Bob Lavoy

Robert Lavoy
Robert Lavoy
Born	29 June 1926 (age 100); Aurora, Illinois, United States
Died	18 December 2010 (aged 84)
Occupation(s)	Professional basketball player, basketball coach
Years active	1950–1954 (player), post-1954 (coach)
Known for	Playing for Indianapolis Olympians and Syracuse Nationals; head coach at University of Tampa

Robert William Lavoy (June 29, 1926 – December 18, 2010) was a professional basketball figure from the United States, recognized for his contributions both as a player and a coach. He spent three collegiate seasons competing for Western Kentucky University before embarking on a short tenure in the National Basketball Association. Lavoy primarily played with the Indianapolis Olympians during his NBA career and also had a stint with the Syracuse Nationals. Subsequently, he served as head coach at the University of Tampa for eight years.

College career

During his time at Western Kentucky, Lavoy helped the team achieve a remarkable 78–12 record across three seasons, capturing one Kentucky Intercollegiate Conference championship along with two titles in the Ohio Valley Conference. The Hilltoppers earned invitations to the National Invitational Tournament for three straight years, advancing to the semifinals in 1948 before being defeated by Saint Louis University, which featured future Hall of Famer Ed Macauley.

Lavoy’s athletic achievements earned him induction into several halls of fame, including the Western Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame, Illinois Athletic Hall of Fame, and East Aurora High School Hall of Fame.

Professional career

Selected ninth overall by the Indianapolis Olympians in the 1950 NBA draft, Lavoy became a regular starter for the team over three seasons. He ranked among league leaders in field goal percentage, finishing 10th in 1952 and improving to 9th in 1953. After the Olympians disbanded post-1952–53 season, he was picked by the Milwaukee Hawks in the dispersal draft but was traded to the Syracuse Nationals in exchange for Noble Jorgensen before appearing in any games for Milwaukee. Lavoy spent one season with Syracuse, helping the team reach the 1954 NBA Finals, where they ultimately fell to the Minneapolis Lakers in a seven-game series. Throughout his four-year NBA career, he averaged approximately 27 minutes per game with 8.2 points (.384 FG%, .707 FT%), 6.2 rebounds, and 1.5 assists.

NBA

Source:

Regular season

Year	Team	GP	MPG	FG%	FT%	RPG	APG	PPG
1950–51	Indianapolis	63		.357	.632	4.9	1.2	8.3
1951–52	Indianapolis	63	29.0	.397	.753	7.6	1.7	10.3
1952–53	Indianapolis	70	33.2	.402	.694	7.5	1.9	8.8
1953–54	Milwaukee	8	15.6	.444	.563	3.8	1.3	5.1
1953–54	Syracuse	60	19.2	.372	.752	4.8	1.1	5.4
Career		264	27.0	.384	.707	6.2	1.5	8.4

Playoffs

Year	Team	GP	MPG	FG%	FT%	RPG	APG	PPG
1951	Indianapolis	3		.000	.600	2.0	1.3	1.0
1952	Indianapolis	2	39.0	.333	.750	10.0	2.0	12.0
1953	Indianapolis	2	23.5	.250	.400	5.0	1.0	5.0
1954	Syracuse	13*	27.5	.389	.800	6.5	1.5	9.1
Career		20	28.4	.345	.753	6.1	1.5	7.8

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