Kurland was drafted by the Philadelphia Warriors in 1947 and was the first player to be drafted in the NBA. He played for the Warriors for two seasons before being traded to the Fort Wayne Pistons in 1949. Kurland was a key member of the Pistons team that won the NBA championship in 1955. He was a seven-time All-Star and was named to the All-NBA First Team in 1952 and 1953.
Kurland was known for his defensive prowess and was one of the first players to use the shot-blocking technique. He was also a proficient scorer, averaging double figures in points per game in six of his ten NBA seasons. Kurland retired from the NBA in 1957 and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1961. He was also named one of the NBA's 50 Greatest Players in 1996.
Kurland's legacy lives on today as he is remembered as one of the greatest players in the history of the game. He was a pioneer in the sport and helped pave the way for future generations of basketball players. His contributions to the game will never be forgotten.
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