It’s the return of an old favorite. Let’s see who can do this without any research.
Sam Bowie and I have something in common. We were both taken in the NBA draft in front of legends. The guy who followed Bowie went on to win six NBA titles. The guy who followed me in the draft was synonymous with champion. It’s not like I didn’t deserve to play in the NBA. I was a two-time Consensus All-American. In over 500 games in the Association I scored more than 4,000 points and grabbed 2,000+ rebounds. Still, my career did not live up to being first pick in the draft.
Who am I?
I am going to take a wild guess and say it is Sihugo Green who was drafted before Bill Russell.
Smitty!!!!!!!!!!!
Did you look that up?
Oh heck yeah, I did.. Thought championships, though Bill Russell. Looked up the 1956 draft.. Oh yeah, I had to look up when Bill Russell was drafted.
But that was a tough one.. Am I right?
Dang! I knew that with NO lookup. Sihugo Green of Duquesne and the Knicks.
I say give it to Pete then because he knew that one without looking it up. Pete that is incredible that yo u know that off the top of your head.
I do know going forward – I will remember who the #2 draft pick was in 1956 NBA draft.
“I do know going forward – I will remember who the #2 draft pick was in 1956 NBA draft.” Helmet sticker! That is what Pickin Splinters is all about. Great job.
Pete – Without question – You da Man!
Sihugo Green of Duquesne – yes the Rochester Royals drafted Green first in the 1956 draft.
There is some background to the choice: “According to UPI, teams were wary of Russell for three reasons: 1. He wouldn’t be available until late December because of his commitment to the U.S. Olympic team, 2. It was feared that the Harlem Globetrotters would bid high for his services and 3. There was doubt among some pro coaches that Russell would star in the pro game as he did in college.”
Russell proved them all wrong, huh?
Green was actually the second consecutive player from the Duquesne Dukes taken #1 overall in the draft – no other school can lay claim to that. Milwaukee chose Green’s teammate, Dick Ricketts, the previous year.
Green played 13 games with the Royals in 56-57. There is no record of him playing the next season. Pete, was he injured? Because Green went to play the next year with Cincinnati and St. Louis – by that time the Royals had moved to Cincy.
After parts of four season with the St. Louis Hawks, Green, along with Joe Graboski and Woody Sauldsberry were traded to the Chicago Packers for Barney Cable and Archie Dees.
Green played the next season with the Chicago Zephyrs before signing with the Baltimore Bullets. Prior to the 65-66 campaign, Baltimore traded Green to Boston for a fifth round draft pick. Boston won the title that year, but Green only played 10 games – none of which were in the playoffs.
Was Green #1?? The research I looked at , had Tommy Heinshon was taken with the #1 pick. Green was taken #2 and then Russell.
Then again, it might have been wrong.
Go here: https://www.basketball-reference.com/draft/
scroll down
An interesting wrinkle: https://www.basketball-reference.com/draft/NBA_1956.html
Smitty it looks like the Celtics did take Heinsohn first, but…as a territorial pick.
Smitty and Casey, I can not take credit. First, my memory has Si Green as a Knick; apparently THAT never happened. Secondly, Heinsohn was first, regardless of territorial or not. My memory has been misinformed. Thirdly, this is not totally off the top of my head; it wasn’t too long ago that my thoughts wandered to the greatest player in Duquesne history (sorry Ricketts).
Definitely some confusion here: https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/g/greensi01.html
Basketball Reference (a reliable source) has Green listed as: “1st pick, 1st overall.”
Then read from the Duquesne site: https://www.goduquesne.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/111102aaa.html
Again- Green is described as the “first pick.”
But was he a Knick? Is the career history you listed actually Ricketts?
Good chance in hat era that Green served military duty in his NBA hiatus.
Looking at #1 draft history. Until 1954 – Frank Selvy – Furman? I didn’t know anybody. From there I did well as to knowing college (I think) but who is Larue Martin (1972)? And Is Michael Olowakandi (1998) the kid from Bridgeport, or was that Manute Bol?
Born in Brooklyn, but no history of playing for the Knicks. See here: https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/g/greensi01.html
Here is Ricketts history: https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/r/rickedi01.html
Manute Bol went to Bridgeport.
Olowokandi went to Pacific.
Now this is the type of history class I would like to attend!!
Smitty – you came to the right place.
Smitty, to you it’s history, to this old man it’s my “yesterday”. SI did a “top 10 draft flops”. sampson was # 1 and was referred to as tyhe Larue Martin of the modern age. I am going to have to research this Martin dude. I never even heard of him. It amazed me how many of the top 10 flops went to teams like the Clippers and Warriors. Bad teams are bad for a reason.
Larue Martin was drafted ahead of McAdoo and JULIUS ERVING! I am sure Erving was a lower pick in part because he was thought to be headed to the ABA, but can you believe it! Martin was Loyola of Chicago and outplayed Bill Walton in a Loyola – UCLA matchup (even a broken clock is right twice a day). Based on this anomaly, Portland drafted him first. Ironically they drafted Walton 2 years later, relegating Martin to the bench except during Walton injury periods (of which there were a few).
Now I know why I recognize that name. Halberstam made reference to Martin in Breaks of the Game.
Well, Martin almost “broke the game”!
Ha!