View source for Al Bianchi

{{short description|American basketball player (1932–2019)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{sources|date=October 2019}}
{{Infobox basketball biography
| name         = Al Bianchi
| image        = 
| width        =
| caption      =
| height_ft    = 6
| height_in    = 3
| weight_lb    = 185
| birth_date   = {{birth date|1932|03|26}}
| birth_place  = New York City, New York, U.S.
| death_date   = {{death date and age|2019|10|28|1932|3|26}}
| death_place  = [[Phoenix, Arizona]], U.S.
| high_school  = [[Long Island City High School|Long Island City]]<br />([[Long Island City, New York]])
| college      = [[Bowling Green Falcons men's basketball|Bowling Green]] (1951–1954)
| draft_year   = 1954
| draft_round  = 2
| draft_pick   = 18
| draft_team   = [[Minneapolis Lakers]]
| career_start = 1956
| career_end   = 1966
| career_number   = 16, 24
| career_position = [[Point guard]] / [[shooting guard]]
| coach_start     = 1967
| coach_end       = 1975
| years1          = {{nbay|1956|start}}–{{nbay|1965|end}}
| team1           = [[Philadelphia 76ers|Syracuse Nationals / Philadelphia 76ers]]
| cyears1         = {{nbay|1967|start}}–{{nbay|1968|end}}
| cteam1          = [[Seattle SuperSonics]]
| cyears2         = [[1969–70 ABA season|1969–1970]]
| cteam2          = [[Washington Caps]]
| cyears3         = [[1970–71 ABA season|1970]]–[[1975–76 ABA season|1975]] 
| cteam3          = [[Virginia Squires]]
| highlights   = 
'''As player:'''
* First-team All-[[Mid-American Conference|MAC]] (1954)
'''As coach:'''
* [[ABA Coach of the Year Award|ABA Coach of the Year]] ([[1970–71 ABA season|1971]])
| stat1label    = [[Point (basketball)|Points]]
| stat1value    = 5,550 (8.1 ppg)
| stat2label    = [[Rebound (basketball)|Rebounds]]
| stat2value    = 1,722 (2.5 rpg)
| stat3label    = [[Assist (basketball)|Assists]]
| stat3value    = 1,497 (2.2 apg)
}}

'''Alfred A. Bianchi''' (March 26, 1932 – October 28, 2019) was an American professional [[basketball]] player, coach, general manager, consultant, and scout.

==Early years==
Nicknamed "Blinky", he attended P.S. 4 elementary school and graduated from [[Long Island City High School]] in 1950. A 1954 graduate of [[Bowling Green State University]], he was voted to the "All-Ohio Team" and received honorable mention as a basketball All-American.{{cn|date=October 2019}}  He served in the [[U.S. Army Medical Corps]] from 1954 to 1956.

==Professional playing career==
Starting in 1956, Bianchi played for the [[Syracuse Nationals]] of the [[NBA]].  He moved with the team to [[Philadelphia]] when it became the [[Philadelphia 76ers|76ers]] for the 1963–64 season.  He was one of the last proponents in the NBA of the two-handed set shot.

==Coaching career==
On May 1, 1966, Bianchi was selected by the [[Chicago Bulls]] in the NBA expansion draft but never played in a game for them and retired as a player.  He then became assistant coach under former teammate Johnny "Red" Kerr, head coach of the Bulls.  After a year in Chicago, he was hired as head coach of the expansion team [[Seattle SuperSonics]], compiling a 53–111 record for the new NBA franchise.<ref name=goldstein>{{citation |last=Goldstein |first=Richard |title=Al Bianchi, Pro Basketball Coach and Knicks G.M., Dies at 87 | newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=October 29, 2019 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/29/sports/basketball/al-bianchi-dead.html}}</ref>

He then became coach and general manager of the [[Washington Caps]]/[[Virginia Squires]] of the [[American Basketball Association]] from 1969 through 1975. In 1971, he won ABA Coach of the Year honors for guiding the Squires to the ABA's Eastern Division championship with a record of 55–29 (.655).  The Squires then lost to the [[New York Nets]] in the Eastern Division finals, and the [[Indiana Pacers]] defeated the Nets in the ABA Finals. He finished his coaching career with a 283–392 record.<ref>{{cite news|url = https://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/knicks/ny-al-bianchi-dies-charles-oakley-john-starks-20191029-42jz3patijbz3ly3fowyaikueu-story.html|title = Former Knicks GM Al Bianchi dies at 87|last = Bondy|first = Stephen|date = October 28, 2019|access-date = October 28, 2019|work = [[New York Daily News]]}}</ref>

==Front office==
In 1976, he re-entered the NBA to work for head coach [[John MacLeod (basketball)|John MacLeod]] as assistant coach for the [[Phoenix Suns]], from 1976 to 1987, a tenure highlighted by the Suns' legendary triple-overtime loss to the [[Boston Celtics]] in Game 5 of the NBA finals, won by the Celtics 4 games to 2.<ref name=goldstein/>

He then moved to the front office as general manager for the [[New York Knicks]] from 1987 to 1991. Returning to Phoenix in 1991, he scouted college players for the Suns. In 2004, he became a consultant-scout for the [[Golden State Warriors]], where he stayed through the 2008–09 season.

In September 2007, he was inducted into the New York City Basketball Hall of Fame as a player, by the New York City Athletic Club.

Bianchi lived and worked as a consultant in Phoenix.

He was inducted into the [http://ohiobasketballhalloffame.com/hall-of-fame/inductees/2016/al-bianchi.html Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame] at the 11th Annual Ceremony on May 21, 2016, in Columbus.

==Death==
Bianchi died on October 28, 2019, in [[Phoenix, Arizona]], from [[congestive heart failure]] at the age of 87.<ref name=goldstein/>

== Career statistics ==
{{NBA player statistics legend|leader=y}}

===NBA===
Source<ref name=bbr>{{Cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/biancal01.html|title=Al Bianchi NBA stats|website=[[Basketball Reference]]|publisher=Sports Reference, LLC|accessdate=10 November 2023}}</ref>

====Regular season====
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%; text-align:right;"
|-
!Year
!Team
!GP
!MPG
!FG%
!FT%
!RPG
!APG
!PPG
|-
| style="text-align:left;" |{{nbay|1956}}
| style="text-align:left;" |[[1956–57 Syracuse Nationals season|Syracuse]]
|68
|23.2
|.351
|.690
|3.3
|1.6
|8.3
|-
| style="text-align:left;" |{{nbay|1957}}
| style="text-align:left;" |[[1957–58 Syracuse Nationals season|Syracuse]]
|69
|20.6
|.344
|.683
|3.2
|1.7
|8.3
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1958}}
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1958–59 Syracuse Nationals season|Syracuse]]
|style="background:#CFECEC;"|72*
|'''24.7'''
|.377
|.723
|2.8
|2.2
|10.0
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1959}}
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1959–60 Syracuse Nationals season|Syracuse]]
|69
|18.2
|.366
|.703
|2.6
|2.4
|7.7
|-
| style="text-align:left;" |{{nbay|1960}}
| style="text-align:left;" |[[1960–61 Syracuse Nationals season|Syracuse]]
|52
|12.8
|.345
|.690
|2.0
|1.8
|5.7
|-
| style="text-align:left;" |{{nbay|1961}}
| style="text-align:left;" |[[1961–62 Syracuse Nationals season|Syracuse]]
|style="background:#CFECEC;"|'''80'''*
|24.1
|.397
|.697
|'''3.5'''
|'''3.3'''
|'''10.3'''
|-
| style="text-align:left;" |{{nbay|1962}}
| style="text-align:left;" |[[1962–63 Syracuse Nationals season|Syracuse]]
|61
|19.0
|'''.424'''
|.732
|2.2
|2.8
|7.6
|-
| style="text-align:left;" |{{nbay|1963}}
| style="text-align:left;" |[[1963–64 Philadelphia 76ers season|Philadelphia]]
|78
|18.4
|.376
|'''.773'''
|1.9
|1.9
|8.0
|-
| style="text-align:left;" |{{nbay|1964}}
| style="text-align:left;" |[[1964–65 Philadelphia 76ers season|Philadelphia]]
|60
|18.6
|.360
|.711
|1.6
|2.3
|6.7
|-
| style="text-align:left;" |{{nbay|1965}}
| style="text-align:left;" |[[1965–66 Philadelphia 76ers season|Philadelphia]]
|78
|16.8
|.382
|.673
|1.7
|1.7
|6.3
|-
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" |Career
|687
|19.9
|.374
|.707
|2.5
|2.2
|8.1
|}

====Playoffs====
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%; text-align:right;"
|-
!Year
!Team
!GP
!MPG
!FG%
!FT%
!RPG
!APG
!PPG
|-
| style="text-align:left;" |[[1957 NBA Playoffs|1957]]
| style="text-align:left;" |[[1956–57 Syracuse Nationals season|Syracuse]]
|5
|19.4
|.316
|.667
|3.0
|1.6
|6.4
|-
| style="text-align:left;" |[[1958 NBA Playoffs|1958]]
| style="text-align:left;" |[[1957–58 Syracuse Nationals season|Syracuse]]
|2
|18.5
|.333
|.375
|3.5
|1.0
|5.0
|-
| style="text-align:left;" |[[1959 NBA Playoffs|1959]]
| style="text-align:left;" |[[1958–59 Syracuse Nationals season|Syracuse]]
|9
|21.3
|'''.459'''
|.636
|3.2
|2.8
|9.1
|-
| style="text-align:left;" |[[1960 NBA Playoffs|1960]]
| style="text-align:left;" |[[1959–60 Syracuse Nationals season|Syracuse]]
|2
|9.0
|.000
|&ndash;
|1.5
|1.5
|.0
|-
| style="text-align:left;" |[[1961 NBA Playoffs|1961]]
| style="text-align:left;" |[[1960–61 Syracuse Nationals season|Syracuse]]
|7
|12.9
|.370
|'''.889'''
|1.0
|.7
|6.0
|-
| style="text-align:left;" |[[1962 NBA Playoffs|1962]]
| style="text-align:left;" |[[1961–62 Syracuse Nationals season|Syracuse]]
|5
|'''36.8'''
|.391
|.850
|'''5.2'''
|'''3.6'''
|'''14.2'''
|-
| style="text-align:left;" |[[1963 NBA Playoffs|1963]]
| style="text-align:left;" |[[1962–63 Syracuse Nationals season|Syracuse]]
|5
|15.4
|.441
|.571
|1.6
|.4
|6.8
|-
| style="text-align:left;" |[[1964 NBA Playoffs|1964]]
| style="text-align:left;" |[[1963–64 Philadelphia 76ers season|Philadelphia]]
|5
|13.6
|.414
|.750
|.8
|.8
|5.4
|-
| style="text-align:left;" |[[1965 NBA Playoffs|1965]]
| style="text-align:left;" |[[1964–65 Philadelphia 76ers season|Philadelphia]]
|'''11'''
|28.0
|.381
|.667
|1.5
|2.7
|9.5
|-
| style="text-align:left;" |[[1966 NBA Playoffs|1966]]
| style="text-align:left;" |[[1965–66 Philadelphia 76ers season|Philadelphia]]
|5
|12.8
|.419
|.750
|2.0
|.8
|9.0
|-
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" |Career
|56
|20.3
|.391
|.696
|2.2
|1.8
|8.0
|}

==Coaching record==
{{NBA coach statistics legend}}
===NBA/ABA===
{{NBA coach statistics start}}
|- 
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1967–68 Seattle SuperSonics season|Seattle]]
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1967}}
| 82||23||59||{{Winning percentage|23|59}}|| style="text-align:center;"|5th in [[Western Division (NBA)|Western]]||—||—||—||—
| style="text-align:center;"|Missed playoffs
|- 
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1968–69 Seattle SuperSonics season|Seattle]]
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1968}}
| 82||30||52||{{Winning percentage|30|52}}|| style="text-align:center;"|6th in [[Western Division (NBA)|Western]]||—||—||—||—
| style="text-align:center;"|Missed playoffs
|- 
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1969–70 Washington Caps season|Washington]]*
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1969–70 ABA season|1969–70]]
| 84||44||40||{{Winning percentage|44|40}}|| style="text-align:center;"|3rd in Western Division||7||3||4||{{Winning percentage|3|4}}
| style="text-align:center;"|Lost in Div. semifinals
|- 
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1970–71 Virginia Squires season|Virginia]]*
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1970–71 ABA season|1970–71]]
| 84||55||29||{{Winning percentage|55|29}}|| style="text-align:center;"|1st in Eastern Division||12||6||6||{{Winning percentage|6|6}}
| style="text-align:center;"|Lost in Div. finals
|- 
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1971–72 Virginia Squires season|Virginia]]*
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1971–72 ABA season|1971–72]]
| 84||45||39||{{Winning percentage|45|39}}|| style="text-align:center;"|2nd in Eastern Division||11||7||4||{{Winning percentage|7|4}}
| style="text-align:center;"|Lost in Div. finals
|- 
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1972–73 Virginia Squires season|Virginia]]*
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1972–73 ABA season|1972–73]]
| 84||42||42||{{Winning percentage|42|42}}|| style="text-align:center;"|3rd in Eastern Division||5||1||4||{{Winning percentage|1|4}}
| style="text-align:center;"|Lost in Div. semifinals
|- 
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1973–74 Virginia Squires season|Virginia]]*
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1973–74 ABA season|1973–74]]
| 84||28||56||{{Winning percentage|28|56}}|| style="text-align:center;"|4th in Eastern Division||5||1||4||{{Winning percentage|1|4}}
| style="text-align:center;"|Lost in Div. semifinals
|- 
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1974–75 Virginia Squires season|Virginia]]*
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1974–75 ABA season|1974–75]]
| 84||15||69||{{Winning percentage|15|69}}|| style="text-align:center;"|5th in Eastern Division||—||—||—||—
| style="text-align:center;"|Missed playoffs
|- 
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1975–76 Virginia Squires season|Virginia]]*
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1975–76 ABA season|1975–76]]
| 7||1||6||{{Winning percentage|1|6}}|| style="text-align:center;"|''Left mid-season''||—||—||—||—
| style="text-align:center;"|
|- class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"|Career
| 675||283||392||{{Winning percentage|283|392}}||&nbsp;||40||18||22||{{Winning percentage|18|22}}||&nbsp;
{{s-end}}

== See also ==
* [[List of NBA players who have spent their entire career with one franchise]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Official website|http://www.albianchi.net}}
{{basketballstats|bbr=b/biancal01}}
* [https://www.basketball-reference.com/coaches/biancal01c.html Bianchi coaching record at BasketballReference.com]

{{navboxes|list=
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{{1954 NBA draft}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Bianchi, Al}}
[[Category:1932 births]]
[[Category:2019 deaths]]
[[Category:American men's basketball players]]
[[Category:Basketball coaches from New York (state)]]
[[Category:Basketball players from New York City]]
[[Category:Bowling Green Falcons men's basketball players]]
[[Category:Chicago Bulls assistant coaches]]
[[Category:Chicago Bulls expansion draft picks]]
[[Category:Minneapolis Lakers draft picks]]
[[Category:Philadelphia 76ers players]]
[[Category:Phoenix Suns assistant coaches]]
[[Category:Point guards]]
[[Category:Seattle SuperSonics head coaches]]
[[Category:Shooting guards]]
[[Category:Syracuse Nationals players]]
[[Category:Virginia Squires coaches]]
[[Category:Virginia Squires executives]]
[[Category:Washington Caps coaches]]