Joseph BrennanInducted:1975 Player Stats 5 ft 11 in. Born   November 15, 1900 Brooklyn, New York, U.S. Died May 10, 1989 New York, New York, U.S. Position Guard College NA Joseph Brennan was one of the most prolific and accurate scorers of the pre-NBA “pro” era, a star whose career bridged the gap between the rough-and-tumble barnstorming days and the organized …

Emil ListonInducted:1975 Stats Born   August 21, 1890 Stockton, Missouri, U.S. Died October 26, 1949 Baldwin, Kansas, U.S. Position Contributor College NA Emil Liston was a visionary administrator and coach who revolutionized collegiate athletics by founding the NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics). While his career predated the modern NBA, his work established the framework for national postseason tournaments, providing a …

Harry FisherInducted:1974 Stats 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) 150 lb (68 kg) Born   February 6, 1882 New York City, New York, U.S. Died December 29, 1967 New York City, New York, U.S. Position Contributor College Columbia (1902–1905) Harry Fisher was an essential architect of collegiate basketball, dedicating his life to framing its rules, structures, and early national prominence. While …

Bill RussellInducted:1975 Player Stats 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Born   February 12, 1934 Monroe, Louisiana, U.S. Died July 31, 2022 Mercer Island, Washington, U.S. Position Center College San Francisco (1953–1956) Bill Russell was the ultimate winner in the history of North American professional sports and the defensive anchor of the greatest dynasty in NBA history. …

Bill SharmanInducted:1976 Player Stats 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 175 lb (79 kg) Born   May 25, 1926 Abilene, Texas, U.S. Died October 25, 2013 Redondo Beach, California, U.S. Position Shooting guard College USC (1946–1950) Bill Sharman was a cornerstone of the Boston Celtics dynasty and arguably the greatest shooting guard of the 1950s. Known for his meticulous preparation—including the …

Harry LitwackInducted:1976 Stats Born   September 20, 1907 Galicia, Austria-Hungary (modern-day Poland) Died August 7, 1999 Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania, U.S. Position Coach College Temple University Harry Litwack was a cornerstone of Philadelphia basketball, a man whose career spanned the professional, collegiate, and international ranks. While he is most famous for his 21-year tenure as the head coach of Temple University, his …

Edward KrauseInducted:1976 Stats Born   February 2, 1913 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. Died December 11, 1992 South Bend, Indiana, U.S. Position Center College University of Notre Dame Edward “Moose” Krause was a titan of the early 1930s, defined by his immense physical strength and revolutionary post play. A standout at the University of Notre Dame, Krause became the first player in Irish …

Tom GolaInducted:1976 Stats 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Born   January 13, 1933 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. Died January 26, 2014 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. Position Small forward Shooting guard College La Salle (1951–1955) Tom Gola was the ultimate “all-around” player and one of the few men in history to win a championship at the NIT, NCAA, and …