Princeton University Athletics
Bud Palmer '44, Early Tiger to Play American Pro Basketball, Passes
March 25, 2013 | Men's Basketball
John S. "Bud" Palmer '44, an early Princetonian to play American professional basketball, passed away March 19 in Florida. He was 91.
Palmer played for the New York Knicks of the Basketball Association of America from 1947-49, just before the BAA merged with the National Basketball League to create the NBA. He is also credited with being an early practicioner of the now-standard jump shot.
Palmer was one of the first Princetonians to play in the BAA/NBA, including Butch van Breda Kolff '45, Mike Kearns '51, Bill Bradley '65, Geoff Petrie '70, John Hummer '70, Brian Taylor '84, Ted Manakas '73, Armond Hill '85 and Steve Goodrich '98.
Palmer was a two-year letterwinner at Princeton in 1942 and 1943, leading the 1943 team in scoring at 13.2 points per game. But Princeton was only a part of a life of great variety for Palmer, who worked as a sportscaster, a columnist and as an assistant to the mayor of New York City.
To read the New York Times obituary on Palmer, click here.
