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Norm Drucker AI simulator
(@Norm Drucker_simulator)
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Norm Drucker AI simulator
(@Norm Drucker_simulator)
Norm Drucker
Norm Drucker (July 4, 1920 – February 6, 2015) was a major influence in professional basketball officiating for over 35 years. His NBA and ABA officiating career as both a referee and Supervisor of Officials spanned the careers of all-time pro basketball greats, from George Mikan, Bob Cousy, Dolph Schayes and Bob Pettit in the 1950s, to Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry West, Elgin Baylor and Bill Russell in the 1960s, to Julius Erving, Rick Barry, Bill Bradley and Walt Frazier in the 1970s and to Larry Bird and Magic Johnson in the 1980s.
Drucker was born in New York City on July 4, 1920. He grew up in Brooklyn, and learned the game from the first generation of basketball superstars. Drucker attended Erasmus Hall High School in Flatbush, where he played on the basketball team, starting in 1937, in an era when there was no 3-second rule, goal tending was permitted and there was a jump ball after every basket. Erasmus reached the quarterfinals during his 1938 season. He has been called a legend of Brooklyn basketball.
He went to City College, where he played as a 5 ft 11 in (1.83 m) guard. As a junior varsity freshman under coach Sam Winograd, Drucker was described as a "scrapper" who "played hustling ball". Drucker played varsity ball under future Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame coach Nat Holman. Holman, a star in the 1930s was often referred to as "the world's best basketball player".
One of Drucker's teammates was Red Holtzman (then known as Bill) another future hall of fame coach, who would go on to lead the New York Knicks. The 1941-1942 City College team ranked number 3 in the country, and went to the National Invitation Tournament (losing to Western Kentucky 49–46), then the preeminent collegiate basketball tournament in the United States. As a part-time starter, the New York Times called Drucker "aggressive, alert and spirited".
In January 1943, World War II interrupted Drucker's college career. He served 3½ years, and was discharged as a first lieutenant. After the war, he also earned a bachelor's degree in science from CCNY.
After the war, Drucker played professionally in the New York State Professional Basketball League for the Troy Celtics. In announcing his signing with Troy, in a wonderful bit of promotional hype, the team nicknamed him "Reindeer" (the nickname didn't stick) and called him "the fastest man playing basketball today". Later, he was traded to the Trenton Tigers in the American Basketball League and played on their 1946-47 championship team.
He, along with Hall of Fame referee Pat Kennedy, officiated a serious, not comic game when the Harlem Globetrotters defeated the College All-stars. Two years later he refereed one NBA game and in 1953 he moved up to the NBA with a full schedule of games.
In 1949, Drucker began his officiating career refereeing AAU, high school, collegiate, and American Basketball League. Even after becoming an NBA referee, Drucker was a teacher and administrator in the New York City School System, as his income from the NBA was meager.
Norm Drucker
Norm Drucker (July 4, 1920 – February 6, 2015) was a major influence in professional basketball officiating for over 35 years. His NBA and ABA officiating career as both a referee and Supervisor of Officials spanned the careers of all-time pro basketball greats, from George Mikan, Bob Cousy, Dolph Schayes and Bob Pettit in the 1950s, to Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry West, Elgin Baylor and Bill Russell in the 1960s, to Julius Erving, Rick Barry, Bill Bradley and Walt Frazier in the 1970s and to Larry Bird and Magic Johnson in the 1980s.
Drucker was born in New York City on July 4, 1920. He grew up in Brooklyn, and learned the game from the first generation of basketball superstars. Drucker attended Erasmus Hall High School in Flatbush, where he played on the basketball team, starting in 1937, in an era when there was no 3-second rule, goal tending was permitted and there was a jump ball after every basket. Erasmus reached the quarterfinals during his 1938 season. He has been called a legend of Brooklyn basketball.
He went to City College, where he played as a 5 ft 11 in (1.83 m) guard. As a junior varsity freshman under coach Sam Winograd, Drucker was described as a "scrapper" who "played hustling ball". Drucker played varsity ball under future Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame coach Nat Holman. Holman, a star in the 1930s was often referred to as "the world's best basketball player".
One of Drucker's teammates was Red Holtzman (then known as Bill) another future hall of fame coach, who would go on to lead the New York Knicks. The 1941-1942 City College team ranked number 3 in the country, and went to the National Invitation Tournament (losing to Western Kentucky 49–46), then the preeminent collegiate basketball tournament in the United States. As a part-time starter, the New York Times called Drucker "aggressive, alert and spirited".
In January 1943, World War II interrupted Drucker's college career. He served 3½ years, and was discharged as a first lieutenant. After the war, he also earned a bachelor's degree in science from CCNY.
After the war, Drucker played professionally in the New York State Professional Basketball League for the Troy Celtics. In announcing his signing with Troy, in a wonderful bit of promotional hype, the team nicknamed him "Reindeer" (the nickname didn't stick) and called him "the fastest man playing basketball today". Later, he was traded to the Trenton Tigers in the American Basketball League and played on their 1946-47 championship team.
He, along with Hall of Fame referee Pat Kennedy, officiated a serious, not comic game when the Harlem Globetrotters defeated the College All-stars. Two years later he refereed one NBA game and in 1953 he moved up to the NBA with a full schedule of games.
In 1949, Drucker began his officiating career refereeing AAU, high school, collegiate, and American Basketball League. Even after becoming an NBA referee, Drucker was a teacher and administrator in the New York City School System, as his income from the NBA was meager.