Tommy Kron
Encyclopedia
Thomas M. "Tommy" Kron was an American
former professional basketball
player. A 6-5 guard, Kron, nickname
d "Tommy," played his rookie season (1966–1967) with the St. Louis Hawks
; he was drafted by the Seattle SuperSonics
in the 1967 Expansion draft and spent two seasons there; he finished his career with the Kentucky Colonels
of the American Basketball Association
, becoming a fan favorite during the 1969 and 1970 seasons.
under legendary coach Adolph Rupp
. As a senior member of Rupp's Runts in 1966 he led Kentucky to the NCAA Championship Finals versus UTEP; playing alongside such All-Americans as Pat Riley
, Thad Jaracz and Louie Dampier
.
Upon graduation from Kentucky, Kron had scored 719 points, grabbed 500 rebounds, and dished out 134 assists. In 1965 he was named both First Team All-Southeastern Conference
by the coaches and Third Team by the AP; in 1966, he was named Third Team by the UPI.
, as a member of the SuperSonics and spent the next two seasons (1967–68 and 1968–69) coming off the bench and averaging 9.7 and 5.1 respectively. He then moved to the ABA
rejoining his Kentucky teammate Louie Dampier
in leading the Colonels to the playoffs.
); he led the Marksmen to 4 Sectional and 3 Regional titles; his Junior season (1961), he led them to the State Final Four. The Marksmen lost their semi-final matchup to the Indianapolis Manual Redskins, starring the Van Arsdale Twins, Dick Van Arsdale
and Tom Van Arsdale
. He was named All-State and an Indiana All-Star in 1962. Kron was inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame
in 2001.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
former professional basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player. A 6-5 guard, Kron, nickname
Nickname
A nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
d "Tommy," played his rookie season (1966–1967) with the St. Louis Hawks
Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are part of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association .-The first years:...
; he was drafted by the Seattle SuperSonics
Oklahoma City Thunder
The Oklahoma City Thunder are a professional basketball franchise based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association ; their home court is at Chesapeake Energy Arena....
in the 1967 Expansion draft and spent two seasons there; he finished his career with the Kentucky Colonels
Kentucky Colonels
The Kentucky Colonels were a member of the American Basketball Association for all of the league's nine years. The name is derived from the historic Kentucky colonels. The Colonels won the most games and had the highest winning percentage of any franchise in the league's history, but the team did...
of the American Basketball Association
American Basketball Association
The American Basketball Association was a professional basketball league founded in 1967. The ABA ceased to exist with the ABA–NBA merger in 1976.-League history:...
, becoming a fan favorite during the 1969 and 1970 seasons.
University of Kentucky
Kron played college basketball at the University of KentuckyUniversity of Kentucky
The University of Kentucky, also known as UK, is a public co-educational university and is one of the state's two land-grant universities, located in Lexington, Kentucky...
under legendary coach Adolph Rupp
Adolph Rupp
Adolph Frederick Rupp was one of the most successful coaches in the history of American college basketball. Rupp is fourth in total victories by a men's NCAA Division I college coach, winning 876 games in 41 years of coaching...
. As a senior member of Rupp's Runts in 1966 he led Kentucky to the NCAA Championship Finals versus UTEP; playing alongside such All-Americans as Pat Riley
Pat Riley
Patrick James "Pat" Riley is an American professional basketball executive, and a retired coach and player in the NBA. Currently, he is team president of the Miami Heat. Widely regarded as one of the greatest NBA coaches of all time, Riley has served as the head coach of five championship teams...
, Thad Jaracz and Louie Dampier
Louie Dampier
Louis "Louie" Dampier is a retired American professional basketball player.A 6-foot-tall guard, Dampier is one of only a handful of men to play all nine seasons in the American Basketball Association , all with the Kentucky Colonels...
.
Upon graduation from Kentucky, Kron had scored 719 points, grabbed 500 rebounds, and dished out 134 assists. In 1965 he was named both First Team All-Southeastern Conference
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
by the coaches and Third Team by the AP; in 1966, he was named Third Team by the UPI.
Pro basketball
In 1966, the St. Louis Hawks made him their 3rd round pick; as a rookie, he averaged 2.1 points per game off the bench. He then moved to Seattle, following the 1967 NBA Expansion Draft1967 NBA Expansion Draft
The 1967 NBA Expansion Draft was the third expansion draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held on May 1, 1967, so that the newly founded San Diego Rockets and Seattle SuperSonics could acquire players for the upcoming 1967–68 season. Seattle and San Diego had been awarded...
, as a member of the SuperSonics and spent the next two seasons (1967–68 and 1968–69) coming off the bench and averaging 9.7 and 5.1 respectively. He then moved to the ABA
American Basketball Association
The American Basketball Association was a professional basketball league founded in 1967. The ABA ceased to exist with the ABA–NBA merger in 1976.-League history:...
rejoining his Kentucky teammate Louie Dampier
Louie Dampier
Louis "Louie" Dampier is a retired American professional basketball player.A 6-foot-tall guard, Dampier is one of only a handful of men to play all nine seasons in the American Basketball Association , all with the Kentucky Colonels...
in leading the Colonels to the playoffs.
High school
Kron played for the legendary Gunner Wyman at Tell City High School (Tell City, IndianaTell City, Indiana
Tell City is a city in Troy Township, Perry County, Indiana, along the Ohio River, Indiana's southern border. The population was 7,272 at the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of Perry County.-History:...
); he led the Marksmen to 4 Sectional and 3 Regional titles; his Junior season (1961), he led them to the State Final Four. The Marksmen lost their semi-final matchup to the Indianapolis Manual Redskins, starring the Van Arsdale Twins, Dick Van Arsdale
Dick Van Arsdale
Richard Albert Van Arsdale is a former professional basketball player and coach, and a current NBA executive. A graduate of Indianapolis Emmerich Manual High School, the 6'5" guard played collegiately at Indiana University, Van Arsdale was selected by the New York Knickerbockers in the 2nd round...
and Tom Van Arsdale
Tom Van Arsdale
Thomas Arthur Van Arsdale is a former professional basketball player. A graduate of Indianapolis Emmerich Manual High School, the 6'5" guard played collegiately at Indiana University, Van Arsdale was selected by the Detroit Pistons in the 2nd round of the 1965 NBA Draft...
. He was named All-State and an Indiana All-Star in 1962. Kron was inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame
Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame
The Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame is a sports museum and hall of fame in New Castle, Indiana. It honors men and women associated with high school, college and professional basketball in Indiana....
in 2001.
External links
- http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/k/kronto01.html @ basketball-reference.com
- http://hoopshall.com/hall/k/tommy-kron/ @ hoopshall.com