"Sweet" Lou Hudson graduated in 1962 from James B. Dudley High School in Greensboro, North Carolina, where he was a four-sport athlete.

[1] "Lou epitomized athleticism," said Dudley teammate Charlie Sanders, who went on to a Hall of Fame National Football League career.

"[5] In 1963–1964, Hudson made his varsity debut at Minnesota, making an immediate impact, averaging 18.1 points to lead the team and 8.0 rebounds, playing alongside teammate Archie Clark.

[12] After starring at the University of Minnesota, Hudson was selected by the St. Louis Hawks with the 4th pick of the 1966 NBA draft, behind Cazzie Russell, New York Knicks, Dave Bing, Detroit Pistons and Clyde Lee, San Francisco Warriors.

He played alongside Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame teammates Lenny Wilkens, Zelmo Beaty, Richie Guerin and Rod Thorn, as well as Bill Bridges, Joe Caldwell and Paul Silas, as the Hawks advanced to the Western Division Finals, where they lost 4–2 to the San Francisco Warriors, despite Hudson averaging 20.7 points in the series.

[17][18] Hudson returned to form in 1968–1969, averaging 21.9 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.7 assists for the Hawks, in their first season after moving from St. Louis to Atlanta.

The Hawks finished 48–34 and defeated the San Diego Rockets 4–2 in the playoffs, before falling to the Los Angeles Lakers 4–1 in the Western Division Finals.

Against the Lakers, with Jerry West, Wilt Chamberlain and Elgin Baylor, Hudson averaged 16.3 points, 4.8 rebounds and 5.5 assists.

[23][24] Hudson scored a career high (and franchise record) 57 points against the Chicago Bulls on November 10, 1969, in a 133–132 Hawks victory.

[25] Hudson was an All-Star, averaging 26.8 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.4 assists for the Hawks in 1970–1971, while playing in the back court with newly drafted Pete Maravich (23.2 ppg) and alongside Walt Bellamy.

The Hawks were defeated by the New York Knicks 4–1 in the Eastern Conference playoffs, despite Hudson averaging 25.4 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists in the series.

[28][29] In 1972–1973 Cotton Fitzsimmons replaced longtime Hawks coach Richie Guerin, who had moved up to General Manager.

[37] Over his final two seasons, with the Lakers, Hudson averaged 11.8 points, 2.1 rebounds and 2.1 assists, playing under Coach Jerry West and alongside Hall of Famers Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Adrian Dantley and Jamaal Wilkes, as well as Norm Nixon, Ron Boone and a young Michael Cooper.

Hudson averaged 13.7 points, 2.3 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 1977–1978, as the Lakers finished 45–37 and lost to Seattle 2–1 in the Western Conference playoffs.

In his final season, 1978–1979, Hudson averaged 9.8 points and the Lakers lost to eventual 1979 NBA Champion Seattle 4–1 in the Western Conference Semis, after defeating the Denver Nuggets 2–1 in the previous series.

[37] Hudson was a six time All-Star, all with the Hawks (who moved to Atlanta in 1968), and he earned the nickname "Sweet Lou" for his smooth and effective jump shot.

"[38][5] Hudson created a recreation basketball league where he served as coach for 20 years, before suffering a major stroke on a Park City ski slope in February 2005.

"[1] Hudson's son, Lou Jr. died suddenly in 1996 at age 18 from a blood clot in his lung after first complaining of soreness in his rib area after a high school basketball game.