Red Rocha
Red Rocha | |
|---|---|
| Born | Ephraim Joseph Rocha 18 September 1923 |
| Died | 13 February 2010 (aged 86) Corvallis, Oregon, U.S. |
| Other names | Red Rocha |
| Occupation(s) | Professional basketball player, coach |
| Years active | 1940s–1970s |
| Known for | First NBA player from Hawaii; NBA champion (1955); coach of Detroit Pistons and University of Hawaii men's basketball team |
Ephraim Joseph "Red" Rocha (September 18, 1923 – February 13, 2010) was an American professional basketball athlete and coach.
Basketball
Standing 6 feet 9 inches tall, Rocha played as a center and attended Oregon State University. He received All-Pacific Coast Conference recognition consecutively from 1945 through 1947 and was named a 1947 All-American.
During the late 1940s and early 1950s, Rocha competed in both the Basketball Association of America (BAA) and the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was a member of the Baltimore Bullets squad that participated in the inaugural 1951 NBA All-Star Game. Over his career, Rocha amassed 6,362 points and secured an NBA championship with the Syracuse Nationals in 1955. Notably, he was the first NBA player originating from Hawaii and holds the NBA record for the most minutes played in a playoff game (67), a record he shares with teammate Paul Seymour.
Following his tenure as a player, Rocha transitioned into coaching, leading the Detroit Pistons between 1958 and 1960 as well as the Hawaii Chiefs in the American Basketball League. He subsequently took charge of the men's basketball program at the University of Hawaii, where he developed the acclaimed "Fabulous Five" during the seasons spanning 1970 to 1972. Under his guidance, UH qualified for postseason competition for the first time in its history in 1970. Additionally, Rocha co-established the Rainbow Classic, an eight-team collegiate basketball tournament hosted by UH.
Later years
Rocha's achievements were honored with induction into the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame in 1980 and later into the Oregon State University Sports Hall of Fame in 1990. He passed away from cancer on February 13, 2010, in Corvallis, Oregon, at age 86.
Regular season
| Year | Team | GP | MPG | FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1947–48 | St. Louis | 48 | – | .314 | .690 | – | .8 | 12.7 |
| 1948–49 | St. Louis | 58 | – | .389 | .768 | – | 2.7 | 10.5 |
| Template:Nbay | St. Louis | 65 | – | .405 | .703 | – | 2.4 | 11.8 |
| Template:Nbay | Baltimore | 64 | – | .352 | .809 | 8.0 | 2.3 | 13.1 |
| Template:Nbay | Syracuse | 66 | 38.5 | .401 | .770 | 8.3 | 1.9 | 12.9 |
| Template:Nbay | Syracuse | 69 | 35.6 | .388 | .755 | 7.4 | 2.0 | 11.2 |
| Template:Nbay† | Syracuse | 72 | 34.3 | .368 | .782 | 6.8 | 2.5 | 11.3 |
| Template:Nbay | Syracuse | 72 | 26.2 | .361 | .783 | 5.8 | 1.8 | 10.0 |
| Template:Nbay | Fort Wayne | 72 | 16.0 | .349 | .757 | 3.8 | 1.1 | 5.3 |
| Career | 586 | 29.9 | .370 | .759 | 6.6 | 2.0 | 10.9 | |
Playoff Performance
| Season | Franchise | Games Played | Minutes Per Game | Field Goal % | Free Throw % | Rebounds Per Game | Assists Per Game | Points Per Game |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1948 | St. Louis Bombers | 7 | – | .246 | .733 | – | 0.9 | 11.4 |
| 1949 | St. Louis Bombers | 2 | – | .444 | .800 | – | 3.0 | 18.0 |
| Template:Nbay | Syracuse Nationals | 39.4 | .432 | .725 | 6.9 | 1.4 | 17.0 | ||||||
| Template:Nbay | Syracuse Nationals | 53.5 | .385 | .786 | 8.5 | 3.5 | 15.5 | ||||||
| Template:Nbay† | Syracuse Nationals | 33.7 | .418 | .759 | 6.7 | 1.3 | 12.4 | ||||||
| Template:Nbay | Syracuse Nationals | 23.6 | .338 | .846 | 6.5 | 1.9 | 8.5 | ||||||
| Template:Nbay | Fort Wayne Pistons | 9.0 | .000 | .667 | 3.0 | 0.0 | 2.0 | ||||||
| Career Totals | 39 !32 ! .360 ! .758 !6.6 !1.5 !12.2 | |||||||