John Rudometkin facts for kids

John Rudometkin (June 6, 1940 – August 4, 2015) was an American professional basketball player. He played for the New York Knicks and San Francisco Warriors in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was chosen in the second round of the 1962 NBA draft by the Knicks. John played in the league for three seasons. A famous sports announcer, Chick Hearn, gave him the nickname "the Reckless Russian."

College Basketball Journey

Before joining the University of Southern California, John Rudometkin played basketball for one year. He attended Allan Hancock College, a junior college in his hometown of Santa Maria, California. During the 1958–59 season, he scored an average of 18.2 points per game.

In the fall of 1959, Rudometkin started playing for the Trojans at USC. He was a 6-foot-6-inch center and had a very successful college career. Over three seasons, he averaged 18.8 points and 10.5 rebounds in 79 games. He scored 1,434 points, which was a school record for 23 years. His average of 18.8 points per game is still the best career average at USC.

In 1961, he helped the Trojans win a conference title. This was their most recent outright conference championship until 2009–10. John led his team in scoring in all three seasons. He was also named the team's Most Valuable Player (MVP) each year. As a senior in 1961–62, he was named a second-team All-American. This means he was recognized as one of the best college players in the country.

Playing in the NBA

After his great college career, the New York Knicks picked John Rudometkin. He was the 11th player chosen overall in the 1962 NBA draft. He played for the Knicks during the 1962, 1963, and part of the 1964 seasons.

On February 2, 1965, he joined the San Francisco Warriors as a free agent. He finished that season and his basketball career with them. In college, John played as a center. But in the NBA, he moved to play as a forward. In his three professional seasons, John averaged 6.3 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 0.5 assists per game.

Life Beyond Basketball

John Rudometkin had to stop playing basketball early after only three seasons. Doctors found out he had a serious illness called non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. This is a type of blood cancer. He spent many years getting treatment for it. The treatment caused him to lose all his hair. It also made him temporarily unable to move some parts of his body. He even had to learn to walk again.

Eventually, John's cancer went into remission, meaning it was under control. He believed both medicine and his strong faith helped him survive. The illness had affected his lungs and heart.

After overcoming his illness, John got married and had three sons. He wrote a book about his experiences. He also traveled around the country as a motivational speaker. He shared his story to inspire others. John also worked as a real estate investor and a minister. Towards the end of his life, he lived in Newcastle, California, with his wife. He needed an oxygen tank to help him breathe. John Rudometkin passed away on August 4, 2015, due to a long-term lung disease.

Career Statistics

NBA Regular Season Stats