Ken Sailors
Encyclopedia
Kenneth L. Sailors is an American
former professional basketball
player. A 5 in 10 in (1.78 m) guard, he is notable for popularizing the jump shot as an alternative to the two-handed, flat-footed set shot.
Sailors grew up on a farm south of Hillsdale, Wyoming
, where he developed his effective jump shot while playing against his 6'4" older brother Bud. He eventually brought his skills to the University of Wyoming
, and in 1943 he led the Cowboys to the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship
. Sailors was named the NCAA Basketball Tournament Most Outstanding Player
for his efforts. He was the unanimous selection as College Basketball Player of the Year in 1943. He would earn the honor again in 1946. Sailors was the only player in the history of Wyoming Cowboys basketball to be selected as an All-American three times. He earned the honors in 1942, 1943 and 1946.
From 1946 to 1951, Sailors played professionally in the BAA and NBA as a member of the Cleveland Rebels
, Chicago Stags
, Philadelphia Warriors, Providence Steamrollers
, Denver Nuggets
, Boston Celtics
, and Baltimore Bullets. He scored 3,480 points in his professional career. Sailors was inducted into the University of Wyoming Athletics Hall of Fame on October 29, 1993.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
former professional basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player. A 5 in 10 in (1.78 m) guard, he is notable for popularizing the jump shot as an alternative to the two-handed, flat-footed set shot.
Sailors grew up on a farm south of Hillsdale, Wyoming
Hillsdale, Wyoming
Hillsdale is an unincorporated community in southeastern Laramie County, Wyoming, United States. It lies along local roads east of the city of Cheyenne, the county seat of Laramie County. Its elevation is 5,640 feet . Although Hillsdale is unincorporated, it has a post office, with the ZIP...
, where he developed his effective jump shot while playing against his 6'4" older brother Bud. He eventually brought his skills to the University of Wyoming
University of Wyoming
The University of Wyoming is a land-grant university located in Laramie, Wyoming, situated on Wyoming's high Laramie Plains, at an elevation of 7,200 feet , between the Laramie and Snowy Range mountains. It is known as UW to people close to the university...
, and in 1943 he led the Cowboys to the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship
1943 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
-External links:* on Shrp Sports * , source for much of the information on this page....
. Sailors was named the NCAA Basketball Tournament Most Outstanding Player
NCAA Basketball Tournament Most Outstanding Player
At the conclusion of the NCAA men's and women's Division I basketball championships , the Associated Press selects a Most Outstanding Player. The MOP need not be, but almost always is a member of the Championship team, especially since the third place game was eliminated after 1981...
for his efforts. He was the unanimous selection as College Basketball Player of the Year in 1943. He would earn the honor again in 1946. Sailors was the only player in the history of Wyoming Cowboys basketball to be selected as an All-American three times. He earned the honors in 1942, 1943 and 1946.
From 1946 to 1951, Sailors played professionally in the BAA and NBA as a member of the Cleveland Rebels
Cleveland Rebels
The Cleveland Rebels were a Basketball Association of America team based in Cleveland, Ohio.-Franchise history:The Rebels were an inaugural franchise in the BAA's first season...
, Chicago Stags
Chicago Stags
The Chicago Stags were a National Basketball Association team based in Chicago, Illinois, U.S..- Franchise history :The Chicago Stags were founded in 1946 and folded in 1950. Despite their short history, they were able to acquire the draft rights to a young Bob Cousy in a trade with the Tri-Cities...
, Philadelphia Warriors, Providence Steamrollers
Providence Steamrollers
The Providence Steamrollers were a National Basketball Association team based in Providence, Rhode Island. As of November 2011, the Steamrollers remain the last pro sports franchise from one of the Big Four leagues to be based in Rhode Island....
, Denver Nuggets
Denver Nuggets (original)
This article is about the original Denver Nuggets NBL/NBA team from 1948-1950. For the current NBA team see Denver Nuggets.The Denver Nuggets were a professional basketball team based in Denver, Colorado, The United States of America...
, Boston Celtics
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
, and Baltimore Bullets. He scored 3,480 points in his professional career. Sailors was inducted into the University of Wyoming Athletics Hall of Fame on October 29, 1993.
Further reading
- John Christgau, Origins of the Jump Shot: Eight Men Who Shook the World of Basketball. Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska Press, 1999.
See also
- John Miller CooperJohn Miller CooperJohn Miller Cooper was an American educator. He is also regarded as one of the early innovators of the basketball jump shot and as a pioneer in the field of biomechanics and human movement.-Early years:...