Steven Charles Mix (born December 30, 1947), nicknamed "the Mayor", is an American former professional basketball player and coach. Mix had a thirteen-year playing career, was an NBA All-Star and played in the NBA Finals on four occasions. He later had a lengthy career as a broadcaster for the Philadelphia 76ers.
Mix attended Rogers High School in Toledo, Ohio, and the University of Toledo, playing for coach Bob Nichols.
At Toledo, Mix earned first-team all-Mid-American Conference honors for three consecutive seasons, in 1967, 1968 and 1969. He was the MAC Player of the Year as a senior in 1969. Mix led the Rockets to the NCAA tournament as a sophomore in 1967, averaging 23.0 points and 13.5 rebounds per game. As a junior Mix averaged 21.8 points and 10.2 rebounds, and as senior averaged 24.1 points and 12.1 rebounds.
In his career at Toledo, Mix averaged a double-double of 23.0 points and 11.9 rebounds, shooting 53% from the floor in 73 career games.
Mix ranks fifth in Toledo history with 1,676 total points and is the all-time leader in points per game with 23.0.
Mix was a power forward with a 13-year career from 1969 to 1972 and from 1973 to 1983, playing in the National Basketball Association, with one year in the Continental Basketball Association and one game in the American Basketball Association.
Mix was selected in the fifth round of the 1969 NBA draft with the 61st pick by the Detroit Pistons. Mix was also drafted by the Carolina Cougars of the ABA in the 1969 ABA draft.
Mix was a reserve early in his career and he took time to become an established player.
Selected in the fifth round of the 1969 NBA draft by the Detroit Pistons, Mix signed with Detroit. In two plus seasons in Detroit under coaches Butch van Breda Kolff and briefly, Earl Lloyd, Mix played in 61 games and averaged 7.3 points and 4.1 rebounds. On November 22, 1971, Mix was waived by the Pistons.
Mix played one game with the Denver Rockets of the American Basketball Association after his release from Detroit. He scored two points in four minutes, playing for coach Alex Hannum on December 23, 1971.
Grand Rapids Tackers (1972–1973)
In the 1972–73 season, Mix played for the Grand Rapids Tackers of the Continental Basketball Association (CBA) after being cut by the Philadelphia 76ers in training camp. Mix revived his career averaging 31.1 points in 19 games. Mix led the Tackers to the CBA championship under coach Don Vroon.
Philadelphia 76ers (1973-1982)
On August 29, 1973, Mix signed as a free agent with the Philadelphia 76ers. Mix's career turned around with the 76ers in 1973–74 and he would remain with the team for nine seasons. Mix played in all 82 games for the 1973–74 76ers, averaging a double-double 14.9 points and 10.5 rebounds, with 2.6 steals under coach Gene Shue. The 76ers finished the season with a record of 25–57.
In 1974–75, Mix averaged 15.6 points and 10.9 rebounds as Philadelphia finished 34–48. Mix made the NBA All-Star team, but ultimately played in only 46 games due to injury.
The 76ers improved to 46–36 in 1975–76, as Mix averaged 13.9 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 2.7 assists in 81 games, playing alongside Doug Collins, George McGinnis, Billy Cunningham and rookie Lloyd Free. The 76ers lost to the Buffalo Braves in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.
Philadelphia scored a coup when they obtained Julius Erving before the 1976–77 season. The 76ers also added Henry Bibby, Caldwell Jones and Darryl Dawkins to the roster. The 76ers finished the regular season 50–32, with Mix averaging 10.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 2.0 assists. In the playoffs, Philadelphia beat the Boston Celtics 4 games to 3 and the Houston Rockets 4–2 to advance to the 1977 NBA Finals. In the finals, Philadelphia fell to Bill Walton and the Portland Trail Blazers 4–2.
In 1977–78, Mix averaged 9.3 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 22 minutes per game, as Philadelphia finished 55–27. After Philadelphia started the season with a 2–4 record, Billy Cunningham replaced Gene Shue as head coach. The 76ers were defeated by the Washington Bullets in the Eastern Conference Finals.