\u2019re old enough to understand.\u201d<\/p>\n Before his professional career gained him acclaim, Hughes was a three-year starter at center for the Badgers from 1971-74. His career 11.2 rebounds per game helped him total 806 across his career, which ranks sixth in Wisconsin history.\u00a0<\/p>\n Wisconsin men’s basketball sets date for annual Red-White scrimmage<\/a><\/p>\n In his senior season, Wisconsin went 16-8. The Badgers’ 16 wins were the most the program had since the 1961-62 season, and wouldn\u2019t be exceeded until the 1988-89 squad won 18 contests in a 30-game campaign. Hughes averaged team-leading 15.3 points per game and 11.1 rebounds per game in his final season.<\/p>\n He was drafted in the third round of the 1974 NBA Draft by the Buffalo Braves, according to Basketball Reference, but first went professionally overseas before playing the 1975-76 season in the ABA with the New York Nets. He remained with the Nets after the NBA-ABA merger, also appearing with Denver and Cleveland across a five-year NBA career.<\/p>\n Wisconsin men’s basketball recruitment has ‘deeper meaning’ for in-state star<\/a><\/p>\n Hughes scored 3.8 points and grabbed 5.6 rebounds in his NBA career before playing an additional eight professional seasons outside of the NBA.<\/p>\n He began his NBA assistant coaching career the same season as his final playing year (1998-99), starting with the Denver Nuggets for four seasons. He then spent seven seasons as an assistant with the Clippers, joining the Trailblazers for his final two coaching seasons.\u00a0<\/p>\n Photos: Badgers men’s basketball 2024-25 season in review<\/p>\n Kamari McGee (4) celebrates with fans after defeating the Arizona Wildcats on Nov. 15.<\/p>\n OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL archives<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Michigan center Vlad Goldin (50) dunks on Wisconsin Badgers forward Carter Gilmore (7) on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. OWEN ZILIAK\/STATE JOURNAL<\/p>\n OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Wisconsin Badgers guard John Tonje (9) celebrates after hitting a three-pointer on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL<\/p>\n OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Wisconsin Badgers guard Max Klesmit (11) is swarmed by UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros defenders on Monday, Nov. 18, 2024 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL<\/p>\n OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Wisconsin Badgers guard John Tonje (9) shoots a three-pointer over UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros guard Hasan Abdul Hakim (14) on Monday, Nov. 18, 2024 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL<\/p>\n OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Wisconsin Badgers guard John Tonje (9) dunks the ball on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL<\/p>\n OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Nebraska forward Berke Buyuktuncel (9) goes for a layup under the basket on Sunday, Jan. 25, 2025 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL<\/p>\n OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Greg Gard will likely use the advanced camp to scout players for upcoming recruiting classes.<\/p>\n OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL archives<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Wisconsin Badgers guard Kamari McGee (4) and Washington Huskies guard Tyler Harris (8) battle for the ball on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wi. OWEN ZILIAK\/STATE JOURNAL<\/p>\n OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Wisconsin Badgers forward Carter Gilmore (7) and Wisconsin Badgers guard Jack Janicki (33) celebrate after a three-pointer on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL<\/p>\n OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Wisconsin Badgers forward Carter Gilmore (7) hugs Wisconsin Badgers head coach Greg Gard during Senior Day ceremonies on Saturday, March 8, 2025 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wi.<\/p>\n OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Wisconsin Badgers guard John Tonje (9) checks in for the last regular season home game of his career as a Badger on Saturday, March 8, 2025 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wi.<\/p>\n OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Sweat drips from the face of Ohio State forward Sean Stewart (13) on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL<\/p>\n OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Wisconsin Badgers guard John Tonje (9) buries his face in a towel after checking out during the final seconds of the Badger\u2019s loss to Penn State on Saturday, March 8, 2025 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wi.<\/p>\n OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Wisconsin defenders attempt to block Holy Cross Crusaders forward Gabe Warren (21) on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL<\/p>\n OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Wisconsin Badgers head coach Greg Gard yells at the official on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. OWEN ZILIAK\/STATE JOURNAL<\/p>\n OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Wisconsin Badgers guard Kamari McGee (4) comforts Wisconsin Badgers guard Max Klesmit (11) after Klesmit missed a late three-pointer to tie the game on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. OWEN ZILIAK\/STATE JOURNAL<\/p>\n OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Wisconsin Badgers forward Steven Crowl (22) and Wisconsin Badgers guard John Tonje (9) run in to each other during a possession on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL<\/p>\n OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Wisconsin Montana St. on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL<\/p>\n OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Wisconsin Montana St. on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL<\/p>\n OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Wisconsin Arizona on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL<\/p>\n OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Former Wisconsin basketball head coach Bo Ryan watches as his banner is raised on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL<\/p>\n OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Wisconsin Badgers guard Jack Janicki (33) celebrates after a three-pointer on Monday, Nov. 18, 2024 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL<\/p>\n OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Wisconsin Badgers guard John Tonje (9) and Indiana Hoosiers guard Trey Galloway (32) battle for the ball on the floor on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL<\/p>\n OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Wisconsin guard John Tonje (9) jumps to dunk on Nebraska guard Connor Essegian (0) on Sunday, Jan. 25, 2025 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL<\/p>\n OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Wisconsin head coach Greg Gard laughs with an official on Sunday, Jan. 25, 2025 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL<\/p>\n OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Wisconsin guard John Blackwell (25) falls as Ohio State forward Sean Stewart (13) goes for a block on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL<\/p>\n OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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