RIP Former Great Basketball Great Frank Selvy

[cumberlandreds]

The below is from a FB page of former athletes who have passed away. Frank Selvy a forgotten great basketball player passed away August 13th. He was originally from Corbin, Ky and went to Furman to play his college basketball. He played in the early days of the NBA and was very good. He was later inducted into the HOF. RIP Frank Selvy.

Frank Selvy, a legendary figure in the world of basketball, passed away on August 13, 2024, at his home in Simpsonville, South Carolina. He was 91 years old. Known for his remarkable achievements both on and off the court, Frank leaves behind a legacy that will be remembered for generations.

Born in Corbin, Kentucky, Frank Selvy made history as a standout player at Furman University, where he twice led the NCAA in scoring and set an NCAA Division I record by scoring 100 points in a single game on February 13, 1954. His extraordinary performance and dedication earned him the title of Southern Conference Player of the Year for two consecutive seasons and a place as a three-time All-America selection.

Frank’s professional career began as the No. 1 overall draft pick by the Baltimore Bullets in 1954. Over his nine-year NBA career, he played for several teams, including the Minneapolis/Los Angeles Lakers, where he formed a formidable partnership with legends like Jerry West and Elgin Baylor. Frank was a two-time NBA All-Star and left an indelible mark on the league with his scoring prowess and sportsmanship.

After retiring from professional basketball, Frank returned to Furman University as a coach, continuing to inspire and mentor young athletes. His contributions to the sport were recognized with his induction into the College Basketball Hall of Fame.

Frank Selvy’s life was a testament to excellence, dedication, and love for the sport. He will be deeply missed but never forgotten. Rest in peace, Frank.

Teams played for during his NBA career:
1954 Baltimore Bullets
1954–1958 Milwaukee / St. Louis Hawks
1958 Minneapolis Lakers
1958–1959 New York Knicks
1959 Syracuse Nationals

[westofyou]

That's a whose who of 1950's era NBA teams. Guy played with Bob Petit, Dolph Schayes, Elgin Baylor, Jerry West and Al McGuire

[Kingspoint]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Selvy

1962 NBA Finals, Game 7

Selvy's best known game in the NBA was probably Game 7 of the 1962 NBA Finals in which he almost defeated the Celtics. Selvy's Lakers faced a four-point deficit at the hands of Boston Celtics in the final minute of the game's fourth quarter. Selvy proceeded to secure two crucial rebounds and score two baskets in 20 seconds to tie the game at 100.

With 5 seconds left, Selvy inbounded the pass at midcourt to Rodney "Hot Rod" Hundley, who dribbled to the top of the key. He pump-faked a pass to Jerry West, who was covered, then passed back to an open Selvy in the left corner. “I had one thought in my mind when the ball came to me: ‘Do I take the shot?’ I was wide open,” Hundley recalled. “I thought, ‘If I make it, I’ll be the mayor of L.A. But if I miss, they’ll be riding me out of town on a rail.’ So I elected to pass it to Frank.”

However, Selvy lost his chance for the ultimate heroic moment as he missed a 12-foot jump shot right before the buzzer that would have secured the championship for the Lakers had it gone in. Hundley would occasionally call Selvy and, when Selvy answered the phone, Hundley would simply say, "Nice shot!" and then hang up. For his part, Selvy has expressed some degree of irritation at Hundley's teasing.

[Ky Fried Redleg]

As a native of Corbin, I've known the Selvy family most of my life and coached one of the younger Selvy boys in Little League ball. I can honestly say one would have been hard pressed to find a kinder, humbler soul than Franklin Delano Selvy. Probably the most successful basketball player to ever come out of eastern KY, Frank was the #1 overall draft pick in the '54 NBA draft and a two-time All-Star in his nine year career. He was Jerry West's backcourt mate on that '62 Lakers team that was one missed Selvy jumper from ending the Celtic dynasty.

We've had some terrific athletes to attend Corbin High School--- Roy Kidd, the Bird boys(Jerry, Rodger, Calvin, Steve), and , of course, Frank. Here's a short clip of game 7 of the NBA finals against the Celtics, when Frank missed "the shot."

[Ky Fried Redleg]

Here's a clip of Frank on the Ed Sullivan Show, being introduced as part of the 1954 All-American team. Frank led the nation in scoring in '54 with 41.7 ppg.

[Ky Fried Redleg]

Here's a short video on the lead up and back story of the 100-point game by Selvy: