Wendell Ladner
Wendell Ladner was an American professional basketball player most notable for his time playing time in the American Basketball Association from 1970 to 1975.
Ladner was born in Necaise Crossing, Hancock County, Mississippi and played high school ball at Hancock North Central High School in Kiln, Mississippi. After attending the University of Southern Mississippi, Ladner went undrafted in the 1970 ABA draft where he played five seasons with five different teams in the ABA, from 1970 to 1975. A and forward, Ladner was one of the great "enforcers" of the American Basketball Association, protecting Dan Issel of the Kentucky Colonels and Julius Erving of the New York Nets. He was named to the 1971 ABA All-Rookie team. He was selected twice to the ABA all-star game, once in 1971 and second in 1972
Ladner died at the age of 26 in a June 24, 1975, crash of Eastern Air Lines Flight 66. He was identified by medical examiners because he was wearing his ABA championship ring. For many years, the Nets included his name and number in their list of retired numbers, though Ladner's no. 4 did not hang in the rafters with the other retired numbers. His number was also given to Rick Mahorn during his tenure with the Nets. In October 2013, a New York Daily News article explained that the number was never formally retired. However, out of respect to Ladner, Nets trainer Fritz Massmann had not issued No. 4 to other players for 17 years after Ladner's death.
Erving called Ladner his wackiest teammate because he wanted to be Burt Reynolds with a basketball. Semi-Pro, a basketball comedy set in the 1970s and starring Will Ferrell, spoofs Ladner's Burt Reynolds persona in its trailer.
Ladner also has a road in Perkinston, Mississippi named after him in his honor.
