Grady Lewis
St. Louis Bombers Head Coach | BAA & NBA Coach | Professional Basketball Player
Grady Lewis was born on March 25, 1917, in Boyd, Texas. He played college basketball at the University of Oklahoma before beginning a professional basketball career.
Lewis later became the head coach of the St. Louis Bombers during the final 2 seasons of the franchise. His first season came in the Basketball Association of America (BAA), followed by the first NBA season after the BAA and National Basketball League merger.
Lewis finished his BAA/NBA head coaching career with a 55-73 record.
Coach Lewis passed away on March 11, 2009, at the age of 91.
- Overall Coaching Record: 55-73
Coaching Career
Grady Lewis became head coach of the St. Louis Bombers for the 1948-1949 BAA season.
The Bombers went 29-31 in his first season and reached the playoffs, where they were eliminated by the Rochester Royals in 2 games in the Western Division Semifinals.
St. Louis went 26-42 during the 1949-1950 NBA season and missed the playoffs. The season became the final year in Bombers franchise history, ending Lewis’ BAA/NBA head coaching career with a 55-73 record.
Notable Players Coached
- Red Rocha
- 1955 NBA champion
- 2× NBA All-Star
- Future NBA head coach
- John Logan
- 1949 All-BAA Second Team
- Member of the St. Louis Bombers during both seasons under Lewis