Sidney Hertzberg

Sidney Hertzberg
	Hertzberg circa 1948
Personal information
Born	July 29, 1922; Brooklyn, New York
Died	July 25, 2005 (aged 82); Woodmere, New York
Nationality	American
Listed height	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Listed weight	175 lb (79 kg)
Career information
High school	Tilden (Brooklyn, New York)
College	CCNY
Playing career	1946–1951
Position	Guard
Number	8, 14, 29, 4
Career history
1946–1947	New York Knicks
1947–1949	Washington Capitols
1949–1951	Boston Celtics
	Stats at NBA.com
	Stats at Basketball Reference

Sidney "Sonny" Hertzberg (July 29, 1922 – July 25, 2005) was an American professional basketball player.

Early life

Hertzberg was born in Brooklyn, New York, grew up in Crown Heights, and was Jewish.^[1]^[2] Hertzberg played at Samuel J. Tilden High School and City College of New York, where he was a teammate of longtime Knicks coach Red Holzman.^[2]

Professional career

Hertzberg began his professional career in 1946, signing with his home team New York Knicks. He played with the team in the inaugural Basketball Association of America season in 1946–47. He played five games with the team in the 1947–48 before being released. Hertzberg signed with the Washington Capitols, and played for two seasons with the team under future Hall of Fame coach Red Auerbach. On September 28, 1949, Hertzberg was traded to the Boston Celtics for Chick Halbert.^[3] Hertzberg was reunited with former Washington coach Auerbach in his second season with Boston in 1950–51. Auerbach and rookie point guard Bob Cousy referred to Hertzberg as "the second coach on the floor", and he was respected for his playmaking and court savviness.^[4]

After playing five seasons of professional basketball, Hertzberg served as a scout and broadcasting commentator for the Knicks.^[4]

He is a member of the New York City Basketball Hall of Fame, the Old-Timers Basketball Hall of Fame, the City College Hall of Fame, and the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.^[2]

Later life and death

Hertzberg went on to become a managing director of Bear Stearns, an investment banking and brokerage firm.^[4]

Hertzberg died of heart failure on July 25, 2005, at his home in Woodmere, New York.^[4]

BAA/NBA career statistics

Legend
GP	Games played	FG%	Field-goal percentage
FT%	Free-throw percentage	RPG	Rebounds per game
APG	Assists per game	PPG	Points per game
Bold	Career high

Regular season

Year	Team	GP	FG%	FT%	RPG	APG	PPG
1946–47	New York	59	.289	.758	–	.6	8.7
1947–48	New York	4	.071	.750	–	.3	1.3
1947–48	Washington	37	.273	.797	–	.6	7.4
1948–49	Washington	60	.285	.817	–	1.9	7.4
1949–50	Boston	68	.318	.749	–	2.9	10.2
1950–51	Boston	65	.316	.826	4.0	3.8	9.8
Career		293	.299	.792	4.0	2.1	8.7

Playoffs

Year	Team	GP	FG%	FT%	RPG	APG	PPG
1947	New York	5	.217	.750	–	1.0	7.2
1949	Washington	11	.348	.851	–	2.5	10.7
1951	Boston	2	.231	.800	1.0	1.5	5.0
Career		18	.294	.833	1.0	1.9	9.1

References

^ From Set Shot to Slam Dunk: The Glory Days of Basketball in the Words of ... - Charles Salzberg - Google Books
^ ^a ^b ^c Hertzberg, Sonny : Jews In Sports @ Virtual Museum
^ "Sonny Hertzberg Stats". Basketball Reference. Accessed on June 21, 2017.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Richard Goldstein (July 29, 2005). "Sonny Hertzberg, 82, a Knick From the Very Beginning, Dies". The New York Times. p. A 21. Retrieved February 15, 2021.

External links

Career statistics from NBA.com and Basketball Reference
Knicks.com – Remembering Sonny
The First Basket – Documentary Film

[1] From Set Shot to Slam Dunk: The Glory Days of Basketball in the Words of ... - Charles Salzberg - Google Books

[autogenerated1-2] Hertzberg, Sonny : Jews In Sports @ Virtual Museum

[br-3] "Sonny Hertzberg Stats". Basketball Reference. Accessed on June 21, 2017.

[goldstein-4] Richard Goldstein (July 29, 2005). "Sonny Hertzberg, 82, a Knick From the Very Beginning, Dies". The New York Times. p. A 21. Retrieved February 15, 2021.

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