Tony Jaros

Anthony Joseph Jaros (February 22, 1920 – April 22, 1995) was an American professional basketball player. He won three championships with the Minneapolis Lakers: the NBL championship in 1948, the BAA championship in 1949 and the NBA championship in 1950.

A forward/guard from the University of Minnesota, Jaros played four seasons (1946–1947; 1948–1951) in the Basketball Association of America/National Basketball Association as a member of the Chicago Stags and Minneapolis Lakers. He averaged 5.4 points per game in his BAA/NBA career and won two league championships with the Lakers. He also spent one season in the National Basketball League with the Lakers (1947–1948), winning the NBL title that season.

Jaros went to Edison High School in Northeast Minneapolis, and later owned a well-known bar in that neighborhood that bears his name to this day. Tony Jaros' River Garden bar is home of the "Greenie," a very strong lime-flavored drink made with vodka. The drink was invented more than 50 years ago, and was originally sold informally at softball games by Jaros' son Tommy. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the bar began selling "make-your-own-Greenie" kits for customers to make at home during lockdown when the bar was closed. The kits have continued as a St. Patrick's Day offering. The bar has several photos of Jaros, as well as one of his last NBA pension checks, framed on the wall.

BAA/NBA career statistics

Regular season Year Team GP FG% FT% RPG APG PPG 1946–47 Chicago 59 .289 .707 – .5 8.2 1948–49† Minneapolis 59 .343 .718 – 1.0 5.8 1949–50† Minneapolis 61 .291 .750 – 1.0 3.9 1950–51 Minneapolis 63 .307 .631 2.1 1.1 3.8Career 242 .306 .702 2.1 .9 5.4

Playoffs Year Team GP FG% FT% RPG APG PPG 1946–47 Chicago 11 .265 .710 – .4 9.3 1948–49† Minneapolis 10 .357 .783 – 1.1 5.8 1949–50† Minneapolis 2 .000 .500 – .0 .5 1950–51 Minneapolis 7 .300 .727 1.0 .9 2.9Career 30 .287 .731 1.0 .7 6.0