Al Bianchi facts for kids
| No. 16, 24 | |
|---|---|
| Guard | |
| Personal information | |
| Born | March 26, 1932 New York City, US |
| Died | October 28, 2019 (aged 87) Phoenix, Arizona, US |
| High school | Long Island City (Long Island City, New York) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
| Listed weight | 185 lb (84 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Bowling Green (1951–1954) |
| NBA Draft | 1954 / Round: 2 / Pick: 18th overall |
| Selected by the Minneapolis Lakers | |
| Pro career | 1956–1966 |
| Career history | |
| As player: | |
| 1956–1966 | Syracuse Nationals / Philadelphia 76ers |
| As coach: | |
| 1967–1969 | Seattle SuperSonics |
| 1969–1970 | Washington Caps |
| 1970–1975 | Virginia Squires |
| Career highlights and awards | |
As player:
As coach:
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| Career statistics | |
| Points | 5,550 (8.1 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 1,722 (2.5 rpg) |
| Assists | 1,497 (2.2 apg) |
Alfred A. Bianchi (born March 26, 1932 – died October 28, 2019) was an American basketball star. He was a professional player, coach, and manager. He also worked as a consultant and scout for teams.
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Early Life and Education
Alfred Bianchi was nicknamed "Blinky" by his friends. He went to P.S. 4 elementary school. Later, he graduated from Long Island City High School in 1950.
He then attended Bowling Green State University. He graduated in 1954. While there, he was chosen for the "All-Ohio Team." He also earned an honorable mention as a basketball All-American. After college, he served in the U.S. Army Medical Corps from 1954 to 1956.
Playing in the NBA
Al Bianchi started his professional basketball career in 1956. He played for the Syracuse Nationals in the NBA. The team later moved to Philadelphia. It became the 76ers for the 1963–64 season. He played for them until 1965.
Coaching Basketball Teams
After his playing career, Bianchi became a coach. In 1966, he was picked by the Chicago Bulls. He became an assistant coach for them.
A year later, he became the head coach for the new Seattle SuperSonics team. He coached them for one season.
He then moved to the American Basketball Association. He coached and managed the Washington Caps and Virginia Squires from 1969 to 1975. In 1971, he was named the ABA Coach of the Year. This was because he led the Squires to win their division. They had a great record of 55 wins and 29 losses.
Working in Team Management
In 1976, Al Bianchi returned to the NBA. He became an assistant coach for the Phoenix Suns. He worked with head coach John MacLeod. He stayed with the Suns until 1987. During this time, the Suns played in an exciting NBA Finals series.
He then became the general manager for the New York Knicks. This was from 1987 to 1991. After that, he went back to Phoenix. He worked as a scout for the Suns, looking for new college players. From 2004 to 2009, he was a consultant and scout for the Golden State Warriors.
Awards and Recognition
In September 2007, Al Bianchi was honored. He was inducted into the New York City Basketball Hall of Fame. This was for his achievements as a player.
He was also inducted into the Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame. This happened on May 21, 2016.
Death
Al Bianchi passed away on October 28, 2019. He was 87 years old. He died in Phoenix, Arizona.
See Also
In Spanish: Al Bianchi para niños
- List of NBA players who have spent their entire career with one franchise
