Last Updated on January 29, 2025 by Mathew Diekhake
John Kennedy “Jack” Twyman was an American professional basketball player and sports broadcaster, renowned for his scoring prowess and dedication to the game.
Personal Information:
- Full Name: John Kennedy Twyman
- Nationality: American
- Date of Birth: May 21, 1934
- Place of Birth: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
- Date of Death: May 30, 2012
- Place of Death: Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
- Height: 6 feet 6 inches (198 cm)
- Weight: 210 pounds (95 kg)
- Wingspan: 6 feet 7 inches
- Position: Small Forward
- Jersey Numbers: 10, 27, 31
Education:
- High School: Central Catholic High School, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- College: University of Cincinnati (1951–1955)
Professional Career:
- NBA Draft: Selected by the Rochester Royals in the second round as the 8th overall pick of the 1955 NBA Draft.
- Teams Played For: Rochester Royals / Cincinnati Royals (1955–1966)
- Career Highlights:
- 6× NBA All-Star (1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962)
- 2× All-NBA Second Team (1960, 1962)
- Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1983
- His jersey number 27 was retired by the Sacramento Kings
- Twyman is a namesake of the NBA’s Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year Award
Personal Life:
- Family: Jack Twyman was married to Carole Twyman. They had six children together. Specific information about his siblings is not widely documented.
Notable Contributions:
Beyond his basketball achievements, Twyman is remembered for his remarkable off-court contributions. He became the legal guardian of his teammate Maurice Stokes, who was tragically paralyzed due to a head injury sustained during a game. Twyman cared for Stokes and advocated for his medical assistance, highlighting his compassion and dedication to his friends and teammates.
Jack Twyman’s legacy in the NBA is marked not only by his impressive statistics and accolades but also by his exemplary character and humanitarian efforts.