Bob Brannum

Bob Brannum

Personal information
Born	(1925-05-28)May 28, 1925 Winfield, Kansas
Died	Marshfield, Massachusetts
Nationality	American
Listed height	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Listed weight	215 lb (98 kg)
Career information
High school	Winfield (Winfield, Kansas)
College	Kentucky (1943–1944, 1946–1947) Michigan State (1947–1948)
Playing career	1948–1955
Position	Forward / Center
Number	7, 18
Career history
1948–1950	Sheboygan Redskins
1951–1955	Boston Celtics
Career highlights and awards
Consensus first-team All-American (1944)
Career statistics
Points	2,455
Rebounds	1,944
Assists	699
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com

Robert Warren Brannum (May 28, 1925–February 5, 2005) was an American basketball player.

A 6'5" center from Winfield, Kansas, Brannum attended the University of Kentucky and Michigan State University before playing professional basketball.

Brannum spent his first three professional seasons with the Sheboygan Red Skins, whose pro roots dated from 1938, the second season of the National Basketball League. Brannum started all three seasons, during which Sheboygan played in three leagues: the NBL (1948–49), NBA (1949–50) and National Professional Basketball League (1950–51). He was one of the all-time great Redskins players, known for his hard-nosed play, rebounding prowess and scoring ability. In his final season with Sheboygan, when the Redskins finished with the NPBL's best record, Brannum was selected first-team center after having the league's high scoring average (19.0 points per game). His 45-point barrage against the Kansas City Hi-Spots on Dec. 28, 1950, was a franchise record, topping the 44 points Bobby Cook scored against the NBA's Denver Nuggets the previous January.

He spent the next four seasons with the Boston Celtics, with whom he earned a reputation as a hard-nosed, pugnacious player. He often served as an unofficial "bodyguard" for smaller players on the team, especially point guard Bob Cousy. Cousy later remarked in an interview, "It was a great luxury to have Bob on the team, and to have him playing the role of protector. It definitely made my job a lot easier."

Brannum retired as a player in 1955. He later coached basketball at Norwich University, Kenyon College and Brandeis University, where he won a school-record 204 games. He also was the long-time golf coach at Brandeis University. He died of pancreatic cancer in 2005.

Notes

Bob Brannum was named to the 1943 first team "All American" jn his Senior Year at Winfield Kansas High School and his twin brother, Clarence was named to the second team at the same time.

External links

• Bob Brannum at Basketball-Reference.com