Nat Hickey
Indianapolis Kautskys | |
1946–1948 | Buffalo Bisons / Tri-Cities Blackhawks |
---|---|
1948 | Providence Steamrollers (interim HC) |
1950–1951 | Johnstown Clippers |
Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Stats at NBA.com | |
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |
Nicholas J. "Nat" Hickey (born Nicola Zarnecić; January 30, 1902 – September 16, 1979) was a Croatian-American professional
Early life
Hickey was born Nicola Zarnecić on the Croatian island of
Basketball
As a 5'11"
In the second year after the formation of the
Hickey became the coach of the Johnstown Clippers of the All-American Basketball League during the 1950–51 season. On January 11, 1951, Hickey was driving the team back to Johnstown, Pennsylvania, after a game in Wheeling, West Virginia, when he lost control of his car on the Lincoln Highway and crashed.[5] Clippers player George "Chuck" Karmarkovich, a 24-year-old who was considered the team's biggest star, was ejected from the car and killed.[5][6] The Clippers were disbanded the following day and Hickey did not return to coaching.[5] Hickey was found to not be responsible for Karmarkovich's death.[6]
Baseball
Aside from basketball, Hickey enjoyed a lengthy career in baseball, playing 15 minor league seasons and managing two. Hickey managed and played several seasons of
Hickey was inducted into the Cambria County Sports Hall of Fame in 1965 for his basketball and baseball achievements.[8]
Personal life
Hickey was a cousin of parachute jumper Nick Piantanida.[1]
Hickey died on September 16, 1979, in Johnstown, Pennsylvania.[9][10]
Career statistics
Legend | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
GP | Games played | FGM | Field-goals made | ||
FG% | Field-goal percentage | FTM | Free-throws made | ||
FTA | Free-throws attempted | FT% | Free-throw percentage | ||
APG | Assists per game | PTS | Points | ||
PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
NBL
Source[11]
Regular season
Year | Team | GP | FGM | FTM | FTA | FT% | PTS | PPG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1944–45 | Pittsburgh
|
2 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 4.0 | ||
1945–46 | Indianapolis
|
13 | 30 | 13 | 73 | 5.6 | ||
1946–47 | Tri-Cities | 8 | 9 | 6 | 12 | .500 | 24 | 3.0 |
1947–48 | Tri-Cities | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1.000 | 3 | 1.0 |
Career | 26 | 43 | 22 | 13 | .538 | 108 | 4.2 |
NBA
Regular season
Year | Team | GP | FG% | FT% | APG | PPG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1947–48 | Providence | 2 | .000 | .667 | .0 | 1.0 |
Head coaching record
Regular season | G | Games coached | W | Games won | L | Games lost | W–L % | Win–loss % |
Playoffs | PG | Playoff games | PW | Playoff wins | PL | Playoff losses | PW–L % | Playoff win–loss % |
Team | Year | G | W | L | W–L% | Finish | PG | PW | PL | PW–L% | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Providence | 1947–48
|
29 | 4 | 25 | .138 | 4th in Eastern | — | — | — | — | Missed playoffs |
Source[12]
See also
- List of oldest and youngest National Basketball Association players
- List of National Basketball Association player-coaches
References
- ^ a b Ryan, Craig. Magnificent Failure. Washington and London: Smithsonian Books. p. 12.
- ^ "Nat Hickey, Former Cage Ace, Back on Wood". Pottsville Republican. December 29, 1944. p. 4. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
- ^ Sachare, Alex (1994). The Official NBA basketball encyclopedia (1994 ed.). Villard Books. p. 577.
- ^ Boeck, Greg (April 2, 2007). "Mavericks make motivated Willis, 44, NBA's oldest player". USA Today. Retrieved May 15, 2010.
- ^ a b c "Johnstown Clippers Disbanded After Death of Karmarkovich; Joll Escapes Auto Injury". The Indiana Gazette. January 12, 1951. p. 15. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
- ^ a b "Drivers Exonerated In Highway Death of George Karmarkovich". The Cumberland News. March 9, 1951. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
- ISBN 9780786425709.
- ^ "Nicholas "Nat" Hickey". Cambria County Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
- ^ "Obituary Index" (PDF). Johnstown Tribune-Democrat.
- ^ "Nat Hickey BK". NJ Sports Heroes. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
- Basketball Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
- Basketball Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 8 January 2024.