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If you were a Chicago basketball fan in the 1970s, you knew the name: Arthur Sivels. He was a playground legend, the best player who never played in high school and better, his peers insisted, than nearly everyone who did.
How good was Sivels?
Take the word of Lloyd Walton, who was an all-stater at Mount Carmel, had an excellent career at Marquette and played for five years in the NBA.
"Arthur's reputation preceded him more than anyone else," Walton said in a 1993 interview in the Sun-Times. "He was better than we were, me and Rickey Green and Billy Harris and Maurice Cheeks and Sam Puckett...by far.
"He could score 50 points if he wanted to, 25 with his right hand and 25 with his left hand. No one could handle the ball like him...except Leon Hilliard of the Harlem Globetrotters, who taught a lot of us."
When Walton enrolled at Marquette, he met two playground legends from New York City, Butch Lee and Earl Tatum, who had been recruited by coach Al McGuire.
"We always talked about who was the best player in the city," Walton said. "New Yorkers always talked about Ron Behagen and Ricky Sobers. We talked about Arthur and Billy Harris (who played at Dunbar and Northern Illinois). They were, no doubt, the best playground players in Chicago."
Those who saw him--including Walton, Green, Harris and Bo Ellis--insist he was a better playmaker than Isiah Thomas.
"If he was playing today, Arthur would be recognized as the best playmaker to come out of Chicago, the best in the NBA," Walton said. "Playmaking was his thing. He was a great ball-handler. He knew how to run a team."
But Sivels never had an opportunity to showcase his enormous skills beyond the playground. He enrolled at Phillips, was expelled for excessive absences and transferred to Crane. He played during the second semester of his sophomore year, then dropped out. He didn't like school.
After working for two years in a metal factory, he attended Mineral Area Junior College in Flat River, Mo., for one year but left after a dispute with the coach. He briefly attended Kennedy-King College in Chicago.
He lost interest in basketball, sold drugs to make a living, began using heroin and spent time in jail for drug possession. He left his game and his life on the playground.
"Most of the guys who played (with Arthur) went to college and played basketball. But we lost track of Arthur," Walton said. "We all wondered what he was doing. We heard stories about him. We wondered what happens to a guy who has all the talent in the world but didn't want to go to school."
Cell Phone Alerts
HE WAS THE GREATEST BASKETBALL PLAYER THAT I HAVE EVER SEEN.
I played guard with Lloyd Walton in high school... one summer we played in a tournament against Sivels. His ability to handle the ball was uncanny; he could do in the game what we would only try in practice. The beauty was he performed his skill effortlessly, confidently and naturally. He handled the ball in ways that are still not taught today. I still practice what I saw him do...it is just fun.
SIVELS DID STUFF ON THE COURT THAT JORDAN DR.J MAGIC BIRD AND ALL OF THE REST COULDNT EVEN THINK OF DOING
back in '65 - '66 myself (ed lamar),claude pickett[arthur's best friend], his brother fred sivels& larry harper all learned how to play regulation basketball at the Wabash YMCA on 37th & Wabash under the tutelage of coach Phillip "phill" Johnson[who also had play at Dunbar H.S.]. we were playing and beating high school teams that "phill" had arranged for us to play around the city. i remember palying a ymca team and wee all got mad and were arguing that someone had let the other team score 2 points, thier first; and "phill" told us to stop arguing because the other team has to score sometimes.we had been up by some twenty or so points at the time. i do remeber that all us went on to play at different high schools and i was telling everyone that they had to see this guy ARTHUR SIVELS play. he initially went to Phillips h.s., but he ended up leaving for some reason. and i always wanted & preached how good this guy was. unfortunately most people never got to see a "wonder" on the court. i don't think those of us that learned to play w/ him actually realized how good he was until we were in high school. he is the only player to this day, including MJ,Kobe & Lebron that i can say i would not miss for the world to watch paly a game and be thoroughly excited to see. you found youself talking about what he had done days, even years after the fact.
ed lamar
Arthur Sivels was the truth, a "low-end" magician. The author of the "no-look" pass,ambidextrous,fluid,scoring jumpers with either hand. I remember watching him on tv as he played for Crane in the city playoffs. He was delivering "dimes" that were bouncing off the chests of his teammates. I couldn't help but laugh. Keep your eye on the ball! Looking at Arthur could literally transfix you! Arthur taught you the true meaning of court awareness, making you and everyone around him better. I had the opportunity to play with and against him summers on the bricks at the Lake Meadows park district. Lastly I rememember Arthur making a visit to NIU in DeKalb my senior year. The late "Billy the Kid" Harris was "artist in residence", along with All-American Jim Bradley, and the mercurial Larry Jackson. This triumvirate was awesome. The addition of Arthur would have been, well one can dream! It was not to be, what a tease though! Art, thanks for the memories1
I remember playing with Art on the Dolittle playground courts.......He would dribble around for a minute, with four players chasing him. The baskets did not have nets, but Art never touched the rims, his shots always went straight thru like the nets were up. He would call FACE even before he released the shot. He was the BEST I have ever seen, no doubt.
As of may 13th 2011 we lost a great! I like to send my respects to the family he will be missed.
Arrangments are pending;(.......
I rember Art always said to me. Slim if I had your height. I was 6'5" Art was maybe 6'1". He did things with the ball that I have not seen since he was doing it with ease in the 70's. Once CBS filmed a special about him. I'd love to see them rebroadcast it. The trotters were trying to sign him that weekend.
Arthur was simply the best.
Arthur Lee Sivels was my father and it gives me great pride to see people speak of my dad with such pride and adoration. I just recently lost my father. We laid him to rest on the 20th of May.
My brother and I and everyone that knew and loved him have big shoes to follow. While though he didn't enjoy superstardom on the court. He did enjoy that superstardon as a Brother, Father, Uncle and Friend to those who loved him.
SFC Robert N. Coppage
I was on that Wabash Y team. Arthur was a good person, and a unique talent. The point guard position would be different if he had pursued his talents.
I remember in the summer of 68, I think, we were playing at Dunbar open gym. Quinn Buckner had just been drafted in the NBA, and Arthur stole the ball from him, dribbled downcourt at full speed between his legs, and did some razzle dazzle with the ball while in the air laid it up with his left hand. Quinn just looked in awe, and to paraphrase, he said who is this guy?
My deepest condolences to Fred and the rest of the family. He will be missed as a person and the best point guard talent that I have seen.
Wow!! I just happen to read an article about Chicago HS basketball in the 60's and 70's and ran across Arthur Sivels name. I read what Eddie Lamar said and I have to this day never seen anyone play the point and handle the rock like Arthur. Even when we were in grammar school he had skills far beyond everybody.
Chic............
I played many a days at Dunbar open gym with the great ARTHUR SIVELS. the best player ever with the ball in his hands. Ever! I rank him just slightly above Isiah Thomas, Tim Hardaway, Kevin Porter, Ronnie Lester, Mo Cheeks, Derrick Rose, Ricky Green and the Greatest General ever Michael Poole. Arthur was better than Lenny Wilkens, Tiny Archibald, Chris Paul, John Stockton and all of the great point guards of all time. Magic comes closest.
Nate, I had the good fortune to see Arthur Sivels play one of his few high school games at Crane, when he started in the backcourt with another outstanding player, James Jackson, who later played at Minnesota. How many high school backcourts could compare to Sivels and Jackson? Taylor Bell
Taylor, I think you are right regarding that Great Crane backcourt of Arthur Sivels and James Jackson. Jackson should have been a 10 year NBA player. Up top I should have mentioned the other generals Lloyd Walton and Jerome Freeman. Taylor were you able to see the great George Vaughn or the great Larry Cross.or the original Pistol Pete Cunningham.Also Taylor do you remember if Nate Williams was also part of that Crane backcourt? Chicago produces the Greatest players in America. I've been in New York my whole adult life and I tell them all the time there is no place for basketball like Chi Town.I will try and think about some other backcourt tandems later. Poole/ Billy (the kid) Harris (THE GREATEST I EVER SAW) Lester/Dancy Freeman/Foster, Brown/Dee Brown, Adams/Villa Gomez?????
Nate, I haven't observed high school basketball in New York or Atlanta or Philadelphia but I can't believe it is better than Chicago. George Vaughn? Do you mean George Wilson of Marshall's great teams of 1958-60? Yes, I saw him. And I saw Du Sable's Larry Cross. But I missed Carver's Pete Cunningham by a year or two. Nate Williams led Crane to the state quarterfinals in 1972, a year before James Jackson and Arthur Sivels arrived. Lloyd Walton always said that Sivels was the best of all. Jackson, who lives in Australia, returned to Chicago last month to be inducted into the Chicago Public League Basketball Hall of Fame. Good to communicate with someone who thrives on the history of high school basketball in Chicago. Taylor Bell
Man....this is like a history lesson. I do remember George "The General" Vaughn (Dusable H.S.)and my other homies Mitchell Mosely,Larry Moody and Big Bill Moody. Arthur Sivels was one of a kind. I remember a summer league in the 70's at the parks called the CNBL. Remember a game at ADA Park and Arthur broke a press effortlessly. If Taylor Bell see's this I was told there is a book published about Chicgoland Basketball 1950 thru 1970. Do you know the publisher and title? RIP.
Nate & Taylor, we're talking about George "Waldo' Vaughn of DuSable HS, full beard and all while in high school, vicious rebounder, great down low post player. Arthur was the greatest ball handler ever, period. I went to Marshall HS w/George wilson & the Marshall teams from 58'/60', I also remember Chester Wilson (Forestville) HS who tied Billy Harris in Public League 33. something pg and he only 1 semester of 1 yr. of HS ball. Chicago, I feel IS the true mecca of basketball, and we got Jabari Parker coming !!!!!!
John, I began covering high school basketball in Chicago in 1968. I don't recall George "Waldo" Vaughn at Du Sable. When did he play there? Taylor
Hey Nate,I played with you at Dunbar,and Athur was the greatest ball handler of all time,but have you ever seen anybody faster with the ball than Ricky Green? S.Lewis 1972.