Bob Harrison (basketball)
Robert William Harrison (August 12, 1927 – March 3, 2024) was an American professional basketball player. A 6'1" guard from the University of Michigan, Harrison played nine seasons (1949–1958) in the National Basketball Association as a member of the Minneapolis Lakers, Milwaukee Hawks, St. Louis Hawks, and Syracuse Nationals. He averaged 7.2 points per game in his professional career and appeared in the 1956 NBA All-Star Game. Harrison coached the Syracuse Centenials during the 1976–77 Eastern Basketball Association season.
Harrison from 1948 Michiganensian | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 12, 1927 Toledo, Ohio, U.S. |
| Died | March 3, 2024 (aged 96) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) |
| Listed weight | 190 lb (86 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Woodward (Toledo, Ohio) |
| College | Michigan (1945–1949) |
| NBA draft | 1949: – round, – |
| Selected by the Minneapolis Lakers | |
| Playing career | 1949–1958 |
| Position | Point guard / shooting guard |
| Number | 16, 7, 3 |
| Coaching career | 1958–1973 |
| Career history | |
| As player: | |
| 1949–1953 | Minneapolis Lakers |
| 1953–1956 | Milwaukee / St. Louis Hawks |
| 1956–1958 | Syracuse Nationals |
| As coach: | |
| 1958–1968 | Kenyon |
| 1968–1973 | Harvard |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| Career statistics | |
| Points | 4,418 (7.2 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 1,358 (2.5 rpg) |
| Assists | 1,672 (2.7 apg) |
| Stats at NBA.com | |
| Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |
Harrison later coached basketball at Kenyon College and Harvard University.
On February 3, 1941, as a 13-year-old 8th grader in Toledo, Ohio, Harrison scored all 139 points during his LaGrange School team's 139–8 win over Arch Street School. In the game, he made 69 field goals and one free throw.
After the death of Arnie Ferrin in 2022 he became the oldest living NBA champion. Harrison died on March 3, 2024, at the age of 96.