Swede Halbrook
Encyclopedia
Harvey Wade "Swede" Halbrook (January 30, 1933 - April 5, 1988) was an American former NBA
player who played from 1960-1962. He played in college for Oregon State University
, and at 7 ft 3 in (2.21 m), was at the time the tallest player to ever play college basketball.
, Life magazine
declared him the "World's Tallest Basketball Player" in their Jan. 18, 1954 issue. Under legendary head coach Slats Gill
, he instantly turned the team into a national title contender, earning All-America
n status in 1955 and All-Pacific Coast
Conference first team and All-Northern Division first team honors in 1954 and 1955, the only two seasons he played. As of 2006, he still holds the top 3 spots on Oregon State's single game rebound records, his top performance of 36 being tied for 15th in NCAA
history. He also holds the Oregon State record for free throws attempted at 28.
title in 1959. The next year he was selected to play for the Syracuse Nationals
. He played in 79 games for them in the 1960-61 season, with his team making it to the NBA playoffs and finishing the season in third place. Halbrook was a key presence in many of the Nationals' victories, including a 3-game series sweep over Wilt Chamberlain
and the Philadelphia Warriors. Syracuse coach Alex Hannum
told an Oregonian
reporter that "Wilt was really concerned with Swede...Wilt never had to look anyone in the eye and he would get more involved in trying to outplay Swede than he would in trying to win the game."
The following season he played in 64 games for the Nationals, that season marking the end of his professional career. He remained the tallest player in NBA history until the 1982 draft
brought Mark Eaton
and Chuck Nevitt
into the league.
Swede moved to Portland, Oregon
after being released from the Nationals and worked at a variety of odd jobs for the remainder of his life. He died of a heart attack on April 5, 1988 on a Portland
city bus.
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
player who played from 1960-1962. He played in college for Oregon State University
Oregon State University
Oregon State University is a coeducational, public research university located in Corvallis, Oregon, United States. The university offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees and a multitude of research opportunities. There are more than 200 academic degree programs offered through the...
, and at 7 ft 3 in (2.21 m), was at the time the tallest player to ever play college basketball.
High school career
Swede Halbrook played high school basketball at Lincoln High School in Portland where he also starred in track as a high jumper and hurdler. Lincoln won the state tournament in Halbrook's senior year. In one tournament game he scored 50 points and had 34 rebounds.College career
When Halbrook joined the Oregon State BeaversOregon State Beavers
The Oregon State Beavers is a name shared by all sports teams at Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon. The Beavers are part of the Pacific-12 Conference . Oregon State's mascot is Benny the Beaver...
, Life magazine
Life (magazine)
Life generally refers to three American magazines:*A humor and general interest magazine published from 1883 to 1936. Time founder Henry Luce bought the magazine in 1936 solely so that he could acquire the rights to its name....
declared him the "World's Tallest Basketball Player" in their Jan. 18, 1954 issue. Under legendary head coach Slats Gill
Slats Gill
Amory Tingle "Slats" Gill was a men's basketball and baseball coach at Oregon State University.-Early life:Gill was born in Salem, Oregon, the youngest of eight children. His father died when he was a child. His nickname "Slats" was given to him at age 12. Gill was swimming in a local pond one...
, he instantly turned the team into a national title contender, earning All-America
All-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
n status in 1955 and All-Pacific Coast
Conference first team and All-Northern Division first team honors in 1954 and 1955, the only two seasons he played. As of 2006, he still holds the top 3 spots on Oregon State's single game rebound records, his top performance of 36 being tied for 15th in NCAA
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
history. He also holds the Oregon State record for free throws attempted at 28.
Professional career
Halbrook signed with the Wichita Vickers in 1956, where he played five seasons and led the team to the national AAUAmateur Athletic Union
The Amateur Athletic Union is one of the largest non-profit volunteer sports organizations in the United States. A multi-sport organization, the AAU is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports and physical fitness programs.-History:The AAU was founded in 1888 to...
title in 1959. The next year he was selected to play for the Syracuse Nationals
Syracuse Nationals
The Syracuse Nationals were an American professional basketball team that existed from 1946 to 1963 as part of the National Basketball League and National Basketball Association . They are currently known as the Philadelphia 76ers, and are the NBA's oldest continued franchise.The team began in...
. He played in 79 games for them in the 1960-61 season, with his team making it to the NBA playoffs and finishing the season in third place. Halbrook was a key presence in many of the Nationals' victories, including a 3-game series sweep over Wilt Chamberlain
Wilt Chamberlain
Wilton Norman "Wilt" Chamberlain was an American professional NBA basketball player for the Philadelphia/San Francisco Warriors, the Philadelphia 76ers and the Los Angeles Lakers; he also played for the Harlem Globetrotters prior to playing in the NBA...
and the Philadelphia Warriors. Syracuse coach Alex Hannum
Alex Hannum
Alexander Murray Hannum was a professional basketball player and Hall-of-Fame coach.-Coaching career:Hannum is mostly known for coaching the Wilt Chamberlain-led Philadelphia 76ers of 1966-67 to the NBA championship, ending the eight-year title streak of the Boston Celtics. He had also coached the...
told an Oregonian
The Oregonian
The Oregonian is the major daily newspaper in Portland, Oregon, owned by Advance Publications. It is the oldest continuously published newspaper on the U.S. west coast, founded as a weekly by Thomas J. Dryer on December 4, 1850...
reporter that "Wilt was really concerned with Swede...Wilt never had to look anyone in the eye and he would get more involved in trying to outplay Swede than he would in trying to win the game."
The following season he played in 64 games for the Nationals, that season marking the end of his professional career. He remained the tallest player in NBA history until the 1982 draft
1982 NBA Draft
The 1982 NBA Draft took place on June 29, 1982 at the Felt Forum at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York.-Key:-Draft:-Other picks:-External links:**...
brought Mark Eaton
Mark Eaton (basketball)
Mark E. Eaton is a retired American professional basketball player who was a member of the NBA's Utah Jazz from 1982 to 1994. He was famous for his giant frame and his strong defense...
and Chuck Nevitt
Chuck Nevitt
Charles Goodrich 'Chuck' Nevitt is a retired American professional basketball player, known primarily for his great height. At 7 ft 5 in , he played the center position throughout his nine-year career in the NBA, and remains one of the tallest players ever in NBA history...
into the league.
Personal life
Off-court issues cut short both Halbrook's college and professional careers. He would reportedly go missing for days, sometimes weeks at a time without explanation. Oregon State coach Gill was forced to cut him from the team after only two seasons for skipping class so often. Nationals coach Hannum is quoted to have said that "He could have had a worthwhile career if he had taken care of himself. During his second season, he disappeared for a week and we sent the police out to look for him. But they couldn’t find a 7-footer! He came back on his own but he never would tell me where he had been."Swede moved to Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
after being released from the Nationals and worked at a variety of odd jobs for the remainder of his life. He died of a heart attack on April 5, 1988 on a Portland
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
city bus.
See also
- List of tallest players in National Basketball Association history
- List of NCAA Division I men's basketball players with 30 or more rebounds in a game
External links
- Database Basketball - Harvey Halbrook stats