View source for Alex Groza

{{Short description|American basketball player (1926–1995)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox basketball biography
| name            = Alex Groza
| image           = Alex Groza.jpg
| width           = 
| caption         = 
| height_ft       = 6
| height_in       = 7
| weight_lb       = 218
| birth_date      = {{birth date|1926|10|07}}
| birth_place     = [[Martins Ferry, Ohio]], U.S.
| death_date      = {{death date and age|1995|01|21|1926|10|07}}
| death_place     = [[San Diego, California]], U.S.
| high_school     = [[Martins Ferry High School|Martins Ferry]]<br />(Martins Ferry, Ohio)
| college         = [[Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball|Kentucky]] (1945–1949)
| draft_league    = BAA
| draft_year      = 1949
| draft_round     = 1
| draft_pick      = 2
| draft_team      = [[Indianapolis Jets]]
| career_start    = 1949
| career_end      = 1951
| career_number   = 15
| career_position = [[Center (basketball)|Center]]
| years1          = {{nbay|1949|start}}–{{nbay|1950|end}}
| team1           = [[Indianapolis Olympians]]
| cyears1         = 1959–1966
| cteam1          = [[Bellarmine Knights men's basketball|Bellarmine]]
| cyears2         = [[1970–71 ABA season|1970]]
| cteam2          = [[Kentucky Colonels]]
| cyears3         = [[1974–75 ABA season|1974–1975]]
| cteam3          = [[San Diego Conquistadors]]
| highlights      = 
* [[NBA All-Star]] ({{nasg|1951}})
* 2× [[All-NBA First Team]] ({{nbay|1949|end}}, {{nbay|1950|end}})
* 2× [[List of NCAA Division I men's basketball champions|NCAA champion]] ([[1948 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|1948]], [[1949 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|1949]])
* 2× [[NCAA basketball tournament Most Outstanding Player|NCAA Final Four MOP]] (1948, 1949)
* 2× Consensus first-team [[NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans|All-American]] ([[1947 NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans|1947]], [[1949 NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans|1949]])
* Consensus second-team All-American ([[1948 NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans|1948]])
| stats_league = NBA
| stat1label      = [[Point (basketball)|Points]]
| stat1value      = 2,925 (22.5 ppg)
| stat2label      = [[Rebound (basketball)|Rebounds]]
| stat2value      = 709 (10.7 rpg)
| stat3label      = [[Assist (basketball)|Assists]]
| stat3value      = 318 (2.4 apg)
| medal_templates = 
{{MedalSport|Men's [[Basketball at the Summer Olympics|basketball]]}}
{{MedalCountry | {{flagu|United States}} }}
{{MedalOlympic}}
{{MedalGold|[[1948 Summer Olympics|1948 London]] | [[Basketball at the 1948 Summer Olympics|Team competition]]}}
}}

'''Alex John Groza'''<ref>[https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/g/grozaal01.html Alex Groza Player Statistics] Basketball-Reference.com</ref> (October 7, 1926 – January 21, 1995) was an American professional [[basketball]] player from [[Martins Ferry, Ohio]]. Resulting from the [[CCNY point shaving scandal]], Groza was banned from the [[National Basketball Association]] (NBA) for life in 1951. In college, he won two NCAA championships as captain of the [[Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball|University of Kentucky Wildcats]], and was a two-time All-NBA player for the [[Indianapolis Olympians]] before his career abruptly ended.

==Early life==
Groza grew up in Martins Ferry, Ohio and attended [[Martins Ferry High School]]. He was the brother of future Pro Football Hall-of-Famer [[Lou Groza]].

Alex Groza led the Purple Riders to two undefeated regular seasons and to the Ohio state tournament both years, as Martins Ferry finished 24–1 in 1943 and 26–1 in 1944. In 1944, he scored 628 points, including 41 in one game, and was named first-team All-Ohio.<ref name="ovac.org">[http://www.ovac.org/HallOfFame/Details/31 Alex Groza] Ohio Valley Athletic Conference</ref>

==College career==
[[File:Alex-Groza-jersey.jpg|thumb|left|upright|A jersey honoring Groza hangs in [[Rupp Arena]].]]
Groza was the captain and center of the "[[Fabulous Five (Kentucky Wildcats)|Fabulous Five]]" that won the 1948 and 1949 [[NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship|NCAA Men's Basketball Championships]], as well as the leading scorer on the gold medal-winning [[Basketball at the 1948 Summer Olympics|1948 US Olympic basketball team]].<ref>{{cite web
 |url=http://www.straitpinkie.com/kentucky-2/all-time-kentucky-team-starting-pg-12-ralph-beard/ 
 |title=All-Time Kentucky Team (Starting PG): #12 Ralph Beard 
 |publisher=straitpinkie.com 
 |access-date=May 27, 2013 
 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005231849/http://www.straitpinkie.com/kentucky-2/all-time-kentucky-team-starting-pg-12-ralph-beard/ 
 |archive-date=October 5, 2013 
}}</ref><ref name="SportsRef">{{cite Sports-Reference |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/gr/alex-groza-1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418081158/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/gr/alex-groza-1.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 18, 2020 |title=Alex Groza Olympic Results |access-date=June 14, 2018}}</ref> Groza was three-time All-American and All-[[Southeastern Conference|SEC]], and two-time [[NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player]].

==Professional career==
Groza was drafted in the 1st round of the [[1949 BAA draft]] by the [[Indianapolis Jets]].<ref>{{cite news |title=3 'Tucky Stars among choices in BAA draft |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-journal-herald-3-tucky-stars-among/150059153/ |access-date=25 June 2024 |work=[[The Journal Herald]] |agency=[[United Press]] |date=22 March 1949 |page=8 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}{{open access}}</ref> While he signed a contract to play for the Jets, he later changed his mind and signed with [[Indianapolis Olympians]] of the [[National Basketball League (United States)|National Basketball League]] as a player and co-owner.<ref>{{cite news |title='I suspect Groza is avoiding me', says B.A.A. president Podoloff in Lexington; He was so right |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-journal-i-suspect-groza-is/150059649/ |access-date=25 June 2024 |work=[[The Courier-Journal]] |date=2 June 1949 |page=11 (Section 2) |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}{{open access}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author1=Jim O'Leary |title=Basketball merger saved red face for Alex Groza |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-knoxville-news-sentinel-basketball-m/150060431/ |access-date=25 June 2024 |work=[[The Knoxville News-Sentinel]] |date=10 August 1949 |page=17 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}{{open access}}</ref> With the merger of the BAA and the NBL to form the [[National Basketball Association]] in August the same year,<ref>{{cite news |title=NBL, BAA merge, end pro net war |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-republic-nbl-baa-merge-end-pro-net/149768648/ |access-date=21 June 2024 |work=The Republic |agency=UP |date=4 August 1949 |page=11 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}{{open access}}</ref> Groza started his professional career in the new league where he averaged 23.4 points per game in his rookie season and was named [[NBA Rookie of the Year Award#Unofficial winners|NBA Rookie of the Year]]. Because the award was selected by newspaper writers at the time, the NBA currently does not recognize Groza having won the award. He averaged 22.5 points per game over two seasons before being implicated along with college teammates [[Ralph Beard]] and [[Dale Barnstable]] in a [[CCNY point shaving scandal|point shaving scandal]] during the 1948–49 season at Kentucky. NBA president [[Maurice Podoloff]] banned all of the implicated players from the league for life.

As a result of this ban, Groza became the first player in NBA history to end his career with a season in which he averaged at least 20 points per game (Groza averaged 21.7 PPG during the [[1950–51 NBA season|1950–51]]).  In NBA history, only three players have had higher scoring averages in their final NBA seasons: [[Bob Pettit]] (22.5 PPG in [[1964–65 NBA season|'64–65]]), [[Paul Arizin]] (21.9 PPG in [[1961–62 NBA season|'61–62]]), and [[Dražen Petrović]] (22.3 PPG in [[1992–93 NBA season|'92–93]]).

Groza, along with Beard, attempted a comeback in late 1952 with the [[Jersey City Titans]], formerly of the [[American Basketball League (1925–1955)|American Basketball League]], but were barred by Judge [[Saul S. Streit]] from participating in any professional athletics while under probation.<ref>{{cite news |title=Groza, Beard cage ban dooms Titans |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/912504167/ |access-date=7 September 2024 |work=[[The Jersey Journal]] |date=7 November 1952 |page=16 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}{{closed access}}</ref>

== NBA career statistics ==
{{NBA player statistics legend|leader=y}}

=== Regular season ===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%; text-align:right;"
!Year
!Team
!GP
!FG%
!FT%
!RPG
!APG
!PPG
|-
| style="text-align:left;" |[[1949–50 NBA season|1949–50]]
| style="text-align:left;" |[[1949–50 Indianapolis Olympians season|Indianapolis]]
|64
|style="background:#cfecec;"|'''.478*'''
|.729
|–
|'''2.5'''
|'''23.4'''
|-
| style="text-align:left;" |[[1950–51 NBA season|1950–51]]
| style="text-align:left;" |[[1950–51 Indianapolis Olympians season|Indianapolis]]
|'''66'''
|style="background:#cfecec;"|.470*
|'''.786'''
|'''10.7'''
|2.4
|21.7
|- class="sortbottom"
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" |Career
|130
|.474
|.765
|10.7
|2.4
|22.5
|- class="sortbottom"
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" |All-Star
|1
|.500
|1.000
|13.0
|1.0
|17.0
|}

=== Playoffs ===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%; text-align:right;"
!Year
!Team
!GP
!FG%
!FT%
!RPG
!APG
!PPG
|-
| style="text-align:left;" |[[1950 NBA Playoffs|1950]]
| style="text-align:left;" |[[1949–50 Indianapolis Olympians season|Indianapolis]]
|'''6'''
|'''.595'''
|'''.831'''
|–
|'''2.0'''
|22.8
|-
| style="text-align:left;" |[[1951 NBA Playoffs|1951]]
| style="text-align:left;" |[[1950–51 Indianapolis Olympians season|Indianapolis]]
|3
|.493
|.758
|'''14.0'''
|0.7
|'''32.3'''
|- class="sortbottom"
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" |Career
|9
|.544
|.804
|14.0
|1.6
|26.0
|}

==Coaching career==
After his playing career ended, Groza became the coach of [[Bellarmine College]] (now University) in [[Louisville, Kentucky]]. In 1963, Groza led the Knights to a Kentucky Intercolliegiate Athletic Conference title and was named KIAC coach of the year. Groza left Bellarmine in 1966 for a brief coaching and managerial career in the [[American Basketball Association]]. Between 1971 and 1975, Groza coached 40 games with the [[Kentucky Colonels]] and [[San Diego Conquistadors]] and held a number of front office positions, including becoming the Kentucky Colonels' business manager in 1969 and general manager of the San Diego Conquistadors in 1972 (and, later, San Diego's head coach). Groza was 2–0 as coach of the Colonels but 15–23 as coach of the Conquistadors after replacing [[Wilt Chamberlain]] in 1974, putting his career coaching record at 17–23.<ref>[https://www.basketball-reference.com/coaches/grozaal01c.html Alex Groza Coach Statistics] Basketball-Reference.com</ref> He was named general manager of the expansion Conquistadors on August 8, 1972.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1972/08/09/archives/personalities-k-c-jones-hired.html White Jr., Gordon S. "Personalities: K.C. Jones Hired," ''The New York Times'', Wednesday, August 9, 1972.] Retrieved November 30, 2020</ref> In 1975 Groza became director of player development for the [[San Diego Sails]] of the ABA.<ref>[http://www.remembertheaba.com/TeamMaterial/SanDiegoMaterial/ConquistadorsSailsYearly.html Remember the ABA: San Diego Conquistadors/San Diego Sails Year-by-Year Notes<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081225005001/http://www.remembertheaba.com/TeamMaterial/SanDiegoMaterial/ConquistadorsSailsYearly.html |date=December 25, 2008 }}</ref> After the Sails folded, he was named vice president and general manager of the San Diego Breakers of the [[International Volleyball Association]] on April 5, 1976.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1976/04/06/archives/people-in-sports-danforth-named-tulane-coach.html Harvin, Al. "People in Sports," ''The New York Times'', Tuesday, April 6, 1976.] Retrieved January 28, 2023.</ref>

==Personal life==
After the team moved to Houston, Groza remained in San Diego, working as a sales manager for Reynolds International until his death.<ref name="nytimes.com">[https://www.nytimes.com/1995/01/23/obituaries/alex-groza-basketball-star-for-kentucky-is-dead-at-68.html Alex Groza, Basketball Star For Kentucky, Is Dead at 68] New York Times. January 23, 1995.</ref>

Alex Groza died of cancer in 1995 at age 68. He was survived by his wife of 42 years, Jean (Watson) Groza,<ref name="ovac.org"/> two sons, two daughters, and two grandchildren.<ref name="nytimes.com"/>

==Miscellaneous==
*Groza led the league in field goal percentage in 1950 and 1951.
*Alex Groza was the brother of [[American football]] [[Pro Football Hall of Fame|hall of fame]] [[placekicker]] [[Lou Groza]].
*Groza's nickname was "The Beak".<ref name=gould>{{Cite book| last = Gould | first = Todd | title = Pioneers of the hardwood: Indiana and the birth of professional basketball | publisher = Indiana University Press | year = 1998 | page = [https://archive.org/details/pioneersofhardwo0000goul/page/167 167] |url=https://archive.org/details/pioneersofhardwo0000goul| url-access = registration | isbn = 978-0-253-21199-6}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Portal|Biography}}
*{{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110815162222/http://www.nba.com/historical/playerfile/index.html?player=alex_groza |title=Alex Groza at NBA.com |date=mdy}}
*[https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/g/grozaal01.html Alex Groza player statistics] at Basketball-Reference.com
*[https://www.basketball-reference.com/coaches/grozaal01c.html Alex Groza coach statistics] at Basketball-Reference.com
*[http://www.bigbluehistory.net/bb/Statistics/Players/Groza_Alex.html Alex Groza] – UK Career Statistics and Biography
*{{Olympics.com|alexander-john-groza}}
*{{Olympedia}}
*{{citation | title=Alex Groza, Basketball Star For Kentucky, Is Dead at 68 | newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=January 23, 1995 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/01/23/obituaries/alex-groza-basketball-star-for-kentucky-is-dead-at-68.html}}
*{{Find a Grave|729110|access-date=September 3, 2010}}

{{navboxes
|list=
{{S-start}}
{{succession box | title=[[Kentucky Colonels]] Head Coach | before=[[Gene Rhodes]] | years=1970| after= [[Frank Ramsey (basketball)|Frank Ramsey]] }}
{{succession box | title=[[San Diego Conquistadors]] Head Coach | before=[[Wilt Chamberlain]] | years=1974–1975| after= [[Beryl Shipley]] }}
{{S-end}}
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{{Footer 1948 Olympic Champions Basketball Men}}
{{1949 BAA Draft}}
{{Kentucky Colonels}}
}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Groza, Alex}}
[[Category:1926 births]]
[[Category:1995 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century American businesspeople]]
[[Category:All-American college men's basketball players]]
[[Category:Amateur Athletic Union men's basketball players]]
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[[Category:Basketball players at the 1948 Summer Olympics]]
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[[Category:Sportspeople of Hungarian descent]]
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[[Category:Medalists at the 1948 Summer Olympics]]
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[[Category:People from Martins Ferry, Ohio]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Belmont County, Ohio]]
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[[Category:Sportspeople involved in betting scandals]]
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