Tag Archives: Philadelphia Warriors

Former LaSalle player John Grauer on Philly Basketball in the 1950s

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cjelli (flickr)

cjelli (flickr)

Philadelphia has been the stomping grounds of some of basketball’s greatest players. Wilt Chamberlain, Guy Rodgers, Rasheed Wallace, Larry Foust, Tom Gola, and Paul Arizin just to name a few notables. This week I was fortunate to get in touch with one of these Philly basketball players, John Grauer.

Grauer left a remarkable comment on my article encouraging Larry Foust’s induction to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Grauer played alongside men like Foust, Arizin and Gola back in the late 1940s and 1950s and graduated from LaSalle in 1954.

The following are his insights on playing basketball back in the 1950s and how the game has evolved, which I’ve only edited for formatting here on this site.

On knowing Fort Wayne Pistons star and LaSalle legend, Larry Foust:

 I was Larry’s sub at [LaSalle] in 49-50, his senior year. We made the NIT, beat Arizona and lost to Duquesne–Chuck Cooper On the way back to the hotel, Larry was very despondent and I said to him, “Larry you will be playing well after everyone else will be long gone and forgotten”. Larry died young [56 years old in 1986] and I went from Philly to Pittsburgh for the funeral and met his family of giants, including a 7 foot son who was a fisherman in Newport RI

On the game’s evolution:

Rules have changed or the interpretation thereof; I guess to accommodate the great athletes–particularly the black guys that can jump thru the roof. In the NBA [today,] it is football in short pants–without the pads—I don’t know how there are not more serious injuries. Basketball was a game of finesse in the [1940s and 1950s] area–except under the boards. Now it is very physical all over the court as well as brainy.

Of course, other rules have changed too…

the block in the lane which was a charge, palming the ball–could not have your hand on the bottom half of the ball; moving the pivot foot, walking with the ball, moving pick; i.e., the picker had to remain rigid or else–cost me a broken nose in HS as I did not move when I should have for safety’s sake!!

Grauer beats out Hall of Famer Paul Arizin for the high school team:

Paul Arizin (all time NBA team) as a senior at La Salle HS did not make the team. I did [as a sophomore]. Also, Nick Maguire, later capt of Villanova did not either–another soph did–we won everything in [sight] anyway–City championship was held before the largest crowd ever at  a sporting event in PA. Nick and [Arizin] were lifelong friends from South Philly. Our center later went to Villanova and was [Arizin]‘s sub!!! Just like Larry Foust and Charlie Share of [Bowling Green] as I told you.

Philadelphia being fertile ground for talent in the 1940s and 1950s:
Another irony in my time–my high school ( La Salle college HS in Philly) was a basketball powerhouse and we and other Catholic and public schools furnished most of the players in the “Big Five” (wasn’t called that then). That too has changed—see Villanova–not many Philly players in the last several decades. Arizin’s great team of 47-50 was all Philly staffed. I can still name them.

Penn was always an exception, but Ernie Beck, All American from Phila West Catholic starred in the 50′s.
Today, the NCAA tournament is hailed as the premier college basketball tournament. However, for many years, the NIT tournament was the tournament college kids preferred to play in:
The local Philly newspapers resurrected LSU from the basketball dead recently and had several stories about the ’54 NCAA team and one in particular concerning the desire of the team to go to the NIT (Madison Sq GDN for the whole tournament–real fun and glamour!!) as opposed to the NCAA held in different arenas where your fans could not attend.
Note that the great LaSalle squad mentioned by Grauer that won a college title in 1954 won the NCAA title, not the NIT. What gives?
Little do they know that this was conscious choice of the AD and the coach–who had the choice as [Tom] Gola was the star attraction in the field.  4-time All-American and still holds the college record for total rebounds, 2200. The reason they chose the NCAA was Niagara who had two of the soon to be black jumping jacks that were to permeate the court (Louisville under Denny Crum being a prime example). So when Niagara chose the NIT, LSU chose the NCAA–simple as that. Less than 10 people know that story. It’s true–from the co-captain, a life long friend.
For what it’s worth that Niagara team made it to the NIT semifinals that year. Meanwhile, Grauer had joined the Marines and was now married:

After [LaSalle] loss to Niagara mid season 53-54, the coach asked me to return to the team.

I could rebound. My wife was pregnant and told him to see the AD and get me money and I would get in shape.
Nothing ever happened and I lost the chance twice to be a member of a national championship team; ’52 NIT champs ( was in the Marines) and ’54.
Gola’s ’55 team lost in the finals to San Fran with Bill Russell and KC Jones–who guarded Gola in the final and shut him down pretty good as I recall.
Finally, Grauer may never have played in the NBA, but he did play against the NBA’s Philadelphia Warriors:
the ’50 LSC team scrimmaged the Philadelphia Warriors – held our own, but I think the Warriors wanted a look at Larry Foust to see how he would do in the NBA
I’d like to express my sincere appreciation for Mr. Grauer sharing some of his memories playing alongside and against players who I’ve only been able to admire via stat sheets, still photographs, and published books. His first-hand accounts have given wonderful insight and better understanding of how basketball was 60 years ago.
Plus, I really enjoyed how he explained Hall of Famer Tom Gola usurping his spot on the LaSalle squad:
[I] went into the USMC after sop[h]omore yr. Returned to play and Tom Gola was the center – result – end of career

Classic Rivalries: Wilt Chamberlain vs. Elgin Baylor

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via siphotos.tumblr.com/

Teammates from 1968 through 1971 on the Los Angeles Lakers, Elgin Baylor and Wilt Chamberlain weren’t exactly the best of friends. The two men possessed huge similarly styled egos. Each always thought he was right all the time and never hesitated to express their unvarnished opinions. One locker room argument exemplifies their disdain and incompatibility…

“[The Boston Celtics] run like a bunch of turtles with arthritis [Baylor] joked to the delight of his fellow Lakers.
“Are you joking about people again?” Chamberlain inquired seriously.
“I’m not talking about people,” Baylor answered.
“You always talking about people,” Chamberlain replied.
“What do you mean?” Baylor asked.
“How do you think people feel when, you know, you call them turtles with arthritis?” Chamberlain said.
“I didn’t say they were turtles with arthritis. I said they run like turtles with arthritis,” Baylor responded.

… what had begun as jovial locker room interplay between teammates quickly descended into an unpleasant clash of egos…

- Via Thomas Whalen’s Dynasty’s End

Forget the arthritis, the Lakers locker room was one big awkward turtle. Chamberlain thought Baylor was beyond his prime and ought to relegate himself to secondary status behind the Big Dipper and Mr. Clutch. There was some truth to Chamberlain’s thoughts. Baylor after suffering from a serious knee injury in 1965 was robbed of his explosive first step. Prior to the injury Baylor had averaged 30 points and 15 rebounds  a game. Afterwards it was a “mere” 23 points and 11 rebounds.

In truth, though, Chamberlain wasn’t quite the overpowering force he had been in younger years either. Gone were his routine spectacles of 50 points and 30 rebounds in a game. He was still good for 20 points and 20 rebounds a night, but both of these men were past their most physically spectacular, statistically outlandish years. As it so happens, they often performed their statistical feats opposite one another.

Using the wonderful databases at basketball-reference.com, I’ve been able to find three instances where Wilt Chamberlain and Elgin Baylor scored at least 50 points against one another in the same game. And as it so happens they all took place in December 1961 and December 1962.

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Forgotten Warriors: Joe Graboski

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Years Active: 1949 – 1962
Regular Season Stats: 845 games, 30.5 mpg
11.0 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 1.8 apg, 35.2% FG, 70% FT
Playoff Stats: 40 games, 25.8 mpg
9.7 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 1.8 apg, 32.8% FG, 73.5% FT
Accolades: NBA Champion (1956)

Joe Graboski (fanbase.com)

Back in 1995, Kevin Garnett kicked off the modern-day craze for high school hoopsters which culminated in the drafting of Dwight Howard. Thereafter, the age restriction was instituted and the heyday of 18-year old NBA players was over. Of course, astute observers back in 1995 were quick to note that Garnett was kicking off a modern-day craze. Two decades earlier, Darryl Dawkins and Moses Malone had provided a brief breach in the NBA’s college firewall.

But if you want to go back, I mean waaaaay back, into time you’ll see that in the NBA’s very beginning it was using straight-from-high-school players. Tony Kappen and Connie Simmons may have been first, but most prominent was Joe Graboski from Chicago, Illinois. Unlike most players who’ve subsequently done the HS to NBA jump, Graboski had no spectacular talent that rendered college useless. Instead, Graboski had dropped out of Tuley High School and did some time playing in the industrial leagues common in urban areas at the time.

The 17-year old Graboski eventually got a job as a the ball boy for the BAA’s Chicago Stags. At 6’7″, Graboski was a bit hard to miss and after watching him take some shots, John Sbarbaro, president of the Stags, inquired over whether Graboski might consider joining a local university and after some polishing he might join the Stags. Graboski informed Sbarbaro of his academic situation and the Stags president immediately signed him to a deal.

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The 1962 Eastern Division Finals: Philly vs. Boston, Wilt vs. Russell, Barstools vs. Jungle Jim

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THE SETUP

Oh, I’m sure everyone’s familiar with mythical aura of Wilt vs. Russell, but let’s take a crash course lesson on the Boston Celtics vs. the Philadelphia Warriors, which was one of the great rivalries of the early NBA.

Philadelphia in 1956 had captured the NBA title behind the Hall of Fame trio of Neil Johnston, Paul Arizin, and Tom Gola. Johnston in 1953 had succeeded George Mikan as the pre-eminent NBA center. For 5 straight seasons (1953-1957) Johnston led the NBA in win shares and had a PER above 25.0 while also capturing 3 scoring titles, 3 FG% crowns and led the league in rebounding once.

Then along came Bill Russell in 1957.

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Wilt Chamberlain’s 1961-62 Season, By the Numbers

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Photo by MervC (Flickr)

Wilt Chamberlain’s 50.4 ppg and 25.7 rpg are pretty staggering to look at. But what’s even more staggering is looking at the game-by-game running tally, especially when you see the NBA cramming in 8 games in 9 days in early February or 5 in row at one point in January. These players were run ragged as the league fit 70 total games between late October and early March.

But go on ahead and take a gander at the game-by-game tallies…

OCTOBER 1961

Date Opponent PTS REBS
19th Lakers 48 25
20th Lakers 57 32
21st Knicks 53 35
27th Nationals 55 24
28th Nationals 43 23
51.2 27.8

NOVEMBER 1961

Date Opponent PTS REBS
3rd Celtics 28 33
4th Pistons 58 33
8th Pistons 58 23
9th Nationals 55 29
11th Celtics 41 21
14th Knicks 34 18
15th Royals 43 18
17th Lakers 56 32
18th Nationals 39 17
19th Packers 51 16
21st Royals 45 34
23rd Celtics 31 30
25th Packers 39 38
28th Hawks 39 22
44.1 26

DECEMBER 1961

Date Opponent PTS REBS
1st Lakers 60 21
2nd Lakers 37 24
5th Knicks 39 22
6th Hawks 39 16
8th Lakers 78 43
9th Packers 61 36
10th Packers 55 26
12th Pistons 54 25
13th Celtics 52 30
14th Nationals 43 22
16th Packers 50 21
19th Royals 57 25
20th Pistons 55 19
25th Knicks 59 36
26th Nationals 51 29
27th Knicks 53 30
29th Lakers 60 26
30th Celtics 41 28
52.4 26.6

JANUARY 1962

Date Opponent PTS REBS
1st Lakers 32 20
3rd Lakers 36 18
5th Hawks 53 22
7th Hawks 55 21
9th Nationals 47 27
10th Pistons 39 25
11th Royals 52 22
13th Packers 73 36
14th Celtics 62 28
17th Hawks 62 23
18th Royals 54 31
19th Pistons 53 21
20th Pistons 44 28
21st Nationals 62 23
24th Packers 55 32
26th Hawks 47 22
27th Celtics 53 27
28th Celtics 50 20
30th Knicks 55 27
52.8 24.9

FEBRUARY 1962

Date Opponent PTS REBS
1st Royals 53 26
2nd Knicks 35 19
3rd Nationals 41 15
4th Nationals 50 26
8th Knicks 59 24
9th Celtics 48 29
10th Celtics 38 31
11th  Knicks 42 25
13th Royals 65 22
14th Pistons 52 27
16th Royals 48 23
17th Hawks 67 28
20th Packers 48 21
21st Nationals 46 16
22nd Hawks 61 26
24th Celtics 26 31
25th Knicks 67 21
27th Hawks 65 23
28th Packers 61 28
51.2 24.3

MARCH 1962

Date Opponent PTS REBS
2nd Knicks 100 25
4th Knicks 58 35
7th Celtics 30 27
11th Nationals 44 26
14th Packers 34 33
53.2 29.2

So that’s a total of 70 games of at least 20 points and 20 rebounds. 45 games of 25 points and 25 rebounds. And 18 games of over 30 points and 30 rebounds.

And just for fun, here’s how the Dipper fared against each team:

Opponent PPG RPG
Celtics 41.7 27.9
Hawks 54.2 22.6
Knicks 54.5 26.4
Lakers 51.6 26.8
Nationals 48 23.1
Packers 52.7 28.7
Pistons 51.6 25.1
Royals 52.1 25.1

Thank goodness for Bill Russell’s defense holding Chamberlain to only 42 points. Otherwise he might have averaged 52 or 53 points for the season. Phew.

Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-Point Game

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This article 1st appeared on March 2, 2012…

Welcome to the 1st of several articles this month observing the 50th Anniversary of the 1961-62 season, perhaps the NBA’s most thrilling ever. Wilt Chamberlain averaged 50 points, Oscar Robertson a triple double. Elgin Baylor scored 38 points a night moonlighting from the military on weekends. The Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics met for the 1st time in the NBA Finals in a 7-game thriller.

One hell of a season and first up is Wilt’s 100-point game, which occurred 50 years ago today…

The Mythology

It is perhaps the most mythical event in American sports history for a variety of reasons. The sheer volume of points is mind-boggling, but it’s memorability and aura lies in its seeming perfection.

100.

Not 98. Not 103.

100.

It’s a number of totality. Completeness. Fulfillment. Even purity.

Working in mythological concert with this perfect score is the startling lack of footage of this Herculean or, should we say, Wiltonian event. Televised games were a luxury for the NBA in 1962 and for a league still finding its way, luxuries had no place in Hershey, Pennsylvania, the location of this epic performance.

In true mythological form, the stature of this game has only grown with time. Initially, given the NBA’s almost token presence on the American sports landscape, the game wasn’t much ballyhooed. Even local press from Philadelphia and New York deigned to make the trip to Hershey to cover the match. Instead their top flight reporters were in Florida reporting on the big news of early March: Major League Baseball starting training camp. But like the NBA, this game’s aura, its presence, has grown.

And it represents the important duality of the NBA’s growth.

Of the two mesmerizing records of the early NBA, there is the regal domination of the Celtics dynasty. 11 championships in 13 years. On the other, the unfathomable statistical reign of Wilt Chamberlain exemplified by the 100 point game. The Celtics domination is fairly simple to understand and gave the public something to remember of the emerging NBA.

13 years. 11 titles. Count the rings, baby.

Chamberlain’s exploits, and in particular this game, remain perhaps under-appreciated and definitely misunderstood. In a league struggling to grow beyond its 9 cities, its paltry television contract, its 3rd sport status behind football and baseball, Wilt Chamberlain gave the public something to talk about (and someone to root against) just as much, if not more so, than the Celtics’ titles.

Today it is fairly easy to look back at the game and chastise Chamberlain for a supposedly selfish performance. Today we have the luxury of an established league where publicity is a given, no matter the outcome of games. The NBA has a machine to ensure that. You can get highlights and news from ESPN, NBATV, TSN, SBNation, and a variety of other outlets dedicated purely to sports or just the NBA.

In 1962, the NBA was a bit player. Walt Bellamy wasn’t going on The Ed Sullivan Show to talk about his stellar rookie season. Given the context this game was no farce, it was no charade. It was deadly serious for the growth of the NBA.

More than that, it was spectacular. It was compelling.

It was pure Wilt Chamberlain.

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Forgotten Warriors: Sunset in Philadelphia

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Photo by MikeBehnken via Flickr

“What did I get the most thrill out of? It was winning the championship. Individual honors are nice but it’s not like winning. Winning and making a positive contribution is, I think, the most satisfying thing I’ve ever experienced. It’s just a shame we couldn’t have kept that team.”

- Paul Arizin on the 1956 NBA champion Warriors

No matter how great three players are, they cannot write, tell or compose the whole story of a franchise. Before their move to San Francisco in 1962, the Philadelphia Warriors revolved around the trio of Joe Fulks, Neil Johnston and Arizin, but there was certainly more talent in the fold. Those three men played with of some of the finest players of the era and even a couple of other hall of famers and all-time greats.

There was PF/C Woody Sauldsberry. After college ball at Texas Southern University and a stint with the Harlem Globetrotters, Sauldsberry was the 60th pick in the 1957 draft and would surprise everyone by turning in 12.8 points and 9.4 rebounds in his three seasons with the Warriors from 1958 to 1960. His unexpected play made the transition from Neil Johnston to Wilt Chamberlain smoother than it otherwise would have been. An all-star in 1959, he remains to this day the lowest draft pick to ever win Rookie of the Year. And my goodness, does he have a story to tell that sadly reminds of the racism, particularly of the St. Louis Hawks, in the 1950s and 1960s NBA.

Youngsters Tom Meschery and Al Attles made some noise in Philly that would soon become a cacophony when the Warriors moved west. Meschery debuted in the Warriors’ last season in Philly to the tune of 12 points and 9 rebounds. The eventual all-star wasn’t the least bit gun shy that postseason averaging 20 points and 11.5 rebounds as the Warriors went down in 7 games to Boston in the Eastern Finals. Tom also has a personal story worth reading up on. Spending part of your childhood in a Japanese prison during World War II tends to warrant a read.

Attles was a defensive pit bull (nicknamed the Destroyer) with the crew cut to match. He spent two seasons in Philadelphia and would be with the Warriors organization until 1970 as a player, then was coach (winning the 1975 NBA title) until 1983 and was a team executive until… well, until the present. It’s 50 years and going strong for Attles and the Warriors.

Philly native Guy Rodgers was another of the late-50s youngbloods that re-invigorated the Warriors following Neil Johnston’s retirement. The point guard would eventually play in 4 all-star games and lead the league in assists twice. And if anyone can take a heap of credit for aiding Wilt Chamberlain in his 100-point game it was Rodgers who dished out 20 assists that night in Hershey, PA. Rodgers accomplished a Wiltonian feat of his very own the next season in 1963 when he dished out 28 assists to tie Bob Cousy’s single-game record.

Jack George was the man that Rodgers succeeded in the Philadelphia backcourt. Not as dynamic as Rodgers, George was nonetheless the steady hand that routinely gave 12 points, 5.5 assists and 4 rebounds a night. 1956 was his third pro season and his banner campaign. He averaged career highs of 14 points and 6.3 assists, led the league in minutes played, made his first of two all-star teams and earned his only All-NBA selection. His ascension perhaps explains the Warriors’ breakout as NBA champions that year.

Or maybe it was rookie F/G Tom Gola who put Philly over the top in 1956. Debuting with 11 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists per game, he would remain an all-around presence to fill in the holes in Philadelphia as his play barely wavered from that rookie campaign. During his 400 games in Philadelphia, Gola averaged 13.5 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists, made three straight All-Star games (1960-62) and was a member of the 1958 All-NBA 2nd Team.

The final big piece on the ’56 title team was PF Joe Graboski (a name that screams early 50s NBA). He was the third player to enter the NBA straight from high school back in the 1948-49 season with the Chicago Stags. Taken in by the Warriors in 1953, Joe never appeared in an all-star and his shooting percentage was atrocious, but he bruised with the best of them down low. In his six seasons as a starter (1954 – 1959), Graboski averaged 14 points and 10 rebounds.

And the man that sent Graboski to the Philly bench in the 1959-60 season was none other than the Big Dipper, Wilt Chamberlain. It was as a Philadelphia Warrior that Wilt set the single-season records for points per game (50.4), rebounds per game (27.2) and minutes per game (48.5). In 1961 he was the first Warrior and NBA player to shoot above 50% from the field for an entire season.

Of these Philadelphia Warriors greats, only those who spent time in the Bay Area (Chamberlain, Attles, and Merschery) have been recognized by the Warriors franchise with jersey retirements. That’s Golden State’s prerogative, of course, but I disagree with it. Even the Kings have done justice to their previous stops and have jersey numbers retired from their Rochester, Cincinnati, Kansas City and Omaha days.

It’s particularly galling with Arizin who is still splattered all over the Warriors’ record books. He’s top five in games (4th), minutes (3rd), field goals made (4th), free throws made (1st), rebounds (5th), points (3rd), and win shares (2nd). If he stands no chance, the others certainly don’t.

Not that most of these fellows would be around to bask in their own glory. Joe Fulks was murdered in 1976. Neil Johnston passed away in 1978. Jack George exited this world in 1989. Arizin, Chamberlain, Rodgers, Graboski and Sauldsberry have left us too in the past dozen years. Of these greats, only Attles, Gola and Meschery can still attest what it meant to be a Philadelphia Warrior.

And make no doubt about it, they were great times. 16 years, 12 playoffs, 6 Eastern Finals appearances, 3 NBA Finals appearances and 2 titles. As individuals these men collected 27 All-Star games, 18 All-NBA teams, 10 scoring titles, 4 rebounding titles, 2 Rookie of the Year awards and 1 MVP. That’s quite a nice haul from some pretty nice players…

Forgotten Warriors: Paul Arizin

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Years Active: 1951-52; 1955 – 1962
Regular Season Stats: 713 games, 38.4 mpg
22.8 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 2.3 apg, 42.1% FG, 81% FT
Playoff Stats: 49 games, 38.6 mpg
24.2 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 2.6 apg, 41.1% FG, 82.9% FT
Accolades: 10x All-Star (1951-52; 1955-62), 3x All-NBA 1st Team (1952, 1956-57), All-NBA 2nd Team (1959), All-Star Game MVP (1952), NBA Champion (1956); 2x PPG Leader (1952, 1957), FG% Leader (1952)

Photo via The Modern Encyclopedia Of Basketball

“We went out to San Diego to play the San Diego Recruit Depot for the Marine Corps championship. And we were told ‘If you don’t win, you’re not coming back. You’re going to Korea.’ Now talk about playing under pressure. That is playing under pressure. Fortunately, we won…”

Via Paul Arizin from NBA Basketballography

Paul Arizin’s Hall of Fame resume began rather inauspiciously, if not down right ignominiously. A native of Philadelphia, Arizin tried out only once for his high school basketball team, during his senior year, but failed to make it. Enrolling at Villanova University as a chemistry major, Arizin continued to play basketball in various intramural, Catholic and independent leagues. Scouting the local talent, Villanova’s head coach, Al Severance, spotted Arizin during one of the games and offered him a chance to go to Villanova. Arizin politely informed him he already attended the school and the next year as a sophomore, Arizin joined the team.

Arizin rapidly progressed to become the nation’s best college player. As a junior he leveled 85 points in a single game. He even topped the 100 point mark in a single game, but the feat isn’t recognized because it came against a junior college. Nevertheless, his scoring average escalated from 11 to 22 to 25 by his senior year when he was declared Player of the Year and selected to the AP All-America 1st Team in 1950.

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Forgotten Warriors: Neil Johnston

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Years Active: 1952 – 1959
Career Stats: 516 games, 35.5 mpg
19.4 ppg, 11.3 rpg, 2.5 apg, 44.4% FG, 76.8% FT
Postseason Stats: 23 games, 30.5 mpg
15.0 ppg, 11.2 rpg, 3.3 apg, 39% FG, 73.4% FT
Accolades: 6x All-Star (1953-58), 4x All-NBA 1st Team (1953-56), All-NBA 2nd Team (1957); 3x PPG Leader (1953-55), 3x FG% Leader (1953, 1956-57), RPG Leader (1955); NBA Championship (1956)

Photo via Sports Illustrated

(note: this is one of my absolute favorite photographs of all time)

“I doubt if Johnston will ever receive the recognition that Mikan got because Neil didn’t come into the league with the fanfare and blowing of trumpets that accompanied Mikan.” And the fact that Chamberlain came immediately after him, in the same city, also didn’t help.

Via Eddie Gottlieb and Alex Sachare from the 100 Greatest Basketball Players of All Time

Joe Fulks was the pivot man to establish the Philadelphia Warriors as a force in the NBA, winning the inaugural title and being the league’s first superstar in 1947. However, as Fulks aged and wore down, the Warriors struggled to contend. The addition of F/G Paul Arizin in 1951 began the process of renewal. Then in 1952, a 6’8″, 210-pound center was added to the mix. He played a scant 15 minutes his rookie year, but thereafter, Neil Johnston would prove an indomitable force in leading the Warriors back to prominence alongside Arizin.

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Forgotten Warriors: Joe Fulks

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Years Active: 1947 – 1954
Regular Season Stats: 489 games
16.4 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 1.2 apg, 30% FG, 77% FT
Postseason Stats: 31 games
19.0 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 0.4 apg, 25.8% FG, 78.2% FT
BAA Accolades: 3x All-BAA 1st Team (1947-49), BAA Champion (1947), 2x PPG Leader (1947-48)
NBA Accolades: All-NBA 2nd Team (1951), 2x NBA All-Star (1951-52), FT% Leader (1951)

joe fulks

“I remember telling my wife,” Fulks said, “‘This is great — I’m going to get paid for doing something I like to do.’”

Via “Legends profile: Joe Fulks” on NBA.com

Nearly two months ago, I wrote that the stories of Joe Fulks and Paul Arizin would have to “wait for another day.” Well, while adding Neil Johnston to the mix, that day has come. Welcome to the Forgotten Warriors mini-series! Arizin, Fulks and Johnston are unquestionably three of the greatest Warriors players yet they are generally forgotten due to playing in the 1940s and 1950s and also playing for the Warriors when they were in Philadelphia. The 1st of this trio to join the Warriors, “Jumpin’ Joe” Fulks will thus be the first chronicled.

Now, you may look at Fulks’ statistics and not be particularly amazed. You could lead the league in assists with less than 4 a game back in the 1940s. Rebound stats weren’t kept at all until 1951. Minutes played weren’t logged until 1952.  But, they did keep track of field goal attempts and Fulks’s field goal percentage is startlingly bad by today’s standards.

However, context is golden.

Consider that Joe Fulks, even if he was a pioneer, was still a product of his era. In 1947, only four players shot over 33% from the field. In 1948, only 2 accomplished the feat. Finally in 1949, a significant amount of players breached the barrier of 33%, with some even reaching the 40% mark! Basically, chiding Fulks for atrocious field goal percentages would be like getting on the Wright Brothers for not being able to fly a 747. We wouldn’t have the 747 without the work of the Wright Brothers and we wouldn’t have the NBA of today without Fulks.

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