Dick Garmaker

Seasons

Season G PPG RPG NBA
Title
1955-56 (#16) 68 5.7 1.9
1956-57 72 16.3 4.7
1957-58 68 16.1 5.4
1958-59 72 13.7 4.5
1959-60 44 11.7 4.3

Guard, #16

 

Drafted by the Lakers sixth overall in 1955, Dick Garmaker was a four-time All-Star during his 4½ seasons in Minneapolis.

The 6-foot-3 guard had his best statistical year in 1956-57 with 1,177 points and a 16.3 scoring average (both second on the team to Clyde Lovellette and 10th in the league). He also led the Lakers in free throws (365, ninth in the league) and free-throw attempts (435, 10th in the league) and was third in the league in free-throw percentage (.839, second on the Lakers).

Garmaker was traded to the New York Knicks for Ray Felix in January 1960, 40 games into his final All-Star season. He was allegedly such a card shark that his final contract with the Knicks prohibited him from playing cards in order to preserve team chemistry, according to the Tulsa World.

He cut his basketball career short, retiring after the 1960-61 season to go into real estate.

— Chuck Schilken
Feb. 12, 2011