Joe Lapchick
New York Knicks Head Coach | 3× NBA Finals | Hall of Fame Player
Joe Lapchick was born on April 12, 1900, in Yonkers, New York. He became one of the most famous professional basketball players of the 1920s and 1930s before beginning a successful coaching career.
After coaching at St. John's University, Lapchick became head coach of the New York Knicks during the early years of the Basketball Association of America.
Lapchick led the Knicks to three consecutive NBA Finals from 1951 through 1953 and finished his BAA/NBA head-coaching career with a 326-247 record.
Lapchick was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a player in 1966. Coach Lapchick passed away on August 10, 1970, at the age of 70.
- Overall Coaching Record: 326-247
Coaching Career
Lapchick became head coach of the New York Knicks and coached the franchise for nine BAA/NBA seasons.
The Knicks reached the playoffs in each of his first eight full seasons and became one of the strongest teams in the Eastern Division.
New York reached three consecutive NBA Finals from 1951 through 1953, losing to Rochester in 1951 and Minneapolis in 1952 and 1953.
Lapchick resigned during the 1955-1956 season and finished his Knicks coaching career with a 326-247 regular-season record and a 30-30 playoff record.
Notable Players Coached
- Dick McGuire
- Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
- 7× NBA All-Star
- Harry Gallatin
- Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
- 7× NBA All-Star
- Carl Braun
- 5× NBA All-Star
- 1962 NBA champion
- Nat Clifton
- 1957 NBA All-Star
- One of the first Black players to sign an NBA contract