Last Updated on April 16, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Archie Clark, born on July 15, 1941, in Conway, Arkansas, is a retired American professional basketball player renowned for his exceptional skills as a guard in the NBA.

Player Profile

Personal Information:

  • Full Name: Archie L. Clark
  • Nationality: American
  • Age: 83 (as of 2024)
  • Hometown: Conway, Arkansas; raised in the suburbs of Detroit, Michigan
  • Height: 6’2″ (188 cm)
  • Weight: 175 lbs (79 kg)
  • Wingspan: Not publicly documented
  • Shoe Size: Not publicly documented

Education and Early Life:

  • High School: Ecorse High School, Ecorse, Michigan
  • College: University of Minnesota (1963–1966)

Professional Basketball Career:

  • NBA Draft: 1966, 4th Round, 37th overall pick by the Los Angeles Lakers
  • Position: Point Guard / Shooting Guard
  • Jersey Numbers: Wore #21 and #11 during his career
  • Teams Played For:
    • Los Angeles Lakers (1966–1968)
    • Philadelphia 76ers (1968–1971)
    • Baltimore/Capital Bullets (1971–1974)
    • Seattle SuperSonics (1974–1975)
    • Detroit Pistons (1975–1976)

Career Achievements:

  • NBA All-Star: 2 times (1968, 1972)
  • All-NBA Second Team: 1972
  • Career Statistics:
    • Points: 11,819 (16.3 points per game)
    • Rebounds: 2,427 (3.3 rebounds per game)
    • Assists: 3,498 (4.8 assists per game)

Personal Life:

  • Children: Archie Clark is the proud father of eight children and has six grandchildren.
  • Siblings: He was the fourth child in a family of 12.

Player Archetype / Play Style

Archie Clark’s player archetype was that of a slippery scoring lead guard: a 6-foot-2, 175-pound backcourt creator who could run the offense, break defenders down off the dribble, and still carry real scoring volume when needed. His defensive role was more in the secondary-guard lane than as a shutdown stopper, using quickness and positioning on the perimeter, while his offensive role was much heavier, especially at his peak, when he functioned as a shot-making playmaker who could control tempo, get into pull-ups, and pressure defenses with the “Shake and Bake” crossover that became part of his legacy. Physically, he was not oversized for the era, but he was compact, agile, and smooth with the ball, and his play style was built on rhythm, craft, and sudden change of direction rather than brute force. At his best, Archie Clark played like a poised attacking guard who blended table-setting with tough scoring, which is a big reason he became a two-time All-Star and an All-NBA selection. (Basketball Reference)

Fun Facts

  • Clark was one of the first effective practitioners of the crossover dribble, earning him the nickname “Shake and Bake.”
  • He co-founded the National Basketball Retired Players Association (NBRPA) in 1992, advocating for the rights and welfare of former players.
  • After retiring from professional basketball, Clark became involved in various endeavors, including Detroit politics and real estate.
  • He ran for Mayor of Ecorse, Michigan, in 1987.
  • Clark remains active in the NBRPA and the Detroit-area NAACP, contributing to community development and player advocacy.

Sources:

Basketball-Reference — Archie Clark Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and more
NBA.com — Year-by-year All-NBA Teams | NBA.com
Los Angeles Lakers — Los Angeles Lakers | Season Capsule
From Way Downtown — Three Cheers and a Hoorah for Guy Rodgers