Olympian Profile: Tom McMillen

Tom McMillen

Sport/Country: Men's Basketball - United States
Olympic Games: 1972 Munich

Tom McMillen played for the United States in the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, one of Olympic history's most controversial gold medal games. The U.S. was handed its first-ever loss in the event after starting 63-0 and winning the previous seven gold medals, losing a 51-50 decision to the Soviet Union. However, the game's final three seconds were repeated three times until Russia came out on top because of possible political corruption as the Cold War was ongoing. The 1972 team still has not accepted the silver medals from that game.

The 6-foot-11, 215-pound forward averaged 20.5 points and 9.8 rebounds during his three-year career under Hall of Famer Lefty Driesell from 1972-74. He was selected as a three-time All-American and a three-time Academic All-American. McMillen finished as Maryland's all-time leader in points (1807), points per game (20.5), and 20-point games (48). McMillen was one of only three Terps to average more than 20 points per game in successive seasons and is one of two players in school history with a career scoring average of over 20 points per game.

The forward led Maryland to the 1972 National Invitation Tournament championship, earning tournament MVP honors. He was also part of the 1973 NCAA tournament Elite Eight team. Most impressively, McMillen was the University of Maryland's first Rhodes Scholar recipient, the world's oldest and most prestigious award for international study. He remains one of only two from the university to date.

McMillen was the ninth overall selection in the 1974 NBA Draft. After fulfilling his Rhodes Scholar obligation to study for a year at Oxford, he played in the NBA for 11 seasons with the Buffalo Braves (Los Angeles Clippers), Atlanta Hawks, New York Knicks, and Washington Bullets (Wizards), averaging 8.1 points and four rebounds per game.

After retiring from basketball, McMillen became an American politician and businessman. He represented Maryland's 4th congressional district from 1987-93. In 2011, McMillen was appointed as chairman of the inaugural Board of Directors of the President's Foundation on Sports, Physical Fitness, and Nutrition. He also served on the Knight Foundation's Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics, investigating abuses within college sports. He's even the author of "Out of Bounds," a critical look at the unhealthy influence of sports on ethics.

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