A Brief Biography of NBA Legend Paul Arizin and His Career

NBA legend Paul Arizin was born on April 9, 1928. Arizin fell in love with the game of basketball at a young age and honed his skills on the courts of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Though he enjoyed basketball for most of his childhood and high school years, Arizin did not play any type of organized basketball until college. He decided to try out for his high school varsity team at La Salle High School but did not make the cut. Arizin never gave up and continued to work on his game, though not playing for any team.

At 6' 4" and very tough, Arizin was good sized for the time period that he played in. He decided to enroll at Villanova University for college and pursue a spot on the basketball team. Little did anyone know, Arizin would become one of the greatest players of his generation.

Arizin did not make the Villanova basketball team his freshman year. Even after another disappointment, Arizin continued to play every day and get better. By his sophomore year he was on the team and making quite a name for himself. Arizin came literally out of nowhere. He went from never being heard of to one of the best players in collegiate basketball in a matter of a year. His shooting was extremely precise and he scored at a staggering rate. Arizin recorded 85 points in a single game during his sophomore year at Villanova; a record which still stands today. Receiving such great success did not slow down Arizin's work ethic at all and by the time the end of his senior year rolled around he was the best college basketball player in the country. He averaged 25.3 points per game in 1950, his senior season.

Paul Arizin was drafted by the Philadelphia Warriors of the NBA right after college. He played during an era of flat footed set shots though he himself was working with something different; a jump shot. He was known for kicking his legs behind him when he shot the ball. Arizin was a multi-dimensional scorer who could not only shoot from the outside, but also attack the rim. In an era that was seemingly dominated by big man George Mikan, Arizin managed to steal the scoring crown from him his second year in the league with an average of 25.4 points per game.

Paul Arizin left professional basketball for two years after the 1951-52 season for the military. After his work was done there, he returned to the NBA and the Warriors. In 1955-56 Arizin led the Warriors to the NBA title. He continued his stellar career and won the scoring title the next year. In 1962, Paul Arizin decided to retire from the Warriors. This retirement was prompted by the franchise moving from Philadelphia to San Francisco. He did, however, continue to play professional basketball in the Eastern League where he won a title in 1964. This showed his determination and love for the game of basketball, no matter what level he was playing at.

Paul Arizin was inducted into the National Basketball Hall of Fame in 1977. Arizin had an astounding career and at the time of his retirement, was second on the all-time NBA scoring list with 16,266 points. Arizin is remembered for his hard work ethic and highly skilled play. In a time when the game of basketball was developing extremely rapidly, Paul Arizin made the most of it.