The oldest residing former NBA participant, Stanley “Whitey” Von Nieda, handed away on the age of 101 on Wednesday in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania. Von Nieda turned 100 on June 19, 2022.

For his a centesimal birthday, he acquired a certificates from the NBA Retired Gamers Affiliation, recognizing his “legacy as the primary former NBA participant to achieve 100 years of age.’’

Von Nieda might be remembered because the oldest ex-NBA participant in historical past. “It’s onerous proper now,” Von Nieda’s spouse, Arlene, stated Thursday. “He meant so much to lots of people, and I heard from them so many instances over time.’’

In Memoriam: Stan “Whitey” Von Nieda (1922-2023)

The NBA’s oldest alumnus ever, Von Nieda entered the league with the NBL Tri-Cities Blackhawks in 1947 and performed till 1950. pic.twitter.com/f5dLstFtOU

— NBA Historical past (@NBAHistory) September 9, 2023

His actual title was Stanley. Nonetheless, Von Nieda stated in an interview final yr that “no person ever referred to as me that.” The nickname referred to his pure blonde hair.

Von Nieda was born and raised in Ephrata, Pennsylvania. The 6-foot-1 guard/ahead performed basketball at Ephrata Excessive Faculty and Penn State College (1942-43).

Whereas with Ephrata Excessive Faculty, he led the Mountaineers and all of Lancaster County in scoring in 1940. The Penn State product was a flexible basketball participant.

“I may play both [guard or forward],” he recalled throughout an interview. “Typically I’d take my man down inside and hook it over him.”

Ex-paratrooper Stanley “Whitey” Von Nieda, the oldest residing former NBA participant, has died on the age of 101 in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania

Stanley “Whitey” Von Nieda additionally enlisted within the military throughout World Warfare II. He attended the Fort Benning (now Fort Moore) paratrooper academy in Georgia and was a part of the seventeenth Airborne Division that fought within the Battle of the Bulge.

As a basketball participant on the paratrooper college, the Pennsylvania native led the service groups and nation in scoring with 1,062 factors in 44 video games.

Following an honorable discharge in 1946, he performed for the Lancaster Purple Roses within the Jap Basketball League (EBL), the place he led the league in scoring, averaging greater than 24 factors per recreation.

Lancaster On-line

He acquired a $2,000 signing bonus and earned roughly $14,000 per season, in response to Lancaster On-line’s Mike Gross. On the time, Von Neida was nonetheless a Penn State scholar.

In 1947, he started taking part in for the Tri-Cities Blackhawks (now Atlanta Hawks) within the Nationwide Basketball League (NBL). The staff was based mostly in Moline, Illinois. Von Nieda made the All-Rookie staff, averaging 12 factors a recreation. The Blackhawks reached the ultimate spherical of the playoffs in each of the years he performed there.

After a merger between the NBL and the Basketball Affiliation of America, the NBA had its inaugural 1949-50 season. He scored 14 factors within the Tri-Cities Blackhawks vs. Denver Nuggets matchup on Oct. 29, 1949, the primary post-merger NBA regular-season recreation.

Von Nieda’s skilled taking part in profession with the Baltimore Bullets, teaching profession

On Jan. 13, 1950, his participant rights had been traded to the Baltimore Bullets (now Washington Wizards). Von Nieda appeared in each recreation with Baltimore within the 1949-50 season, taking part in each level guard and taking pictures guard.

In Baltimore’s 79-75 win over the Boston Celtics on March 11, 1950, the guard recorded an NBA career-high 15 factors. At 27 years outdated, he made six area objectives and shot 3-of-4 (75%) on the foul line.

A watch damage ended his NBA profession with the Bullets. Throughout the 1950 offseason, he accepted a head teaching job at Elizabethtown Faculty. After three seasons, he completed 27-18 as head coach in 1952.

Moreover, Von Nieda then went on to function the top coach of the Lancaster Purple Roses (1950-53). He served because the staff’s participant/coach, serving to the Purple Roses advance to the finals three of the 4 years.

Von Nieda was chosen to the All-EPBL Second Group in 1951. Nonetheless, his participant stats will not be accessible on Basketball Reference. The previous NBA participant coached the Hazleton Hawks within the 1961-62 season as properly.

In 1985, he coached Lancaster within the Continental League. His staff as soon as once more reached the finals. Von Nieda additionally participated in Ephrata Excessive Faculty alumni video games, an exercise he continued properly into his 60s.

Might the oldest residing former NBA participant relaxation in peace.

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