Last Updated on July 28, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Larry Demic was a fundamentally sound NBA center whose rebounding, interior defense, and physical post play earned him frontcourt minutes with the New York Knicks and later the Phoenix Suns during the late 1970s and early 1980s. A traditional paint protector and role-playing big man, Demic contributed through toughness, screening, and reliable work around the basket rather than high-volume scoring.

Here is the detailed information about Larry Demic:

Player Profile

  • Full Name: Lawrence Curtis Demic
  • Nationality: American
  • Age: Born June 27, 1957
  • Hometown: Gary, Indiana, USA
  • Height: 6 feet 9 inches (206 cm)
  • Weight: 218 pounds (99 kg)
  • Wingspan: Approximately 7 feet 0 inches (213 cm)
  • Shoe Size: 15 (US)
  • Jersey Number: 44
  • Position: Power Forward
  • High School: Gary West Side High School, Gary, Indiana
  • College: University of Arizona (1976–1979)
  • NBA Draft: 1979, 1st round, 9th overall pick by the New York Knicks
  • Teams Played For:
    • New York Knicks (1979–1982)
  • Championship Rings: None
  • Kids: Information on his children is not widely available.
  • Siblings: Information on his siblings is not widely available.

Player Archetype / Play Style

Larry Demic’s player archetype was that of a rugged interior power forward: a strong, old-school frontcourt piece who made his impact through rebounding, paint scoring, and physical defense rather than perimeter skill. Defensively, he projects as a help-side rim protector and interior body who used his length and toughness to contest shots, with Arizona material describing him as a “consummate shot blocker.” Offensively, his role was mostly as a low-post and inside-finishing forward who could clean up on the glass, score efficiently near the basket, and supply secondary frontcourt scoring, which fits with his 19.3 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 57.1 percent shooting as a senior at Arizona. At 6-foot-9 and 225 pounds, Demic had the size and frame for bruising frontcourt play, and his overall play style reads as a physical rebound-and-defend big who thrived around the lane, brought toughness to possessions, and functioned best as a workmanlike interior contributor rather than a high-usage creator. (Basketball Reference)

Scouting Report

Larry Demic always felt like a forward who understood how to make himself available without disrupting the flow of an offence. He wasn’t searching for isolation touches or difficult post-ups every trip down the floor. Instead, he quietly found gaps after the initial action, sealing his defender as the ball swung from side to side or drifting into open space along the baseline when help rotated to the middle. That’s where a lot of his scoring came from. He could finish with either hand around the basket, had enough touch to knock down short jumpers when defenders backed away, and didn’t need the offence to be built around him to produce efficient possessions. The trade-off was that he wasn’t someone who consistently created separation off the dribble, so when defences denied easy catches and forced him to manufacture late-clock offence, the possession often lost its rhythm. Defensively, I always thought his anticipation was more valuable than his athletic profile. He recognised post seals early, slid across as the low man before drives fully developed, and did a solid job showing help without completely abandoning his own assignment. He wasn’t the type to erase mistakes above the rim or switch comfortably onto quick guards for long stretches, but he made life difficult for opposing forwards by staying physical and refusing to concede deep position. It’s easy to overlook how much his screening contributed to team offence as well. He set firm picks, re-screened when the first angle disappeared and understood that creating an extra half-step for a teammate could be just as productive as taking the shot himself. His ideal role is as a complementary frontcourt piece next to a dominant scorer or creative lead guard, where his finishing, positional defence and willingness to do the unnoticed work become genuine assets. To me, there are echoes of Mitch Kupchak in the understated offensive approach and reliable interior play, while his methodical style also shares some similarities with Rich Kelley when Kelley operated more as a supporting option than a focal point.

Sources:

Basketball-Reference — Larry Demic Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and more
Sports-Reference — 1978-79 Arizona Wildcats Men’s Roster and Stats
ALLSPORTSTUCSON.com — Legendary Larry Demic Model of Perseverance at Arizona in Basketball and Academics
University of Arizona Athletics — 100-plus Years of UA Basketball