The latest sports film, “Sweetwater,” is now playing in theaters near you. It tells the story of the first African American player who was signed in the NBA and the people who helped him achieve success. In this article, we are going to talk about one such personality, whose role was played by Mike Starr in the movie. So, let’s get started.
Born on September 15, 1898, Eddie was a professional basketball coach for Ukraine. He was known as “Mr. Basketball” and “The Mogul.” The NBA trophy given to rookie players for their best performance is named after him as the Eddie Gottlieb Trophy. He also played for the South Philadelphia Hebrew Association in the early 1920s.
Most of his life was spent coaching teams. He also headed the NBA rules committee for almost 25 years and was involved in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. He was one of the early members who helped basketball bloom in different parts of the country.
In 1946, an 11-team league was formed with the Basketball Association of America, which was like the American Hockey League consisting of 60 games. The teams from that time, some of which still play in the NBA, include the Boston Celtics, the New York Knickerbockers, and the Philadelphia (now Golden State) Warriors.
He remained a bachelor throughout his life and died in December 1979, giving his whole life to basketball and the NBA. His story was also featured in a documentary titled “The First Basket,” which is about basketball and Jews.