Then, I was like, Oh, okay, I get it. I had grown up around some celebrities that are now still famous, that are buddies of mine, and it was the same thing. The short shorts, me picking out wedgies. Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty. We get it: you like to have control of your own internet experience. Norm Nixon, a point guard drafted by the Lakers in 1977, was a vital cog in their first two championship wins in that period. This greatest basketball holds American citizenship. I dont smoke cigarettes, but I just wanted to take the character there because I think I have too kind of a face, man. [13] In his first year with the Clippers, Nixon led the league in total assists with 914, and regular season games played (82). Data Provided By [1][3] She was named of the top "25 to Watch" by Dance Magazine in 2007. Whats happening? [. ] I think it was right before I almost died on the boat, and shes singing Jesus Loves Me, and her sister walks out. And at first, it was. 2023 Variety Media, LLC. Just dont make me look stupid, man. [Laughs.] . He also He also attended real estate school. Nixon resides in the Los Angeles area with his wife. He has a son, DeVaughn Nixon, and two children with Debbie, Vivian and Norman Nixon, Jr. Norman Nixon was interviewed by The HistoryMakers on October 15, 2019. Me growing up so young and then seeing some of the peopleMacaulay Culkin, Elijah Woodthose guys are the ones that I grew up with and to see them hit the level of success that they did, it made me feel like I wasnt good enough, so I brought some of that. So we always had tailored suits. Its a love letter to the Lakers and how much we appreciate them. [3] Nixon was named first-team All-Eastern Eight Conference, and left holding the record for career assists. This interview has been edited and condensed for length and clarity. Were doing everybody justice. What was your fathers reaction to the news? All-Star guard more than footnote in 'Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty', "The Extra Pass: Talking "Showtime" Lakers with author Jeff Pearlman", "If the Lakers had a Ring of Honor for second-tier greats, who would get in? In football, he played defensive back and tailback. Hes not famous. Variety is a part of Penske Media Corporation. And interestingly enough, I beat my brother for it. It was incredible to see how happy she was. The young Carry asked to wear it to honor a friend who wore number 10 in high school, and who had died that spring from gun violence. My brother has done some stuff, but I was the more seasoned actor, I would say. On television, she had secondary roles in the Fox musical series Glee and NBC's Smash. Hes entertaining people. I didnt understand the concept of celebrity. Marc, we hope to see you at Reunion. They have three children, DeVaughn Nixon (son of Nixon), and two together: Vivian Nichole Nixon, who became a dancer and Norman Ellard Nixon Jr., who became a basketball player. Javascript is required for the selection of a player. The Lakers drafted Magic Johnson, a point guard, in 1979 despite already having Norm playing in the same position. Its an origin story of every character. What is Norm Nixon doing now? My buddy texted me and was like, Look, check this out. One of the characters, his name was Kevin, and that was my brother basically, and they end up killing him, and then Franklin has these runners who are selling drugs on the corner, and one of the Mexican mafia gangbanger dudes just stabs my cousin. "Little Guy Nixon Doesn't Fear Contact, Especially in Playoffs". Nixon's son DeVaughn portrayed him in the HBO drama series Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty. Another thing is I started a huge snowball fight in Lake Tahoe because it was the first time I had ever seen snow, so one of the [assistant directors] was showing me how to make a snowball, [and] I took one. Norm Nixon thinks Russell Westbrook can still work out What also made the transition so seamless was the set design, the clothes, and the decoration. There are certainly some creative liberties that were taken in this series, but did you ever find yourself wondering what was real or fake from that era? Look, it might as well have been a boulder. "Soviet Finds Summer League Hard, but He's Living NBA Dream Volkov a Sign of Changing Times". On her final year of the Ailey/Fordham BFA Program in Dance, Nixon was cast as Kalimba in the Broadway production of Hot Feet, the classic storyline of The Red Shoes with a '70s funk facelift, and Kalimba is the ambitious girl at the center of it who can't stop dancing (literally). After playing four seasons with Duquesne University, Pennsylvania, Norm was part of the 1977 NBA draft and was the 22nd overall pick by the Lakers. Select the third team from the drop down menu. . In the offseason, the Lakers selected Magic Johnson with the first pick in the 1979 NBA Draft.. Cedric Maxwell had just averaged a career-high 19.0 points and hauled down 9.9 rebounds in his second year with the She was very religious, so she opened my eyes to the Bible and she would read verses pretty often. Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty is a drama series premiering on HBO created by Max Borenstein and Jim Hecht. Los Angeles Lakers, 1st round (22nd pick, 22nd overall), 1977 NBA Draft, More Norm Nixon pages at Sports Reference. Norm Nixon Nicknamed "Stormin' Norman", he is a two-time NBA All-Star. Not only because of their overlapping histories, but because of their shared approaches. What I love about this character is Ive played thugs and things like that before, [but] this was the first time I was like [to the producers], Can I do this? Theyre like, Yeah, dont hold back. It was probably about an hour and 15-minute drive, and then I would come back . [7] Nixon played for the Lakers for six successful seasons. Before I had gotten this, I would put on some of his clothes and watch some of the tapes and interviews when he wasnt at the house. Shoots: College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com, Scores from any date in BAA/NBA or ABA history, Frequently Asked Questions about the NBA, WNBA and Basketball, Basketball-Reference.com Blog and Articles, Subscribe to Stathead Basketball: Get your first month FREE. In a recent interview, Norm talked about how important the sport was to him, saying, Basketball is more than a game to me. They did such a great job. All content 2000-2023 RealGM, L.L.C. Post-retirement, Norm explored several avenues. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. Duquesne University Men's Basketball History: Zeigler, Mark. us, High School: Heres a picture right here!, DeVaughn waited until launch to screen the series for his father. However, Norm was overshadowed at times by the other legendary players on the same team despite his brilliance on-court. But if somebody else is telling the story, people embellish, stretch things. WebNixon has appeared in films 500 Days of Summer and Top Five. "Norm Nixon: An original Showtimer, he hasn't mellowed or slowed down". [Laughs.] Thats the way he is, man. Just dont make me look stupid, man. [, ] On my birthday, he was talking to my friends. Norm Nixon's Biography - The HistoryMakers Nixon missed the 198687 season after stepping into a hole during a softball game in Central Park on July 23, 1986. Like, when they replicated the Forum on one of the stages, I actually felt like I was balling in the Forum. And he has an old school Ferrari and Mercedes that he kept from that era, so I would drive that around. Nixon participated in some of the NBA's Legends Classic games that took place during All-Star Weekend in the late 80s and early 90s, before a leg injury forced him out of a game. [. ] Subscribe to Stathead Basketball: Get your first month FREEYour All-Access Ticket to the Basketball Reference Database. Select the fourth team from the drop down menu. Nov 21, 1985 - Norm Nixon signed a multi-year offer sheet with the Seattle SuperSonics. But his next role is his most personal: In Winning Time, the new HBO sports drama that is based on Jeff Pearlmans nonfiction book Showtime: Magic, Kareem, Riley, and the Los Angeles Lakers Dynasty of the 1980s, Nixon has stepped into the shoes of his father, Norm, in a rare case of art imitating life. [16] The referees erroneously ordered a jump ball, instead of requiring Nixon to re-shoot the free throw. Nearly 30 years ago, DeVaughn Nixonthe son of NBA legend Norm Nixon and stepson of multi-hyphenate Debbie Allenrose to fame as a child actor, playing Norm Nixon My dad came from humble beginnings, and the first scene you see that feels a little threatening is the one where he plays Magic. The Lakers got the ball and Nixon made a field goal to tie the game, where they prevailed in overtime. Norm met Debbie while filming for a movie in 1979. As a child, did you understand the magnitude of the Lakers or that your father was famous? Norman Ellard Nixon (born October 11, 1955) is an American former professional basketball player who played for the Los Angeles Lakers and the San Diego/Los Angeles Clippers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). [23], Nixon has been married to actress/producer/director/dancer Debbie Allen since 1984. Nixon Hes like a school teacher. [Laughs.] [, What I love about this character is Ive played thugs and things like that before, [but] this was the first time I was like [to the producers], Can I do this? Theyre like, Yeah, dont hold back. He served one season as radio commentator for the Clippers (200405), and was an analyst for KABC-TV's NBA post-game shows during the mid-2000s. We would go to the Third Street Promenade, and people would say, Hey, how are you doing, Norm? Or talk to my step-mom like they knew them, and I was just so confusedlike, Do you owe all these people money? Nixon has appeared in films 500 Days of Summer and Top Five. So it was really easy to get into character., Norm eventually visited the set and offered up a few notes to his pal Rodney Barnes, a writer on the series. Early on in HBOs sports drama Winning Time, Magic Johnson and Norm Nixon square off in a heated game of one-on-one at a On television, she had secondary roles in the Fox musical series Glee and NBC's Smash. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. And its really funnymy mom actually got married up there on the set of. He earned degrees in business finance and television production from Loyola Marymount University and began working in real estate, investment banking, and the private sectoronly to discover that part of himself still longed to be in front of the camera. What can you preview about your character, Kane Hamilton, and how he fits into the world of Snowfall with Franklin (Damson Idris) and Kevin (Malcolm Mays)? Why that 'Winning Time' pickup game with DeVaughn Norm married actress and dancer Debbie Allen in 1984, and they have two children together apart from Norms son from another relationship. No, man, thats crazy you should ask. Variety and the Flying V logos are trademarks of Variety Media, LLC. [. ] Confirm that your trade proposal is valid according to the NBA collective bargaining agreement. And interestingly enough, I beat my brother for it. Absolutely, it can work there, Nixon told ClutchPoints. One of them is Norm Nixon, a former All-Star guard who won two NBA championships with the Lakers in the early 1980s. Maxwell asked him directly whether or not the 1-on-1 between him and Johnson actually happened. He was telling them that hes proud of me, he wants me to do well and hes happy. [24][25][26] Nixon's sister-in-law is Phylicia Rashad / actress/director/singer. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. Norman Nixon John Padget, MS 59, writes from Key West, FL, reporting, My Cornell roommate, Bruce Whilton, of Gloucester, MA, and Punta Gorda, FL, passed away peacefully in June 2022 in Punta Gorda after a long and well-lived life. ! So I immediately called my representation. You were born in 1983, so what do you remember from the Showtime era? I would go in his closetwell, I actually took a couple of things that he doesnt know about either, but now he knows. A couple of times before I went into a scene, I would be like, Yo, Dad, how did you feel about this? [. ] [Laughs.] Now they will do battle in an unexpected series. WebJul 1, 1985 - Norm Nixon, previously with the Los Angeles Clippers, became a free agent. You can do whatever you want. I wanted to give my voice a different sound, so I would literally scream into a towel until my voice got super hoarse and scary. I took one of his vintage Clipper thingsIm sure hes looking for it, he knows where it is now. They had a bond because my mom actually had to go back to California, so Whitney looked up after me. Subsequently, he was hired by Fox Sports West to take over Jack Haley's position as studio color analyst for all Lakers home games. [Laughs.] Norm Nixon, who was drafted by the Lakers in 1977, played a major role in two Lakers championships before being traded in 1983. Later, Norm founded Nixon and Associates and became a sports and entertainment agent. WebNorm Nixon will be back on the basketball court for Duquesne University. They had a bond because my mom actually had to go back to California, so Whitney looked up after me. He was about 162, 163; I was about 187, pushing 190. His mother contracted myasthenia gravis when Norm was a baby, and his parents divorced when he was two years old. Winning Time: Did Magic Johnson Almost Reject the Lakers? Ive never seen such a big ring in my life! Hes just gonna step back and let me have my turn. Normally, when you play a real person, you can look into historical archives and do a lot of secondary research. And they were on it immediately, got me an audition within two days. This meant that his maternal grandmother and great-aunt raised him. So that was really, really fun. (2017). He is from American. However, Lakers point guard Norm Nixon (DeVaughn Nixon, the real Nixons son) seems to be immune to his charms. [4] Her regional credits, including Alan Johnson's West Side Story (Anita), Bayou Legend (Sara), Pearl (Pearl), Soul Possessed, Dreams, Brothers of the Knight and The Hot Chocolate Nutcracker. Photograph by Norm Nixon Prior to their marriage, Nixon, and Allen were both depicted in the 1979 film The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh, which also starred NBA players Julius Erving and Kareem Abdul In December 2020, she began voicing Millie in the web series Helluva Boss in all episodes, except the pilot. It actually brought us a lot closer, he said. All of the actors that were around, seeing how they would tap in, they just raised the bar on my performance, and it was easy for me to feel like a part of that era while also adding all the psychological things that I used to help me get back in. So my dad didnt really have too much concern. Do you have a sports website? Winning Time premieres Sunday, March 6, at 9 p.m. on HBO. But he was really excited for me, Ill say. He also played with Scavolini Pesaro in Italy. [, ] I was like, Yo, this is really what they went through? If Im like, Yo, man, give your money! Theyre like, No, dude. We got so lucky that the person who happened to the best for the part was also his son, and honestly the second best guy we saw was his brother., It was DeVaughn, whose resume includes Snowfall, The Secret Life of the American Teenager and Runaways, who won the gig. WebNorm Nixons income source is mostly from being a successful . Player stats broken down into various categories; i.e. [21][22], With his wife, Nixon founded the Debbie Allen Dance Academy (DADA) in Culver City, California.[21]. I took a break [from acting] because I was like, Man, am I really gonna make it? I had the privilege of meeting Tom Hanks one time, and I was like, What kind of advice do you have? And he was like, Just never give up. Being an actor, theres 100 Nos before theres a Yes, and psychologically, it messes with you. DeVaughn Nixon: Yeah. It just put me back in that place. Were gonna kill you! Both of these shows are gonna be airing at the same time, and I hope that [viewers] see my range. And I was like, OK, Google yourself. He knows the Showtime Lakers are leery of the series, in particular Magic Johnson. home/away, monthly, etc More Norm Nixon Basketball Reference pages. The market went under [in 2008] and I ended up getting laid off, and my first call was to my agent. I would go in his closetwell, I actually took a couple of things that he doesnt know about either, but now he knows. He worked alongside studio host Bill McDonald during pregame, halftime, and postgame coverage. He later established his own firm, Norm Nixon & Associates, representing such clients as Doug Edwards,[20] Samaki Walker, Jalen Rose, Maurice Taylor, Teddy Dupay, Gary Grant, Gerald Fitch, the NFL's Peter Warrick, Larry Smith, and Al Wilson, and entertainers such as LL Cool J and TLC. For the 197879 season, Nixon tied Eddie Jordan of the New Jersey Nets for the NBA lead in steals with 201,[8] and total games (82 regular season + 23 playoffs = 105). Nixon led the team in scoring in the 1982 playoffs,[1] averaging 20.4 points per game. [. ] I mean, I saw how Magic said that he wasnt gonna watch it, DeVaughn says. ! So I immediately called my representation. That helped with my acting, delivering the lines in a different inflection. They literally thought I walked off the street, came in and auditioned, and I was my dads son and happened to look like him. I just tried to tap back in, thinking about how many jobs did I go after and then that person got this role. regularly shares sweet photos of his mother to his own Instagram, including an adorable post for Mother's Day where he also honored those She performed on the European tour of West Side Story and Harriet. In 1979, Nixon was featured in the sports film, The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh, where he met actress Debbie Allen, whom he later married in 1984. He said, She went to New York and moved to Fame, and I went back to Los Angeles. So, this whole time [as Kane], Ive been in jail, and then I come out with a real chip on my shoulder. My major thing in taking this role was to bring his legacy to the forefront, to show the world that he was a beast on the court. DeVaughn Nixon on Portraying Laker Dad, Remembers Costar Whitney Houston | PEOPLE.com "It's the biggest layup I've ever gotten in my entire life," DeVaughn Nixon tells PEOPLE of playing his father Norm Nixon in Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty I didnt work hard at promoting myself. The last three seconds of the game were later replayed in April 1983. The next season (197980), he led the league in minutes played (3,226), minutes-per-game (39.3), and was third in assists with 642. WebNorm Nixon Stats and news - NBA stats and news on Los Angeles Lakers Guard Norm Nixon He was showing me drills, I tried to add his cadence to my performance, and I think Im pretty spot on.