Fred Schaus was a professional basketball player and coach who had a successful career in the sport. He played college basketball at West Virginia University, where he was a standout player and helped lead the team to the NCAA Tournament in 1947. After college, Schaus was drafted by the Fort Wayne Pistons in the 1949 NBA Draft and played for the team for four seasons.

During his time with the Pistons, Schaus was a key player on the team and helped lead them to the NBA Finals in 1950. He was known for his scoring ability and his strong defensive play, and was a fan favorite in Fort Wayne.

After his playing career ended, Schaus became a coach and had a successful career in that role as well. He began his coaching career at his alma mater, West Virginia University, where he led the team to three NCAA Tournament appearances and two conference championships.

In 1959, Schaus was hired as the head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, where he had his greatest success as a coach. He led the team to four NBA Finals appearances and won one championship in 1972. Schaus was known for his innovative coaching style and his ability to get the most out of his players.

After leaving the Lakers, Schaus went on to work in various roles in the NBA, including as a general manager and as the commissioner of the Continental Basketball Association. He was also inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1989.

Throughout his career, Schaus was known for his dedication to the sport of basketball and his ability to inspire his players to perform at their best. He was a true legend of the game and his contributions to the sport will be remembered for generations to come.

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