Nationality American Name Bob Lavoy Position Center, Power forward Pro career 1950–1954 Weight 84 kg | Listed weight 185 lb (84 kg) Height 2.01 m Listed height 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) Role Basketball Player | |
Born June 29, 1926
Aurora, Illinois ( 1926-06-29 ) College Western Kentucky (1947–1950) NBA draft 1950 / Round: 1 / Pick: 8th overall Died December 18, 2010, Tampa, Florida, United States Education East Aurora High School, Western Kentucky University | ||
Bob Lavoy (June 29, 1926 – December 18, 2010) was an American professional basketball player and coach. Lavoy played for three years at Western Kentucky University before a short stint in the National Basketball Association. Lavoy spent most his time in the NBA with the Indianapolis Olympians but also played a season with the Syracuse Nationals. He also coached at the University of Tampa for eight years.
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College career
Lavoy played his college ball at Western Kentucky University and led the Hilltoppers to a 78–12 record during his three years in Bowling Green. He helped Western Kentucky capture a Kentucky Intercollegiate Conference title and two Ohio Valley Conference championships. Lavoy and the Hilltoppers played in the National Invitational Tournament three years in a row. The closest the Hilltoppers came to winning the NIT was in 1948 when the Hilltoppers fell in the semifinals to Saint Louis University 60–53. Saint Louis was led by future Basketball Hall of Famer Ed Macauley.
Lavoy was inducted into the Western Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame, the Illinois Athletic Hall of Fame and the East Aurora High School.
Professional career
Lavoy was selected in the first round (9th overall) in the 1950 NBA draft by the Indianapolis Olympians. Lavoy started for the Olympians for three seasons and was 10th in the league in field goal percentage in 1952 and 9th in 1953. The Olympians folded after the 1952–53 season and Lavoy was selected by the Milwaukee Hawks in the dispersal draft. He never played a game for the Hawks though, and was traded to the Syracuse Nationals for Noble Jorgensen. Lavoy only played one season in Syracuse and in that season, the Nationals lost in the 1954 NBA Finals to the Minneapolis Lakers in seven games. During his four-year career in the NBA, Lavoy averaged 27 minutes a game, 8.2 points a game (.384 FG%, .707 FT%), 6.2 rebounds a game and 1.5 assists a game.