Marty Friedman

Max "Marty" Friedman (July 12, 1889 – January 1, 1986) was an American Hall of Fame pro basketball player and coach.

Raised in New York City, he played in various pre-NBA leagues for eighteen years, most notably for the New York Whirlwinds. Known as one of the best defensive guards of his era, Friedman later coached the Troy Haymakers. He promoted basketball internationally during World War I, organizing a 600-team tournament in France that led to the Inter-Allied Games. Post-retirement, he owned a parking garage in New York City before retiring in 1959. Friedman was inducted into multiple halls of fame and named to the All-Time Pro Second Team in 1941.

Early life Friedman was born in New York City and grew up on Manhattan's Lower East Side. He attended high school at Hebrew Technical Institute. He later became coach of the Troy Haymakers in the ABL (1938/39). In a seventeen-year career (1910–1927), Friedman played in almost every league in the East, habitually leading his team to championships. In 1921, he played with the New York Whirlwinds. In the World Championship series, 11,000 people watched Friedman hold Celtics' shooting star Johnny Beckman to one field goal as the Whirlwinds defeated the Original 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.