Jack Twyman
An NBA All-Star turned selfless caretaker, he famously supported a paralyzed teammate, defining loyalty beyond the court.
1934–2012 (age 78)·American basketball player·Birthday: May 11·The Silent Generation
Biography
Jack Twyman's legacy in basketball is a dual one: sharp-shooting forward and profound humanitarian. On the hardwood, the Cincinnati Royals star was a six-time All-NBA selection, known for a reliable jumper that made him one of the league's early offensive threats. But his most enduring impact came from an act of extraordinary compassion. When his teammate Maurice Stokes was tragically paralyzed after a game in 1958, Twyman stepped in. He became Stokes's legal guardian, organized an annual charity basketball game to fund his medical care, and advocated for him tirelessly for over a decade. This bond, forged in adversity, led the NBA to name its annual Teammate of the Year award after them. After his playing days, Twyman smoothly transitioned to a long career as a respected television basketball analyst.
The Silent Generation
1928–1945
Born between the Depression and the end of WWII. Too young to fight, old enough to remember. They became the conformist middle managers of the 1950s — and the civil rights leaders who quietly dismantled Jim Crow.
Jack was born in 1934, placing them squarely in The Silent 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 Jack Was Born
The biggest hits of 1934
#1 Movie
It Happened One Night
Best Picture
It Happened One Night
Jack's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1934Born
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stars Fell on Alabama" — Jack TeagardenBest Picture: It Happened One Night
1939Started school
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
1947Became a teenager
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
1950Could drive
Korean War begins
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,354Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Goodnight Irene" — Gordon Jenkins & The WeaversBest Picture: All About Eve
1952Could vote
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
1955Turned 21
Rosa Parks refuses to give up her bus seat
Gas: $0.29/galHome: $9,550Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Rock Around the Clock" — Bill Haley & His CometsBest Picture: Marty
1964Turned 30
Civil Rights Act signed; Beatles arrive in America
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $13,450Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"I Want to Hold Your Hand" — The BeatlesBest Picture: My Fair Lady
1974Turned 40
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
1984Turned 50
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1994Turned 60
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2004Turned 70
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2012Died at 78
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
Key Achievements
- Averaged 31.2 points per game in the 1959-60 NBA season, becoming one of the first players to average over 30.
- Elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1983.
- Became the legal guardian and primary fundraiser for paralyzed teammate Maurice Stokes, establishing the Stokes Memorial Basketball Game.
- Had his #27 jersey retired by the Sacramento Kings (formerly the Cincinnati Royals).
Did You Know?
The NBA's Twyman–Stokes Teammate of the Year Award is named for him and Maurice Stokes.
He was the first NBA player to score 2,000 points in a season while shooting over 45% from the field.
After retiring, he worked for over 20 years as a color commentator for ABC's NBA broadcasts.
He was a college teammate of NFL Hall of Famer Joe Schmidt at the University of Cincinnati.
“You don't walk away from a teammate when he needs you most.”
