1961 Fleer #45 Paul Arizin (IN ACTION)

Paul Joseph Arizin (April 9, 1928 - December 12, 2006) was named college basketball’s Collegiate Player of the Year in 1950 as a senior, despite not playing in his freshman year of college. Arizin did not play high school basketball and his talent was not recognized until Villanova’s head coach saw Paul playing in a CYO game in Philadelphia. Pitchin’ Paul, renown for his line-drive jump shots, scored 85 points in a game during his junior season against the Naval Air Materials Center and unofficially scored 100 points in a game that was not recognized by the NCAA due to the fact that Nova’s opponents were a junior college. Paul was the Number 1 overall pick in the 1950 NBA Draft by the Philadelphia Warriors, where he played his entire professional career (1950-1962). He led the league in scoring twice (1951-52, 1956-57) and minutes played, led the league in field goals three times and free throws once. In 1956, he helped guide the Warriors to the NBA Championship over the Fort Wayne Pistons. The ten-time All-Star selection (named the 1952 NBA All-Star Game MVP) was also a three-time All-NBA First Team player. As a member of the Warriors, Arizin played with future Hall of Famers Tom Gola and Wilt Chamberlain at the beginning and end of his career, respectively. Refusing to move with the team to San Francisco, Arizin retired from the NBA. He played two seasons with the Camden Bullets of the EPBL, winning the 1964 championship before retiring for good from the game of basketball. Paul Arizin finished his career with 16,266 points, 6,129 total rebounds and 1,665 assists. Paul Arizin was indicted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1978. In 1996, Paul Arizin was named to the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History list.

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Elgin Gay Baylor (September 16, 1934-March 22, 2021) was the Number 1 overall pick, held by the Minneapolis Lakers, of the 1958 NBA Draft, the 1958-59 NBA Rookie of the Year and Lakers’ franchise savior guiding them from a last place finish in 1958 to the NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics in his rookie season of 1959. And so began the most storied rivalry in NBA history. Having led the Seattle Chieftans to the NCAA championship game in 1958, Baylor was highly sought after for his basketball ability, but his struggles with academics nearly derailed any potential career on the court. Baylor was convinced to forego his final collegiate season at the University of Seattle to play for Minneapolis, virtually keeping the club from going bankrupt. Baylor averaged more than 34 points per game from 1960-1963, and in the 1962 NBA Finals, he set a scoring record when he dropped 61 in an NBA Finals game against Celtics while also grabbing 22 rebounds. Elgin was an 11-time All-Star game selection, was a ten-time All-NBA First Team player and an eight-time Western Conference champion. Baylor injured his knee during the 1963-64 season, and as his career progressed, nagging knee pain led to fewer and fewer games each season until he retired nine games into the 1971-72 season. Elgin Baylor retired after 13 seasons with the Lakers in Minneapolis and Los Angeles with 23,149 point, 11,463 total rebounds and 3,650 assists. In 1996, he was named to the NBA’s All-Time Fifty Greatest Player list. Elgin Baylor was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1977. Baylor coached the New Orleans Jazz from 1974-1979 before becoming the Vice President of Operations for the Los Angeles Clippers for 22 years. In 2006, he was elected NBA Executive of the Year.

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Wilton Norman “Wilt” Chamberlain (August 21, 1936 - October 12, 1999) is the only player in NBA history to score more than 100 points in a single game or average 40 and 50 points a game for an entire season. At 6’11” as a high school freshman, Wilt earned the nicknames that stuck with him throughout his career such as Wilt the Stilt, Goliath and the Big Dipper, because he had to dip his head when walking through doorways. He led his high school team to two city titles and a 56-3 record in his ion three seasons becoming one of the most sought after college freshmen drawing interest from over 200 colleges and universities before choosing the University of Kansas. Chamberlain left Kansas after two seasons disheartened from losing a heart-breaking NCAA Championship game in 1956 and the new tactics of triple-teaming him and stalling by holding the ball for minutes at a time to preserve leads. He joined the Harlem Globetrotters for the 1958-59 season because the NBA did not accept players who had not completed college.

Wilt was a territorial pick out of the University of Kansas and the Harlem Globetrotters in 1959 by the Philadelphia Warriors. Chamberlain was immediately the most dominant player in the NBA, leading in numerous categories including total rebounds, field goals and points. He was named the 1960 NBA Rookie of the Year and the league’s Most Valuable Player and began a string of six consecutive seasons leading the league in points. In the 1961-62 season Chamberlain averaged an unheard-of 50.4 points per game and followed that season averaging 44.8 points per game. Wilt was a 7-time All-NBA First Team player, two-time NBA All-Defensive First Team player, 13-time All-Star selection and was named the 1960 NBA All-Star Game MVP after scoring 23 points and pulling down 25 rebounds. He led the league seven times in points, 11 times in total rebounds, seven times in field goals and attempts, eight times in minutes played, five times in games played and one time in assists. During his 14-year career with the Philadelphia/San Francisco Warriors (1959-1965), the Philadelphia 76ers (1965-1968) and the Los Angeles Lakers (1968-1973), Wilt was without a doubt the most dominant player in any league and possibly the history of basketball. He won his first NBA Championship with the 76ers teaming with fellow Hall of Famers Billy Cunningham and Hal Greer to defeat his former team, the San Francisco Warriors. He won three NBA Most Valuable Player Award as a 76er (1966-1968) before heading to the Los Angeles Lakers in 1968. Wilt won another NBA Championship with the Lakers in 1972 and was named NBA Finals MVP for his performance.

Though Chamberlain remained in top physical condition as he did during throughout his playing days, he retired after the 1972-73 season holding many of the NBA all-time records, some of which remain unbroken. He played occasionally for the International Volleyball Association for which he was the president off the organization. Wilt Chamberlain was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1978. In 1984, Wilt was cast in the major motion picture Conan the Destroyer. In 1996, Wilt was named to the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History list. Despite his superior fitness, Chamberlain was diagnosed with heart problems and in 1999 he died of congestive heart failure. 

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Lawrence Ronald “Larry” Costello (July 2, 1931 - December 13, 2001) won two NBA Finals Championships within a five year span, one as a player and one as a coach. Drafted out of Niagara University, the Philadelphia Warriors picked Costello in the second round of the 1954 NBA Draft. Larry played point guard for twelve seasons in the NBA with the Warriors (1954-55, 1956-57), the Syracuse Nationals/Philadelphia 76ers (1957-1968). He was a six-time NBA All-Star selection and was named to the All-NBA Second Team in 1961. Playing with Hall of Famers Wilt Chamberlain, Hal Greer and Billy Cunningham, Costello helped the 76ers capture the 1967 NBA Finals Championship over the San Francisco Warriors four games to two. After the 1967-68 season, Larry retired from playing compiling 8,622 career points, 2,705 total rebounds and 3,215 assists. Larry Costello was made head coach of the expansion Milwaukee Bucks immediately following his playing days and led them to a 56-26 record in his second season at the helm. In his third season, the relatively young team that included future Hall of Famers Kareem Abdul Jabbar and Oscar Robertson won the NBA Finals Championship 4-0 over the Baltimore Bullets. Larry Costello was the head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks nine seasons (1968-1977) before becoming the head coach of the Chicago Bulls for 56 games of the 1978-79 season. Costello compiled a record of 430-300 in 730 games over a 10-year NBA coaching career. He retired from the NBA following the 1978-79 season, then coached in the Women’s Professional Basketball League and eventually coached in the college ranks to finish his basketball career. 

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Robert Joseph “Bob” Cousy (August 9, 1928-) was born in New York to French immigrants, not speaking English until the age of 5, was cut twice from his high school basketball team, road the bench at the College of the Holy Cross and became the NBA’s Most Valuable Player. After his early struggles at Holy Cross, Cousy led the Crusaders to the NCAA National Championship in 1947. Underrated by the Celtics organization as the 1950 NBA Draft approached, Bob was chosen by the Tri-Cities Blackhawks as the third overall pick in the draft. Refusing to report, Cousy would eventually be given to the Celtics, to their dismay, via dispersal draft after the Blackhawks refused Cousy’s salary demands and the Chicago Stags folded. Bob Impressed early one eventually hitting his stride in the 1952-53 season when he began a string of eight consecutive seasons that he led the NBA in assists. Cousy became a 13-time All-Star selection (named the All-Star Game MVP in 1954 and 1957) and 10-time All-NBA First Team player. In 1957, Bob captured the NBA Most Valuable Player Award as he guided the Celtics to the first of his six NBA Championships (1957, 1959-1963). 

His innovative style of dribbling, ambidextrous ball handling and shooting, and no-look, behind the back and half-court passing made Cousy a fan favorite and key component around which Red Auerbach could build a team. He earned the nickname of “Houdini of the Hard-court” because of this unique and new style of play and was also called “The Cooz” and most notably, with all due respect to George Mikan, “Mr. Basketball.” Cousy finished his career with 16,960 points, 6,955 assists, 4,786 total rebounds, 4,624 free throws and 6,168 field goals. Cousy retired after the 1963 season, but made a brief comeback during the 1969-70 season as player/coach of the Cincinnati Royals. As a coach for the Cincinnati Royals (1969-1974), Cousy compiled a record of 141-209 in 350 games. Bob Cousy was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1971. In 1996, Cousy was named to the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History list. In retirement, Bob was the Commissioner of the American Soccer League during the late 1970s and has been a color analyst for the Celtics since the 1980s.

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Walter F. Dukes (June 23, 1930 - March 13, 2001) holds the record for highest career percentage (21.9%) of games fouled out for anyone playing over 400 games. Dukes was taken, out of Seton Hall University, as a territorial pick by the New York Knicks in the 1953 NBA Draft. He also received a law degree from New York Law School. He player center for the Knicks for one season (1955-56) before moving to the Minneapolis Lakers (1956-57) for one season. In 1957, Dukes found a home with the Detroit Pistons where he played the remainder of his NBA career (1957-1963. In his first two seasons with Detroit, he led the league in games played and personal fouls. He was elected to two NBA All-Star Games in 1960 and 1961. Walter Dukes finished his career after the 1962-63 season with 5,765 points, 6,223 total rebounds, 608 assists and 2,260 personal fouls. His is second in career disqualifications behind only Vern Mikkelsen. Walter played with various teams in the Continental Basketball Association (then the Eastern Professional Basketball League) before retiring from basketball altogether in 1969.

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Thomas Joseph “Tom” Gola (January 13, 1933 - January 26, 2014) was considered, by many, as one of the most talented college players in Philadelphia’s long history. He led the LaSalle University Explorers to the NCAA Tournament Championship in 1954, was named NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player, won the Helms Foundation Player of the Year and was named to his second of three consecutive NCAA All-American First Teams. He followed his stellar 1854 performance with the 1955 UPI Player of the Year Award. Tom Gola had exceptional skills shooting, scoring, rebounding, but was also a very capable defender, making him a commodity in the NBA. He could be equally dangerous driving the lane and from under the basket as he was from outside. The Philadelphia Warriors took Gola as a territorial pick in the 1955 NBA Draft. Tom played ten years in the NBA with the Philadelphia/San Francisco Warriors (1955-1963) and the New York Knicks (1962-1966). In his 1955-56 rookie season with Philadelphia, Gola, a small forward/point guard, and fellow Hall of Famer Paul Arizin and Neil Johnston led the team to the NBA Finals championship over the Fort Wayne Pistons. Gola was selected for five consecutive All-Star Games (1960-1964). Tom Gola retired from playing after the 1965-66 season with 7,871 points, 5,417 total rebounds and 2,962 assists. Tom returned to LaSalle University as head coach from 1968-70. Now at the helm, he guided his former team to a 23-1 record during the 1968-69 season. Tom Gola was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1976. Gola served in the Pennsylvania State Legislature after retiring from basketball and made an unsuccessful run for Mayor of Philadelphia in 1983.

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Richard Vincent “Richie” Guerin (May 29, 1932-) retired for one season from his player/coach position with the St. Louis Hawks to focus on his head coaching duties, and won the 1968 NBA Coach of the Year Award. He returned the following season as player/coach assisting the newly relocated Atlanta Hawks to their first playoff appearance. Guerin played college ball for Iona College while serving with the Marine Corps Reserves, scoring 1,375 points in 67 games. The New York Knicks drafted Richie in the second round of the 1954 NBA Draft, but waited for two years for his debut as he completed his term on active duty. Guerin was a beloved teammate and fan favorite for his passion for the game, innate scoring ability and happy-go-lucky attitude. Guerin was selected for six NBA All-Star Games and named to three All-NBA Second Teams. He played point guard for thirteen seasons with the Knicks (1956-1963) and the St. Louis/Atlanta Hawks (1963-1970). During Richie Guerin’s playing career, he compiled 14,676 points, 4,278 total rebounds and 4,211 assists. Guerin served as player/coach for five of his eight seasons coaching with the St. Louis/Atlanta Hawks (1964-1972) compiling a record of 327-291 in 618 games. Once retired from basketball, Richie became a sportscaster and eventually found a home on Wall Street. Richie Guerin was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2013.

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Clifford Oldham Hagan (December 9, 1931-) returned to the University of Kentucky after he graduated to play a final season for the Wildcats, guiding them to an undefeated 25-0 record in 1954 with fellow graduates Frank Ramsey and Lou Tsioropoulos. At Kentucky, Hagan was a two-time All-American and was a member of the 1951 NCAA National Champions. The Boston Celtics selected Hagan in the third round of the 1953 NBA Draft, as well as selecting Ramsey and Tsiolopoulos, though Hagan never played a game for the high-powered Beantown team. Hagan was shipped to St. Louis with Ed Macauley in exchange for the Hawks newest draftee Bill Russell in 1956. L’il Abner, as he was called, made his NBA debut with the St. Louis Hawks in 1956 and played his entire 10-year NBA career with the club (1956-1966) before embarking on a three year stint as player/coach with the upstart ABA’s Dallas Chaparrals (1967-1969). Hagan was named to five consecutive NBA All-Star Games and one ABA All-Star Game and was selected for two All-NBA Second Teams. In 1958, Hagan led all playoff teams in games (11), points (305) and points per game (27.7), field goals (111) and field goal percentage (50.2%) as the St. Louis Hawks beat the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals. Cliff retired with 14,780 points, 5,555 total rebounds and 2,646 assists. Cliff Hagan was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1978. Hagan returned to the University of Kentucky to become the athletic director until he resigned in 1988.

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Thomas William “Tom” Heinsohn (August 26, 1934-November 10, 2020) was the second president of the NBA Players Association and was impetus in the development of free agency in the NBA and the ABA. Tom Heinsohn was a star in high school, and then attended Holy Cross where he became the school’s all-time leading scorer. The Boston Celtics selected Heinsohn as a territorial pick in the 1956 NBA Draft and he played his entire career at forward and center with the Celts (1956-1965). Tom was named the NBA Rookie of the Year in 1957, was named to his first of six All-Star Games and won his first NBA Finals Championships. Heinsohn was a member of seven consecutive NBA Championship Celtics teams (1959-1965) and is surpassed only by teammates Bill Russell and Sam Jones for most career NBA titles. He was also named to four All-NBA Second Teams. Heinsohn retired from playing with 12,194 career points, 5,749 total rebounds and 1,318 assists. Tom Heinsohn coached Boston for nine seasons (1969-1978) and led them to two more championships as head coach in 1974 and 1976. After an extraordinary 1972-73 season when Boston poted a 68-14 record, Tom was named the NBA Coach of the Year. Tom Heinsohn was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1986. Following his on-the-court responsibilities, Tom became a color commentator for the Celtics for more than two decades.

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Bailey E. Howell (January 20, 1937-) is unquestionably the greatest basketball player in the history of Mississippi State University. Playing three seasons with the Bulldogs (1957-1959), Howell holds numerous school records including career scoring average (27.1 per game) and career rebounds (1,277). The Detroit Pistons picked Bailey second overall in the 1959 NBA Draft. Howell played 12 seasons with the Detroit Pistons (1959-1964), the Baltimore Bullets (1964-1966), the Boston Celtics (1966-1970) and the Philadelphia 76ers (1970-71). Defined by his rebounding ability and intense work ethic, Howell was named to six All-Star Games and the All-NBA Second Team in 1963. Playing alongside fellow Hall of Famers Bill Russell and John Havlicek, Howell won the 1968 and 1969 NBA Finals Championships. Howell led all teams in those playoffs in personal fouls. Howell finished his career after the 1970-71 season with the 76ers with 17,770 points, 9,383 total rebounds and 1,853 assists. Bailey Howell was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1997.

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