Wayne Embry facts for kids
Embry in the 1964–1965 Cincinnati Royals program
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| Toronto Raptors | |
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| Senior Basketball Advisor | |
| Personal information | |
| Born | March 26, 1937 Springfield, Ohio, U.S. |
| High school | Tecumseh (New Carlisle, Ohio) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) |
| Listed weight | 240 lb (109 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Miami (Ohio) (1955–1958) |
| NBA Draft | 1958 / Round: 3 / Pick: 22nd overall |
| Selected by the St. Louis Hawks | |
| Pro career | 1958–1969 |
| Career history | |
| 1958–1966 | Cincinnati Royals |
| 1966–1968 | Boston Celtics |
| 1968–1969 | Milwaukee Bucks |
| Career highlights and awards | |
As executive:
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| Career statistics | |
| Points | 10,380 (12.5 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 7,544 (9.1 rpg) |
| Assists | 1,194 (1.4 apg) |
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Wayne Richard Embry (born March 26, 1937) is an American former professional basketball player. He also became a very important basketball executive. Embry played as a center for 11 years, from 1958 to 1969. He played for the Cincinnati Royals, Boston Celtics, and Milwaukee Bucks in the National Basketball Association (NBA). After his playing days, Embry became the first African-American general manager and team president in NBA history.
Since 2004, Embry has worked as a senior basketball advisor for the Toronto Raptors.
Contents
Early Life and High School Basketball
Wayne Embry grew up in Ohio. He went to Tecumseh High School near New Carlisle, Ohio. There, he played basketball for three years. He was recognized as an "Honorable Mention All-State" player, which means he was one of the best players in the state.
College Basketball Career
Embry attended Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. He was a very successful college basketball player. He was named an All-Mid-American Conference center twice.
Leading Miami University to Championships
As a team captain, Embry led his college team, the Miami RedHawks, to conference championships. They also played in the NCAA Tournament in both 1957 and 1958. He was the top scorer and rebounder in the Mid-American Conference for two seasons.
Embry's College Records
Wayne Embry still holds several school records at Miami University. He has the best career rebounding average, with 15.5 rebounds per game. He is also one of the top players in Miami's history for total points (1,401) and rebounds (1,117). He holds records for most rebounds in a single game (34) and a season (488). He was one of only 10 players in his conference to get over 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds in his college career.
College Honors and Recognition
As a senior, Embry was chosen for the Helms Athletic Foundation All-America third team. He also received honorable mention All-America honors in 1957 and 1958. In 1970, he was inducted into the Miami Athletics Hall of Fame. His jersey number, 23, was retired, making him only the fourth player in Miami history to receive this honor. Embry earned a Bachelor of Science degree in education from Miami.
NBA Playing Career Highlights
The St. Louis Hawks first drafted Wayne Embry in 1958. However, he was soon traded to the Cincinnati Royals. This trade brought him closer to his home in Ohio.
Joining the Cincinnati Royals
The Cincinnati Royals were rebuilding their team. Embry joined them, and the team improved greatly when Oscar Robertson arrived in 1960. Embry, Robertson, and Jack Twyman all became NBA All-Stars for Cincinnati. Embry was known for his strong "pick and roll" plays with Robertson. Robertson's encouragement helped Embry become an even better player. Embry was a powerful player, standing 6 feet 8 inches tall and weighing 240 pounds. He often acted like a blocker on the court, protecting his teammates.
Becoming Team Captain and Playoff Success
In 1963, Embry was named the captain of the Royals. During the 1963 NBA Playoffs, he had his best postseason performances. He averaged 16.8 points and 13.5 rebounds per game. The next season, with Jerry Lucas joining the team, the Royals had the second-best record in the NBA. On December 1, 1963, Embry scored a career-high 39 points in a game against the Los Angeles Lakers. Despite their strong team, the Royals could never beat the dominant Boston Celtics or the Philadelphia 76ers with Wilt Chamberlain to win an NBA title.
Joining the Boston Celtics and Winning a Championship
Embry almost retired from basketball to work for Pepsi-Cola. But his friend, Bill Russell, convinced him to keep playing. Russell was the new player-coach for the Boston Celtics. Embry played important reserve minutes for the Celtics. He helped the team win the 1967–68 NBA title, which was a big surprise for many.
Finishing His Career with the Milwaukee Bucks
After winning the championship, the Milwaukee Bucks picked Embry in the expansion draft. This meant he would play for the new Bucks team. Embry started as the center for the Bucks during the 1968–69 season. In the very first game in Bucks history, he scored 15 points and grabbed 20 rebounds. Embry retired from playing basketball at the end of that season.
NBA Front-Office Career
After retiring as a player, Wayne Embry began a new career in basketball management. He became an assistant manager for the Milwaukee Bucks. He helped the team sign important players, including his former teammate Oscar Robertson. Embry's work helped the Bucks, along with star player Lew Alcindor, win an NBA title. Embry quickly moved up in the Bucks' front office.
First African-American General Manager
Wayne Embry made history by becoming the first African-American NBA general manager. He managed the Milwaukee Bucks from 1972 to 1979. Later, he also managed the Cleveland Cavaliers (1986–1999) and the Toronto Raptors (2006). He was recognized as the NBA Executive of the Year twice, in 1992 and 1998.
Working with the Toronto Raptors
In 2004, Embry was hired as a senior basketball advisor for the Toronto Raptors. After one season, he was promoted to president of the team. On January 26, 2006, Embry became the interim general manager for the Raptors for two months. He continued to serve as a senior basketball advisor for the Raptors. The Raptors later went on to become NBA champions in 2019.
Personal Life and Legacy
Wayne Embry and his wife, Terri, have two daughters and one son. He also has a granddaughter. He is distantly related to Marty Embry, another professional basketball player.
Business and Community Involvement
Embry has started and led his own businesses. He has also been a member of many non-profit and company boards. These include Kohl's and the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland. He wrote an autobiography called The Inside Game: Race, Power and Politics in the NBA in 2004.
Basketball Hall of Fame and Other Honors
Embry has been a trustee for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame since 1974. He has also served on important committees for the NBA. In 1999, he was inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame. This honor recognized his amazing career as both a player and a team executive. He also served on Miami University's Board of Trustees for 14 years.
In 2006, Embry was inducted into the Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame. In 2013, he received the Ohio Heritage Award. This award honors people from the Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame for their contributions outside of basketball. A part of US Route 40 near his high school in Ohio was named in his honor.
Statue and Scholarship at Miami University
On May 18, 2021, Miami University unveiled a statue of Wayne Embry. It stands at the entrance of Millett Hall, the university's basketball arena. The statue shows Embry's famous hook shot. Private donations helped create the statue and also funded the Wayne Embry Scholarship. This scholarship supports male basketball student-athletes at Miami. The university also gave Embry and his late wife, Theresa “Terri” Embry, the Freedom Summer of ’64 Award. This award honors leaders who have worked to advance civil rights and social justice.
Images for kids
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Embry in the 1964–1965 Cincinnati Royals program
See also
In Spanish: Wayne Embry para niños
