American · The Bronx, New York · Born 29 May 1932American basketball guard who starred for the New York Knicks and St. Louis/Atlanta Hawks, known for his scoring ability and later coaching success.
Richard Vincent Guerin was born in The Bronx, New York in 1932. New York Knicks selected him in the second round of the 1956 NBA Draft. His 13-season career produced 17.3 points, 6.0 assists and 5.1 rebounds per game — a complete statistical profile at the guard position when such versatility was extremely rare. He was a six-time All-Star and three-time All-NBA Second Team selection. He averaged 29.5 points per game in 1961-62 — one of the highest single-season averages in NBA history at the time. He was the New York Knicks' most important player across nearly a decade and later player-coached the St. Louis and Atlanta Hawks. His combination of scoring, playmaking and rebounding from the guard position was ahead of its era — he was the prototype of the complete point guard years before the position had been formally conceptualised. His coaching contribution — he took the Hawks to the playoffs multiple times — added another dimension to his basketball legacy.
High-scoring guard and rebounding ability for his position
How They Played
Aggressive scoring guard with strong rebounding skills and leadership
Lasting Impact
One of the top guards of the late 1950s and early 1960s, known for his all-around play
Career Honours
- All-Star 6x
- All-NBA Second Team 3x
- NBA rebounding force
| Club | Period | Apps |
|---|---|---|
| New York Knicks | 1956–1963 | 481 |
| St. Louis Hawks | 1963–1967 | 293 |
| Atlanta Hawks | 1967–1970 | 194 |
American Athletes