Paul Arizin
Inducted:
1978
Player Stats
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
190 lb (86 kg)
Born
April 9, 1928
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died
December 12, 2006
Springfield Township, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Position
Small forward
College
Villanova (1947–1950)
Paul Arizin was a prolific scorer and a true revolutionary who helped bridge the gap between basketball's early set-shot era and the high-flying modern game. A 6'4" forward for the Philadelphia Warriors, Arizin is primarily celebrated as the man who popularized the one-handed jump shot. His signature move—leaping high and releasing the ball at the apex of his jump—was nearly unblockable and allowed him to dominate smaller defenders.
Despite missing two prime years of his career to serve in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Korean War, Arizin returned to the NBA without losing his scoring touch. He was the offensive engine of the Warriors' 1956 NBA Championship team and a 10-time All-Star who finished his career as one of the most respected players in league history. For his offensive innovation and consistent brilliance, he was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1978.
Arizin's Awards & Records
- EPBL champion (1964)
- EPBL Most Valuable Player (1963)
- 2× All-EPBL First Team (1963, 1964)
- Sporting News Player of the Year (1950)
- Consensus first-team All-American (1950)
- NCAA scoring champion (1950)
- 11 retired by Villanova Wildcats
NBA Records
- NBA champion (1956)
- 10× NBA All-Star (1951, 1952, 1955–1962)
- NBA All-Star Game MVP (1952)
- 3× All-NBA First Team (1952, 1956, 1957)
- All-NBA Second Team (1959)
- 2× NBA scoring champion (1952, 1957)
NBA Teams
Philadelphia Warriors (1950–1952,1954–1962)
NBA Draft
1950: territorial pick
Philadelphia Warriors
Number Worn
11
NBA Stats
Season:
10 (1950-1962)
Games Played:
713
Points:
16,266 (22.8 ppg)
Rebounds:
6,129 (8.6 rpg)
Assists:
1,665 (2.3 apg)
Field Goal %:
42.1%
Free Throw %:
81.0%
Playoff Game:
49