Throwback Thursday: Andrew Toney - The Boston Strangler
Picture a player in the presence of The Doctor(Julius Erving), a Leader(Moses Malone), the Secretary of Defense(Bobby Jones), and the floor General(Maurice Cheeks).
But among these legends is one who doesn’t have the notoriety, the big school background or the big-time salary. He does however possess big game ability and the heart of a killer. He is The Boston Strangler… he is Andrew Toney.
Before there was Michael Jordan and his dominance; Andrew Toney may have been the best two guard in the NBA. The 8th pick in the 1980 draft out of S.W. Louisiana, Toney at 6′3″ 185lbs. possessed a first step that was lethal - once he was by you, it was only a matter of how he was going to score. He had long range accuracy that many players of today lack. Toney would come off of a screen and fire in the same fluid motion that Rip Hamilton does now or how Reggie Miller used to. He teamed in the backcourt with Maurice Cheeks to form one of the best defensive backcourt combos in the NBA during the early 1980’s.
Although he was on a team that featured Doc, Moses, Mo, Cheeks Bobby Jones and later on Charles Barkley; Toney was the guy that the opposition knew they had to stop in order to beat the 76′ers. Since most of the great players in the NBA then were forwards or centers Toney was a matchup problem for most teams night after night.
We live in a society where we love to give nicknames around, I have found few to be as true to form as The Boston Strangler.
During the early 1980’s - few rivalies in sports could measure up to the 76′ers-Celtics matchups. In 1981 the 76ers blew a 3-1 series led that opened the door to to Larry Bird and the Celtics winning the NBA Title. In 1982 things would be different…sort of the 76ers would once again blow a 3-1 series lead and would face Bird and his gang in a Game 7 in fabled Boston Garden. Toney who averaged 29 points for the series was the catalyst who pushed the 76ers past the Celtics in Game 7. Even the Celtic faithful paid homage with the chant, “Beat L.A.!” “Beat L.A.!” But the 76ers would be denied that elusive title for another season.
In 1983 the puzzle was completed with the addition of Moses Malone as the 76ers would go on to a 67-14 record, with one loss in the playoffs and a three game sweep of the Los Angeles Lakers.
It seemed from there things would go south in Toney’s career.
In spite of a career best 20 ppg. in the 83-84 season the Sixers would be ousted in the first round by the New Jersey Nets, many of the teams reserves would leave via free agency or trade, the following season Moses Malone was traded. Toney last productive season would be the 84-85 campaign where he averaged 17 ppg.
From that point on Toney was not the same explosive player that we came to love. Stress fractures and nagging bone spurs hampered his game to the point of retirement. The sad part in his story is modern science today wasn’t that modern in the mid-1980’s - Toney would’ve missed maybe a few weeks instead of parts of 2 1/2 seasons. He is one of a few guards that shot 50% for his career, that is outstanding considering that he played in an NBA dominated by big men and relied heavily on his outside shooting.
In recent years his relationship with the organization has been strained largely because of former owner Harold Katz. The only reason Toney’s jersey isn’t hanging from the rafters is because there’s no guarantee that he’ll commit to an appearance.
And you thought Billy King screwed things up?
Looking at the who’s who of 76er greats - Toney’s name may not jump out at you. Unless you’ve sat through some of those spring afternoons and nights against the Celtics and Lakers you can’t put a price tag on what he meant to the franchise and to us as fans.
Those who played with him and against him certainly have not forgotten:
Charles Barkley, former 76ers teammate - “Toney was amazingly strong, he and Moses were the only ones that could post me up!” Charles continued, “I thought he was the best player on the team when I got here. We had Bobby Jones, Moses Malone and Julius Erving but the only one I was in awe of was Andrew.” Taken from Barkley’s book “Outrageous!”
Pat Riley, Former Coach of the Los Angeles Lakers - “He’s the greatest clutch player I’ve ever seen. The hell with Jerry West.”
The highest honor may have come from a man who saw The Strangler first hand.
Larry Bird, Former Boston Celtic Great - “Do I remember Andrew Toney? The Boston Strangler? Yeah. I remember him. I wish we had him. He was a killer. We called him the Boston Strangler because every time he got a hold of the ball we knew he was going to score. He was the absolute best I’ve ever seen at shooting the ball at crucial times. We had nobody who could come close to stopping him. Nobody.”
And that’s coming from a player that’s probably broken my heart more than any woman has.
Quotes taken from NBA Draft.net
Andrew Toney is so obscure that I’m having trouble finding a photo. Please bear with me while I search but feel free to post
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April 23rd, 2008 at 10:58 pm
Thanks for the nice piece on Andrew Toney. Do you know what he’s doing now? I hope he’s OK. He was truly special for those years you describe so well. I was a Celtics fan back then, but everyone was in awe/fear of him. Really, I think Bird said the Celtics got Dennis Johnson to have a chance at competing with Toney. Toney had the ill fortune to be a great player before the big money era ushered in with Bird/Magic and finally Jordan. It’s sad to hear that he was not appreciated by Sixers’ management - don’t these suits understand that it’s the players who make the game?
July 4th, 2008 at 6:13 am
I’ve been Andrews biggest fan since I was in six grade. Now I enjoy watching his son play. Maybe he can become a sixer and become a boston strangler. Just finished reading Pat williams book about the championship team. great book.
August 5th, 2008 at 5:15 pm
Toney is now a P.E. and Health teacher in suburban Atlanta. Reportedly, he is also quite the golfer (unlike Charles Barkley).
August 5th, 2008 at 5:30 pm
Glad to hear he’s doing well. I miss #22
October 14th, 2008 at 10:58 pm
Andrew Toney was my P.E. teacher at Peachtree Elementary in Norcross, a suburban of Atlanta. Hundreds of kids, now many grown up, looked up to him as a role model. He was everyone’s favorite teacher. He taught respect, dignity, integrity, and pride in doing the right thing. He also taught manners. I remember how he would make you start a sentence over from the beginning if you used “uh” or “um.” I was also in his son’s grade, so he was naturally more attentive to our class.
Toney was aging, and the school was switching things around as a new administration came about after I left. A couple years ago I went by to see him. He was in a suit and tie. “They dressed me up and said I have to teach in a classroom now, Rosemary.” He was switched to teach health. But he told me he took his off block to go out to the P.E. field with his golf clubs, just like he used to.
I had the privilege to know this great man. There were rumors of him being in the NBA, but it wasn’t until my last year that we found him in a book about the 76ers. We brought it to class to show him the picture of him in his short shorts. He said it wasn’t him and took the book away from us, even though it was the library’s. Later I confirmed with another teacher that it was him all along.
October 14th, 2008 at 11:44 pm
Toney was Gilbert Arenas before Gilbert Arenas was Gilbert Arenas.
October 17th, 2008 at 10:29 pm
As a Ragin’ Cajun alum, I had the honor of watching Andrew Toney play for four years. God, what a time to be a student at USL!! We would race for our seats at old Blackham Coliseum, spend the evenings cheering Toney and his teammates on, and hurling abuse at the opposing bench and the refs. There were road trips to Ruston, Monroe, Lake Charles and Beaumont. It may not sound like much now, but the old Southland Conference played some serious basketball.
November 7th, 2008 at 5:52 am
I also was at USL when Andrew was there (and before him Bo Lamar). I went to every game, sat right behind the visitor’s bench, and we gave everyone hell at Blackham. I had moved to Dallas when he was drafted by Philly, and my best buddy was from Philly, so he wondered who the hell was this guy, Andrew Toney. I told him to watch and before long, twenty-two was a favorite. I think the Sixers really screwed up (Billy and Katz), but I thought Andrew was helping Mo as an assistant for a year (maybe not). He was an awesome player. He finished his degree early. If he was playing today, he would be the signature player for what the NBA wants from its’ players.
In case Andrew ever reads this, and for other USL fans - thanks and Geaux to Hell McNeese!!!!!!
January 28th, 2009 at 3:19 am
I had the privledge of watching this great player at USL , that first step was lethal, he shamed players so many times. I also played intermural againgst many of the players from andrew’s team, one day he wanted to ride my motorcycle, so he went to start it and the kick start hit him in the ankle. he left limping, I can’t help but think i could have been the one who ruined this great players career. So if you read this Andrew, thanks for all the memories at Blackem. Hope your doing well and come visit us.
January 28th, 2009 at 3:20 am
email should be shawncummins@att.net
January 28th, 2009 at 10:42 pm
I was an athletic trainer at USL when Andrew played. I wrapped a bunch of ankles, but Andrew’s were tough. I remember playing a pick up game off campus one afternoon and Andrew came in and wanted to play. He was on the other team and I was defending at low post when I glanced toward Toney at the top of the key. I turned to look at my man for a second and when I looked back toward Toney, I saw his shoes going past my face. He was so quick and athletic it was scary. I remember his team mates Ted, “Fig” and Manley. If he reads this, I hope you are doing well, because you deserve it! God Bless.
January 29th, 2009 at 2:38 pm
“In 1983 the puzzle was completed with the addition of Moses Malone as the 76ers would go on to a 67-14 record, with one loss in the playoffs and a three game sweep of the Los Angeles Lakers.”
That year the Sixers were 65-17 and swept the Lakers in 4 games.
March 26th, 2009 at 3:17 am
a close friend of mine (1981) is a big fan of the sixers…he told me their best player was the ‘doc’…i watched them play on tv(’82 conference finals vs celtics) and disagreed…their best player was #22.
April 21st, 2009 at 2:32 pm
NBA Playoff Snapshot: Lone gunman almost drops Boston…
42 points, 1 rebound, 0 assist, 1 steal, 6/11 from the three-point line.
That was Ben Gordon’s line from Tuesday morning’s from Chicago’s 115-118 loss to the Boston Celtics. If not for fellow UConn alum Ray Allen channeling Jesus Shuttleswort…
June 29th, 2009 at 1:52 am
I have been wondering about Andrew and was glad to find some information on this site. I like many of the other folks attending college with Toney and watched him play many of times. I alo remember the big game at USL between Houston and the Sixers. We are big fans of Toney, hear in Louisiana.
August 30th, 2009 at 4:28 pm
Living in Boston I still rooted for the Sixers. Andrew Toney for the short time he wasn’t injured was better than Magic, all the Celtic guards, Sydney Moncrief (Bucks), Michael Ray Richardson (Nets) etc.
I have my six year old son watch him on you tube to show his quick crossover, facing the hoop straight up, first quick step and ability to hit the banker (lost art).
Doctor J, Andrew Toney, Moses, Bobby Jones, Barkley and Clyde Drexler are my all time favorite NBA players.
November 5th, 2009 at 1:36 am
Mr. Toney spent today motivating middle school PE students who were running/jogging on the track at my son’s school in Gwinnett County, a suburb of Atlanta. He made quite an impression on my 6th grade son, who struggles in PE. It was wonderful to be able to show my son this article after he came home explaining that he met Mr. Toney today and telling us how he was encouraged to make it around that track! God bless Mr. Toney for taking time to work with reluctant students!