Bobby McDermott
Inducted:
1988
Player Stats
6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
185 lb (84 kg)
Born
January 7, 1914
Queens, New York, U.S.
Died
October 3, 1963
Yonkers, New York, U.S.
Position
Guard
College
NA
Bobby McDermott was one of professional basketball’s earliest superstars and a dominant scorer of the 1930s and 1940s. Playing primarily in the National Basketball League (NBL), a direct predecessor to the NBA, McDermott built a reputation as one of the greatest long-range shooters of his era.
He starred for teams such as the Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons (now the Detroit Pistons franchise), leading them to multiple league championships. McDermott was a prolific scorer, winning numerous scoring titles and becoming one of the first players in pro basketball history to reach 4,000 career points — a major milestone at the time.
Known for his toughness and scoring flair, McDermott helped popularize professional basketball during its formative years. His dominance and impact on the early professional game earned him induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1988.
McDermott's Awards & Records
- 4× NBL Most Valuable Player (1943–1946)
- 3× NBL Champion (1944, 1945, 1947)
- 6× All-NBL First Team (1942–1947)
- 3× World Professional Basketball Tournament Champion (1944–1946)
- World Professional Tournament MVP (1944)
- NBL Scoring Champion (1943)
- Named "Greatest Player in NBL History" (1946)
Teams
Brooklyn Visitations (1934–1936)
Original Celtics (1936–1939,1940–1941)
Baltimore Clippers (1939–1940)
Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons (1941–1946)
NBA Stats
Playing career:
1934–1950
Seasons Played:
17
Total Points (NBL):
3,583
Points Per Game:
12.5
Field Goals Made:
1,465
Free Throw Percentage:
~71.0%
NBL Championships:
3