John Abramovic

John Abramovic
Abramovic with the Salem Tigers
Personal information
Born(1919-02-09)February 9, 1919
Etna, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedJune 9, 2000(2000-06-09) (aged 81)
Ormond Beach, Florida, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Listed weight195 lb (88 kg)
Career information
High schoolEtna (Etna, Pennsylvania)
CollegeSalem (1939–1943)
Playing career1946–1948
PositionForward
Number3, 9, 31
Career history
1946–1947Pittsburgh Ironmen
1947St. Louis Bombers
1947Baltimore Bullets
1947–1948Syracuse Nationals
Career highlights and awards
Stats at NBA.com Edit this at Wikidata
Stats at Basketball Reference Edit this at Wikidata

John M. Abramovic Jr. (February 9, 1919 – June 9, 2000) was an American professional basketball player. He played in the Basketball Association of America (BAA) for the Pittsburgh Ironmen, St. Louis Bombers and Baltimore Bullets. Abramovic was nicknamed "Brooms" and worked in his family's broom manufacturing business after his playing retirement.

Early life and college career

Abramovic grew up in Etna, Pennsylvania, and graduated from high school in 1937.[1] He worked in his family's plant manufacturing brooms for two years.[1] Abramovic was offered a scholarship through his high school coach to attend Salem College (now Salem University) in Salem, West Virginia, where he played from 1939 to 1943.[1][2] Abramovic's 2,170 points made him the first college basketball player to score more than 2,000 points in a career.[2][3]

Abramovic spent three years in the United States Navy during World War II.[2]

Professional career

Abramovic returned to Pennsylvania in 1946 to play for the Pittsburgh Ironmen of the newly formed Basketball Association of America (BAA).[2] Abramovic averaged 11.2 points per game during his only season with the team before it folded.[2] He played professionally for one more season and then retired from basketball to join the family broom and mop business in Etna.[2] Abramovic officiated prep and college sports for over 25 years.[2]

Legacy

Abramovic was inducted into the West Virginia Sportswriters Hall of Fame in 1971, and the Salem University Athletic Hall of Fame in 1984.[3]

BAA career statistics

Legend
  GP Games played  FG%  Field-goal percentage
 FT%  Free-throw percentage  APG  Assists per game
 PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

Regular season

Year Team GP FG% FT% APG PPG
1946–47 Pittsburgh 47 .242 .691 .7 11.2
1947–48 St. Louis 4 .100 .500 .3 1.0
1947–48 Baltimore 5 .000 .667 .2 .4
Career 56 .237 .686 .7 9.5

References

  1. ^ a b c "Forwards". Vintage Basketball Autographs. Archived from the original on November 8, 2022. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "Brooms Abramovic". Pro Basketball Encyclopedia. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
  3. ^ a b "John "Brooms" Abramovic". Salem University Athletics. Retrieved December 2, 2021.