Ossie Schectman

Oscar B. Schectman


Born:
March 30, 1919
New Brunswick, NJ

Died:
July 30, 2013
Delray Beach, FL


Career
1935-36 Samuel Tilden High School - Brooklyn (High School)
1936-37 Samuel Tilden High School - Brooklyn (High School)
1938-39 Long Island University (College)
1939-40 Long Island University (College)
1940-41 Long Island University (College)
1941-42 Philadelphia SPHA's (ABL)
1941-42 Long Island Gruman Hellcats (Independent)
1942-43 Philadelphia SPHA's (ABL)
1942-43 Long Island Gruman Hellcats (Independent)
1943-44 Brooklyn Indians (ABL)
1943-44 Philadelphia SPHA's (ABL)
1944-45 Philadelphia SPHA's (ABL)
1944-45 Long Island Gruman Hellcats (Independent)
1945-46 Philadelphia SPHA's (ABL)
1946-47 New York Knicks (BAA)
1947-48 Paterson Crescents (ABL)
1947-48 Twin Cities Celtics (NYSL)
1948-49 Paterson Crescents (ABL)

Born to Russian immigrants, Schectman played baseball and basketball at Tilden HS in Brooklyn. He attended LIU, where he helped his team to the NIT title. He then went on to play professionally for many years on Long Island, as well as with the SPHA's in the ABL. He signed with the New York Knicks of the newly-formed BAA in 1946, and was on the court for the league's inaugural game against Toronto. Schectman put the Knicks on the board first with a layup, and that field goal marked the first points scored in the history of what would become the NBA. At a time when the Knicks (like the rest of the league) had a salary cap of $60,000, Schectman signed for $10,000 of it. His time with the Knicks came to an abrupt end when he tripped over Max Zaslofsky and ruptured an intestine. He returned to the court for a few more seasons with Paterson back in the ABL, but then called it quits. He worked in the garment industry before retiring to Florida. Schectman, along with the other surviviors of the Knicks and Huskies, reunited in 1996 at the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the NBA. Schectman died in 2013 at 94 years of age.

He was married to Evelyn and had two sons.


Source:
Asbury Park Press, March 4, 1990
The Star, July 31, 2013

Stats:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/schecos01.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=schecos01