Bob Mullens

Bob Mullens
Personal information
Born	November 1, 1922; Brooklyn, New York
Died	July 22, 1989 (aged 66); Staten Island, New York
Nationality	American
Listed height	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Listed weight	175 lb (79 kg)
Career information
High school	Brooklyn Prep (Brooklyn, New York)
College	Fordham (1941–1944)
Position	Guard
Number	10, 11, 17
Career history
1946–1947	New York Knicks
1947	Toronto Huskies
Career highlights and awards
	Second-team All-American – Helms, SN (1943); No. 7 retired by Fordham Rams;
	Stats at NBA.com
	Stats at Basketball Reference

Robert Joseph Mullens (November 1, 1922 – July 22, 1989) was an American professional basketball player. An All-American at Fordham University, Mullens played one full season in the Basketball Association of America (which merged with the National Basketball League in 1949 to create the National Basketball Association), splitting the 1946–47 season between the New York Knicks and the Toronto Huskies.

High school and college

Mullens played high school basketball at Brooklyn Prep, where he was a prodigious scorer, setting the New York City Catholic League scoring mark.^[1] Upon graduation, Mullens chose hometown Fordham. At Fordham, Mullens led the Rams to the 1943 National Invitation Tournament semifinals and at the close of the season was named an All-American by Sporting News magazine^[2] and the Helms Athletic Foundation.^[3]

Professional career

Mullens later was a player in the inaugural season of the BAA. He started the season with the New York Knicks, averaging 2.9 points in 26 games. He was traded to the Toronto Huskies for fellow Fordham alumnus Bob Fitzgerald on January 21, 1947.^[4] With the Huskies, he averaged 8.5 points per game in 28 contests.

Mullens was the first player in NBA/BAA history to play a game on his birthday; on November 1, 1946 (Mullens' 24th birthday), the New York Knicks, whom Mullens played for, defeated the Toronto Huskies 68–66 in the inaugural BAA game for both franchises.^[5]^[6] Mullens scored 0 points, went 0–1 from the free throw line, and recorded one personal foul.^[5]

Following the close of his professional basketball career, Mullens became a bond specialist in New York City. He died on July 22, 1989, in Staten Island, New York.^[7]

BAA career statistics

Legend
GP	Games played	FG%	Field-goal percentage
FT%	Free-throw percentage	APG	Assists per game
PPG	Points per game	Bold	Career high

Regular season

Year	Team	GP	FG%	FT%	APG	PPG
1946–47	New York	26	.260	.647	.7	2.9
1946–47	Toronto	28	.287	.618	1.3	8.5
Career		54	.281	.627	1.0	5.8

References

^ "Catholic Cage Mark Clipped by Bob Mullens". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. February 20, 1940. p. 10. Retrieved September 17, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "All-America Squad Emphasizes Speed, Height". El Paso Herald-Post. April 7, 1943. p. 24. Retrieved September 16, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "George Senesky of Saint Joseph's Chose Finest". Nevada Journal. April 7, 1943. p. 10. Retrieved September 17, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Bob Mullens Stats". Basketball Reference. Accessed on June 21, 2017.
^ ^a ^b "Player Stats on Birthdays, Sorted by Ascending Date". Stathead. Archived from the original on January 3, 2025. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
^ "New York Knicks at Toronto Huskies Box Score, November 1, 1946". Basketball Reference. Archived from the original on December 8, 2024. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
^ "Robert J. Mullens, 66, Ex-Bond Specialist". The New York Times. July 26, 1989. Retrieved September 17, 2015.

This biographical article relating to a United States basketball player, coach, or other figure born in the 1920s is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

[1] "Catholic Cage Mark Clipped by Bob Mullens". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. February 20, 1940. p. 10. Retrieved September 17, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.

[2] "All-America Squad Emphasizes Speed, Height". El Paso Herald-Post. April 7, 1943. p. 24. Retrieved September 16, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.

[3] "George Senesky of Saint Joseph's Chose Finest". Nevada Journal. April 7, 1943. p. 10. Retrieved September 17, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.

[br-4] "Bob Mullens Stats". Basketball Reference. Accessed on June 21, 2017.

[:0-5] "Player Stats on Birthdays, Sorted by Ascending Date". Stathead. Archived from the original on January 3, 2025. Retrieved January 3, 2025.

[6] "New York Knicks at Toronto Huskies Box Score, November 1, 1946". Basketball Reference. Archived from the original on December 8, 2024. Retrieved January 3, 2025.

[7] "Robert J. Mullens, 66, Ex-Bond Specialist". The New York Times. July 26, 1989. Retrieved September 17, 2015.

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