Frank Ramsey (basketball)

Frank Vernon Ramsey, Jr. (born July 13, 1931 in Corydon, Kentucky) is a former professional basketball player and coach. A 6-3 guard, he played his entire nine-year (1954-1964) NBA career with the Boston Celtics and played a major role in the early part of their dynasty, winning seven championship rings. Ramsey was also a head coach for the Kentucky Colonels of the ABA during the 1970-1971 season.

Boston Celtics

After playing his rookie season with the Celtics (1954-1955, Ramsey spent one year in the military before rejoining the team. In the eight seasons he played after military service, he was a member of seven championship teams (1957, 1959-1964). He was a major contributor of the Celtics dynasty, playing behind the future Hall-of-Fame duo of Bob Cousy and Bill Sharman and playing with five other future Hall-of-Famers?Bill Russell, Sam Jones, K. C. Jones, Tom Heinsohn and John Havlicek. In his 623 NBA games Ramsey scored 8378 points for an average of 13.4 points per game. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1981. His #23 is retired by the Celtics.

Related Topics:
1954 - 1955 - 1957 - 1959 - 1964 - Hall-of-Fame - Bob Cousy - Bill Sharman - Bill Russell - Sam Jones - K. C. Jones - Tom Heinsohn - John Havlicek - 1981

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Ramsey's best statistical season was 1957-1958; he averaged 16.5 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. Ironically, it was also his only post-military season in which the Celtics did not win the NBA championship; they lost to a Bob Pettit-led St. Louis Hawks team in the Finals. Cliff Hagan, Ramsey's ex-Kentucky teammate, also starred for the Hawks.

Related Topics:
1957 - 1958 - Bob Pettit - St. Louis Hawks

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Ramsey was also a head coach for one season (1970-71) in the ABA with the Kentucky Colonels, who were led two former Kentucky Wildcats - Issel, a rookie, and Louie Dampier. Ramsey was named coach 17 games into an 84-game season and, though he had a 32-35 record, coached the Colonels into the playoffs. The Colonels lost to the Utah Stars (who were coached by Sharman, Ramsey's ex-Celtic teammate) in the ABA Finals, 4 games to 3.

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