Andy Tonkovich
The first overall pick in the 1948 BAA Draft, his story is a snapshot of basketball's transition from college gyms to the professional big leagues.
1922–2006 (age 84)·American basketball player·Birthday: November 1·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Andy Tonkovich's name is etched in basketball history for a specific, fleeting moment: he was the first player ever selected in the Basketball Association of America's draft, the direct predecessor to the NBA. A standout guard for Marshall University, he was a sharp-shooter and playmaker who led the Thundering Herd to new heights. His professional career, however, proved brief and was overshadowed by the era's challenges, including the competing league, the NBL, and the BAA's own instability. Chosen by the Providence Steamrollers, his time on the court was limited, and his statistical impact modest. Yet, his legacy is less about his pro stats and more about his symbolic position at the dawn of modern professional basketball. He represents the countless talented players of that transitional period, whose careers were shaped by the sport's growing pains as it evolved into the NBA we know today. After basketball, he built a successful life outside of sports, his story a fascinating footnote in the league's origin tale.
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.
Andy was born in 1922, 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 Andy Was Born
The biggest hits of 1922
#1 Movie
Robin Hood
Andy's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1922Born
King Tut's tomb discovered in Egypt
President: Warren G. Harding"April Showers" — Al Jolson
1927Started school
Lindbergh flies solo across the Atlantic; The Jazz Singer premieres
President: Calvin Coolidge"My Blue Heaven" — Gene Austin
1935Became a teenager
Social Security Act signed into law
Gas: $0.19/galHome: $3,450President: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Cheek to Cheek" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: Mutiny on the Bounty
1938Could drive
Kristallnacht and the escalation toward WWII
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $2,850Min wage: $0.25/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Begin the Beguine" — Artie ShawBest Picture: You Can't Take It with You
1940Could vote
The Blitz: Germany bombs London
Gas: $0.18/galHome: $2,938Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"I'll Never Smile Again" — Tommy DorseyBest Picture: Rebecca
1943Turned 21
Allies invade Sicily; Battle of Stalingrad ends
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $3,290Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"I've Heard That Song Before" — Harry JamesBest Picture: Casablanca
1952Turned 30
Queen Elizabeth II ascends the throne
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,350Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Blue Tango" — Leroy AndersonBest Picture: The Greatest Show on Earth
1962Turned 40
Cuban Missile Crisis brings the world to the brink
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,800Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Stranger on the Shore" — Acker BilkBest Picture: Lawrence of Arabia
1972Turned 50
Watergate break-in; last Apollo Moon mission
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $19,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" — Roberta FlackBest Picture: The Godfather
1982Turned 60
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1992Turned 70
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
2002Turned 80
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2006Died at 84
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
Key Achievements
- Selected as the first overall pick in the 1948 BAA Draft by the Providence Steamrollers.
- Led Marshall University in scoring during the 1946-47 season, averaging 14.6 points per game.
- Helped guide the Marshall Thundering Herd to the 1947 NAIB (now NAIA) National Tournament.
- Played professional basketball in the BAA, the direct forerunner to the National Basketball Association (NBA).
Did You Know?
The player selected directly after him in the 1948 draft, George Kok, also had a very short BAA/NBA career.
His professional career lasted only one season in the BAA/NBA, split between the Providence Steamrollers and the Indianapolis Jets.
He served in the United States Navy during World War II before attending Marshall University on the GI Bill.
After his basketball career, he worked for many years as a sales representative for a steel company.
“I was the first pick, but the league was just getting started.”
