BILL SHARMAN - AUTOGRAPH NOTE SIGNED - HFSID 52768

BILL SHARMAN
A note from the NBA player to a fan, signing with his "very best wishes"
Autograph note signed: "Bill Sharman", 1p, 5½x8½, affixed to 6¼x9 sheet. Inglewood, California, no date. On personalized memo sheet imprinted with the Los Angeles Lakers logo and a L.A. Forum graphic "To Bill Wood". In full: "My very best wishes Sincerely!" Bill Sharman (1926-2013) was Head Coach of the Los Angeles Lakers from 1971-1976, leading the team to the 1971-1972 championship. William Walton "Bill" Sharman (born in 1926) was one of the first NBA guards to push his goal percentage above .400 in a season. Playing primarily with the Boston Celtics over his 11-season career, Sharman was on four championship Celtic teams. He was voted to the All-NBA First or Second teams seven times and he played in eight NBA All-Star games and led the NBA seven years in free throw percentage. After retiring as a player in 1961, Sharman found success as a coach in three professional leagues (the American Basketball League, the American Basketball Association and the NBA). Head coach of the San Francisco Warriors (1966-1968), the Utah Stars (1968-1971; championship in 1971) and the Los Angeles Lakers, Sharman was named NBA Coach of the Year in 1972, becoming one of only two men (the other was Alex Hannum) to win NBA and ABA championships as a coach. He was enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1976 as a player and in 2004 as a coach, joining John Wooden and Lenny Wilkens one of only three men to be enshrined in both categories. Lightly creased with folds, lower horizontal fold at the "S" of Sharman. Mounting sheet is irregularly cut, mounting remnants on verso (no show through). Fine condition.