UTEP legend Nate “Tiny” Archibald undergoes heart transplant surgery
UTEP and NBA legend Nate “Tiny” Archibald recently underwent heart transplant surgery, according to reports.
The news first broke over the weekend when another NBA legend, Rick Barry, tweeted that Archibald was recovering from the procedure.
Archibald, 69, was diagnosed with a rare heart condition in December of 2016 after undergoing a free health screening offered by the NBA Players Association.
The man nicknamed “Tiny” played for UTEP from 1967-1970 before going on to become a six-time NBA All-Star.
He remains the only player in NBA history to lead the league in scoring and assists in a single season – a feat he accomplished in the 1972-73 season while playing for the Kansas City-Omaha Kings.
Both UTEP and the Kings would eventually retire his jersey.
He would later go on to win an NBA title as a member of the Boston Celtics in 1981 before being inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame a decade later.
