Prominent Coaches

“Still, Luisetti and Kenny Sailors of Wyoming have to be the two who most influenced the game in my time . . . . Sailors started the one-hand jumper which is probably the shot of the present and future.”

By Hall of Fame coach and player, Joe Lapchick, upon his retirement after 50 years in basketball, “Mr. Basketball Prophesies A Bright New New York Era, “ Joe O’Day, New York Sunday News, March 14, 1965.

“In 1945-46 Wyoming University came into the Garden with a kid named Kenny Sailors, who unveiled a new weapon – the jump shot. The shot was a sensation and has been basketball’s chief scoring weapon ever since . . . . The one-hand jump shot is the most popular shot in the history of the game.”

By Hall of Fame coach and player, Joe Lapchick, in his book, “50 Years of Basketball,” Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1968, p. 78.

 

“Kenny, you were the first one I saw who really had a one handed jump shot. There were variations, but I never saw one who actually used the true one handed shot . . . . Kenny, I don’t speak or write as an authority, but you were the first I saw with the true jump shot as we know it today.”

By Hall of Fame coach Ray Meyer of DePaul University, in a hand-written, personal letter to Kenny Sailors – undated – but likely written sometime between 1984 and 1997 after Meyer had retired from coaching and was Special Assistant to the University’s President – according to the title on the letterhead.

 

“I saw Kenny Sailors play two games in the 1946 AAU Tournament in Denver. In that tournament I played for Martin Jewelers of Colorado Springs. In the first game I didn’t know who he was, but his one-handed jump shot amazed me. Then someone told me it was Kenny and about his reputation at the University of Wyoming. I decided to see him in a second game. I was mesmerized by his shot and footwork, especially his ability to come to a two-foot stop off the dribble and go straight up in the air – all while facing the basket. I had never seen anyone before who could do that. That shot changed the game of basketball.”

A quote from Jud Heathcote, head basketball coach at the University of Montana (1971-76) and later at Michigan State (1976-95). This statement was given to Bill Schrage, a friend of Kenny Sailors, in a phone conversation on January 25, 2015.

 

 

Influence on Kids

“Hello Ken – We’ve never met but our association starts back in Madison Sq. Garden when a young group of high school freshmen went by train from N.J. to see a BB doubleheader – some team from Wyoming was playing, and your performance was so terrific we could hardly get back to the playground to work on our ‘jump shot’ – but we just couldn’t master it!!! But for years we always remembered that nite with you – and we would always say ‘Well we knew who invented the jumpshot!!’”

 

This quote is from an Email received by Kenny Sailors on March 27, 2010 from a retired urologist named Jack Rose who now lives in Pennsylvania. Later on Dr. Rose told Kenny it was during the 1942-43 season when he saw him play in Madison Square Garden. Research and a subsequent conversation by a reporter with Dr. Rose allows us to conclude that the game he saw was Wyoming vs. St. Francis in MSG on December 30, 1942. Dr. Rose says he went on to be all-state in New Jersey for two years and captained the Cornell University basketball team in 1949-50.

 

Sportswriters

“After leading 8-4 at the finish of the first, Laramie got going in high gear, feeding the ball inside to Dolan or splitting the defense to let Sailors break inside for jump shots.”

From a story, “Laramie Whips Rawlins in 27-18 Battle,” The Laramie Republican-Boomerang, January 29, 1939, p. 3. This is earliest written account found, so far, of an eyewitness to Kenny shooting a jump shot – this his senior year in high school. Kenny says he never shot with two hands. A separate story from the same game notes Kenny shooting with one hand. Therefore, it’s safe to conclude that this account witnessed a one-handed jump shot, although neither story uses these words in the same phrase – probably because each writer chose to emphasize a certain aspect of Kenny’s shot and because it’s likely they hadn’t seen a shot like this before.

 

“Utah led the Cowboys all the way through the game until the final seconds when Sailors cut loose with one of his jumping, one-hand push shots from far out on the court . . . to give Wyoming its 35-33 win.”

From a story, “Sophs Keep Wyoming In Big Seven Race,” in an undated newspaper clipping found in one of Kenny Sailors’ scrapbooks (name of writer and newspaper not recorded) reporting on the first of two wins over Utah in the 1940-1941 season, this game in Laramie, on February 8, 1941 during Kenny’s first year on the varsity team (this was his sophomore year in school – freshmen, in that era, were not eligible for varsity play).

 

“Sailors, the sophomore flash . . . did some sensational playing to put the Cowboys . . . on the road to victory . . . with his accurate flying, one-hand shots . . . .”

From a story, “Wyoming Snares Big Seven Lead,” in an undated newspaper clipping found in one of Kenny Sailors’ scrapbooks. This story follows Wyoming’s win over Utah in Salt Lake City on February 14, 1941 – the second of two wins over Utah that season – story by Jimmy Hodgson, Associate Sports Editor (name of newspaper not recorded). Note the word “flying” to describe a shot as yet without a consistent name

 

“To our .22 caliber mind, however, Sailors makes the team. It is to him the other players always look when they are in a tight spot. They know they can throw the ball to him and he’ll know what to do with it. His favorite shot, and one at which he is remarkably accurate, is a one-handed jump shot at the end of a dribble, usually from out around the foul line. He’s a team man primarily, though. He’s a nice, friendly, smart-looking kid and there’s nothing show-boat about his flashy play.”

Excerpt from a news story, “Writer Likes Aggies Quintet,” by New York City and AP journalist Whitney Martin. This quotation refers to an observation of Kenny’s play vs. CCNY in Madison Square Garden on December 30, 1941, although this particular story was written later in the same season. The date of the story and name of the newspaper are unknown.

 

“He’s the best youngster in the tournament . . . . Just hand the prize to Master Kenneth Sailors . . . . His dribble is a sight to behold . . . . He can leap with a mighty spring and get off that dazzling one-handed shot, and you wonder if the guy might not be using mirrors.”

By veteran sports writer Chester “Red” Nelson, covering the 1943 National AAU Tournament in Denver, “Sailors Must Use Mirrors,” Rocky Mountain News, March 19, 1943.

 

“Komenich had an effective partner in confusion in muscular Sailors, who didn’t allow the late LIU zone defense to bother him. Ken literally jumped over it and pushed in three second half baskets to give him 15 points for the game.”

From a story in the New York Post of January 4, 1946 by Milton Gross reporting on Wyoming’s 57-42 win over Long Island University in Madison Square Garden the previous night. This was the game in which photographer Eric Schaal took the much-featured photo of Kenny shooting his jump shot which appeared in LIFE magazine a couple of weeks later.

 

“Several members of the Cleveland Rebels are familiar to New York fans . . . . But possibly none is quite as familiar as a young man from a rather remote suburb known as Cheyenne, Wyo. This, of course, would be Kenny Sailors, who is the darling of basketball fans everywhere, and particularly in New York, as the star of the great University of Wyoming teams.

Sailors took Madison Square Garden crowds by storm. He does everything superbly. His tricky one-hand jump shot and speedy outburst under the basket make him a consistent two-figure scorer. He is a threadneedle passer and probably the best dribbler in the game. Sailors can dribble as fast as most players can run.

 

"Sailors is probably the most adroit dribbler in basketball annals . . . . Additionally, Sailors’ fine one-hand jump shot is the most thrilling shot in basketball. The 1943 Red Cross championship game between St. John’s, Invitation champion, and Wyoming, N.C.A.A. standard bearer, was the occasion of Kenny’s greatest performance. In this thrilling encounter Kenny made several opportune baskets with his patented jump shot . . . .”

From a newspaper story, “Sailors, Star in College, Continues to Shine,” by Bill Roeder of the New York World-Telegram upon the occasion of the Cleveland Rebels coming to New York to play the Knickerbockers during the 1946-47 season when Kenny was on the Cleveland roster. The date of this story is unknown.

 

“His jump-shot was ‘out of this world’ as one veteran newspaper man remarked. The kids of the state began to copy the shot. In Boys’ clubs, YMCAs, Church leagues, and every other youthful circuit around the state, the kids jumped and shot and always remarked, ‘That’s the way Kenny Sailors does it!’.

Yes, the ‘Wyoming Kid’ had won his way into the hearts of every basketball fan. His cat-like defensive play, his swift dribbling and the jump-shot all added up to real basketball entertainment.

 

"With the two aces hitting repeatedly, Providence went on to whip the Washington Capitols and establish itself as a team to contend with for the remainder of the season. And all because of a little guy from the West and his jump-shot accuracy and all-around brilliance.”

These are excerpts from a newspaper story, “Sailors Teams with Ernie Calverley To Give Providence Scoring Punch,” by George Duffy – a sportswriter with the Pawtucket, Rhode Island Times under the header, “Kids Copy Kenny’s Jump-Shot.” The date of the story is unknown but the rest of the story would indicate it was written soon after Kenny made his debut with the professional Providence Steamrollers of the old Basketball Association of America in December 1947. Duffy was also the publicist for the Steamrollers.

 

“The Rollers have been after Sailors for some time and he should fit into things nicely. . . . His movements on the court are cat-like and his ‘jump shot,’ which made him the outstanding college player in the United States in 1943, is mighty hard to block.”

By George Duffy of the Pawtucket, Rhode Island Times, under the heading, “Roller Quintet Plays Host To St. Louis Five Tonight.” Duffy was writing about Kenny’s debut with the Providence Steamrollers of the BAA. This story is dated Tuesday, December 2, 1947.

 

“Sailors’ jump-shot never fails to bring the ‘ooh’s’ from the audience . . . .”

The Evening Bulletin, Providence, Rhode Island, Wednesday, December 24, 1947, by Bob Englert, reporting on the game the previous day between the Providence Steamrollers – Kenny’s team – and the New York Knickerbockers. Note: Providence won 66-58.

 

“Sailors, as usual, played a great game on the Garden court. Kenny tallied nineteen points with his thrilling jump shot, dribbled in his inimitable style, and threw needle-threading passes to his mates . . . .”

Excerpt from a news story, “Knicks Outscore Providence Five,” of December 25, 1947 when Kenny Sailors was playing professional basketball for the Providence Steamrollers. The author of this story and the name of the newspaper are unknown.

 

“Sailors, the only bright spot from a local viewpoint, kept the enemy from pulling away to an even larger lead with some spectacular jump-shots . . . .”

Excerpt from a news story, “Chicago Uprising Breaks Up Arena Duel in 2^nd Half,” by writer Bob Englert of The Evening Bulletin, Providence Rhode Island reporting on a game won by the Chicago Stags vs. the Providence Steamrollers 91-75. The game was played February 5, 1949.

 

“Only three players in the National Basketball association finished the 1949-50 professional season with a higher point average per game than Wyoming’s three-time All-American, Kenny Sailors. This despite the fact that the five-foot, 10-inch speedster played with the loop’s losingest team, the Denver Nuggets. Kenny, with his famous jump shot, averaged 17.3 points in 57 games this season, finishing behind such giants as George Mikan of Minneapolis, Alex Groza of Indianapolis, and Frank Brian of Anderson.”

From a newspaper story, “Sailors Among Tops in NBA This Year With 17.3 Average,” by Wiles Hallock. The name of the newspaper and exact date of this story are unknown.

 

“Kenny Sailors had this strange habit. He would dribble across center court, head in to the top of the key and catapult high into the air. He’d hang up there as if suspended by some invisible wires and decide whether to shoot his one-hander or pass off to one of his teammates. That’s the way he did it at Wyoming when he was one of the nation’s finest basketball players, and now this was the way he was doing it with the Providence Steamrollers in the old BAA . . . .”

Excerpt from a column titled, “Why Cage Great Cried Like a Baby,” by Joe Falls, Sports Editor of the Detroit Free Press, March 8, 1966. Falls uses this quote to open a story about a funny incident when Kenny was playing professional basketball for the Providence Steamrollers – the telling of which brought Kenny to tears of laughter. [The entire story is told elsewhere on Kenny’s website under “Professional Basketball”]

 

“Now, you are no longer a kid or even middle aged if you can remember when Kenny Sailors introduced the one-handed jump shot to the rest of the basketball-crazy nation back in 1943. But that only makes the remembering better because to have watched Kenny Sailors fire that jump shot made you privy to one of the great revolutionary moments in basketball.”

Excerpt from a column by Marion Dunn, writer for the Provo (Utah) Daily Herald. This story is without a date.

 

Updated September 2018

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Typed by: Bill Schrage from authentic sources for Kenny Sailors’ archives