Last Updated on April 15, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Here is the information about Don Ford:

Player Profile

  • Full Name: Donald Leon Ford
  • Nickname: N/A
  • Nationality: American
  • Date of Birth: July 31, 1952
  • Hometown: Santa Barbara, California, USA
  • Height: 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
  • Weight: 215 lbs (98 kg)
  • Wingspan: Not publicly recorded
  • Shoe Size: Not publicly recorded
  • Jersey Number (College and NBA):
    • #33 — University of California, Santa Barbara
    • #34 — Los Angeles Lakers
    • #34 — Cleveland Cavaliers
    • #34 — Atlanta Hawks
  • Position: Power Forward / Small Forward
  • High School: Santa Barbara High School (California)
  • College:
    • University of California, Santa Barbara
  • NBA Draft:
    • Drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers
    • Year: 1975
    • Round: 3
    • Pick: 38th overall
  • Player Archetype: Hustle Forward / Role-Playing Rebounder
  • Primary Offensive Role: Low-usage finisher; scored off cuts, putbacks, and opportunistic touches
  • Defensive Role: Physical interior defender; responsible for rebounding, positional defense, and guarding forwards
  • Play Style: Energy-based contributor focused on rebounding, defense, and doing intangible work
  • Handedness / Shooting Hand: Right-handed
  • Athletic Profile: Above-average size for a forward of his era with solid strength and motor; not an elite leaper but effective through positioning
  • Recruiting Status: Lightly recruited (pre-modern recruiting rankings era)
  • Draft Status Detail: Mid-round selection who carved out a role through effort and reliability rather than star upside
  • Injury Status Category: No major career-defining injuries publicly documented
  • Career Stage: Retired
  • Comparison Style: Similar stylistically to blue-collar forwards like Kurt Rambis (energy, defense-first mindset)
  • Teams Played For:
    • Los Angeles Lakers (1975–1979)
    • Cleveland Cavaliers (1979–1980)
    • Atlanta Hawks (1980–1982)
  • Championship Rings: 0
  • Parents: Not publicly documented
  • Children: Not publicly documented
  • Siblings: Not publicly documented
  • Retirement Age: 29
  • Retirement Year: 1982

Don Ford’s player archetype was that of a hustle-oriented forward, a role built on physicality and effort rather than offensive creation. Defensively, he operated as a rugged interior presence, prioritizing rebounding, boxing out, and positional discipline against opposing forwards. Offensively, his role was minimal and efficient—finishing plays around the rim, capitalizing on second-chance opportunities, and moving without the ball rather than initiating sets. Physically, he brought solid size at 6’9″ with enough strength to compete inside, though his game leaned more on fundamentals and effort than elite athleticism. His overall play style can be summarized as blue-collar and team-first, contributing through energy, toughness, and consistency in the less glamorous aspects of the game.

Fun Facts

  • After his playing career, he worked in real estate.

Sources:
Basketball Reference — Don Ford NBA Stats
RealGM — Don Ford Player Profile
The Draft Review — 1975 NBA Draft History