Marty Friedman

Max "Marty" Friedman was a pro basketball player and coach. He played almost two decades of pro basketball mostly known for playing with the New York Whirlwinds. He is considered to be one of the best defensive guards of his era. In his seventeen-year career (1910-27), Friedman played in almost every league in the East, habitually leading his team to championships. In 1921, he started with the New York Whirlwinds, one of the greatest pro teams in history. In the World Championship series, 11,000 people watched Friedman hold Celtics' shooting star and future Hall of Famer Johnny Beckman to one field goal as the Whirlwinds defeated the Celtics, 40-27. The Celtics won the second game, 26-24, but officials were afraid that the excitable and unruly crowds would lose control and the deciding third game was never played.

When World War I began, Friedman promoted basketball internationally. He organized a 600-team tournament in France, which prompted the Inter-Allied Games, a forerunner to the World Championships and Olympic recognition.

Sources: Wikipedia