Hall of Fame Professional Basketball Player. A guard for the New York Knicks, he is remembered as one of the game's dominant players during the 1950s. Born Richard Joseph McGuire, he was raised in Rockaway Beach, graduated from Manhattan's La Salle Academy, attended St. John's University, and also played in five games for Dartmouth as part of a Navy team. McGuire was the seventh overall pick in the 1949 NBA draft; he was to lead the Knicks into the NBA finals three straight years from 1951 to 1953, though they never won the title. After eight seasons in New York he was traded to the Detroit Pistons for his final three years, the last as player-coach. McGuire remained in Detroit as head coach until 1963; becoming the Knicks' leader in 1965, he was to stay with the organization in various capacities for the rest of his life. He turned over the head coaching job in 1967 and thereafter served as an assistant or as chief scout. A seven time NBA All Star, he scored 5,921 points and recorded 4,205 assists. His honors were many, including enshrinement St.John's Athletic Hall of Fame and in the New York City Sports and Basketball Halls of Fame; in 1992 his number 15 was retired by the Knicks, though it had already been retired for Earl "the Pearl" Monroe, and 1993 saw him elected to the NBA Hall of Fame. The "Dick McGuire Award" is given annually for significant contributions to the Knicks; at his death he had been a senior consultant with the team since 2004. He and Al McGuire are the only brothers in the NBA Hall of Fame.
Hall of Fame Professional Basketball Player. A guard for the New York Knicks, he is remembered as one of the game's dominant players during the 1950s. Born Richard Joseph McGuire, he was raised in Rockaway Beach, graduated from Manhattan's La Salle Academy, attended St. John's University, and also played in five games for Dartmouth as part of a Navy team. McGuire was the seventh overall pick in the 1949 NBA draft; he was to lead the Knicks into the NBA finals three straight years from 1951 to 1953, though they never won the title. After eight seasons in New York he was traded to the Detroit Pistons for his final three years, the last as player-coach. McGuire remained in Detroit as head coach until 1963; becoming the Knicks' leader in 1965, he was to stay with the organization in various capacities for the rest of his life. He turned over the head coaching job in 1967 and thereafter served as an assistant or as chief scout. A seven time NBA All Star, he scored 5,921 points and recorded 4,205 assists. His honors were many, including enshrinement St.John's Athletic Hall of Fame and in the New York City Sports and Basketball Halls of Fame; in 1992 his number 15 was retired by the Knicks, though it had already been retired for Earl "the Pearl" Monroe, and 1993 saw him elected to the NBA Hall of Fame. The "Dick McGuire Award" is given annually for significant contributions to the Knicks; at his death he had been a senior consultant with the team since 2004. He and Al McGuire are the only brothers in the NBA Hall of Fame.
Bio by: Bob Hufford
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