Ray Kuka
![]() Kuka in 1948 | |
Personal information | |
---|---|
Born | Havre, Montana | February 17, 1922
Died | March 27, 1990 Havre, Montana | (aged 68)
Nationality | American |
Listed height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
Listed weight | 200 lb (91 kg) |
Career information | |
High school | Havre (Havre, Montana) |
College |
|
BAA draft | 1947: undrafted |
Position | Forward |
Number | 12 |
Career history | |
As player: | |
1947–1949 | New York Knicks |
As coach: | |
1949 | New York Knicks (interim HC) |
Stats at NBA.com | |
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |
Raphael Eugene "Ray" Kuka (February 17, 1922 – March 27, 1990) was an American professional basketball player.[1] He played in the Basketball Association of America for the New York Knicks during the 1947–48 season and part of the 1948–49 season.[1] Kuka also served briefly as the Knicks' interim head coach for a few games in February 1949.[2] Joe Lapchick, the regular head coach, was hospitalized to treat a stomach disorder.[2] Kuka had also previously served as a team scout.[2]
Kuka played in college for Notre Dame before being drafted into the United States Air Force for World War II.[3] After World War II he returned home and played for Montana State, where he earned all-conference honors.[3]
Following his playing career, Kuka returned to hos hometown of Havre, Montana, where he was a successful high school coach and teacher.[4]
BAA career statistics
[edit]Legend | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
GP | Games played | FG% | Field-goal percentage | ||
FT% | Free-throw percentage | APG | Assists per game | ||
PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
Regular season
[edit]Year | Team | GP | FG% | FT% | APG | PPG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1947–48 | New York | 44 | .326 | .595 | .6 | 5.2 |
1948–49 | New York | 8 | .278 | .556 | 1.4 | 3.1 |
Career | 52 | .320 | .591 | .7 | 4.9 |
Playoffs
[edit]Year | Team | GP | FG% | FT% | APG | PPG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1948 | New York | 3 | .300 | 1.000 | .0 | 2.7 |
Career | 3 | .300 | 1.000 | .0 | 2.7 |
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Ray Kuka NBA stats". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 11, 2015.
- ^ a b c "Montanan' Now Knicks Coach". The Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. February 8, 1949. p. 17. Retrieved August 11, 2015.
- ^ a b "MHSA Athletes' Hall of Fame" (PDF). Montana High School Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 23, 2011. Retrieved August 11, 2015.
- ^ Vernoy, Lee (May 1, 2020). "Havre GOAT: Ray Kuka: From the Hi-Line to the New York Knicks". Great Falls Tribune. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
External links
[edit]- Career statistics and player information from NBA.com and Basketball-Reference.com