Paul McCracken (1983) - CSUN Athletics Hall of Fame

Paul McCracken

Induction:
1983
Class:
1972

Paul McCracken was inducted into the CSUN Athletics Hall of Fame in 1983. McCracken lettered two seasons with the CSUN men's basketball team from 1970-72, helping the Matadors win CCAA titles in each season.
Paul McCracken - HOF

One of the most accomplished Matador basketball players, McCracken set numerous school records and became the first CSUN player to ever play in the National Basketball Association. In just 51 career games played, McCracken recorded 630 rebounds, which still ranks eighth-best in school history. His 12.4 rebounding average remains as the top mark in school history while his 34 double-doubles are the third-most.

McCracken is still the only Matador in school history to record 300 or more rebounds in back-to-back seasons. His 330 rebounds in 1970-71 remained as the top rebounding total in a single season in school history until it was broken nearly five full decades later in 2019.

In his final season with CSUN, McCracken would earn All-American honors, posting 18.0 points and 12.0 rebounds per game. He also collected CCAA Player of the Year and NABC All-District Team honors that season in leading the Matadors to a share of the CCAA title.

Following his CSUN career, McCracken went on to play three seasons in the NBA, beginning with a two-year stint with the Houston Rockets from 1972-74. He also spent four seasons in the Continental Basketball Association, averaging over 19 points in his career. After a return to the NBA as a member of the Chicago Bulls, McCracken went on to win the CBA league Most Valuable Player award with the Wilkes-Barre Barons in 1977-78. He concluded his professional career playing overseas.

McCracken graduated from CSUN in 1972.