Jack Coleman (basketball)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jack Coleman
Position Forward
Height ft 7 in (2.01 m)
Weight 195 lb (88 kg)
Born May 23, 1924
Burgin, Kentucky
Nationality USA
Died December 11, 1998 (aged 74)
College Louisville
Pro career 19491958
Former teams Rochester Royals (1948-1956)
St. Louis Hawks (1956-1958)

Jack L. Coleman (May 23, 1924December 11, 1998) was an American professional basketball player.

A 6'7" forward/center from the University of Louisville, Coleman played nine seasons (1949-1958) in the National Basketball Association as a member of the Rochester Royals and St. Louis Hawks. He tallied 6,721 points and 5,186 rebounds in his career, and he represented Rochester in the 1955 NBA All-Star Game. Coleman also appeared in three NBA Finals, winning championships with Rochester in 1951 and St. Louis in 1958.[1]

During the Hawks' losing effort in the 1957 NBA Finals, Coleman became the unwitting victim of one of Bill Russell's greatest defensive plays. In the final game of the series, Coleman had an opportunity to clinch the Hawks' championship with a layup after receiving an outlet pass at midcourt. Bill Russell, who had been standing at his own baseline when the play began, ran the entire length of the floor and managed to block Coleman's shot, preserving the victory for the Celtics. Celtics announcer Johnny Most screamed, “Blocked by Russell! Blocked by Russell! He came from nowhere!” The play has since gone down in history as the "Coleman Play."[2]

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/colemja01.html. Retrieved 16 Febrauary 2007.
  2. ^ http://www.nba.com/encyclopedia/players/bill_russell.html. Retrieved 16 February 2007.