Fred Scolari
Fred Scolari | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date |
| Died | October 17, 2002 (aged 80) |
| Occupation | Professional basketball player |
| Known for | Point guard in the Basketball Association of America and NBA |
Fred Joseph Scolari (March 1, 1922 – October 17, 2002) was a professional basketball athlete from the United States. Standing at 5 feet 10 inches, he occupied the role of point guard on the court.
Biography
Known by the nickname "Fat Freddie," Scolari overcame significant physical challenges, including blindness in one eye, hearing impairment in one ear, and frequent issues with weight. He showcased his basketball talents at Galileo High School and later at the University of San Francisco. His professional journey commenced in 1946 with the Basketball Association of America—which later became the NBA—starting with the Washington Capitols. Throughout his nine-year tenure, he also played for the Syracuse Nationals, Baltimore Bullets, Fort Wayne Pistons, and Boston Celtics. Scolari was among the final players to conclude their careers who had participated since the BAA's formation.
Distinguished by an unusual shooting technique that involved releasing the ball near his hip, Scolari led the league in free-throw accuracy during the 1946–47 BAA season. His defensive capabilities were highly regarded, earning him spots on the All-BAA Second Team in both 1947 and 1948.
Following his retirement from professional basketball, Scolari transitioned into a prosperous career in insurance sales. Subsequently, he took on the role of director for the Salesian chapter of the Boys and Girls Club located in San Francisco. In recognition of his sports achievements, he was inducted into the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame in 1998. He died in 2002.
BAA/NBA career statistics
| Legend | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | Number of games played | MPG | Average minutes per game | ||
| FG% | Field-goal shooting percentage | FT% | Percentage of free throws made | ||
| RPG | Average rebounds per game | APG | Average assists per game | ||
| PPG | Points scored per game | Bold | Personal best | ||
Regular season
| Season | Team | GP | MPG | FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1946–47 | Washington Capitols | 58 | – | .294 | .811 | – | 1.0 | 12.6 |
| 1947–48 | Washington Capitols | 47 | – | .294 | .732 | – | 1.2 | 12.5 |
| 1948–49 | Washington Capitols | 48 | – | .310 | .798 | – | 2.1 | 11.2 |
| 1949–50 | Washington Capitols | 66 | – | .343 | .822 | – | 2.7 | 13.0 |
| 1950–51 | Washington Capitols / Syracuse Nationals | 66 | – | .327 | .843 | 3.3 | 3.9 | 13.4 |
| 1951–52 NBA season | Baltimore Bullets | 64 | 35.0 | .334 | .835 | 3.3 | 4.7 | 14.6 |
| 1952–53 NBA season | Baltimore Bullets | 46 | 35.2 | .334 | .849 | 3.5 | 4.3 | 14.2 |
| (1952–53) | ||||||||
| Fort Wayne Pistons | 16 | 31.6 | .377 | .824 | 2.9 | 2.3 | 11.1 | |
| (1953–54) | 64 | 24.8 | .324 | .800 | 2.2 | 2.0 | 7.2 | |
| (1954–55) | 59 | 10.5 | .305 | .796 | 1.3 | 1.6 | 3.2 | |
| Career totals | 534 | 26.4 | .321 | .818 | 2.7 | 2.6 | 11.3 | |
Playoff Performance
| Year | Team | GP | MPG | FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1947 | Washington | 6 | – | .232 | .794 | – | 0.8 | 11.8 |
| 1949 | Washington | 9 | – | .270 | .700 | – | 1.8 | 9.1 |
| 1950 | Washington | 2 | – | .481 | 1.000 | – | 1.5 | 18.5 |
| 1951 | Syracuse | 7 | – | .355 | .815 | 5.9 | 2.3 | 12.6 |
| 1953 | Fort Wayne | 8 | 33.5 | .322 | .803 | 3.1 | 2.6 | 13.4 |
| 1954 | Fort Wayne | 4 | 15.0 | .250 | .000 | 1.8 | 1.5 | 3.0 |
| 1955 | Boston | 5 | 5.8 | .267 | .800 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 2.4 |
| Career Totals | 41 | 21.0 | .302 | .792 | 3.3 | 1.7 | 10.0 | |