Last Updated on April 18, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Here are the details for Dick Garmaker:

Player Profile

  • Full Name: Richard Eugene Garmaker
  • Nationality: American
  • Age: Passed away on June 13, 2023, at the age of 91 (born October 29, 1931)
  • Hometown: Hibbing, Minnesota, USA
  • Height: 6 feet 3 inches (1.91 meters)
  • Weight: 190 pounds (86 kg)
  • Wingspan: 6 feet 4 inches
  • Shoe Size: Size 13 (US)
  • Number: Wore 16 and 7 during his NBA career
  • Position: Small Forward / Shooting Guard
  • High School: Hibbing High School in Hibbing, Minnesota
  • College:
    • Hibbing Junior College (now Hibbing Community College)
    • University of Minnesota (1952–1955)
  • NBA Draft: 1955 NBA Draft, territorial pick by the Minneapolis Lakers
  • Teams Played For:
    • Minneapolis Lakers (1955–1961)
    • New York Knicks (1957–1961)
  • Championship Rings: None
  • Kids: Not widely documented
  • Siblings: Not widely documented

Player Archetype / Play Style

Dick Garmaker’s player archetype was that of a scoring swingman: a 6-foot-3, 200-pound guard-forward who brought real shot-making punch from the wing, operated primarily as an offensive focal point or high-level secondary scorer, and fit defensively as a perimeter-oriented wing stopper more than a backline anchor. At Minnesota he was an elite volume scorer, then in the NBA he became a four-time All-Star with the Minneapolis Lakers, which supports the picture of a polished, attack-minded wing whose game blended jump shooting, smart movement, and steady all-around play rather than brute-force interior domination. His overall style reads as a skilled, mid-century two-way wing who could score, handle secondary playmaking duties, and hold his own across both guard and forward matchups. (University of Minnesota Athletics)

Fun Facts

  • He was a four-time NBA All-Star (1956–1959) and was inducted into the University of Minnesota’s “M” Club Hall of Fame.
  • He was a prolific scorer in college and carried his success into the NBA during his tenure with the Minneapolis Lakers and New York Knicks.

Sources:

University of Minnesota Athletics — Dick Garmaker – M Club Hall of Fame
Minnesota Star Tribune — Dick Garmaker, former Gophers All-America basketball star, dies at 87
NBA.com — Dick Garmaker