Personal information | |
---|---|
Born | Minoa, New York, U.S.[1] | July 2, 1931
Died | December 13, 2001 Fort Myers, Florida, U.S. | (aged 70)
Listed height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) |
Listed weight | 186 lb (84 kg) |
Career information | |
High school | Minoa (Minoa, New York) |
College | Niagara (1951–1954) |
NBA draft | 1954: 2nd round, 12th overall pick |
Selected by the Philadelphia Warriors | |
Playing career | 1954–1968 |
Position | Point guard |
Number | 5, 18, 15, 6, 21 |
Coaching career | 1968–1987 |
Career history | |
As player: | |
1954–1957 | Philadelphia Warriors |
1957–1965 | Syracuse Nationals / Philadelphia 76ers |
1965–1966 | Wilkes-Barre Barons |
1966–1968 | Philadelphia 76ers |
As coach: | |
1968–1976 | Milwaukee Bucks |
1978–1979 | Chicago Bulls |
1979–1980 | Milwaukee Does |
1980–1987 | Utica College |
Career highlights and awards | |
As player:
As coach: | |
Career NBA playing statistics | |
Points | 8,622 (12.2 ppg) |
Rebounds | 2,705 (3.8 rpg) |
Assists | 3,215 (4.6 apg) |
Stats at NBA.com | |
Stats at Basketball Reference | |
Career coaching record | |
NBA | 430–300 (.589) |
Record at Basketball Reference | |
Basketball Hall of Fame |
Lawrence Ronald Costello (July 2, 1931 – December 13, 2001) was an American professional basketball player and coach. He played for the Philadelphia Warriors and the Syracuse Nationals / Philadelphia 76ers of the NBA, and the Wilkes-Barre Barons of the EPBL. He served as head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks and the Chicago Bulls.
A six-time All-Star, Costello was the National Basketball Association's last two-handed set shooter. As the inaugural coach of the Bucks, he led them to a championship in their third season of existence in 1971, the fastest run for an expansion team in NBA history. In ten seasons as a coach, Costello reached the postseason six times, while winning 37 of his 60 postseason games as coach, for a winning percentage of 61.7%, ninth best in NBA history.[2] In 2022, Costello was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame as a contributor.[3]