Spector, Art

Arthur Edward Spector

A lean 6'4" forward, Spector played at Villanova University in the early 1940s before turning professional. He played in the American Basketball League for a couple of seasons before joining the Boston Celtics in 1946 in a new league called the Basketball Association of America (the forerunner of the NBA).

Birth and Death Dates:
b. Oct. 17, 1920 - d. June 18, 1987

Career Highlights:
Spector was a terrific player for Villanova in the early 1940s, at a time when the Wildcats had some very tough teams. In 1940, the squad had a record of 17-2 and were rated as one of the top twenty teams in the country (there was no official poll until 1948). The following year, the Wildcats won 11 of their first 12 games, but dropped two of their final three to finish 13-3.

After playing college ball at Villanova, Spector played professionally in two leagues, the American Basketball League (ABL) and the Basketball Association of America (BAA). According to records compiled by basketball historian Robert Bradley, Spector first played in the ABL (the top pro league in the East) with the Baltimore Bullets in 1944-45. His team reached the championship before losing to Philadelphia; Spector appeared in 17 games that year and averaged 5.5 points per game. He then played 30 games with the Trenton Tigers in 1945-46 and averaged 6.0 points per game, but Trenton finished 14-20 and out of the playoffs.

In 1946-47, Spector joined the Boston Celtics in a new league called the Basketball Association of America (BAA), which established franchises in major cities and was the first attempt at a major national league since the 1920s. Spector spent four seasons with the Celtics, playing in 48 games and averaging 4.0 points per game in 1947-48, the only year the Celtics made the playoffs during his NBA career. After finishing the season with a record of 20-28, they lost in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals to the Max Zaslofsky-led Chicago Stags, 2-1; Spector played in all three games of the series and scored six points. He retired following the 1949-50 season having played in 169 career NBA games. Prior to Spector's final season in the league (1949-50), the BAA merged with another major league, the National Basketball League and was renamed the NBA.

Origin:
unknown

Career Dates:
Spector played at Villanova University, 1940-1941. He then played in the ABL with the Baltimore Bullets in 1944-45, for the Trenton Tigers in 1945-46, and in the NBA (and BAA) for the Boston Celtics, 1946-1950.

Physical description:
6'4", 200 pounds

Career Statistics:
In the NBA:
Games: 169
Points: 852
Points Per Game: 5.0

Field Goals Made: 322
Field Goals Attempted: 1,149
Field Goal Percentage: .280

Free Throws Made: 208
Free Throws Attempted: 362
Free Throw Percentage: .575

Rebounds: not available
Assists: 143
Assists Per Game: 0.8
Personal Fouls: 351

NBA playoffs:
Games: 3
Points: 6
Points Per Game: 2.0

Field Goals Made: 2
Field Goals Attempted: 9
Field Goal Percentage: .222

Free Throws Made: 2
Free Throws Attempted: 4
Free Throw Percentage: .500

Rebounds: not available
Assists: 0
Assists Per Game: 0.0
Personal Fouls: 9

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