American · Granite City, Illinois · Born 7 March 1922American basketball point guard known as one of the greatest passers in early NBA history, leading the league in assists twice during the 1940s-50s.
Andrew Michael Phillip was born in Granite City, Illinois in 1922. He was one of the Whiz Kids at the University of Illinois before the Chicago Stags signed him in 1947. He led the BAA/NBA in assists twice — pioneering the concept of the primary ball-handler as a distinct position. His 11-season career produced 9.8 points and 5.4 assists per game and five All-Star appearances. He won the NBA championship with the Philadelphia Warriors in 1956 alongside Paul Arizin and Neil Johnston. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1961 — the inaugural class of modern Hall of Famers. He is considered the first true point guard in professional basketball — a player whose primary value was organising the offence and creating for others rather than scoring himself. His assists leadership predated the formal recognition of the position by a decade.
Pioneering point guard play and exceptional court vision
How They Played
Cerebral floor general with exceptional passing ability and basketball IQ
Lasting Impact
Revolutionary playmaker who helped define the point guard position in early NBA
Career Honours
- BAA/NBA Assists leader 2x
- All-Star 5x
- NBA Champion (1956)
- Hall of Fame (1961)
| Club | Period | Apps |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago Stags | 1947–1950 | — |
| Philadelphia Warriors | 1950–1952 | — |
| Fort Wayne Pistons | 1952–1956 | — |
| Boston Celtics | 1956–1958 | — |
American Athletes