1. Nat Hickey turned to coaching basketball after his retirement from playing full-time in 1942 but occasionally activated himself as a player for the teams he was coaching.
14 Facts About Nat Hickey
1. 2.
In 1948, at the age of 45, Hickey played two games with the Providence Steamrollers of the Basketball Association of America while serving as the team's head coach, making him the oldest player in NBA history, a mark he still holds today.
3.
Nat Hickey was born Nicola Zarnecic on the Croatian island of Korcula.
4.
Nat Hickey attended Hoboken High School in Hoboken, New Jersey.
5.
On January 1,1948, Nat Hickey was appointed as head coach of the Providence Steamrollers of the Basketball Association of America.
6.
Nat Hickey played the last 3.5 minutes of the first half during which time he missed his only field goal attempt and committed four personal fouls.
7.
Nat Hickey was two days away from his 46th birthday and was believed to be the oldest active professional basketball player at the time; he played against the Knicks' 20-year-old Carl Braun who was the youngest professional basketball player.
8.
Nat Hickey expressed a desire to play again, even being expected to play in a game against the Boston Celtics two days later, but ultimately continued with only his coaching duties.
9.
On January 11,1951, Nat Hickey was driving the team back to Johnstown, Pennsylvania, after a game in Wheeling, West Virginia, when he lost control of his car on the Lincoln Highway and crashed.
10.
Nat Hickey claimed that it was his first accident in 29 years of driving.
11.
The Clippers were disbanded the following day and Nat Hickey did not return to coaching.
12.
Nat Hickey was found to not be responsible for Karmarkovich's death.
13.
Nat Hickey managed and played several seasons of minor league baseball as an outfielder.
14.
Nat Hickey was inducted into the Cambria County Sports Hall of Fame in 1965 for his basketball and baseball achievements.