Matthew George Guokas Sr. (/ˈɡuːkəs/ GOO-kəs;[1] November 11, 1915 – December 9, 1993) was an American professional basketball player and broadcaster. He was the son of Lithuanian immigrants.[2]
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 11, 1915 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | December 9, 1993 (aged 78) Flourtown, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Listed height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
| Listed weight | 195 lb (88 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Saint Joseph's (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) |
| College | Saint Joseph's (1934–1938) |
| Playing career | 1938–1947 |
| Position | Forward |
| Number | 14 |
| Career history | |
| 1938–1939 | Wilkes-Barre Barons |
| 1941–1945 | Trenton Tigers |
| 1946–1947 | Philadelphia Warriors |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
| Stats at NBA.com | |
| Stats at Basketball Reference | |
A 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) forward from Saint Joseph's University, Guokas played one season with the Philadelphia Warriors of the BAA (a precursor to the NBA). He averaged 1.7 points during the Warriors' 1946–47 championship season. After losing his right leg in an automobile accident,[3] Guokas turned to broadcasting, and he served as an announcer for the National Football League's Philadelphia Eagles from 1953 to 1985. He was also the public address announcer for Philadelphia Phillies baseball games at Connie Mack Stadium in 1965 to 1966, succeeding the late Pete Byron, and replaced by Eddie Ferenz. [4][5]
His son Matt Guokas Jr. played in the NBA from 1966 to 1976, and later coached the Philadelphia 76ers and Orlando Magic and worked as a broadcaster for the NBA on NBC and other sports networks.
Guokas and his son, Matt Jr., were the first father-son duo to both win NBA championships as players; this feat has since been repeated by the Barrys (Rick and Brent), the Waltons (Bill and Luke), the Thompsons (Mychal and Klay), and the Paytons (Gary and Gary II).
BAA career statistics
edit| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
| † | Won an NBA championship |
Regular season
edit| Year | Team | GP | FG% | FT% | APG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1946–47† | Philadelphia | 47 | .269 | .553 | .2 | 1.7 |
| Career | 47 | .269 | .553 | .2 | 1.7 | |
Playoffs
edit| Year | Team | GP | FG% | FT% | APG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1946–47† | Philadelphia | 8 | .111 | .400 | .0 | .5 |
| Career | 8 | .111 | .400 | .0 | .5 | |
References
edit- ^ "Scouting Reports". Sports Illustrated. December 6, 1965. Retrieved January 13, 2023.
- ^ Wessel, Harry (October 15, 1992). "Coach Matt Guokas – Cool, In Control". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved June 2, 2015.
- ^ Downey, Sally A. (June 21, 2011). "Joan E. Burnham Guokas, teacher, in NBA family". Philly.com. Retrieved November 23, 2018.
In June 1947, he lost his right leg in an auto accident.
- ^ "13 Feb 1965, Page 19 - Courier-Post at". Newspapers.com. February 13, 1965. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
- ^ "23 Mar 1967, 15 - Evening Herald at". Newspapers.com. March 23, 1967. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
External links
edit- Career statistics from NBA.com and Basketball Reference
- Obituary