Tom Gola Player Profile
Thomas Joseph "Tom" Gola was one of basketball's most versatile players during the 1950s and 1960s. A talented scorer, rebounder, passer and defender, Gola was capable of contributing at nearly every position on the floor. His outstanding all-around play earned him five NBA All-Star selections and a place in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
Gola starred at La Salle University before joining the Philadelphia Warriors in 1955. He immediately helped the Warriors win the 1956 NBA championship and later played for the San Francisco Warriors and New York Knicks.
Over 10 NBA seasons, Gola appeared in 698 regular-season games and averaged 11.3 points, 8.0 rebounds and 4.2 assists. He was particularly valuable because he could rebound like a forward while handling the ball and distributing it like a guard.
Gola was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1976. He remains one of the notable players to win championships in the NIT, NCAA Tournament and NBA.
| Full Name | Thomas Joseph Gola |
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| Born | January 13, 1933, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
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| Died | January 26, 2014, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
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| Height | 6 feet, 6 inches |
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| Listed Weight | 205 pounds |
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| Position | Shooting Guard / Small Forward |
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| College | La Salle University |
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| NBA Draft | 1955, Philadelphia Warriors, territorial selection |
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| NBA Teams | Philadelphia Warriors, San Francisco Warriors, New York Knicks |
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| NBA Playing Seasons | 10 (1955-56; 1957-58 through 1965-66) |
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| 1956-57 Season | Did not play due to military service |
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| NBA Games | 698 |
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| Career Points | 7,871 |
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| Career Rebounds | 5,605 |
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| Career Assists | 2,962 |
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| NBA All-Star Selections | 5 |
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| NBA Championship | 1956, Philadelphia Warriors |
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| All-NBA Second Team | 1958 |
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| Basketball Hall of Fame | 1976 |
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7,871Career Points
5,605Career Rebounds
2,962Career Assists
5NBA All-Star Selections
Tom Gola at La Salle University
Before entering the NBA, Tom Gola established himself as one of the greatest players in college basketball history. A Philadelphia native, he remained close to home and attended La Salle University, where he became a dominant scorer and rebounder.
Gola helped lead La Salle to the 1952 National Invitation Tournament championship and was named a co-Most Valuable Player of the tournament. Two years later, he led the Explorers to the 1954 NCAA championship, defeating Bradley in the national title game. Gola was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player.
In 1955, La Salle returned to the NCAA championship game but lost to San Francisco, which featured Bill Russell. Gola finished his college career with 2,201 rebounds, a longstanding NCAA Division I men's record, and more than 2,400 points.
His rare combination of scoring, rebounding and passing made him one of the most accomplished college players of his era. Gola later returned to La Salle as head coach and guided the Explorers to a 23-1 record during the 1968-69 season.
| College Achievement | Details |
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| College | La Salle University |
| 1952 NIT Championship | La Salle defeated Dayton in the championship game |
| 1952 NIT Co-MVP | Shared tournament honors with Norm Grekin |
| 1954 NCAA Championship | La Salle defeated Bradley |
| 1954 NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player | Tom Gola |
| 1955 NCAA Tournament | National runner-up to San Francisco |
| College Career Rebounds | 2,201 |
| College Career Scoring Average | 20.9 points per game |
| College Career Rebounding Average | 19.0 rebounds per game |
| La Salle Head Coach | 1968-1970 |
| 1968-69 Coaching Record | 23-1 |
Tom Gola's NBA Career
1955-56: NBA Championship With Philadelphia
Gola joined the Philadelphia Warriors for the 1955-56 season and immediately became an important member of the team. Playing alongside Paul Arizin and Neil Johnston, he averaged 10.8 points, 9.1 rebounds and 5.9 assists as a rookie.
The Warriors won the NBA championship that season, defeating the Fort Wayne Pistons in five games in the NBA Finals. Gola's passing, rebounding and defensive ability complemented Philadelphia's high-scoring offense.
1956-57: Military Service
Gola missed the entire 1956-57 NBA season while serving in the United States Army. He returned to the Warriors the following season.
1957-1962: Philadelphia Warriors All-Star
Gola became one of the NBA's most complete guards and forwards after returning from military service. He averaged 13.8 points and 10.8 rebounds in 1957-58 and earned All-NBA Second Team honors.
During the 1959-60 season, he averaged a career-high 15.0 points along with 10.4 rebounds and 5.5 assists. He continued to provide the Warriors with dependable scoring and playmaking during the early years of Wilt Chamberlain's NBA career.
Gola also played in Chamberlain's famous 100-point game on March 2, 1962, when Philadelphia defeated the New York Knicks in Hershey, Pennsylvania.
1962-63: San Francisco and New York
The Warriors relocated from Philadelphia to San Francisco before the 1962-63 season. Gola began that season with San Francisco before being traded to the New York Knicks.
He appeared in 21 games for the San Francisco Warriors and 52 for New York, averaging 12.3 points, 7.1 rebounds and 4.1 assists across the season.
1963-1966: Final Seasons With the Knicks
Gola spent his final three NBA seasons with the Knicks. Although his scoring declined, he remained a capable passer, rebounder and veteran contributor.
He played his final NBA season in 1965-66, appearing in 74 games and averaging 4.4 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.6 assists.
Tom Gola NBA Season-by-Season Statistics
Regular-season statistics for every season of Tom Gola's NBA career. The 1962-63 season is divided into his San Francisco Warriors and New York Knicks appearances, with a combined season total.
GP = games played; MIN = total minutes; MPG = minutes per game; RPG = rebounds per game; APG = assists per game; PPG = points per game. Games started were not consistently recorded during Gola's era.
| Season | Team | GP | GS | MIN | MPG | RPG | APG | PPG |
| 1955-56 | Philadelphia Warriors | 68 | — | 2,346 | 34.5 | 9.1 | 5.9 | 10.8 |
| 1956-57 | Military service | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1957-58 | Philadelphia Warriors | 59 | — | 2,126 | 36.0 | 10.8 | 5.5 | 13.8 |
| 1958-59 | Philadelphia Warriors | 64 | — | 2,333 | 36.5 | 11.1 | 4.2 | 14.1 |
| 1959-60 | Philadelphia Warriors | 75 | — | 2,870 | 38.3 | 10.4 | 5.5 | 15.0 |
| 1960-61 | Philadelphia Warriors | 74 | — | 2,712 | 36.6 | 9.4 | 3.9 | 14.2 |
| 1961-62 | Philadelphia Warriors | 60 | — | 2,462 | 41.0 | 9.8 | 4.9 | 13.7 |
| 1962-63 | San Francisco Warriors | 21 | — | 821 | 39.1 | 7.0 | 3.5 | 13.0 |
| 1962-63 | New York Knicks | 52 | — | 1,849 | 35.6 | 7.1 | 4.3 | 12.0 |
| 1962-63 Total | SF / NY | 73 | — | 2,670 | 36.6 | 7.1 | 4.1 | 12.3 |
| 1963-64 | New York Knicks | 74 | — | 2,156 | 29.1 | 6.3 | 3.5 | 9.1 |
| 1964-65 | New York Knicks | 77 | — | 1,727 | 22.4 | 4.1 | 2.9 | 7.0 |
| 1965-66 | New York Knicks | 74 | — | 1,127 | 15.2 | 3.9 | 2.6 | 4.4 |
| NBA Career | All Teams | 698 | — | 22,529 | 32.3 | 8.0 | 4.2 | 11.3 |
Tom Gola NBA Playoff Statistics
Gola appeared in five NBA postseasons, all with the Philadelphia Warriors. His playoff career included Philadelphia's 1956 NBA championship.
| Playoffs | Team | GP | MPG | RPG | APG | PPG |
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| 1956 | Philadelphia | 10 | 36.0 | 10.1 | 5.8 | 12.3 |
| 1958 | Philadelphia | 8 | 40.9 | 10.5 | 4.0 | 13.8 |
| 1960 | Philadelphia | 9 | 37.8 | 10.6 | 5.6 | 12.6 |
| 1961 | Philadelphia | 3 | 42.3 | 12.3 | 5.0 | 9.7 |
| 1962 | Philadelphia | 9 | 35.1 | 8.2 | 2.7 | 6.3 |
| Career | Philadelphia | 39 | 37.7 | 10.0 | 4.6 | 11.1 |
Tom Gola Championships and Honors
| Achievement | Year or Details |
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| NIT Champion | 1952, La Salle University |
| NIT Co-Most Valuable Player | 1952 |
| NCAA Champion | 1954, La Salle University |
| NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player | 1954 |
| NCAA Tournament Runner-Up | 1955 |
| National College Player of the Year | 1955 |
| College Career Rebounds | 2,201, NCAA Division I men's record |
| NBA Champion | 1956, Philadelphia Warriors |
| NBA All-Star | Five selections |
| All-NBA Second Team | 1958 |
| Basketball Hall of Fame | Inducted in 1976 |
| NBA Regular-Season Games | 698 |
| NBA Career Points | 7,871 |
| NBA Career Rebounds | 5,605 |
| NBA Career Assists | 2,962 |
Tom Gola's Basketball Legacy
Tom Gola helped define the value of versatility in professional basketball. At 6 feet, 6 inches, he possessed the size to compete for rebounds and the ballhandling and passing skills to direct an offense.
His greatest achievements began in Philadelphia, where he won the NIT and NCAA championships at La Salle before helping the Warriors win the 1956 NBA title. Few players have matched that combination of collegiate and professional team championships.
Gola also contributed to the development of the Warriors franchise during the transition from Philadelphia to San Francisco and later became a veteran presence with the New York Knicks.
After his playing career, he returned to La Salle as a coach. His outstanding 1968-69 team finished 23-1, further strengthening his connection to Philadelphia basketball.
Gola died on January 26, 2014, at age 81. His accomplishments as a player and coach remain an important part of college basketball, Philadelphia sports and NBA history.
Tom Gola - Frequently Asked Questions
How many NBA championships did Tom Gola win?
Gola won one NBA championship, with the Philadelphia Warriors in 1956.
Which NBA teams did Tom Gola play for?
He played for the Philadelphia Warriors, San Francisco Warriors and New York Knicks.
How many NBA All-Star selections did Tom Gola receive?
Gola was selected to five NBA All-Star teams.
Why did Tom Gola miss the 1956-57 NBA season?
He missed the season because of military service in the United States Army.
When was Tom Gola inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame?
Gola was inducted in 1976.
What college did Tom Gola attend?
He attended La Salle University, where he helped win the 1952 NIT championship and 1954 NCAA championship.
Additional Tom Gola Resources
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