Fulks, Joseph
Basketball
b. Oct. 26, 1921, Birmingham, KY
"Jumping Joe" was basketball's first modern jump shooter. While other players of his time usually released the shot from approximately eye level, Fulks leaped high and released the shot from over his head, making it virtually impossible to block. Although a forward, he often played in the pivot, and he developed the turn-around jumper to go with an accurate hook shot with either hand.
After starring for two seasons at Murray State in Kentucky, where he was a small college All-American in 1943, Fulks left school to join the Marines. He was an all-service selection with the San Diego Marine team.
He left the service in 1946 and joined the Philadelphia Warriors of the new Basketball Association of America, which became the NBA in 1949. He led the league in scoring in its first season with 23.2 points per game and Philadelphia won the first BAA championship. Fulks averaged 22.1 points in 1947-48 and 26.0 in 1948-49, finishing second both seasons. His 63 points against the Indianapolis Jets on February 10, 1949, was an NBA single-game record for ten years.
He retired after the 1953-54 season. In 1971, Fulks was named to the NBA's Silver Anniversary team.