Tom Gola
Basketball
Local, LaSalle High, LaSalle University, Philadelphia Warriors
One of the greatest players in the history of college basketball
Nicknamed “Mr. All-Around”
One of the few players in his era capable of playing all five positions
Playing forward, he could shoot, rebound, and defend but also had the ball handling skills of a guard
2 time 1st Team All-Catholic League selection while at LaSalle High (1950, 1951)
2nd team All-Catholic League selection (1949)
Led LaSalle to the Philadelphia Catholic League title and the City Championship (1950)
Established a LaSalle High record that still stands for most career points with 1392
Played F-C for the LaSalle College Explorers (1951-55)
Career stats at LaSalle: 20.9 PPG, 18.7 RPG, .407 FG%, .745 FT%
Led the Explorers in PTS, FG%, FT%, and REB in each of his four seasons
Established a school record for points in a single game, since broken, with 41 (1/6/54)
2 time Consensus 1st Team All American (1954, 1955)
Named Helms Foundation College Basketball Player of the Year (1954)
Named AP and UPI College Basketball Player of the Year (1955)
Named Co-MVP of the NIT (1952)
Member of the 1952 NIT Champion LaSalle Explorers
Led the Explorers to two consecutive championship game appearances (1954, 1955)
2 time NCAA All-Tournament Team selection (1954, 1955)
Named 1954 NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player
Member of the 1954 NCAA Division I Champion LaSalle Explorers
Holds the Explorers record for Rebounds in a single game with 37 (1/15/55)
Holds the Explorers record for Rebounds in a single season with 652 (1953-54)
Holds the Explorers record for Rebounds Per Game in a single season with 23.0 (1953-54)
Holds the Explorers record for Free Throws made in a single season with 202 (1954-55)
Holds the NCAA record for Career Rebounds with 2201
Current Rank on the Explorers Career leaders
- 3rd in Total Points [2461
- 6th in PPG [20.9]
- 3rd in FG [904]
- 2nd in FT [653]
- 1st in REB [2201]
- 1st in RPG [18.7]
Selected as a territorial selection by the Philadelphia Warriors in the NBA Draft (1955)
Played 10 seasons as a G-F in the NBA (1955-66)
- Philadelphia Warriors (1955-62)
- New York Knicks (1962-66)
Career NBA stats: 11.3 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 4.2 APG, .431 FG%, .760 FT%
5 time NBA All-Star selection (1960-64)
4 times finished in the NBA top 10 in Assists
4 times finished in the NBA top 10 in Assists Per Game
1 time finished in the NBA Top 10 in Rebounds Per Game
2 times led the Warriors in Assists (1957-58, 1958-59)
1 time led the Warriors in Assists per Game ((1957-58)
1 time led the Knicks in Assists (1963-64)
Current Rank on the Warriors Career leaders
- 9th in AST [2069]
- 10th in REB [4269]
- 7th in Playoff FT [148]
- 5th in Playoff AST [179]
- 7th in Playoff REB [391]
1 time 2nd Team All-NBA selection (1957-58)
Member of the 1956 NBA Champion Philadelphia Warriors
Head Coach of the LaSalle College Men’s Basketball team (1968-70)
Coached one of the greatest teams in school history to a 23-1 record (1968-69)
Selected collegiate Coach of the Year by the New York and Philadelphia Sportswriters (1969)
Compiled a 37-13 career record coaching the Explorers
Named to the SPORT Magazine All-Time All-American Team
Received the NCAA Silver Anniversary Award (1979)
One of only two players to win a NIT, NCAA, and NBA Championship
Enshrined in the Madison Square Garden Walk of Fame
Had his #15 retired by LaSalle University
Inducted into the LaSalle University Hall of Athletes
Inducted into the Big 5 Hall of Fame in the coaches category (1986)
Inducted into the Big 5 Hall of Fame as a pre-Big 5 inductee (2000)
Inducted into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame
Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (1976)
