historicalheader The Draft Review - The Draft Review

This week begins the roll out of 3rd and 4th round profiles starting with players from the 1950-1955 drafts. At this time access is available from the draft board only.

Because of the large amount of new profiles in the database and the amount of input work involved, it will take more time for the latest profiles to be accessible from "By State", "By College", "By Last Name", "By Position" and "By NBA Teams". My goal is to have that available by winter.

During this time I will spotlight key players and speak a little about the research that still has a few holes in it. Maybe the great basketball minds that come to the site will be gracious enough to fill in those blanks.

The later draft rounds can be accessed from the top of each draft board as highlighted below.


sitepic The Draft Review - The Draft Review

 

1950-1955 Problems:

Stan Christie: I am certain my information is correct, but I need some clarification as to whether he was in the Armed Forces. Because of the fact that he was eligible for the draft despite his junior class status, it leads me to believe he spent time elsewhere (after high school) before attending Southern California.

Charles Marazovich & Paul Hicks: Both are Eastern Kentucky alumni and their first two years of stats have been very hard to find. I was extremely lucky to have the 1949 and 1950 scorebooks, but do not possess the 1947 or 1948 season stats.

1952 & 1953 NBA Draft Order: During this time the NBA was at war with the NIBL (National Industrial Basketball League) and concerned about showing their draft order for fear that the NIBL would have a window into what players they valued and desired. The only team that consistently recorded their order during this time period were the Boston Celtics, which probably had much to do with the Godfather of basketball statistics, Bill Mokray, who was in their employ. Mokray was a great mind with a desire to organize and record anything that had to do with basketball, which was uncommon in those days.

Highlights:

Bud Grant: The pro football Hall of Famer was actually a solid basketball player who spent two seasons playing for his local pro team, the Minneapolis Lakers. Grant left after his second season to pursue a professional football career where he became an excellent Head football coach for the Minnesota Vikings, leading the team to one NFL Championship and four Super Bowl Appearances.

NIBL: The National Industrial Basketball League proved the NBA was justified in their practice of hiding draft orders in 1952 and 1953. Notable players like Howie Williams, Ron Bontemps, Burdette Haldorson, B.H. Born, Dick Boushka, Walt Walowac passed on the NBA for the financial security of various Industrial Clubs. This was a dangerous time for the NBA due to the college basketball scandal that made the talent level scarce and robbed the sport of Sherman White, Jim Spivey and Gene Melchiorre. The NIBL remained a thorn in the NBA’s side for a few more years until they slowly gained financial strength and overtook the NIBL in acquiring superstar talent.

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