Indianapolis Olympians
History 1950-1953 (4 seasons)

Teams Indiana Indianapolis Olympians

The Olympians were founded in 1949 to replace the Indianapolis Jets. The Olympians were led by University of Kentucky alumni Alex Groza and Ralph Beard, both of whom were key contributors on the gold medal winning 1948 US Olympic basketball team. Olympic team members Wallace Jones and Cliff Barker (both also Kentucky alumni) also played on the team. An Olympic alternate and UK grad, Joe Holland, played forward for the Indianapolis team through the 1952 season. After the 1951 season, Groza and Beard were suspended from the NBA for life by commissioner Maurice Podoloff when the players admitted point shaving during their college careers. The Olympians finished with a 28–43 record in 1953, and folded after that season. The Olympians compiled a 132–137 record in four seasons in the NBA. Indianapolis would not have an NBA team until 1976 when the Indiana Pacers were one of the four teams admitted from the ABA in the ABA–NBA merger. The Olympians still hold the distinction of being the winning team in the longest game in NBA history—they were the 75–73 victors in a six-overtime game against the Rochester Royals in a game played on January 6, 1951.

The Olympians were founded in 1949 to replace the Indianapolis Jets. The Olympians were led by University of Kentucky alumni Alex Groza and Ralph Beard, both of whom were key contributors on the gold medal winning 1948 US Olympic basketball team. Olympic team members Wallace Jones and Cliff Barker (both also Kentucky alumni) also played on the team. An Olympic alternate and UK grad, Joe Holland, played forward for the Indianapolis team through the 1952 season. After the 1951 season, Groza and Beard were suspended from the NBA for life by commissioner Maurice Podoloff when the players admitted point shaving during their college careers. The Olympians finished with a 28–43 record in 1953, and folded after that season. The Olympians compiled a 132–137 record in four seasons in the NBA. Indianapolis would not have an NBA team until 1976 when the Indiana Pacers were one of the four teams admitted from the ABA in the ABA–NBA merger. The Olympians still hold the distinction of being the winning team in the longest game in NBA history—they were the 75–73 victors in a six-overtime game against the Rochester Royals in a game played on January 6, 1951.

1953 Indianapolis Olympians

1950-1953 (4 seasons)

Indianapolis Olympians Team History

All-time franchise record

132-137 (.491)

0 championships in 0 appearances

Last 5 Seasons

Year Record Result

1953 28-43 Lost Division Semifinals

1952 34-32 Lost Division Semifinals

1951 31-37 Lost Division Semifinals

1950 39-25 Lost Division Finals

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1st Round Draft Picks

Year Rd/Pick Player

1952 1 / 5 Joe Dean

1951 1 / 3 Marcus Freiberger

1950 1 / 6 Larry Foust

1950 1 / 9 Bob Lavoy

1949 1 / 2 Alex Groza

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Longest Serving GM's

Tenure Years General Manager

1950-52 3 J.R. Kimbrough

1953 1 Clifford Courtney

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Team Owners

Tenure Years Owner

1950-51 2 Ralph Beard

1950-51 2 Alex Groza

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