Maurice Podoloff
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Maurice Podoloff | |
---|---|
1st President of the NBA | |
In office June 6, 1946 – September 1, 1963 | |
Succeeded by | J. Walter Kennedy |
Personal details | |
Born | Yelisavetgrad, Kherson Governorate, Russian Empire | August 18, 1890
Died | November 24, 1985 New Haven, Connecticut, U.S. | (aged 95)
Nationality | American |
Alma mater | Yale University |
Occupation | Lawyer |
Maurice Podoloff (
Biography
Podoloff was born to a
In 1926, Podoloff opened the New Haven Arena on Grove Street in downtown New Haven with his father and two brothers. The Arena held over 4,000 people and hosted ice hockey, concerts, and circus events before it was demolished in 1974.
A distinguished lawyer, he was of impeccable character and was instrumental in the development and success of professional basketball. On June 6, 1946, already serving as president of the American Hockey League, he was appointed president of the newly formed Basketball Association of America (BAA), becoming the first person to lead two professional leagues simultaneously.
After BAA teams signed several of the best players in the National Basketball League, Podoloff negotiated a merger with the NBL to form the National Basketball Association, or NBA, in 1949. His great organizational and administrative skills were later regarded as the key factor that kept the league alive in its often stormy formative years.
As president, Podoloff expanded the NBA to as many as 17 teams in three divisions and worked out a 557-game schedule.
He introduced the BAA's collegiate draft in 1947, and in 1954 instituted the NBA's 24-second
During his NBA presidency, he meted out lifetime suspensions to 32 players who were involved in point shaving scandal in 1951.[4] Among these players were Indianapolis Olympians players Ralph Beard and Alex Groza for their actions at University of Kentucky, and 1951's number one draft pick Gene Melchiorre, for his actions at Bradley University.
He stepped down as NBA president in 1963 after having greatly increased fan interest during the NBA's formative years and having improved the overall welfare of the sport of basketball through his foresight, wisdom and leadership.
Legacy
In his honor, the
In 1974, Podoloff was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, and in 2011 was inducted into the American Hockey League Hall of Fame. He was inducted into the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 1989.
References
- ISBN 978-1-57167-254-4.
- ^ "Hall of Famers: Maurice Podoloff". Basketball Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on August 31, 2009.
- ^ Goldaper, Sam (November 26, 1985). "Maurice Podoloff Dead at 95, Was First N.b.a. President". The New York Times.
- ^ "ESPN Classic - Explosion: 1951 scandals threaten college hoops".
Further reading
- Peterson, Robert W. (2002). "The BAA and War Between the Leagues". Cages to Jump Shots: Pro Basketball's Early Years. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press. pp. 150–165. ISBN 0-8032-8772-0.
External links
- "NBA MVP – Maurice Podoloff Trophy – Marc Mellon Sculpture Studio". January 12, 2022. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
- Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Bio
- Sportsecyclopedia.com