Inducted: 2023

ErnieGrunfeld, spent 42 straight seasons in the NBA as a player, broadcaster, coach, and executive. His family immigrated to the United States from Romania when he was nine years old. He became a standout basketball player and earned a scholarship to the University of Tennessee. At age 18, he played for Team USA in the 1974 Maccabiah Games in Israel and led the team to a silver medal. Ernie ended his career at Tennessee as the school’s alltime leading scorer, earning SEC Player of the Year honors and in 1976 won an Olympic Gold Medal in Montreal. Ernie transitioned to NBA front offices, serving as the General Manager of the New York Knicks, Milwaukee Bucks, and Washington Wizards, becoming one of the longest-tenured lead executives in NBA history. He isthe only athlete in any of the major American sports leagues whose parents survived the Holocaust.

•  Longtime NBA Player and Executive

•  Olympic Gold Medalist

•  Maccabiah Games Silver Medalist

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