Alex Groza
A dominant big man whose NBA career was cut short by a point-shaving scandal, leaving a legacy of what might have been.
1926–1995 (age 69)·American basketball player·Birthday: October 7·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Alex Groza emerged from Martins Ferry, Ohio, to become the centerpiece of college basketball's first true dynasty. At the University of Kentucky under coach Adolph Rupp, his powerful inside play and leadership as captain propelled the Wildcats to consecutive NCAA championships in 1948 and 1949. Turning professional, he was an immediate force for the Indianapolis Olympians, earning All-NBA honors in both of his seasons and establishing himself as one of the league's premier scorers. Then, in 1951, the floor dropped out. Groza was implicated in the college point-shaving scandal that rocked the sport, and the NBA issued him a lifetime ban at the peak of his powers. The ruling transformed him from a superstar into a cautionary tale, a player whose professional narrative is forever defined by a precipitous fall from grace rather than the championships he won.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Alex was born in 1926, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Alex Was Born
The biggest hits of 1926
#1 Movie
Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ
Alex's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1926Born
Robert Goddard launches the first liquid-fueled rocket
President: Calvin Coolidge"Baby Face" — Jan Garber
1931Started school
The Empire State Building opens as the world's tallest
Gas: $0.17/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Minnie the Moocher" — Cab CallowayBest Picture: Cimarron
1939Became a teenager
World War II begins; The Wizard of Oz premieres
Gas: $0.19/galMin wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Over the Rainbow" — Judy GarlandBest Picture: Gone with the Wind
1942Could drive
Battle of Midway turns the tide in the Pacific
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $3,175Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"White Christmas" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Mrs. Miniver
1944Could vote
D-Day: Allied forces land at Normandy
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $3,400Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Swinging on a Star" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Going My Way
1947Turned 21
India gains independence; the Dead Sea Scrolls found
Gas: $0.23/galHome: $6,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Near You" — Francis CraigBest Picture: Gentleman's Agreement
1956Turned 30
Elvis Presley appears on The Ed Sullivan Show
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $10,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Heartbreak Hotel" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: Around the World in 80 Days
1966Turned 40
Star Trek premieres on television
Gas: $0.32/galHome: $14,200Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"The Ballad of the Green Berets" — SSgt Barry SadlerBest Picture: A Man for All Seasons
1976Turned 50
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1986Turned 60
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1995Died at 69
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
Key Achievements
- Won back-to-back NCAA championships as captain of the Kentucky Wildcats in 1948 and 1949.
- Named an All-NBA selection in both of his professional seasons with the Indianapolis Olympians.
- Averaged 22.5 points per game in his NBA career, a stellar mark for the era.
- His jersey number 15 was retired by the University of Kentucky.
Did You Know?
His brother, Lou Groza, is a Pro Football Hall of Fame kicker for the Cleveland Browns.
He and his Kentucky teammates were known as the 'Fabulous Five.'
After his ban, he played and coached for several years in the Eastern Basketball League.
“You win with defense and rebounding; the rest takes care of itself.”
