Arizin

PHILADELPHIA — Paul Arizin, an early adopter of the jump shot who led the Philadelphia Warriors to the 1956 NBA championship and was chosen one of the 50 greatest NBA players, died Tuesday night at his home in suburban Philadelphia. He was 78.

Arizin, a Hall of Famer who was cut from his high school team, died in his sleep, according to a statement from Villanova University, where Arizin had an outstanding college career.

Despite losing two years in his prime to the Korean War, "Pitchin' Paul" forged a sensational pro career on the strength of his jump shot, a recent evolution of the game. Arizin, who perfected the style after playing on slippery gym floors, averaged 22.8 points in his 10-year career. He was inducted into the basketball Hall of Fame in 1978.

Drafted out of Villanova by the Philadelphia Warriors in 1950, he led the league in scoring in his second season before serving two years in Korea with the Marine Corps. He returned to lead the Warriors to the NBA championship in 1956, scoring almost 29 points per game in the playoffs.

Born in South Philadelphia, Arizin was cut from his La Salle High School team but played in church and independent leagues. He went to Villanova to study chemistry and played in informal leagues before coach Al Severance offered him a scholarship.

In 1956, Arizin would lead the Warriors to a league-best 45-27 record and their first championship since they captured the league's inaugural championship in 1947

In the 1957-58 season, Arizin reached the 10,000-point mark faster than any player in history to that point. He finished his career with 16,266 points in 713 games.

At 34, Arizin retired in 1962 when the Warriors moved to San Francisco.