Ray Epps (basketball)

Raymond Edward Epps Jr.^[1] (born August 20, 1956) is an American former professional basketball player.

BornAugust 20, 1956 (age 70)

Listed height6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)

Listed weight195 lb (88 kg)

High schoolGeorge Wythe
(Richmond, Virginia)

Quick facts Personal information, Born ...

Ray Epps
Personal information
Born	(1956-08-20) August 20, 1956 (age 70) Amelia, Virginia, U.S.
Listed height	6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Listed weight	195 lb (88 kg)
Career information
High school	George Wythe (Richmond, Virginia)
College	Norfolk State (1974–1977)
NBA draft	1977: 5th round, 104th overall pick
Drafted by	Golden State Warriors
Position	Small forward
Number	32
Career history
1978–1979	Golden State Warriors
1978–1979	Montana Sky

Stats at NBA.com
Stats at Basketball Reference

A 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) forward born in Amelia, Virginia, and from Norfolk State University, Epps was selected by the Golden State Warriors in the fifth round of the 1977 NBA draft. He left college early to play for the Warriors as a "hardship case."^[2] In the 1977–78 NBA season, Epps did not play due to his injury.^[3] In the 1978–79 NBA season, he played 13 games for the Warriors and scored 26 points.^[1] In December 1978, Epps left early and was subbed with Raymond Townsend.^[2]^[3]

Afterward, Epps played for the Montana Sky of the Western Basketball Association in the league's first and only season.^[4] His tenure began in January 1979.^[5] Less than a month later, Epps was suspended indefinitely after shoving Rex Hughes, the team's coach.^[6]^[7]^[8]

Career statistics

Legend
GP	Games played	GS	Games started	MPG	Minutes per game
FG%	Field goal percentage	3P%	3-point field goal percentage	FT%	Free throw percentage
RPG	Rebounds per game	APG	Assists per game	SPG	Steals per game
BPG	Blocks per game	PPG	Points per game	Bold	Career high

NBA

Source^[1]

Regular season

More information Year, Team ...

Year	Team	GP	MPG	FG%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
1978–79	Golden State	13	5.5	.435	.750	.4	.2	.1	.0	2.0

References

[1]
"Ray Epps NBA stats Stats". Basketball Reference. Retrieved July 3, 2025. says "Raymond Edward Epps Jr."
[2]
Wiley, Ralph (April 6, 1980). "Real Hardships". Oakland Tribune. p. 23. Retrieved August 31, 2022. You don't hear of Ray Epps, do you? Epps left college early to join the Golden State Warriors. He was a good player, but not quite good enough. He should have had a back-up system, a marketable skill. His miss was certainly a mile.
[3]
"Restani, friends try Warriors". The San Francisco Examiner. December 6, 1978. p. 56. Retrieved September 1, 2022. As anticipated, forward Ray Epps was lopped from the roster and put on waivers yesterday so the Warriors could reactive rookie guard Raymond Townsend, who has been out with an ankle injury. Epps, a rookie out of Norfolk State, was "redshirted" on the injury list all last season. He had appeared in only 13 games, averaging only five minutes in them.
[4]
Salter, Stephanie (January 17, 1979). "Cazzie: The Sky's The Limit". The San Francisco Examiner. p. 49. Retrieved August 31, 2022. Ray Epps, recently from the Warriors
[5]
Anderson, Dave (January 9, 1979). "Sky continues lineup shuffle". Great Falls Tribune. p. 11. Retrieved August 31, 2022. The newest member of the Sky is Ray Epps, a 6-6 forward from Norfolk (Va.) State. Epps played last season in the NBA with the Golden State Warriors. To make room for Epps on the roster, the Sky released guard Walter Johnson and returned guard Rocky Smith to the Fresno Stars.
[6]
Kirkpatrick, Curry (February 12, 1979). "Taking a Gamble on the Future". Sports Illustrated Vault. Retrieved September 1, 2022. Last week, during a game against Utah, Hughes heard some unmerciful razzing. When he peered down the bench he discovered it had come from one of his own players, Ray Epps. As the team walked off at halftime, Hughes inquired of Epps what the story was, and the two proceeded to push and jostle one another. Before or after Epps could get off a punch—eyewitness reports were shaky at best—Hughes suspended him on the spot.
[7]
Smith, Phil (February 4, 1979). "Troubled L.V. faces Sky here". Great Falls Tribune. p. 22. Retrieved August 31, 2022. Forward Ray Epps has been suspended indefinitely by Hughes for undisclosed reasons.
[8]
Greenberg, Alan (March 13, 1979). "It's the Place to Nurse a Dream". The Los Angeles Times. p. 37. Retrieved September 1, 2022. Others, like Montana's Ray Epps, shove their coach.

NBA

Regular season

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