Joe Fulks

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Fulks was born on a farm outside of Birmingham, Kentucky. Due to his family's low income, he practiced with a tin can or a stuffed sock until a local high school coach gifted him a used ball. He began his high school career for Birmingham High School, then moved with his family to Kuttawa, Kentucky. He played college ball at Murray State University for two years before leaving to join the Marines in May 1942. He served with 3rd Battalion, 9th Marines during World War II, and was discharged as a corporal in May 1946. His number 26 hangs in the rafters at Murray State's CFSB Center. After retiring, he returned to Marshall County, Kentucky, worked at a GAF plant for nearly 20 years, then became prison recreation director at Kentucky State Penitentiary in 1975. He was shot and killed on March 21, 1976, by Greg Bannister, the son of his girlfriend, during an argument over a handgun. Bannister was found guilty of reckless homicide and sentenced to four and a half years in prison. Fulks was buried in Briensburg, Kentucky.

In Their Own Story

On a neutral court in Hershey, Pennsylvania, the atmosphere crackled with anticipation as Fulks took the floor against the Chicago Stags during the 1946–47 finals. With the series on the line, he executed a style of play that was ahead of its time, utilizing a jump shot that baffled defenders. The crowd watched as he drained shot after shot, culminating in a four-game sweep that secured the league's first title for Philadelphia. His 63-point performance later that season remains a testament to his scoring prowess, proving he could single-handedly alter the momentum of any game.

Reader's Guide

Fulks joined the BAA's Philadelphia Warriors in 1946 at age 25. As a rookie, he won the league's first scoring title with a 23.2 points per game average as the Warriors won the BAA title. He again led the league in scoring average during the 1947–48 season at 22.1 points per game, but lost the scoring title to Max Zaslofsky. He had a career best 26.0 points per game average in the 1948–49 season. Fulks led the NBA in free throw percentage during the 1950–51 season. He set the BAA/NBA single game scoring record four times: 37 points on December 3, 1946; 41 points on January 14, 1947; 47 points on December 18, 1948; and 63 points on February 10, 1949. His 63-point game remained the most in an NBA game until Elgin Baylor scored 64 in 1959. Fulks was named to the All-BAA First Team during his first three seasons. In 1971, he was one of 10 players named to the NBA 25th Anniversary Team. He held the 29th-worst career field goal percentage in NBA history for players with at least 1,000 shots, making only 30.2% of his attempts.

Did You Know?

• Fulks attempted 50 shots in a game three times, including a 13-for-55 performance on March 18, 1948, the only time a player has shot over 50 times and made less than 30 percent in NBA history.
• In a playoff game on March 30, 1948, Fulks went 8-of-46, missing 38 shots—a league record for a playoff game until 1962, and no player has missed more in a playoff game since.
• Fulks was known as one of the pioneers of the modern jump shot.