Lester Lane

(Redirected from Les Lane)

Lester E. Lane (March 6, 1932 – September 5, 1973) was an American basketball player who competed in the 1960 Summer Olympics.

Lester Lane
Lane with the Wichita Vickers
Personal information
Born(1932-03-06)March 6, 1932
Purcell, Oklahoma, U.S.
DiedSeptember 5, 1973(1973-09-05) (aged 41)
Norman, Oklahoma, U.S.
Listed height5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Listed weight170 lb (77 kg)
Career information
High schoolPurcell (Purcell, Oklahoma)
CollegeOklahoma (1951–1955)
NBA draft1955: 9th round, 52nd overall pick
Selected by the Philadelphia Warriors
PositionGuard
Career highlights and awards
Stats at Basketball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Medals
Men's basketball
Representing  United States
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 1960 Rome Team competition

Lane was born in Purcell, Oklahoma, which after his death, renamed Fourth street south of Main Street in his honor, as "Lester Lane. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Warriors in the 9th round of the 1955 NBA draft, but never played for them, instead playing for several AAU clubs, including the Wichita Vickers and Denver-Chicago Truckers." He was part of the American basketball team, which won the gold medal in 1960. In the spring of 1973 he was named head basketball coach at the University of Oklahoma, but never held a practice as he died of a heart attack during a pick-up game later that year.

Lane was the head coach for the Mexico men's national basketball team led by Carlos Quintanar in the 1968 Summer Olympics

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