Ed Palubinskas

College

Palubinskas started his collegiate career at Ricks Junior College in Rexburg, Idaho in 1970, where he led the U.S. in free throw percentage with 92.4%. He holds the record for the most consecutive free throws in a game (14) and 43 consecutive for the season. He was also selected as an All-American that year while breaking most records at Ricks College which is now BYU-Idaho. Palubinskas then transferred to Louisiana State University, after playing in the Munich Olympics where he was second leading scorer missing the Olympic scoring title by one point. At LSU, Palubinskas averaged 18.6 ppg and was selected to the All-SEC Coaches Team.

Professional

Palubinskas was selected in the 1975 NBA draft by the Atlanta Hawks in the 3rd round. He was then traded to the New Orleans Jazz and drafted in the 8th round of the ABA draft by the Utah Stars. Palubinskas never played in the NBA.

Olympics

After being the 2nd leading scorer in the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, Palubinskas was the top overall scorer in 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal. He set three Olympic scoring records in Montreal, including the record for most points scored in a single Olympics (269), which was broken by Brazilian Oscar Schmidt during the 1988 Summer Olympics.

The most points he scored in one game was 48 against Mexico in overtime.

He is a member of the Basketball Australia Hall of Fame.

Coaching career

Palubinskas took a position as shooting coach to Shaquille O'Neal with the Los Angeles Lakers for the 2000–01 NBA season. Following the Lakers' triumph in the NBA, Palubinskas also received an NBA champion's ring. Palubinskas also worked with Brandon Bass and Dwight Howard. He has his own basketball school named The Palubinskas Basketball Academy.

Career highlights

Personal life

Palubinskas was born to a Lithuanian father and a Russian mother.