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Steve Mix’s dominant career at the University of Toledo translated to him playing in the NBA
Photo: Mike Cianciolo; Logo: University of Toledo Athletics

Steve Mix’s dominant career at the University of Toledo translated to him playing in the NBA

TOLEDO, Ohio (BVM) — Steve Mix is arguably one of the greatest players to ever play basketball at the University of Toledo.

Mix was a Toledo, Ohio native born on Dec. 30, 1947, and attended Rogers High School.

He would then play collegiate basketball at the University of Toledo where he made an immediate impact playing under Bob Nichols.

In his sophomore season, Mix posted averages of 23 points and a career-high 13.5 rebounds. In a game against Northern Illinois on Dec. 14, 1966, he grabbed a career-best 25 rebounds. 

He would lead Toledo to the 1967 NCAA Tournament after a 23-2 regular season record, but the Rockets would lose in the first round against Virginia Tech where Mix tallied 18 points and 14 rebounds.

His junior season saw a steady average of 21.8 points and 10.5 rebounds, and Toledo finished with a 16-8 record with no postseason play.

It was Mix’s senior season where he really made an impact. He averaged a career-high 24.1 points per game along with 12.1 rebounds.

In a game against Butler on Feb. 25, 1969, Mix would erupt for a careerhigh 47 points, making a school record 21 field goals out of 32 shots.

Mix’s 47 points are the secondmost points scored in a game by a Toledo Rocket. His dominant senior season earned him MAC Player of the Year honors, and he planned to take his talents to the NBA.

Mix entered the 1969 NBA draft where he was selected by the Detroit Pistons in the fifth round.

He received limited minutes there and after two seasons, he was waived. He signed with the Denver Rockets of the American Basketball Association (ABA) where he only appeared in one game.

During the 1972-73 season, Mix was cut by the Philadelphia 76ers at training camp. He would then play for the Grand Rapids Tackers of the Continental Basketball Association (CBA) where he would revive his career by averaging 31.1 points and leading the Tackers to the CBA championship.

After that season, Mix earned a full-time roster spot on the 76ers where he would play for nine seasons.

During his span with the Sixers, he would make one All-Star team in 1975 with averages of 15.6 points and 10.9 rebounds. Mix also appeared in three NBA Finals with the team.

After his career in Philly, he had a stint with the Bucks and the Lakers where he appeared in the 1983 NBA Finals with L.A., but would lose to his former 76ers team.

After Mix retired from basketball, he had a few stops where he served as a women’s basketball coach for the University of Toledo in 1984, and Trine University in 2012.

He spent most of his postNBA playing career serving as a color commentator for the 76ers television broadcast for 22 years.

Mix was the first player to have their jersey retired at the University of Toledo, and was inducted to the school’s Varsity T Hall of Fame in 1977.

He was also inducted into the Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame in 2007.

Over his three seasons at Toledo, Mix was named All-MAC first-team for all three seasons and is ranked eighth alltime on Toledo’s alltime scoring list while ranking fourth in total rebounds. He also holds the schoolbest record of 23 points per game throughout his career.

Steve Mix is a true legend and is the only Rocket to ever make an NBA AllStar team.