Risen was born in 1921 in Akron, Ohio. He attended the University of Ohio, where he was a two-time All-American. He was drafted by the Rochester Royals in the 1945 NBA Draft, and he played for the Royals for four seasons. During his time with the Royals, Risen was a two-time All-Star and was part of the team that won the 1951 NBA championship.
In 1949, Risen was traded to the Boston Celtics, where he would spend the remainder of his career. He was an integral part of the Celtics' dynasty of the 1950s, winning two more championships in 1957 and 1958. He was also selected to the All-NBA Second Team in both 1957 and 1958.
Risen retired from the NBA in 1958, but he continued to play basketball in the American Basketball League (ABL) until 1962. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1961.
Risen was a dominant player in the NBA during his career, and he was an important part of the Celtics' dynasty of the 1950s. He was a two-time NBA champion, a three-time All-Star, and a two-time All-NBA Second Team selection. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1961, and his legacy lives on today.
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