Tom Meschery
1963 NBA All Star | ABA & CBA Head Coach | #14 Retired by the Golden State Warriors
Tom Meschery was born on October 26, 1938, in Harbin, Manchukuo. As a power forward, he played college basketball for the Saint Mary’s Gaels men’s basketball at Saint Mary’s College in Moraga, California where his number #31 is retired. He was named West Coast Conference Men’s Basketball Player of the Year in 1961.
Meschery was drafted with the 7th overall pick in the 1st round of the 1961 NBA Draft by the Philadelphia Warriors. He was named an All-Star in 1963, the first international player to play in an NBA All-Star Game. His jersey number #14 was retired by the Golden State Warriors. From 1967-1971, Meschery played for the Seattle SuperSonics under Al Bianchi and later Lenny Wilkens.
Meschery has been inducted into the San Francisco High School Hall of Fame, the Saint Mary’s College Hall of Fame, and the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame.
- Overall Coaching Record: 53-75
Coaching Career
Tom Meschery started his coaching career as the head coach of the Carolina Cougars of the American Basketball Association (ABA). In his first season, 35–49 in the 1971–72 season before being replaced by Larry Brown.
Notable Players Coached
- Joe Caldwell
- 2× NBA All-Star (1969, 1970)
- 2× ABA All-Star (1971, 1973)
- 197 All-ABA Second Team
- 1970 NBA All-Defensive Second Team
- 1973 ABA All-Defensive First Team
- 1965 NBA All-Rookie First Team
- Ted McClain
- 2× ABA champion (1975–1976)
- 1974 ABA All-Star
- 1974 ABA All-Defensive First Team
- 1974 ABA steals leader
- Bob Verga
- 2× ABA All-Star (1968, 1970)
- 1970 All-ABA First Team
- Warren Davis (2× ABA All-Star (1969, 1970)
- George Carter (1971 ABA All-Star)
Coach Meschery became an assistant coach under Lenny Wilkens. In his first season as an assistant coach, the team finished with a 38–44 record, missing the playoffs. The following season, the team finished with a 37–45 record, missing the playoffs.
Notable Players Coached
- Bill Walton
- 2× NBA champion (1977, 1986)
- 1977 NBA Finals MVP
- 1978 NBA Most Valuable Player
- 2× NBA All-Star (1977, 1978)
- 1978 All-NBA First Team
- 1977 All-NBA Second Team
- 2× NBA All-Defensive First Team (1977, 1978)
- 1986 NBA Sixth Man of the Year (1986)
- 1977 NBA rebounding leader
- 1977 NBA blocks leader
- No. 32 retired by Portland Trail Blazers
- 50th & 75th NBA anniversary team selections
- Sidney Wicks
- 4× NBA All-Star (1972–1975)
- 1972 NBA Rookie of the Year
- 1972 NBA All-Rookie First Team
- Geoff Petrie
- 2× NBA All-Star (1971, 1974)
- 1971 NBA Rookie of the Year
- 1971 NBA All-Rookie First Team
- No. 45 retired by Portland Trail Blazers
- Larry Steele
- 1977 NBA champion
- 1974 NBA steals leader
- No. 15 retired by Portland Trail Blazers
- Lloyd Neal
- 1977 NBA champion
- 1973 NBA All-Rookie First Team
- No. 36 retired by Portland Trail Blazers
- Bob Gross
- 1977 NBA champion
- 1978 NBA All-Defensive Second Team
- No. 30 retired by Portland Trail Blazers
- Steve “Snapper” Jones (3× ABA All-Star (1970–1972)
Coach Meschery became the head coach of the Reno Bighorns of the Continental Basketball Association (CBA). In his first and only season, he led the team to an 18–26 record.