Lapchick was the first talented big man to play in the
collegiate ranks and in the NBA. He was inducted into the
Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 1966 as an original Boston
Celtic from the era of the “Roaring 20’s.” The “Big Indian”
as he was called, had a career in basketball that virtually spanned
the game from its true beginning to its full growth.
He coached at St. John’s from 1936-1947, left to roam the
sidelines for the New York Knicks from 1947-1956 where upon he
returned to lead the Redmen until his retirement in 1965. He
won 334 games during his tenure, among those were four National
Invitation Tournament Titles (1943, 1944, 1959 and 1965).
University Officials recognized Lapchick for his many
accomplishments by naming a regular season tournament (The Joe
Lapchick Memorial) in his honor. In 1985 he was unanimously
chosen as part of the first induction class to enter the St. John’s
Athletic Hall of Fame. Lapchick died on August 10, 1970.