Mike Farmer (basketball)

Mike Farmer
Personal information
Born(1936-09-26)September 26, 1936
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S.
DiedJanuary 1, 2025(2025-01-01) (aged 88)
Listed height6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
Listed weight210 lb (95 kg)
Career information
High schoolRichmond (Richmond, California)
CollegeSan Francisco (1955–1958)
NBA draft1958: 1st round, 3rd overall pick
Drafted byNew York Knicks
Playing career1958–1966
PositionSmall forward
Number8, 51, 12
Coaching career1965–1966
Career history
Playing
1958–1960New York Knicks
1960–1961Cincinnati Royals
1961–1962San Francisco Saints
1962–1966St. Louis Hawks
Coaching
1965–1966St. Louis Hawks (assistant)
1966Baltimore Bullets
Career highlights
Career NBA playing statistics
Points2,816 (6.7 ppg)
Rebounds1,950 (4.6 rpg)
Assists550 (1.3 apg)
Stats at NBA.com 
Stats at Basketball Reference 
Career coaching record
NBA1–8 (.111)
Record at Basketball Reference 

Don Michael Farmer (September 26, 1936 – January 1, 2025) was an American professional basketball player and coach. A 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) forward, he was selected with the third pick in the 1958 NBA draft by the New York Knicks after a college career at the University of San Francisco (USF). He also played one year in the American Basketball League. He was known throughout his basketball career for his defensive skill.

Farmer was a member of the 1955–56 USF Dons team that had a 29–0 record and won the 1956 NCAA men's basketball tournament; and which has been considered one of the greatest college basketball teams in NCAA history. He was a consensus second-team All-American in 1958, and was twice named the West Coast Athletic Conference's Player of the Year (1957 and 1958).

Early life

Farmer was born on September 26, 1936, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.[1] He attended Richmond High School in Richmond, California, where he played on the basketball team. He was reported to be 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) as a 16-year old junior center in 1953. He was noted for his ball handling and rebounding skills.[2] As a senior in 1954, Farmer was selected second-team All-Alameda County Athletic League (ACAL).[3] He was also selected among the Top 10 players in the Acker Round Robin Basketball Tournament that same year.[4]

College career

Farmer attended the University of San Francisco (USF), where he played basketball for the Dons.[5] He was recruited to USF by Hal DeJulio.[6] He led the freshman team in scoring (1954–55).[7] As a sophomore (1955–56) Farmer's teammates included future Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame center Bill Russell[8] (also recruited by DeJulio[6]) and Hall of Fame guard K. C. Jones;[9] playing under future Hall of Fame head coach Phil Woolpert.[10][11] He was a starting forward on the 1955–56 Dons team that had a 29–0 record and won the NCAA men's basketball tournament.[11] The 1955–56 Dons team was the first undefeated team in college basketball history, and has been considered among the greatest college basketball teams of all time.[12][13]

In the Dons' 1956 tournament semifinal (final four) win over Southern Methodist, Farmer had 26 points and 10 rebounds.[14] In the championship game victory over the Iowa Hawkeyes, 83–71, Farmer started and missed all ten of his field goal attempts, but pulled down 12 rebounds.[15] In the first round of the West Regional tournament, he had 15 points and 15 rebounds in the Dons win over UCLA.[16] On the season, Farmer played in 28 games, averaging 8.4 points and 7.8 rebounds per game.[11]

As a junior (1956–57), Farmer averaged 12 points and 9.5 rebounds per game on a 21–7 Dons team.[17] He was named to the first-team All-West Regional team in the 1957 NCAA men's basketball tournament. San Francisco was the West Regional champion and went on to the national finals.[18] The Dons reached the final four teams in the 1957 national tournament, but lost to the Kansas Jayhawks, 80–56.[19] Farmer was assigned to guard future Hall of Fame center Wilt Chamberlain[20] during the first half of that game.[21] The Dons defeated Michigan State in the game for third place, with Farmer scoring 16 points in that game.[22][23] Farmer was named the West Coast Athletic Conference's (WCAC) Player of the Year for the 1956–57 season.[24] United Press named him first-team All-Coast that season.[25]

As a senior (1957–58), Farmer averaged 11.3 points and 8.2 rebounds per game. The Dons had a 25–2 record and finished the season ranked No. 4 by the Associated Press.[26] Farmer was a consensus second-team All-American.[27] He was considered to be a top player nationally on defense.[7] Throughout his basketball career, Farmer focused as much on defense as offense, and when he was having a poor night offensively he would put in extra effort on defense.[28] In the 1956–57 and 1957–58 seasons, Woolpert regularly gave Farmer the toughest defensive assignments in each game, and Farmer was considered the team's "defensive stopper".[29]

The Dons lost in the first round of the 1958 West Regional tournament to the University of Seattle, 69–67, led by future NBA Hall of Fame forward Elgin Baylor's[30] 35 points; with Baylor's last second shot winning the game for Seattle.[21] Farmer had 10 points and seven rebounds.[31] Farmer and Leroy Wright of the University of the Pacific were both selected to receive the 1957–58 season WCAC Player of the Year Award.[32] Farmer was also named first-team All-WCAC that season.[33]

Professional career

The New York Knicks selected Farmer in the first round of the 1958 NBA draft, third overall (Baylor being the draft's first pick).[34] Farmer played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for a total of seven seasons with New York, the Cincinnati Royals, and the St. Louis Hawks. He averaged 6.7 points and 4.6 rebounds per game during his little over six years in the NBA, and was known for playing good defense.[35][1][36][37]

New York Knicks and Cincinnati Royals

As a rookie with the Knicks (1958–59), Farmer was a reserve small forward playing behind Willie Naulls. Farmer averaged 21.5 minutes, six points, and 4.4 rebounds per game on the season.[38] He continued as a reserve behind Naulls in the 1959–60 season, averaging 22.9 minutes, 7.4 points, and 5.7 rebounds per game.[39] He missed seven games during the early part of that season with a hip injury.[40] He had played in only two games for the Knicks at the beginning of the 1960–61 season, when his contract was sold to the Cincinnati Royals in mid-November 1960.[41][42]

Farmer played 57 games in his sole season with Cincinnati, as a reserve small forward behind Jack Twyman. Farmer averaged 22.5 minutes, 7.5 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game for the Royals that season.[43] Over the season's final 17 games, Farmer averaged nearly 13 points per game.[44] During an altercation in a February 1961 game with the Los Angeles Lakers, Farmer was knocked unconscious by a single punch thrown by 6 ft 11 in (2.11) Ray Felix and was unable to finish the game. Felix was ejected and later fined by NBA commissioner Maurice Podoloff.[45][46]

San Francisco Saints

In May 1961, Farmer expressed his intention to join the San Francisco Saints in the newly created American Basketball League (ABL), and the Royals threatened a lawsuit to prevent Farmer from joining the new league.[47][48] However, Farmer had personal reasons for wanting to play in San Francisco, including being closer to his home in Richmond, and he later said the Royals ultimately respected his wishes and their parting was without hard feelings.[44] Farmer played for the Saints during the 1961–62 season, under his former college head coach, Phil Woolpert.[49][50] He average 14.6 points per game during the season.[44] In late December 1961, Farmer was hospitalized with a back injury after suffering collisions with the Los Angeles Jets' 7 ft 2 in (2.18 m) Bill Spivey over two successive games in three days, having to be placed in traction.[51] The ABL finanancially folded by the end of 1962.[52]

St. Louis Hawks

The Saints failed to make a timely contract offer to Farmer in August 1962, and he became a free agent. Within days he signed with the St. Louis Hawks of the NBA. The Hawks had paid the Royals for the NBA rights to Farmer a year earlier.[44] Farmer played in a career-high 80 games for the Hawks in the 1962–63 season.[1] He averaged, 21.6 minutes, 7.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game, sharing time with Cliff Hagan at small forward (who averaged 21.7 minutes per game).[53] Farmer's defensive play helped improve the team's record from its 29–51 record the previous season,[54] to a 48–32 second place finish and a place in the playoffs.[55][53] At the beginning of the season, Hawks' coach Harry Gallatin described Farmer as a "defensive specialist", who he intended to use against players like Elgin Baylor in an effort to alter their play on offense.[37]

In 11 playoffs games that season he averaged nearly 24 minutes per game, and 6.1 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game.[53] The Hawks lost four games to three to the Lakers in the NBA Western Division finals, with Farmer averaging 21.3 minutes per game in that series, where he had the defensive task of guarding Elgin Baylor[56][57] (whom Farmer had faced in the 1958 NCAA tournament). Farmer's second quarter defense played a decisive factor in the Hawks' Game 6 win in that series, but he was also injured in the game.[58]

In 1963–64, he was again a reserve small forward, averaging 17.9 minutes per game behind Cliff Hagan.[59] During the 1964–65 season with the Hawks, Farmer missed at least 20 games with injuries.[60][61] He played in 60 games that season, averaging 21.2 minutes, 6.8 points, and 4.3 rebounds per game.[62] In November 1965, after playing in only nine games for the Hawks and averaging less than 10 minutes per game, Farmer announced his retirement from the NBA.[61][63] The Hawks made him an assistant coach to head coach Richie Guerin,[64][35] Farmer's former teammate with the Knicks.[38][39]

In a little over six seasons in the NBA, Farmer played in 423 games, averaging nearly 21 minutes, 6.7 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game.[1]

Coaching career

During the 1965–66 season, Farmer served as an assistant coach and chief scout for the St. Louis Hawks.[64] On April 28, 1966, Farmer was announced as head coach of the Baltimore Bullets.[35] He was still permitted to advise the Hawks on the college draft, even after his April 1966 signing with the Bullets.[64] His appointment was considered as a surprise.[35][65] At the age of 30, Farmer was the youngest coach in the NBA during the 1966–67 season.[65] On November 5, 1966, Farmer was fired by the Bullets after he led the team to a 1–8 record and was replaced by general manager Buddy Jeannette.[65]He was later a volunteer assistant basketball coach at the University of San Francisco in the 1980s, after returning to complete his education.[7]

Legacy and honors

In 1971, Farmer was inducted into the University of San Francisco's Athletics Hall of Fame. In May 2000, USF retired his jersey No. 17.[7][66]

Personal life and death

After retiring from basketball, Farmer owned a tire company and was a restauranteur. He also worked as a sales executive and construction company supervisor. While a student at USF in the 1950s, in addition to playing basketball, he was married, had two jobs, and commuted to school from Richmond each day; never earning his degree before going into professional basketball. He was bothered for many years that he had never obtained an academic degree, and even believed it limited his ability to obtain a coaching position.[67]

In 1985, at age 48, Farmer returned to USF as a student through the National Consortium for Academics and Sports program, even living in a freshman dorm. He was divorced at the time, and his children were all adults. He earned a bachelor's degree in business in 1987, calling it "probably the most beautiful experience of my life". He was an assistant coach with the Dons basketball team and/or golf team, and was the school's coordinator of degree completion. After receiving his degree, Farmer earned a position at USF teaching in the school's exercise and sport science program until his retirement, teaching into his seventies.[67][68][7][66][21][69]

Farmer died in Santa Rosa, California on January 1, 2025, survived by four children, nine grandchildren and six great grandchildren.[70][71][72]

Career playing statistics

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high
 *  Led the league

NBA

Source[73]

Regular season

Year Team GP MPG FG% FT% RPG APG PPG
1958–59 New York 72*21.5.353.8384.4.96.0
1959–60 New York 6722.9.373.8435.7.97.4
1960–61 New York 23.0.000–1.0.0.0
1960–61 Cincinnati 5722.7.391.7346.61.47.5
1962–63 St. Louis 80*21.6.425.8424.61.87.4
1963–64 St. Louis 7617.9.406.8193.01.45.6
1964–65 St. Louis 6021.2.409.7984.31.56.8
1965–66 St. Louis 98.8.433.8002.0.73.3
Career 42320.8.393.8144.61.36.7

Playoffs

Year Team GP MPG FG% FT% RPG APG PPG
1959 New York 217.0.294.4005.0.06.0
1963 St. Louis 1123.8.365.7654.72.56.1
1964 St. Louis 1110.8.559.8001.5.84.2
1965 St. Louis 17.0.500–1.0.04.0
Career 2516.9.411.7193.21.45.2

Head coaching record

Legend
Regular season G Games coached W Games won L Games lost W–L % Win–loss %
Playoffs PG Playoff games PW Playoff wins PL Playoff losses PW–L % Playoff win–loss %

NBA

Team Year G W L W–L% Finish PG PW PL PW–L% Result
Baltimore 1966–67 918.111(fired)————

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Mike Farmer Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and more". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved May 10, 2026.
  2. ↑ Levitt, Ed (January 30, 1953). "On The Level". Richmond Independent (Richmond, California). p. 17.
  3. ↑ Heil, Walt (March 13, 1954). "Grandstand Seat". Richmond Independent (Richmond, California). p. 8.
  4. ↑ "Fidler, Snyder Among Best 10 In Acker Event". Chico Enterprise-Record (Chico, California). March 8, 1954. p. 8.
  5. ↑ Kowitz, Chris (March 19, 1956). "Dons Dunk Utah, 92–77, to Win Regional Crown, San Francisco Wins 53rd Straight Game". Gazette-Times (Corvallis, Oregon). p. 9.
  6. 1 2 Beronio, Dave (April 13, 1967). "DeJulio Hunts Talent For Oakland ABA Club". Vallejo Times-Herald (Vallejo, California). p. 8.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 "Don Michael Farmer (1971) - Hall of Fame". University of San Francisco Athletics. Retrieved May 11, 2026.
  8. ↑ "Bill Russell". The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. Retrieved May 10, 2026.
  9. ↑ "K.C. Jones". The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. Retrieved May 10, 2026.
  10. ↑ "Phil Woolpert". The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. Retrieved May 10, 2026.
  11. 1 2 3 "1955-56 San Francisco Dons Men's Roster and Stats". College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved May 10, 2026.
  12. ↑ "College basketball: 9 greatest teams of all time | NCAA.com". www.ncaa.com. Retrieved May 11, 2026.
  13. ↑ Velazquez, Matt (April 3, 2025). "Ranking the 16 Best Men's College Basketball Teams of All Time". bleacherreport.com. Retrieved May 11, 2026.
  14. ↑ "Southern Methodist vs. San Francisco Box Score (Men), March 22, 1956". College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved May 10, 2026.
  15. ↑ "San Francisco vs. Iowa Box Score (Men), March 23, 1956". College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved May 10, 2026.
  16. ↑ "UCLA vs. San Francisco Box Score (Men), March 16, 1956". College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved May 10, 2026.
  17. ↑ "1956-57 San Francisco Dons Men's Roster and Stats". College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved May 10, 2026.
  18. ↑ "1957 Men's NCAA Tournament Summary". College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved May 10, 2026.
  19. ↑ "San Francisco vs. Kansas Box Score (Men), March 22, 1957". College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved May 11, 2026.
  20. ↑ "Wilt Chamberlain". The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. Retrieved May 11, 2026.
  21. 1 2 3 Faraudo, Jeff (February 7, 2007). "How Dons' memorable run wilted". The Oakland Tribune (Oakland, California). pp. 4, Sports.
  22. ↑ "1957 Men's NCAA Tournament Summary". College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved May 10, 2026.
  23. ↑ "San Francisco vs. Michigan State Box Score (Men), March 23, 1957". College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved May 10, 2026.
  24. ↑ "1956-57 Men's West Coast Athletic Conference Season Summary". College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved May 10, 2026.
  25. ↑ Wood, Hal (March 8, 1957). "Farmer, Friend Make Up All-Coast Quintet". The Independent (Richmond, California). p. 18.
  26. ↑ "1957-58 San Francisco Dons Men's Roster and Stats". College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved May 10, 2026.
  27. ↑ "Men's Consensus All-America Teams (1949-50 to 1958-59)". College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved May 10, 2026.
  28. ↑ Levitt, Ed (January 27, 1958). "On The Level, Western Contra Costa County Producing Future Pro Stars". The Independent (Richmond, California). p. 7.
  29. ↑ "Cal's Newell Top Man, Say Scribes". The San Francisco News. March 4, 1958. p. 18.
  30. ↑ "Elgin Baylor". The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. Retrieved May 10, 2026.
  31. ↑ "Seattle vs. San Francisco Box Score (Men), March 14, 1958". College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved May 10, 2026.
  32. ↑ "1957-58 Men's West Coast Athletic Conference Season Summary". College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved May 10, 2026.
  33. ↑ "Newell, Farmer Named Top '58 Coach, Player". Independent Journal (San Rafael, California). Associated Press. March 4, 1958. p. 6.
  34. ↑ "1958 NBA Draft". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved May 10, 2026.
  35. 1 2 3 4 "Vet Mike Farmer New Bullet Coach". The Washington Daily News. April 29, 1966. p. 43. Retrieved June 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  36. ↑ Rayman, Charles (October 30, 1963). "76ers Face Shue Bolstered Bullets Here". The Baltimore Evening Sun. pp. C12.
  37. 1 2 Archibald, John J. (October 18, 1962). "Rebounding to Determine Hawk Lineup; Pettit Only Sure Starter". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. pp. 3E.
  38. 1 2 "1958-59 New York Knicks Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved May 11, 2026.
  39. 1 2 "1959-60 New York Knicks Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved May 11, 2026.
  40. ↑ "Mike Farmer Returns To New York Squad". The Daily Courier (Connellsville, Pennsylvania). United Press International. December 15, 1959. pp. Six.
  41. ↑ "1960-61 New York Knicks Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved May 11, 2026.
  42. ↑ "Buy Farmer". The Akron Beacon Journal (Akron, Ohio). United Press International. November 15, 1960. p. 28.
  43. ↑ "1960-61 Cincinnati Royals Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved May 11, 2026.
  44. 1 2 3 4 Archibald, John J. (August 17, 1962). "Hawks Sign Mike Farmer as Free Agent After Saints Miss Deadline". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. pp. 5B.
  45. ↑ "Royal Surge Edges Lakers". The Palm Beach Post (West Palm Beach, Florida). Associated Press. February 20, 1961. p. 16.
  46. ↑ "Felix Fined For Flooring Cager". Cleveland Call and Post. ANP. March 11, 1961. pp. 5–B.
  47. ↑ "Royals To Sue Farmer". The Cincinnati Enquirer. May 3, 1961. p. 14.
  48. ↑ Schottelkotte, Jim (May 7, 1961). "The NBA Fray". The Cincinnati Enquirer. pp. 6, Sec. H.
  49. ↑ "Pipers Back Into ABL First Place". Staten Island Advance (Staten Island, New York). November 30, 1961. p. 26.
  50. ↑ Remington, Ben (October 9, 1961). "Saint Cagers Face Jets Here In Test Contest". Stockton Record (Stockton, California). p. 27.
  51. ↑ "Mike Farmer In Traction After Injury". Oakland Tribune (Oakland, California). December 30, 1961. pp. B–13.
  52. ↑ "CLEVELAND PIPERS | Encyclopedia of Cleveland History | Case Western Reserve University". case.edu. May 11, 2018. Retrieved May 5, 2026.
  53. 1 2 3 "1962-63 St. Louis Hawks Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved May 11, 2026.
  54. ↑ "1961-62 St. Louis Hawks Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved May 11, 2026.
  55. ↑ Levitt, Ed (March 15, 1963). "On The Level, Richmonder Title Bound?". The Independent (Richmond, California). p. 13.
  56. ↑ "Lakers Roll Past Hawks, 112–104". St. Louis Globe-Democrat. April 1, 1963. pp. 1C.
  57. ↑ "1963 NBA Western Division Finals - Hawks vs. Lakers". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved May 11, 2026.
  58. ↑ Broeg, Bob (April 10, 1963). "Injured Hawk Is an Eagle in The Playoffs". St. Lous Post-Dispatch. pp. 4C.
  59. ↑ "1963-64 St. Louis Hawks Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved May 11, 2026.
  60. ↑ "Healthy Hawks Play Bullets". Philadelphia Daily News. United Press International. November 18, 1965. p. 43.
  61. 1 2 "Farmer Quits As Hoopster". Nevada State Journal (Reno, Nevada). United Press International. November 18, 1965. p. 21.
  62. ↑ "1965-66 St. Louis Hawks Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved May 11, 2026.
  63. ↑ "1965-66 St. Louis Hawks Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved May 11, 2026.
  64. 1 2 3 "Bullets Sign Hawks Aide As Coach". Richmond Times-Dispatch (Richmond, Virginia). Associated Press. April 29, 1966. p. 32.
  65. 1 2 3 "Jeanette named Bullet coach". Johnson City Press. November 5, 1966. p. 7. Retrieved June 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  66. 1 2 "Basketball". The Desert Sun (Palm Springs, California). May 7, 2000. pp. C1.
  67. 1 2 Poole, Monte (April 1, 1987). "To become whole". The Oakland Tribune (Oakland, California). pp. F–1.
  68. ↑ Blauvelt, Harry (May 27, 1993). "Consortium works to help athletes return for degrees". USA Today. pp. 14C.
  69. ↑ McCready, Eldredge (April 1, 1987). "Eastbay's top prep athletes receive honors". The Tribune (Oakland, California). pp. F–1, F–7.
  70. ↑ Don Farmer Obituary
  71. ↑ Official Obituary of Don Michael Farmer
  72. ↑ "San Francisco Athletics Remembers Hall of Famers Stan Buchanan and Mike Farmer". University of San Francisco Athletics. Retrieved May 11, 2026.
  73. ↑ "Mike Farmer NBA playing stats". Basketball Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
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