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UCLA Basketball: Should UCLA Retire Don MacLean’s Jersey? – An Investigation

By Jake Liker

Dec 10, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Pac-12 Networks broadcaster and analyst Don MacLean (left) interviews UCLA Bruins guard Norman Powell (4) after the game against the UC Riverside Highlanders at Pauley Pavilion. UCLA defeated UC Riverside 77-66. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 10, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Pac-12 Networks broadcaster and analyst Don MacLean (left) interviews UCLA Bruins guard Norman Powell (4) after the game against the UC Riverside Highlanders at Pauley Pavilion. UCLA defeated UC Riverside 77-66. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 12, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins championship banners prior to a game against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Pauley Pavilion. UCLA defeated Arizona State 87-72. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Fielding-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 12, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins championship banners prior to a game against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Pauley Pavilion. UCLA defeated Arizona State 87-72. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Fielding-USA TODAY Sports /

Rapid-Fire Rebuttal

It would be remiss of me to write this piece without addressing the many other valid reasons for opposing the retirement of MacLean’s jersey.

Almost every Bruin to have their jersey retired won a championship, and the only guys who didn’t are in the Hall of Fame. MacLean never won a championship, and he isn’t in the Hall of Fame.

We’re talking about retiring numbers at UCLA, so it’s only fair that players are judged based on their UCLA Basketball careers. UCLA only retired Reggie Miller‘s number because he was incredible in the NBA–he never brought a title back to Westwood (unless you count the NIT).

MacLean was First Team All-Pac-10 three times, one more than Miller.  MacLean was a Second Team All-American, while Miller was Third Team. Don made the NCAA Tournament in all four years at Westwood, going as far as the Elite Eight.

UCLA Bruins
UCLA Bruins /

UCLA Bruins

Reggie only made the tournament once, and lost in the round of 32. Miller’s redeeming quality is that he’s in Hall of Fame, while MacLean’s is that he’s the all-time leading scorer. If UCLA retired Reggie Miller’s jersey, then they should be able to do the same with Don MacClean’s.

Why should we glorify the first man in NBA history to receive a suspension for steroid use?

MacLean claimed that he had taken a supplement that happened to contain a banned substance while recovering from an injury. I believe him, considering that steroids are nowhere near as advantageous and sought-after in basketball as they are in other sports. His suspension only lasted five games.

With all of that said, MacLean’s steroid ordeal is too insignificant to stand in the way of his jersey retirement. The only reason most people even remember that he took steroids is because Charles Barkley famously quipped, “I’ve seen Don MacLean naked, and he doesn’t use steroids”. Make of that what you will.

John Wooden opposed the practice of retiring numbers.

The damage has been done; 12 retired jerseys currently from the rafters in Pauley Pavilion. A 13th isn’t going to make Coach Wooden roll in his grave.

There are some sketchy circumstances surrounding MacLean’s decision to come to UCLA. MacLean’s high school coach accused UCLA of recruiting violations, and a former assistant coach at UCLA accused the school of cover-up.

Okay, yes, that’s true, but that’s more damning for Jim Harrick (the Head Coach at the time) than it is for MacLean. And if shady figures and NCAA violations are grounds for banishment from the rafters, there are quite a few jerseys that are up there right now that should probably taken down. Google a guy named Sam Gilbert. Here’s a just a taste of the big booster they called “Papa Sam,” via the Los Angeles Times.

The NCAA violations issue is a pandora’s box you won’t want to open when it comes to UCLA basketball legacies.

It’s not like the Bruins haven’t honored MacLean; he’s in the UCLA Basketball Hall of Fame. That seems like enough to me.

Next: Analyzing the UCLA Basketball Conference Schedule

Please refer to the first three paragraphs of this article. To retire one’s number is an incredibly high honor. After 25 years and 2,608 points, I’d say it’s an honor that MacLean deserves.