Ray Kuka
| File:Ray Kuka 1948.jpg Kuka in 1948 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 17, 1922 |
| Died | March 27, 1990 (aged 68) Havre, Montana |
| Nationality | American |
| Listed height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
| Listed weight | 200 lb (91 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Havre (Havre, Montana) |
| College |
|
| BAA draft | 1947: undrafted |
| Position | Forward |
| Number | 12 |
| Career history | |
Playing | |
| 1947–1949 | New York Knicks |
Coaching | |
| 1949 | New York Knicks (interim HC) |
| Stats at NBA.comLua error in Module:EditAtWikidata at line 29: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
| Stats at Basketball Reference | |
| Stats at Basketball ReferenceLua error in Module:EditAtWikidata at line 29: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
| Women's Basketball Hall of Fame | |
Raphael Eugene "Ray" Kuka (February 17, 1922 – March 27, 1990) was an American professional basketball player.[1] He played in the Basketball Association of America for the New York Knicks during the 1947–48 season and part of the 1948–49 season.[1] Kuka also served briefly as the Knicks' interim head coach for a few games in February 1949.[2] Joe Lapchick, the regular head coach, was hospitalized to treat a stomach disorder.[2] Kuka had also previously served as a team scout.[2]
Kuka played in college for Notre Dame before being drafted into the United States Air Force for World War II.[3] After World War II he returned home and played for Montana State, where he earned all-conference honors.[3]
Following his playing career, Kuka returned to hos hometown of Havre, Montana, where he was a successful high school coach and teacher.[4]
BAA career statistics
[edit | edit source]| Legend | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | Games played | FG% | Field-goal percentage | ||
| FT% | Free-throw percentage | APG | Assists per game | ||
| PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high | ||
Regular season
[edit | edit source]| Year | Team | GP | FG% | FT% | APG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1947–48 | New York | 44 | .326 | .595 | .6 | 5.2 |
| 1948–49 | New York | 8 | .278 | .556 | 1.4 | 3.1 |
| Career | 52 | .320 | .591 | .7 | 4.9 | |
Playoffs
[edit | edit source]| Year | Team | GP | FG% | FT% | APG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1948 | New York | 3 | .300 | 1.000 | .0 | 2.7 |
| Career | 3 | .300 | 1.000 | .0 | 2.7 | |
References
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- ^ a b c Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
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External links
[edit | edit source]- Career statistics from NBA.comLua error in Module:EditAtWikidata at line 29: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). · Basketball Reference
- Career statistics from WNBA.comLua error in Module:EditAtWikidata at line 29: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). · Basketball ReferenceLua error in Module:EditAtWikidata at line 29: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
- 1922 births
- 1990 deaths
- American basketball scouts
- American men's basketball players
- United States Army Air Forces personnel of World War II
- Basketball coaches from Montana
- Basketball players from Montana
- Forwards (basketball)
- High school basketball coaches in Montana
- Montana State Bobcats men's basketball players
- New York Knicks head coaches
- New York Knicks players
- New York Knicks scouts
- Notre Dame Fighting Irish football players
- Notre Dame Fighting Irish men's basketball players
- People from Havre, Montana
- Undrafted NBA players
- 20th-century American sportsmen
- American basketball biography, 1920s birth stubs