Bob Kurland

Bob Kurland
Joseph DePietro (left) and Bob Kurland on the way to the 1948 Olympics
Personal information
Born(1924-12-23)December 23, 1924
St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
DiedSeptember 29, 2013(2013-09-29) (aged 88)
Sanibel Island, Florida, U.S.
Listed height7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)
Listed weight220 lb (100 kg)
Career information
High schoolJennings (Jennings, Missouri)
CollegeOklahoma State (1942–1946)
Playing career1946–1952
PositionCenter
Number90
Career history
1946–1952Phillips 66ers
Career highlights and awards
Stats at Basketball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Basketball Hall of Fame
Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame
Medals
Representing  United States
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 1948 London Team competition
Gold medal – first place 1952 Helsinki Team competition

Robert Albert Kurland (December 23, 1924 – September 29, 2013) was a 7 feet (2.13m) American basketball center, who played for the two-time NCAA champion Oklahoma A&M Aggies (now Oklahoma State Cowboys) basketball team. He has been credited as the first person to dunk in a college basketball game.[1] He led the U.S. basketball team to gold medals in two Summer Olympics, and led his AAU team to three national titles. He is a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

  1. ^ Kerkhoff, Blair (September 30, 2013). "Bob Kurland, credited as first player to dunk in a basketball game, dies at 88". The Kansas City Star. Retrieved February 19, 2015.